There’s a lot to see and do at Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, and more people than you could ever hope to meet in just five days. Which means it takes some preparation to successfully navigate what others have dubbed “spring prom” for the specialty pharmacy industry.

I’ve been attending the summit for 10 years, which means I’ve learned a lesson or two about the major event that brings pharmacy business leaders together every year. It is my hope the guidance below will help you make the most of this year’s Asembia summit.

Safe travels, all. See you in Vegas.

Schedule meetings at times that aren’t on the hour or half hour

A 2:20 p.m. meeting? At AXS24, it may actually be a good idea. Experienced attendees know there are only two elevators at the Towers at the Wynn Las Vegas, and they aren’t the fastest. Because meetings are generally scheduled on the hour or half hour, wait times for the elevators can get long ahead of popular meeting times. A good way to avoid this is to schedule your meetings for less popular times – :15, :20, :45, and so forth. 

Be ready for the meetings between your meetings

Speaking of meetings, the ones you’ve officially booked in your reserved suite aren’t the only meetings you’ll have. At AXS24, you’ll run into so many people you’ve wanted to speak to when you’re on your way to meals or other meetings. Make sure you’re prepared to make the most of those two- or three-minute “walk-and-talks.” Have your elevator pitch ready, and figure out the best way to remember everyone you meet with, as well as the best way to connect with them after the event. (And if you’ve figured out a tech-enabled way to do that last part … let me know).

Don’t just learn from what’s happening on stage

AXS24 is chock-full of expert speakers from across the pharmacy landscape. No doubt there is a lot to learn from these industry leaders during their presentations – but that’s far from your only opportunity to learn. In fact, you’ll likely learn just as much from the chats you have during meals, in the elevator, perusing the exhibition hall, or walking between appointments. These informal conversations with your peers can provide valuable insights into trends, rumors, and challenges that may not be covered in scheduled presentations and panel discussions. 

Vegas hours will apply

Don’t be surprised to get invited to meetings at all hours of the day or night – it’s Las Vegas, after all. You may have a 6:15 a.m. meeting one day (if the host read recommendation No. 1 above!), and meet up for a conversation at 11:30 p.m. another. 

Eat light, because ‘duplicate meals’ are common 

Imagine this: You’re in the elevator on your way to the lobby when someone you’ve connected with on LinkedIn and have been emailing with for a while – but whom you’ve never met in person – gets on with you. Then they invite you to lunch. There’s no way you’re going to say no to that valuable 1:1 time … even if you’ve already had lunch. At the Asembia summit, these duplicate meals are common. Take my advice, and keep your meals light. You never know when you’ll be invited to a second breakfast or a third coffee run. 

Visit booth 1928

I’d be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to visit Infinitus’s booth in the exhibition hall. We’re helping pharmaceutical companies automate routine calls to payors, PBMs, and pharmacies, saving valuable time and money. At our booth, you can watch a demo of the Infinitus digital assistant in action, grab a copy of our latest thought leadership publication, and enter to win an Apple Watch.

You can find Infinitus on the AXS24 floor plan here.