2009 ABDO Conference and Exhibition
www.abdoconference.co.uk
ABDO is pleased to announce that it is extending further the successful format, introduced last year, for its revitalised and refreshed annual conference and exhibition. This year's event will be held in Brighton, affectionately known as 'London by the Sea'. The chosen venue is the Hilton Brighton Metropole situated on Brighton’s vibrant and world famous sea front.
The Association is urging its members, as well as other optical professionals, to book early and come along and experience what is the continuation of "A New Vision" for ABDO. The theme for this year's conference is UV protection and we also have many new innovations hence we have adopted the tag line: "We have a brighter vision".
The event will encompass five interlinked Exhibition Halls spread over two floors and it has already attracted a number of major sponsors, including many international names, which we feel proves the underlying enthusiastic support and commitment for what promises to be a major new event in UK Optics.
Confirmed details at this stage include:-
Social networking events
- A new pre-conference President's Golf Tournament is to be held on Friday 2 October at the Hill Barn Golf Club, Nr Worthing
- A pre-final drinks reception, followed by the grand final of the Essilor Challenge Trophy - a competition for student DOs will be held on the afternoon of Saturday 3 October (the top prize offers the winning team a trip to the USA to the Student Optometry Superbowl)
- A welcome evening Cocktail Party, hosted by Essilor, is to be held in the hotel on Saturday 3 October
- On Sunday 4 October a fabulous Celebration Dinner will take place in the hotel, featuring live music from a spectacular 10 piece band, sponsored by Transitions Optical
- The dinner will be followed by a host of after dinner surprises
- Monday morning sponsored 'Hangover' Breakfast with reviving Oxygen Bar sponsored by See 20/20
Conference and educational events
- The ABDO Conference CET lecture and seminar programme will run throughout Sunday 4 and Monday 5 October
- The first ever opening general session with keynote speakers and ABDO updates
- The ABDO Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 3 October
- Optical Question Time, to take place on Sunday morning your chance to voice your opinions on the future of your profession
- The highly popular
forum, which will feature new manufacturing innovations and how they can be applied to retail optics, will
The highly popular forum, which will feature new manufacturing
innovations and how they can be applied to retail optics, will be held on Sunday
in the general session - International and UK based high profile speakers
- Low Vision workshops
- A comprehensive series of CET approved lectures, particularly important for those members who are looking to complete their points before the end of the present 3 year CET cycle in December 2009
- A possible total of 7.5 CET points, plus 2 additional CET points via CD produced in conjunction with Replay Learning
Exhibition events
- A bigger and better exhibition that will include leading names as well as specialist companies, that will run for all three days from Saturday 3 through to Monday 5 October
- The exhibition will showcase a wide range of products and services including frames, sunglasses, lenses, practice management software, instruments and equipment
- Style Clinic and development classes run on the Silhouette stand throughout the weekend
- 'Life's a beach' sponsored by Luxottica zone featuring the latest designer sunglasses
- Designer Gallery featuring niche designer frames - confirmed exhibitors include Lafont, ProDesign and Tom Davies (tbc)