SBC Summit is almost here! (Well, not really, but we love some early planning—so, in our book, it’s time to get prepared!)
Whether you’re coming for networking, learning, business deals, or boosting your brand visibility, a little preparation will go a long way in making sure you get the most out of it.
From September 16-18, Lisbon will be the epicentre of the industry as we welcome 30,000 attendees, 700+ exhibitors and sponsors, and deliver hundreds of hours of content!
With so much happening, having a month-by-month game plan will save you time, make your experience smoother, and ensure you hit all your event goals.
March
✅ Set Goals – Define why you’re attending: Are you there for networking, learning, strengthening partnerships, deal-making, content, or visibility/brand awareness?
✅ Identify Key Companies & People – Research exhibitors, speakers, and attendees you want to connect with. While it’s still early, you can review the 2024 attendee list to get a general idea. The exhibitor list can be found here, and the speaker lineup is available here.
✅ Budget & Logistics – Plan for travel and accommodation. If you want the best hotel rates, use our partner hotels and BOOK EARLY to secure a spot close to the venue—this helps avoid traffic and makes your stay more convenient. You can find details on the hotels we’re working with here.
✅Get Your Ticket: Early Bird pricing ends on 28 March, so if you want to secure your pass at the best available price, now is the time to buy. Get your ticket for €400 (a €200 savings from the regular price) here.
✅ Start Following Event Hashtags & Social Media Pages – This helps stay informed on updates. Follow the official SBC Summit LinkedIn page here, and subscribe to our bi-weekly SBC Summit LinkedIn newsletter to receive event updates straight to your inbox.
April
✅If you’re attending the event with two or more colleagues from your company, you can take advantage of the group discount, which saves you €200 per ticket per person once the early bird deal ends. Starting in April, you can already benefit from this offer and book tickets for three or more people. Simply head to the ticket page to secure your spots!
✅ Networking Strategy
- Who do you need to meet? Make a priority list of companies and people.
- What talks, panels, and side events align with your goals? Check the conference agenda here and add your favourite sessions to your calendar using the “Add to Calendar” button.
- Explore the event schedule to identify meet-ups and side activities you want to attend, such as evening networking parties or themed expo floor meetups.
- Check RSVP requirements – Some events require you to RSVP in advance to secure a spot on the guest list. Confirm whether access is restricted and complete the necessary steps by submitting the form or contacting the relevant SBC representative if needed. Typically, you’ll find this information on the event schedule page or the networking page.
✅ Personal Branding Prep
- Update your LinkedIn profile, bio, and website (if applicable) to inform your network that you’re attending, speaking at, sponsoring, or exhibiting at the event.
- Start connecting with industry professionals attending the event via LinkedIn. If you’ve already booked your ticket, your ticket confirmation email includes a special link that allows you to announce your attendance. When you click on the link, it pre-fills your LinkedIn profile data and provides a template message —which you can fully edit to personalise your announcement. This is the easiest way to get your “I’m attending” banner and boost your visibility on LinkedIn!
✅ Start Outreach
- If you need to book meetings in advance, begin sending friendly introductions to potential connections.
- Meeting scheduling via the SBC Connect app will be available one month before the event, but we recommend starting the outreach process earlier to make the most of your time and prepare effectively.
May
✅ Confirm Travel & Hotel – Prices will increase, so secure your flight, accommodation, and transfers as soon as possible. Here’s the list of partner hotels offering exclusive discount rates. You’re, of course, welcome to explore other options, but these hotels provide the best deals through our event partnership.
✅Wondering how to get to Lisbon? If your country does not have a direct flight, use this tool to explore all available connections and travel options—it’s quite helpful. This is going to be a busy event, so make sure to book your ticket as soon as you receive travel approvals.
✅ Register for Side Events & Meetups – Some networking parties require separate sign-ups. Make sure to check the schedule again to avoid missing out.
✅ Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Lisbon? – If you require a visa, email us at [email protected] to request an invitation letter (for registered attendees only). Exhibitors and sponsors can also reach out to us.
✅ Reconnect With Industry Contacts – Send a friendly message to people you’ve met before and would like to catch up with at the event. If they are operators or affiliates, share a link to our complimentary operator and affiliate ticket pages—let them know they can get their pass for free, giving you the opportunity to meet in person. Operator form. Affiliate form.
✅ Engage With Event Content – Comment on event posts to get noticed early and start building connections before the event.
June
✅ Confirm Meetings With Key People
- Reach out via email, LinkedIn, or event platforms to book meetings.
- Plan a mix of formal and informal meetups (coffee chats, dinners, booth visits).
✅ Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Be clear on who you are, what you do, and why you want to connect to make the most of your interactions.
✅ Review the Agenda & Prioritise Sessions: You won’t be able to attend everything, so choose the most valuable sessions based on your goals. Full event pass holders will get post-event access to session content via the SBC Connect app.
✅ Prepare Marketing Materials (If Needed)
- Business cards
- Digital brochures
- Company presentations
- Branded swag (if you’re bringing merchandise)
✅ Promote Your Participation
- If you’re speaking at the event, share your “I AM SPEAKING” banner to let people know. These will be sent directly to your inbox once your ticket has been assigned. You can also reach out to the conference producer you’re in touch with to request the banner link.
- Attendees can do the same to promote their presence at the event (those links are also in your ticket info email).
- Visiting for the first time or do you still have places you’d like to check out?
- Plan your itinerary for your free days—some activities may require early pre-booking.
July
✅ Send Follow-Ups – If some contacts haven’t replied yet, follow up again. However, leave some free time in your schedule for when SBC Connect launches (in August), in case you come across interesting profiles on the app that you’d like to meet at the event.
✅ Review Your Calendar & Create a Balanced Schedule – Ensure your must-attend meetings, sessions, and networking events are included while maintaining a realistic and manageable agenda.
✅ Plan Your Booth Visits Smartly – Identify where key exhibitors are located to avoid wasting time wandering the expo floor. Mark down booth numbers, and when SBC Connect launches, you can also save them in the app. This is also a great time to familiarise yourself with the expo floor layout. Yes, the show floor is huge, but once you understand the zone concept, navigating it will be much easier than you think.
✅ Not attending the event with full access? You can get the Expo+ Pass for just €95, which grants access to the expo floor and conference sessions—just not the evening networking events or the free food and drinks on the expo floor. You can buy your pass here.
✅Affiliates and operators: Claim Your Complimentary Pass – Affiliates and operators receive a free pass to the event, so while there’s no strict deadline to register, the earlier you do, the better! Early registration increases your chances of being featured in pre-event communications, whether that’s email marketing, social media, or blog posts.
If you haven’t claimed your complimentary pass yet, now is the time!
August
✅ It’s time to download SBC Connect (IOS and Android) – the official event app where you can check the schedule and agenda, add sessions, companies, and people to your favourites, send personal messages, and request meetings with attendees. If they confirm, your meeting will take place at the SBC Connect Lounge on the show floor—unless agreed otherwise.
✅ Lock in Last-Minute Meetings – Some companies finalise their schedules only weeks before the event, so we recommend going through SBC Connect and securing any additional meetings through the app.
✅ Plan Your Social Media Strategy – Will you be posting live updates? Plan ahead for maximum engagement.
✅ Prepare Your Outfit Plan – Yes, it matters! Choose comfortable yet professional attire for long event days. Shoes ALSO matter! SBC Summit takes place at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, spanning a massive 130,000 square meters. That means a lot of walking—so wear comfortable shoes to stay on your feet all day without discomfort!
✅ Check your options for getting to the venue – Can you walk, take the metro, a cab, or is there a special SBC shuttle bus from your hotel? Plan your route in advance.
✅ Check the floor plan and identify all lounges and networking areas with seating – Since this is a huge expo floor, finding a comfortable place to work, take a break, or have a meeting is key. Check them out and mark their locations.
✅ The most frequently asked questions at the event:
- Where’s the helpdesk?
- Where are the bathrooms?
- Where’s the organiser’s office?
- Where’s the cloakroom?
The simple answer? They’re all on the floor plan! 😉 So check it out and mark these locations too.
September
✅ Finalise your meeting schedule – Ensure you have a clear overview of everything you don’t want to miss at the event, whether it’s scheduled meetings, conference sessions, or networking events.
✅ Pack the essentials – Don’t forget chargers, business cards, adapters, power bank, and any other must-have items for the event.
✅ Check your transportation from the airport to your hotel – Plan your route in advance to avoid any last-minute stress.
✅ Review badge pickup information – You can find details on the event website. You will even be able to pick up your badge as soon as you arrive in Lisbon, directly from the airport, so beat that queue and do just that (you’ll see signage all around the airport).
✅ Explore the Food Festival areas – Check the event map (website or SBC Connect app) and mark down the food trucks that suit your preferences. We’ll have a variety of options, including local cuisine, junk food, healthy greens, vegetarian, and vegan choices.
✅ Prepare your event registration ticket – Locate it in your email and screenshot it for easy access during badge pickup.
✅ Check the shuttle bus schedule – If you’ve booked one of the official SBC Summit hotels offering free shuttle service to FIL, review the shuttle schedule in advance so you’re familiar with the departure times.
With this month-by-month game plan, you’re now fully prepared to navigate SBC Summit like a pro.
Stay organised, be proactive, and most importantly—enjoy the experience!
See you in Lisbon!
