I came across this post on one of my favorite blogs, and wanted to share it because well… I say it a lot about the conference and why and how to make it the best possible experience for attendees, but this post really does a good job. I’ve pasted the key points below, with my thoughts.

1. Plan your arrival and departure times accordingly.

The last impression you want people to have of you is that you are a person who is late, disorganized, and disoriented. Arrive on the early end, get some rest, and be ready to meet with other early-arrival attendees.

360: This also allows you time to decompress, meet other early or late departers in a less frenetic setting where folks aren’t hurrying off to a session. There’s also a straggler’s dinner (dutch treat) on Wednesday night. Very informal, but gives folks a chance to grab one last meal with each other and hang out just a little longer. Who knows, you could meet one or two more new people.

2. Look for a buddy or mentorship program.

Many conferences will offer introductions for newcomers. If this is your first time attending a particular conference, reach out to the organizers and see if they can match you up with someone who can help you make new connections at the event.

360: This is something we’ve not done super well at in the past. We definitely do our best to introduce people to each other, etc, but would love to be even more facilitating on that front. After all the reason we created the 360|Events was to help folks meet other folks, and learn awesome things. Don’t hesitate to email us.

3. Remember, this is a business trip, not a personal trip.

While you may be used to staying in a five-star hotel or booking a bargain accommodation, be sure to stick with the conference-chosen location. There is nothing worse for networking than commuting to a hotel with no other attendees around. And the same goes for transportation — I would much rather interact with other attendees on a free shuttle than ride solo in a fancy limo.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to reserve a room through the conference. Sometimes the conference has negotiated a low rate with the hotel, but I always try to book cheaper. Google the hotel name with the term “promo codes,” or find packages offered through airlines to find a better rate.

360: Funny how many people do treat conferences as personal trips. While we encourage folks to spend as much time together, we do allow Significant others into the parties, because we know some folks do travel with the family and we don’t want them to feel like they’re not welcome. The bit about the hotel, SPOT ON. Yeah there’s places that are cheeper, but when you’re driving to your cheaper hotel, everyone else is in the venue bar, hanging out.

4. Make all your reservations as early as possible.

Conferences tend to bring a lot of people with similar interests to the same city, so book your dinner, travel, entertainment, and other activities as early as possible.

360: Yeah, like really, go book your hotel room now, even if you haven’t bought your ticket. Hotel rooms can be canceled up to 24 hours before your reservation, with no penalty. It makes us really really sad when we get the email from someone who bought their ticket 2 weeks before the conference and there’s no rooms at the hotel. It fills up. book early.

5. Pack the right essentials.

Packing can be a true challenge, but with the right essentials, you can save valuable time. Bring comfortable yet professional attire, and be sure to pack shoes that won’t ruin your trip. Wrinkle releaser has been a lifesaver for me during out-of-town trips.

360: Ok, you can skip the “professional” attire if you want. 360|Stack is really informal. We care more about the awesome content in the sessions and the awesome sponsors in the foyer, than we do about “dress to impress” but really, dress in whatever you’re most comfortable.

I know, pretty obvious, but every year someone does the exact opposite of at least one or two of these guidelines.