The next SPESA Executive Conference will be a lively event Wednesday, October 27 through Thursday, October 28 in Boston!
This annual conference is a key SPESA education and networking event for our members, their customers and anyone who wants to learn more about current issues, trends and policies affecting the global apparel industry.
Education
The two-day conference is a combination of keynote speakers, panel discussions and industry case studies to give attendees an opportunity to both learn and network. Although our speakers are experts in their fields, no one has all the answers, so this conference aims to connect speakers and attendees to address the challenges facing our industry and find solutions together. Previous topics include: workforce development; trade and tariffs; enterprise risk management and supply chain disruption; overshoring and U.S. manufacturing; and cobotics and automated technology.
More information and an agenda will be available soon. Also, if you have suggestions for speakers or topics you’d like to learn more about, we’d love to hear them.
Please note: The SPESA Executive Conference will begin at 2:00 p.m. on October 27 and end at 10:00 p.m. on October 28 after our closing party. To ensure you get the most out of your attendance, we recommend booking your trip to arrive on Tuesday, October 26, or the morning of Wednesday, October 27, and stay through Friday, October 29. Or bring your family and stay the weekend!
Nets
And did we mention networks? SPESA’s unofficial mandate is to always provide open dialogue, open-mindedness and an open bar. This conference effectively combines educational sessions with more casual retreats, providing opportunities to make both business connections and lifelong friends in an industry we all love.
In addition, each iteration of the Executive Conference is held in a new city to provide access to interested sewing professionals from around the world. So, invite your colleagues, bring your family, and make the SPESA Executive Conference part of your annual travel plans.
Register at SPESA Members.
Realizing that 2020 was a challenging year for anyone, we decided to keep the number of registrations for this event as low as possible. In addition, SPESA members are eligible for a discount.
- SPESA Early Bird member rate (available through July 27, 2021): $595
- SPESA regular member rate: $645.
We know how much our members value the opportunity to connect with their customers. With that in mind, each SPESA member will be given a unique discount code to share with current or prospective customers.
Non-Members
Not a member? No problem! The SPESA Executive Conference is open to all. - Early Bird member rate (available through July 27, 2021): $645.
- Regular rate for non-members: $695
Cut and Sew manufacturers are not eligible for SPESA membership, but we would be happy to help connect you with a SPESA member who can hook you up with this nice discount code and might just be the right vendor for your business.
Spouses
This is a family business and a family affair, so we encourage you to bring your significant other with you. - Spouse rate: $245
This registration is only valid for networking events the evening of October 27 and 28. But, trust us, you’re in for a treat!
Your spouse’s registration must be accompanied by a regular participant.
Refunds for this event are available until September 27. After that date, refunds may be given on a case-by-case basis.
Hotel
The 2021 Executive Conference will take place at Omni Parker House in downtown Boston. In addition to its excellent location – on the Liberty Trail and minutes from Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Quincy Market, and Fanel Hall – the hotel’s incredible history is an attraction in itself.
The hotel housed the Saturday Club, which included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The elder Charles Dickens lived at Parker House for two years and gave his first public reading of “A Christmas Hymn” to the Saturday Club. (We’ll be in the Olcott Room, named for the writer Louise May Olcott, who also wrote there a lot, though men wouldn’t let her join their club.)
Major political figures were also present at the hotel. Ho Chi Minh, the Marxist revolutionary and president of North Vietnam, worked there as a pastry chef, and his marble baking table is still in use. Malcolm X, an African American activist, worked as a waiter in the hotel restaurant. He was also a favorite of the late President John F. Kennedy. JFK gave his first public speech, announced his bid for the U.S. Senate and held a bachelor party at the Omni Parker House.
And, of course, it’s the home of Boston cream pie!
SPESA has reserved a block of rooms at the hotel for Oct. 26-29. Rooms will be available at $289 per night until September 28 or until they sell out.
Please note: The SPESA Executive Conference will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 27 and end at 10 p.m. Oct. 28 after our closing party. To ensure you get the most out of your attendance, we recommend booking your trip to arrive on Tuesday, October 26, or the morning of Wednesday, October 27, and stay through Friday, October 29.
Health and Safety.
Beginning August 27, 2021, face masks are required in all public areas of the City of Boston, regardless of vaccination status.
During this event, SPESA will follow CDC recommended Covid guidelines as well as rules set by Omni Parker House and local government. Event details and safety instructions will be given to participants prior to the event.