If you’re in search of PR and marketing conferences to attend in 2017, you’re in luck because this is the definitive list! Whether you’re looking to submit a proposal to speak, nominate a colleague’s work for an award, or attend a communications conference to sharpen your skills, this curated round-up of events will help. Take a look, and hopefully we’ll see you at a PR conference in 2017.
1. International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) World Conference
Dates: June 11-14, 2017
Location: Washington, D.C.
Hashtag: #IABC17
The IABC World Conference is a long-standing, global professional development event that typically draws 1,000 to 1,200 attendees from around the world. The theme for the upcoming conference is Global Business: Lead Communication—Make Real Impact. The main goal of the world conference is to elevate the careers of IABC members, and highlight the global rise of innovation across communications professions. Speakers are selected through a peer-review process and represent communications, a business-crucial part of an organization.
2. Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference
Dates: October 8-10, 2017
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Hashtag: #PRSAICON
At the PRSA International Conference, you’ll meet some of the most influential professionals in public relations from around the world, including those that call Boston, this year’s host city, home. PRSA International draws the most industry vendors, including practitioners, in a who’s-who quest to highlight the best strategies, products, and more.
3. Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Conferences and Training
Date/Location: Varies
Each year, CASE offers more than 220 professional development opportunities for public relations, communications, and fundraising in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Skim the event calendar for conferences geared toward media relations and communications professionals.
4. National Information Officers Association (NIOA) Annual Conference
Date: TBD
Location: Clearwater, Florida
Hashtag: #NIOA2017
Perhaps the best conference of the year for government communicators, the annual NIOA conferences gather the leading public information officers from across the nation’s federal, state, and local government agencies. You’ll learn a lot about crisis communications and how to effectively manage your communications efforts from first responders. Check out the event’s site in early 2017 to learn more.
5. Government Social Media Conference & Expo (GSMCON)
Dates: April 11-13, 2017
Location: Dallas, Texas
Hashtag: #GSMCON
If you’re excited by the NIOA conference, this event specifically related to social media and it’s growing role in government communications efforts, will get your blood pumping too. As real-time information continues to expand and stories continue to break on social media, the importance of this conference grows. This is a great opportunity to hear from first responders and those who have proven the effective use of social media as a viable crisis communications tool.
6. Arthur Page Society Annual Conference
Date/Location: Varies
The annual conference for the Arthur Page Society brings together a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives. Usually held in fall, it’s a great event built to enrich and strengthen PR professionals—while providing great networking opportunities.
7. Illuminate: 2017 Canadian PR Society (CPRS) National Summit
Dates: May 28-30, 2017
Location: Kelowna, B.C.
Hashtag: #CPRS2017
Take a step on the wild, Canadian side of public relations with a trip to the national summit for the CPRS. You’ll network with familiar names and faces from the leading global agencies in PR, as well as Canada-based businesses and government agencies. If you’re looking to network and do business in Canada, or increase your global influence, this is an event worth checking out.
Date: March 16th, 2017
Location: New York City, New York
Hashtag: #PRWeekAwards
Now entering its 18th year, the PRWeek Awards are one of PR’s most prestigious events. This awards event celebrates the best of the best corporate, agency, nonprofit, and education teams, and the work they produced during the entry period. Only 39 trophies are awarded each year.
Date/Location: Varies
With several events throughout the year, PR News addresses a senior-level public relations and marketing audience. Most conferences focus on media relations, crisis communications, social media, and measurement. They also host a swell awards show.
Date/Location: Varies
Ragan Communications’ events are fun and usually hosted at sponsor locations, such as Disney World or the Facebook HQ. These events cover a wide array of specializations, from how to measure internal communications to effective brand journalism strategies.
BONUS: PRTech Awards
Date: TBD
Location: San Francisco, California and New York, New York
Now in its fourth year, the PRTech Awards are AirPR’s annual event honoring the leading minds in PR, marketing, technology, and media. Honorees have embraced data in their strategic business decisions and are the brilliant minds driving conversations, redefining business practices, and personifying convergence in everything they do. Visit PRTech.co in January 2017 to nominate a PR pro whom you think effectively brings together the four powerful forces of PR, marketing, technology, and media.