More than 14,600 people attended the 83rd Annual Western Veterinary Conference last month in Las Vegas, an attendance record. Last year, the total was about 13,500. More than 14,600 people attended the 83rd Annual Western Veterinary Conference last month in Las Vegas, an attendance record. Last year, the total was about 13,500. newsline More than 14,600 people attended the 83rd Annual Western Veterinary Conference in February in Las Vegas, an attendance record. Last year, the total was about 13,500. This year’s attendance included 6,220 veterinarians; 1,513 veterinary technicians; 330 practice managers; 1,381 guests; 246 administrative staff; 145 DVM students; 387 veterinary technician students; 3,719 exhibitor representatives; 322 general attendee/press; and 354 vendor and support staff. The conference offered more than 875 hours of continuing education, about 30 hands-on laboratories and workshops, more than 30 focused symposia, 18 industry seminars and a “hugely expanded” exhibit hall. The exhibit hall, located upstairs this year on Level 2, was increased by 65 percent, according to Manolita Moore, annual conference director. WVC added nearly 100 more exhibitors in 2011 for a total of 550. “By introducing the Hall’s Grand Pavilion for easy access to exhibitor information plus our New Product Showcase, the trade show became the ‘highlight’ of this year’s annual conference,” Moore said. Joel Altman, WVC exhibits manager, added, “Our enhanced 2011 exhibit hall also allowed us to provide extra amenities for attendees, such as responsive food service, lounges and both electronic and person-to-person information points that really enhanced the WVC exhibit experience. The feedback we’ve received is off the charts.” The conference also featured entertainment options for attendees. Entertainers included: Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander; Styx ; and Mike Rowe, offering his own experience with animals on the job. Rowe is the creator and host of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs.” Conference sponsors include Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, Virbac Animal Health, Merial, Pfizer Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Petsmart Charities, VetStreet, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Idexx Laboratories, Nestle Purina and Heska. <Home>
