Tips from the Trenches: What the ASAE Annual Meeting 2025 Taught Me About Event Apps, Networking & Swag

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I downloaded the event app too late. I stuffed my bag with swag I’ll probably never use. And my best networking moments? They didn’t happen at the booth.

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This year at the ASAE Annual Meeting 2025 in Los Angeles, I had a front-row seat to what really drives value at conferences—and it wasn’t what I expected. Between fumbling my app download, questioning the ROI of the expo floor, and watching piles of swag gather dust, I realized it’s time to rethink how we design the attendee experience.

1. Don’t Wait to Download the App

Here’s my confession: I work for an event technology company, but even I didn’t download the ASAE Annual Meeting 2025 Event App until I was already onsite. And by then, I had already missed the chance to plan my agenda, join pre-event conversations, and scope out networking opportunities.

The truth is, the event starts when the app hits your phone—not when you walk through the registration doors.

Early adoption lets attendees:

Build a curated schedule instead of winging it.
Find and connect with peers or exhibitors in advance.
Spot must-attend receptions and book their spots before they’re full.
Learn the venue layout so they spend less time wandering.

If attendees wait until they’re already in line at registration, they lose all that value. That’s why organizers need to push app adoption early—with incentives, smart communication, and a little well-placed FOMO.

2. Networking Outside of the Showfloor Is Where the Magic Happens

At the ASAE Annual Meeting 2025, my booth time had its moments. But my best conversations—the ones that felt authentic, energizing, and memorable—happened elsewhere.

From a rooftop reception overlooking LA to a night at the Coliseum with Adam Lambert, even a casual conversation at the Grammy Museum, I found myself making connections that felt effortless. These weren’t rushed pitches; they were real human interactions.

And it made me ask: is the booth investment always worth it? Or could that same budget create (or sponsor) the spaces where the real networking happens?

When your brand is tied to the event everyone’s talking about, you’re not just another exhibitor—you’re the reason they connected. That sticks.

3. The Harsh Truth About Swag

Let’s be real: the expo floor was drowning in swag. Tote bags, water bottles, clever gadgets—you name it. I even picked up a few things I thought were fun at the time. And yet? They’re still sitting in my bag, untouched.

If I…someone who actually appreciates brand marketing—haven’t used them yet, what are the odds most attendees will?

The reality is, swag doesn’t create loyalty. Nobody chooses a new platform because of a free water bottle. What does create loyalty are experiences that spark joy, conversation, or even a little envy.

So instead of pouring money into giveaways that gather dust, what if we invested in interactive activations, app-based challenges, or networking moments that people will actually remember? Attendees don’t need more stuff—they need more stories.

The ASAE Annual Meeting 2025 reminded me that the heart of events doesn’t live in the booth design or the giveaway table. It lives in how prepared attendees are, the conversations they have, and the experiences they carry home.

So let’s rethink where we invest: