After two days of pre-show Cabana Networking next Saturday and Sunday (September 10-11) and a special new standalone Startup Saturday event on the 10th, the 2016 edition of THE Domain Conference (TDC) will officially get underway a week from tonight, Sunday, September 11, with the traditional Welcome Cocktail Party at 7pm. That event will be held in the revolving Pier Top lounge at the top of the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where THE Domain Conference returns after making its debut there last year. 

In recent weeks I've written several articles (the most recent one here) about what conference Co-Founders Howard Neu, Barbara Neu and Ray Dillman Neu have in store for attendees this year. Of course, the networking opportunities are the main reason most people

go to conferences where they get a chance to meet fellow domain investors and developers to share ideas that can significantly boost their business. Though that side of it usually gets the most attention, it is just half of the story.

Equally important is the opportunity to meet many of the industry's leading service providers in person - not only giving you a first hand look at what they have to offer but also to build personal connections with them that will help you get the most out of your relationship and quickly solve any problems that may arise while using services that are critical to running a successful domain business. 

You won't have any problem finding those service providers at THE Domain Conference. They will have booths set up in the Exhibit Area immediately outside the conference room - making it easy to zero in on the ones you are interested in at any time during the show's two business days - Monday and Tuesday, September 12 & 13 (the conference closes with a Farewell Breakfast on Wednesday morning, September 14).

Above: Attendees at last year's inaugural edition of THE Domain Conference gather in the Exhibit Area to meet new friends, catch up with old ones and visit the Sponsor Booths where some of the industry's leading service providers were on hand to answer questions and show how they can help you grow you business. More than two dozen companies will be set up there this year.

Above & Below: In addition to meeting others, the Exhibit Area is the place to grab a free hot cup of delicious coffee provided by sponsor Coffee.Club and pick up a tasty dessert or two to go along with it. 

Above: Attendees visit the booth of 101Domain.com at last year's show to pick up some swag and find out more about what the popular registrar has to offer. 101Domain.com will be back for this year's show as well.

Below: .CLUB will also return as a sponsor at THE Domain Conference 2016. In this shot from last year's show, .CLUB's David Herman (center) gives attendees Craig Pratka (left) and Reidar Rytter-Fjoeren (who came in from Norway) a look at what is happening with the successful new gTLD registry operator.

Above: Aaron Kvitek, Senior VP for Strategic Marketing at Above.com/Trellian  chats with an attendee at last year's conference. Above.com/Trellian will be sponsoring again this year. 

Several of these exhibitors are also sponsoring specific events during the show. The GMO Registry (.Shop) is sponsoring Lori Anne Wardi's Keynote, Ron Jackson's State of the Industry report and the 2016 Awards Luncheon and Verisgn is sponsoring the Tobias Flaitz Keynote Luncheon.

The Internet Commerce Association (ICA) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary by co-sponsoring the Welcome Party Sunday evening, alongside DomainSponsor (the ICA held their first  meeting at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. 10 years ago).  Also, for the first time TDC using the Windows on the Green area right below the lobby for the Neustar Networking Lounge on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 11-13) with coffee, drinks and snacks throughout the days. 

We will, of course, be at THE Domain Conference to cover it all for you with daily Photos and Highlights from Fort Lauderdale in this column and, if you are making the trip to Florida, I am looking forward to seeing you there!