Connecting Legal Minds Across Borders
In 2024, we had the privilege of planning the South Asian Bar Association’s (SABA) Annual Conference, an event that has become a cornerstone for professional growth and networking within the legal community. This marked the first time the event was hosted outside of US, in Toronto, Canada, and the milestone was celebrated in grand style with 600 attendees from across North America and beyond.
As the trusted event planners for SABA for many years, we were thrilled to deliver yet another memorable conference, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and innovation in event planning and management.
Objective:
To provide SABA members and guests with a seamless and exceptional event experience that enhanced professional development opportunities, fostered meaningful connections among attendees, and celebrated South Asian culture. Key objectives included:
Organizing 24 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions featuring hot topics in law.
Introducing innovative tools to enhance attendee engagement and networking.
Curating an unforgettable gala dinner with entertainment that celebrates the vibrancy of South Asian culture.
Event Highlights:
20 CLE-Credited Sessions: Covering cutting-edge topics to advance the professional growth of attendees.
Keynote Lunches: Featuring thought-provoking talks from prominent speakers.
Event App with Gamification: We introduced a custom event app with interactive games, which became a standout feature by encouraging networking and fostering connections in a fun and engaging way.
Gala Celebration Dinner: The conference concluded with a spectacular gala dinner for all 600 attendees, featuring an electrifying performance by the celebrated South Asian-Canadian singer Raghav Mathur.
Sponsorship Optimization: Leveraging our expertise in event branding, we created tailored opportunities for sponsors to maximize their visibility. Through carefully curated touchpoints like branded signage, app integration, and session sponsorships, we ensured that both sponsors and the organization benefitted from enhanced engagement and exposure.
Challenges:
During the event, we faced challenges with the on-site platform but resolved them seamlessly thanks to our proactive team. Recognizing the platform’s limitations, we began exploring more reliable options for future events.
The client found the speaker management was overwhelming and reached out to us to find a solution. We implemented a streamlined onboarding process, earning positive feedback from both the client and speakers.
Additionally, we enhanced attendee engagement through interactive features such as personalized profiles, private chats, website links, and gamified networking sessions, fostering meaningful connections and a vibrant event atmosphere.
Conference Venue:
The 2024 SABA Annual Conference was hosted at the prestigious Hilton Toronto, providing a central and convenient location for all attendees. The conference utilized the hotel’s state-of-the-art facilities, creating an ideal environment for professional growth and networking.
Welcome Reception:
We wanted the visiting attendees to explore the culture of the hosting city. We carefully selected the perfect venue - the iconic Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts - to add a touch of elegance and cultural flair. This stunning venue set the tone for the event, offering a sophisticated and memorable kickoff to the conference.
Result:
The 2024 SABA Annual Conference was a resounding success, with 600 attendees lauding the seamless organization, innovative features, and engaging programming. Acuity Events secured CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credits for 20 educational sessions. The event app with gamification enhanced networking opportunities and meaningful connections. SABA’s leadership praised our team for exceeding expectations and delivering a flawless, memorable event. Together, we elevated the South Asian Bar Association’s standard for professional conferences.
“The “occasionally remarkable” moments shouldn’t be left to chance! They should be planned for, invested in.”