The first decade of the new millennium has shown a remarkably negative trend, starting with the burst of the dot-com bubble in the early years and finishing with the housing bubble burst in the later years. The rise and fall of the economy has affected nearly every industry, and conventions are the most recent to be hit. Traditionally strong marketing conventions, such as the DMA, are recording fewer exhibits and attendees than past years, and a few are opting not to open in the coming year.
However, much as the internet market foreshadowed the fall of the national and global economies, the slow rise of technology markets over the last five years portrays a glimmer of hope for other businesses. Of all the industries to track,
Web Hosting Services are among the forerunners as they are the backbone of the internet and their success is directly influenced by the success of their customers. In the coming year, two of the largest web hosting conventions on the planet are anticipating continued growth as the industry itself sees renewed vigor.
In its fifth consecutive year, the upcoming WebHostingDay will be held March17-19, 2010 at Phantasialand in Bruehl, Germany. The convention promises to be one of the world’s largest web hosting events with over 2,000 attendees, and cites itself as being “from the industry for the industry.” Even though English will be the common language, conventioneers will be attending from Europe, America, and Asia, thus providing a forum for international networking, exchanging of ideas, and social interaction. The various events will include discussion forums, hosting sessions and fairs, hands-on labs, and social functions.
Of last year’s event, Phil Shih, a Tier One Research Analyst, said, “It was a good opportunity to learn about the unique dynamics of the European hosting market, something that I value as an industry analyst. It was also a good networking opportunity and for Tier1 Research, a sales opportunity. Speaking off the record, German beer is fabulous. I highly recommend Weizen.”
The sixth annual HostingCon will be held July 19-21, 2010 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. They project that there will be over 1,500 attendees from over 30 countries registered so far, and the convention touts itself as being “the largest gathering of hosted services professionals in the world.” In addition to the grand exhibitor hall, HostingCon will be providing seminars and speeches by industry leaders, and webinars regarding the current and future states of the industry.
The main website for HostingCon reads, “The best and brightest from the industry will be in attendance to learn about the latest news, ideas, and technology affecting their businesses. Whether you are showcasing your new services, or you are simply checking the pulse of the industry, this is your opportunity to meet and network with your business partners, in a fun and educational atmosphere.”
Web hosting services allow individuals and companies to display their websites on the Internet. Web hosts provide server space, on purchased or leased computers, for their clients. They also provide Internet connectivity, usually through a data center. The complexity of the services a web hosting company offers varies, from personal website hosting, commonly single pages, to application development platforms and database support for forums and E-commerce businesses.
