Leadership / 01.29.24
INTIX 2024 Opens in Las Vegas
Christine Payne
Welcome to the entertainment capital of the world, ticketing friends!
INTIX is beyond proud to be hosting its largest group of attendees ever for the 45th Annual Conference and Exhibition at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The smiles as everyone greets and hugs each other have been as vibrant as the city’s lights. And it is easy to see why, with such an impressive group of industry peers to learn from plus multiple days of networking, friendship and fun to come.
There were even more smiles and hugs at registration, which is sponsored by Paciolan. Tiffany Kelham is here as always, welcoming everyone alongside many wonderful volunteers. Mark Turner and Mike Green are back as Microcom returns as the 2024 sponsor of the RFID conference badges and digital event tickets. The proud tradition of signature conference bags sponsored by Weldon, Williams & Lick (WW&L) continues in Las Vegas, too. Those who have been collecting these outstanding WW&L keepsakes for 40+ years could not be happier.
Tiffany Kelham and Geo Haynes at the registration desk.
INTIX Mentors and Friends
Monday’s conference activities started at 11 a.m. with “Roll The Dice on a New INTIX Friend for Life: Membership Connections & Mentor Program Meet & Greet.” A jam-packed room of enthusiastic first timers and veteran attendees came together to hear from committee members and participate in several rounds of speed networking.
Member Connections Committee Board Liaison Aren Murray (left) with Lucille Pickering, a member of both the Member Connections and Mentor Program committees.
“This is my second year attending INTIX,” Brad Bailey, Ticketing Manager from the OVG — Owensboro Convention Center and Sportscenter, told session attendees. “I met some really great people in this session last year who I am still connected with now. I’ll reach out to them every so often. In fact, some of them are arriving later today. You are going to meet people from all areas of ticketing at INTIX, which is awesome.”
Brad Bailey shares his experiences during the first INTIX conference session.
“Don’t be afraid. Everybody is so nice and welcoming,” Jenna Loda Eddy, Mentor Program Vice Chair, said. “If someone can’t answer your question, they will help you find someone who can.”
“You will make friends and connections here that you will have for the rest of your life,” Jon Secunda, Mentor Program Co-Chair, said.
“INTIX is about people and connections,” Dawn Zappitello, Disney Parks & Resorts U.S. and Member Connections Co-Chair, said. “Introduce yourself at sessions. This is a different type of conference. It’s experiential.”
Speaking of experiences, the room was full of the sounds of animated conversations and dice hitting the tables during the speed networking rounds. After rolling the dice, session participants answered the corresponding question from a list. Topics ranged from how they got started in ticketing and what they wish the public knew about our industry to where they would hold the next INTIX conference if they could make that choice.
On Thursday at 12:30 p.m., attendees can learn more about the Mentor Program in the session Three Different Walks. In an interactive Q&A format, guest speakers from three different verticals will reveal the learning and growth opportunities provided by the mentorship program.
Venue Tours
On Monday afternoon, attendees went behind the scenes at two magnificent venues — The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Formula 1 Grand Prix Plaza. The tours were sponsored by Vegas.com.
INTIX Board Members Ebony Hattix and Richard Powers help direct conference attendees to buses for the venue tours.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to walk on the actual track,” Tracy Noll said. “Each lap is 3.8 miles and the cars can reach speeds as high as 212 miles per hour.”
Noll was also interested to learn about the ticketing and pricing strategies during the F1 tour. A suite ticket above the pit row cost $16,500 for a five-day pass, which included three days of racing, a reception at the Sphere, opening ceremonies and concerts, she said. Tickets were all digital and sold only as five-day packages. The secondary market played an important role as individuals broke apart their packages and sold daily access to other fans.
“Most of the buildings and stands were taken apart and put into storage until the next race,” Noll said. “The permanent structure can be rented out for private events and can hold up to 7,000.”
Ultimately, the event had a 1.5-billion-dollar impact on the Las Vegas economy during what is normally one of the slowest weeks of the year.
“The gorgeous Art Deco style of the Smith Center is tied to its roots in Las Vegas,” shared Bethany Nothstein. “With countless nods to the Hoover Dam and its architecture, the space provides a welcoming environment that reflects its local community. And it was one of the first theaters to have cup holders!”
Nothstein said, “The venue tours are a great way to kick off the conference. Being provided the opportunity to see local organizations that attendees may not have time to visit sets the tone for the conference and provides an opportunity to connect with attendees. The Smith Center's tour provided not only a beautiful walk-through of their space but also a wealth of information about the history and inspiration for the incredible 12-year-old facility.”
The Sky’s the Limit
After the venue tours, INTIX shuttle buses dropped ticketing pros at the High Roller observation wheel to enjoy a 30-minute spin soaring above the Las Vegas Strip thanks to sponsor Caesars Entertainment.
“The best part of the experience was the view and being up there with friends,” Shawn Robertson said. “My heart is full.”
L-R: Shawn Robertson, David Winn, Lenore Schwartz Heller and Nick Vincent.
INTIX Board Member Shawn Robertson, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles.
Ticketing kiosks near the Las Vegas Strip displaying the INTIX 2024 conference logo.
High Roller ticketing kiosks welcomed INTIX attendees.
Strike Up the Fun
INTIX partnered with Ticketmaster to co-host the official INTIX 2024 kick-off party held at the Brooklyn Bowl in a setting tailored for connections and celebrations. Attendees entered the venue under glittering marquee lights to enjoy food, drinks, bowling and music. You know the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? We believe it because it sure was hard to pick just a few photos to help tell this story!
Holly McKenzie and Dana Kendall of AudienceView strike a pose before bowling for strikes.
INTIX CEO Maureen Andersen welcomes attendees at the INTIX kick-off party at Brooklyn Bowl. Amy Graca, Conference Chair, and Ticketmaster’s Kevin Vahidi and Angela Miles-Powell joined her on stage.
Jane Kleinberger, the now retired co-founder of Paciolan, hugs Charles Edinger at the INTIX 2024 kick-off party at Brooklyn Bowl.
More Marquee Moments
The INTIX name was in lights once again as partygoers made their way from the Brooklyn Bowl back to Caesars Palace.
Cocktails and conversations were a fantastic end to a fabulous first day, thanks to the evening’s hosts and sponsor See Tickets.
Conference Attendees Give Generously
INTIX is proud to have reintroduced its Community Give Back in support of The Shade Tree. This Las Vegas nonprofit group provides safe shelter and resources to homeless and abused women and women with children in crisis. The Shade Tree also helps change lives through services that promote stability, dignity and self-reliance. Thank you to LasVegasTickets.com and VegasTickets.com for their partnership in this life-changing philanthropy activation.
“At INTIX, we have long known the profound impact of collective generosity in creating positive change,” Maureen Andersen, President and CEO of INTIX, says. “This is a generous community, and we are so thankful for the donations that have already been dropped off at registration. If you didn’t bring a donation from home, there is still time to participate by visiting a nearby CVS or Walgreens to pick up items from The Shade Tree’s needs and wish list.”
In the News
No INTIX conference is ever complete without breaking news from ticketing industry circles.
AudienceView announced on Jan. 29 that Mark Fowlie has stepped into a new role as Executive Chairman. Eric White, who has served as an executive at several enterprise software companies since 2016, succeeds Fowlie as CEO to drive the next phase of growth.
Also on Jan. 29, Cricket West Indies and T20 USA announced the selection of SECUTIX to manage ticket sales for the International Cricket Council’s Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. This premier cricket event will take place across six Caribbean countries and three cities in the U.S. in June. The event will feature 55 matches, with an estimated half-million fans attending.
We can’t wait to see everyone on Tuesday for our welcome general session, INTIX Villages, breakouts by venue type, opening keynote with Sandra Douglass Morgan, President of the Las Vegas Raiders, educational workshops, the Exhibit Hall grand opening and more!
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Feb. 6, 2024 to add information regarding the venue tour to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
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Tags: Leadership , INTIX 2024