Fourteen Global Media Events in 2017 that Will Define Our Industry's Future

From everything we can tell, it seems like 2017 is going to be even more tumultuous than 2016. In order to be prepared for it, one of the smartest things you can do is acquaint yourself with the people and events that are on the leading edge of change. To that end, we compiled a list of the fourteen industry events in 2017 that we believe will give you the insight needed to ensure you productively navigate the coming year.

A word on our methodology: We ranked the events by three key criteria: 1) distinct, value-added programming that highlights the direction our industry is going; 2) a diverse, high-caliber attendee list of marketing leaders; and 3) an environment and format that supports learning, networking and community-building.

2017 Event Descriptions

CES (Consumer Electronic Show):Las Vegas, Nevada from January 5-8

CES is the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the consumer marketplace. CES has served as the "proving ground" for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years.

Highlights: CES will feature Augmented Reality, Cyber and Personal Security, Drones, eCommerce and Enterprise Solution, Gaming and Virtual Reality iProducts, and Self-Driving Technology. CES marketplaces will include 3D Printing, Accessibility, Baby Tech, Beauty Tech, Education and Technology, Eureka Park, Family and Technology, Fitness and Technology, Global Technology, Health and Wellness, Kids and Technology, Robotics, Sleep Tech, Smart Home, Sports Tech, University Innovations and Wearables.

The Big Show:New York, New York from January 15-17

The Big Show is a three-day event sponsored by the National Retail Federation offering unparalleled education, collegial networking and an enormous EXPO Hall full of technologies and solutions. The speakers include visionary leaders with game-changing ideas to help elevate businesses ideas. Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, will be the keynote speaker.

Highlights: The Big Show features over 600 exhibits, including CRM, Merchandising, Mobile, Social and Digital Tech, Communications and Marketing, Retail Analytics, Store Design, Store Associates Training, Data Analytics, Merchandising, Operations and Information Technology. The Big Show is a major forum for the global retail industry and world leaders.

World Economic Forum:Davos, Switzerland from January 17-20

The World Economic Forum deals with the fast-paced and interconnected world where breakthrough technologies, demographic shifts and political transformations have far-reaching societal and economic consequences. As both Brexit and the 2016 election demonstrate, leaders need to share insights and innovations on how to best navigate the future.

Highlights:Responsive and Responsible Leadership: Global events this year remind decision-makers that the more complex a system, the greater a community's concern about its future. The weakening of multiple systems has eroded confidence at the national, regional and global levels. In the absence of innovative and credible steps towards their renewal, the likelihood increases of a downward spiral of the global economy fueled by protectionism, populism and nativism. The forum will explore The Fourth Industrial Revolution: What it means and how to respond.

GSMA Mobile World Congress:Barcelona, Spain from February 27- March 2

Mobile World Congress is the world's largest gathering for the mobile, Internet of Things (IoT) and telecom industries. It is the planet's best venue for telecom industry networking, new business opportunities and deal-making. MWC 2017 is a world-class conference featuring visionary keynotes and thought-provoking panel discussions. The exhibition has more than 2,000 companies displaying the cutting-edge products and technologies that define the future of mobile and IoT. This year's pavilions will feature the Graphene, Green Tech, Innovation City, IoT, Cloud and Wearables areas.

Highlights:Alongside Mobile World Congress, 4YFN (4 Years From Now) is the home of the tech startup community with 600 new startups exhibiting and over 700 investors and corporations searching for the next big idea at the Founders and Investors area. GSMA programs include Women4Tech and the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards. It is the industry's leading stage for innovation, excellence and achievement. The GSMA's prestigious Ministerial Program draws together the world's most influential telecommunication leaders to share ideas and debate in pursuit of connecting everyone and everything to a better future. Women in Tech are a new GSMA program being introduced at Mobile World Congress 2017.

EuroShop:Dusseldorf, Germany from March 5-9

EuroShop is the largest retail event in the world and is held every three years. The EHI Retail Institute acts as the event's conceptual sponsor. The last EuroShop in 2014 registered 2,229 exhibitors from 56 countries with over 110,000 people attending the event.

Highlights:The seven experience dimensions of EuroShop 2017 are: POP Marketing, Expo and Event Marketing, Retail Technology, Lighting, Visual Merchandising, Shop Fitting and Store Design, and Food Tech and Energy Management. The extensive line-up of exhibitor ranges is complemented by the proven, high-caliber forums with practitioners' lectures presented on all five exhibition days amidst trade fair activities. These include the EuroShop Forum Architecture and Design, the EuroCIS Forum, the POPAI Forum, the OmniChannel Forum, the ECOpark Forum and the new Expo and Event Forum.

South by Southwest:Austin, Texas from March 10-19

South by Southwest (SXSW) dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. Five days of compelling presentations and panels from the brightest minds in emerging technology held in March. SXSW offers scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable lineup of special programs, video games and startup ideas.

Highlights:There are four main shows designed to enhance and complement conference programming. Each show encourages targeted connections and new discoveries through niche pavilions including Come and Capture, Future of Food, The Sport Spot and The MedTech Pavilion. Several stages located throughout the shows feature content aimed at promoting discovery, education and inspiration, including Next Stage, Pitch Stage and Podcast Stage

Shoptalk:Las Vegas, Nevada from March 19-22

Launched in 2016, Shoptalk is the newest retail and ecommerce event. It covers the rapid evolution of how consumers discover, shop and buy from new technologies and business models to changes in consumer preferences and expectations.

Highlights: Last year, the event attracted 3,100 attendees, including over 1,000 C-level executives, almost 400 CEOs and more than 100 investors. Shoptalk featured the latest trends, business models and technologies from CEOs and executives of early stage companies, technology providers, commerce disruptors and venture capital investors, as well as peers from established retailers and brands.

CeBIT:Hanover, Germany from March 20-24

CeBIT is the largest and most internationally represented computer expo.

The event is held in Hanover, Germany. It is considered a barometer of current trends and a measure of the state of information technology. The conferences provide a 360-degree overview of the digital industry's four core markets: IT, Telecommunications, Digital Media and IoT.

Highlights: The event will focus on the following business areas: Big Data and Business Intelligence, Business Electronics and Equipment, Business Security, Communication and Networks, Data Center Infrastructure, ECM, Input/Output Solutions, ERP and HR Solutions, IoT, Marketing and Sales Solutions, POS and Banking Solutions, Research and Innovation, Unmanned Systems and Solutions, VR and AR.

Cannes Lions:Cannes, France from June 17-24

Cannes Lions is an eight-day program of creative inspiration, celebration, education and networking held in June. Over 15,000 delegates from around 100 countries attend the Festival, making it the only truly global meeting-place for branded communications professionals to connect, share and discover.

Highlights:The Cannes Lions Festival features Health, Entertainment and Innovation as three distinct conferences within Cannes Lions.Lions Health challenges the industry's norms and motivates it to change the course of healthcare communications. Lions Entertainment explores the ways talent and storytelling can elevate content into the cultural mainstream. Lions Innovation is an exploration of data and tech as catalysts for creativity. Over two days it showcases new and kick-started collaborations. It brings together the start-ups with game-changing products and services, the investors who back them, the brands who work with them and the storytellers who can bring it all to life.

MWC:Shanghai, China, from June 28 - July 1

The Conference at MWC Shanghai (The Human Element) features thought-provoking presentations from some of the mobile industry's most influential executives, who will share their visions of the mobile industry while providing essential insights on current and future trends.

Highlights: MWC Shanghai focuses on how mobile technology -- from connected cars and wearable tech to IoT and smarter cities -- is revolutionizing every aspect of individuals' lives and creating a personalized experience. The three-day conference is the largest in the Asian marketplace and attracts the key players in the mobile ecosystem held in July.

Mobile World Congress Americas:San Francisco, California from September 12-14

The GSMA and CTIA created a new mobile industry event in the United States. CTIA and the GSMA are equal partners in the joint event with the GSMA leading the event's production and management.

Highlights:MWC Americas showcases how mobile is creating the connected life, transforming how individuals, businesses and entire industries communicate, interact and innovate. Mobile World Congress Americas is set to become the leading mobile industry event in the Americas.

Dmexco:Cologne, Germany from September 14-15

Dmexco is the world's leading exhibition and conference for the digital industry and stands for innovative and future-oriented developments and trends in the center of a new digital economy: The digiconomy. Within the two days of Dmexco, a top-notch lineup of speakers and a unique presentation of diverse themes will put crucial trends and the potential for business in the limelight.

Highlights:The program for 2017 will include more than 550 speakers from all over the world who will hold presentations on 15 different stages. The speakers will include digital stars, top executives, newcomers and trendsetters, who will hold outstanding keynote speeches, engage in exciting discussions and present visionary demonstrations.

FutureSync: San Francisco, California from October 8-13

FutureSync is an immersive and experiential learning process. It is designed to align organizations. It focuses on rapidly changing technology and consumer behaviors and the opportunities they offer your organization. Each program is customized to your business needs. Think TED meets active creative experiences.

Highlights:Identify and leverage start-ups to drive your business goals. Thought leadership that identifies blind spots. Experiential and immersive exercises are created for the week. Wrapped in locations and dining experiences that are designed to evoke thought regarding innovation. Develop strategic relationships outside of your company.

Tech Crunch:London, England from December 5-6

Highlights: Tech Crunch Disrupt is the world's leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups, introducing game-changing technologies and discussing what is on the minds of the tech industry's key innovators. Disrupt gathers the best and the brightest entrepreneurs, investors and hackers for on-stage interviews, the Startup Battlefield competition, a 24-hour Hackathon, Startup Alley, Hardware Alley and, of course, awesome after parties.

More information and ongoing updates about these events can be found at http://www.customcuratedexperiences.com

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