The INTA Annual Meeting is a must on every trademark attorney’s calendar — and, with thousands of delegates, remarkably easy to do badly. Here are hard-won tips for planning your trip and, above all, networking well.
Before you go
1. Registration. Register for the meeting and take INTA membership. You’ll save a little by skipping membership, but the benefits outweigh the cost.
2. Accommodation. INTA reserves heavily discounted rooms at popular hotels — book through the INTA housing bureau once you register; you won’t beat those rates elsewhere. Otherwise compare on kayak, booking.com, hotels.com, agoda (kayak is a favourite for comparing options).
3. Flights & visa. INTA often has airline discount codes; compare fares on kayak. Check visa requirements and apply early — INTA issues an invitation/visa letter you can use.
The dos and don’ts
- Research the city — know the areas to avoid before you land, so you’re not mugged or conned somewhere you later learn is notorious.
- Carry extra business cards — running out signals you’re unprepared.
- Pack cards and a suit in your hand luggage — checked bags get lost (it happens more than you think), and you don’t want to be buying a suit and printing cards on arrival. Keep an e-version of your card and travel documents in the cloud.
- Mix cash, credit and debit — and tell your bank you’re travelling so cards aren’t blocked.
- Save emergency numbers — e-version and hard copy.
- Check airport/customs rules, local transport options and tipping norms to avoid awkward moments.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes — you’ll walk miles between meetings (heels-wearers: carry band-aids for blisters by day two).
- First-timer? Attend the First-Time Attendee Orientation and a few (often free) educational sessions.
- Schedule in local time — so your e-calendar shows meetings correctly, and keep a hard-copy schedule.
- Pace the receptions — don’t hop between them every ten minutes; you’re there to know people, not scatter cards. Only exchange cards when asked/offered (a suit has two pockets: one for cards going to the office, one for the hotel bin).
- Not the rest rooms — however keen, don’t network there.
- Leave travel time between meetings — back-to-back scheduling means missed meetings; use INTA’s floor plans and pick a meeting point (spotting someone among hundreds in suits is a nightmare).
- Visit the exhibit hall — firms showcase services, run raffles and hand out freebies; make time for it.
- Arrive a day early — scout your meeting locations, judge travel times, and see the city.
The secret
An elderly lawyer, met at a first INTA in 2007, shared the enduring advice: INTA is a must for trademark attorneys of every country, and at the meeting — “MAKE FRIENDS AND BUSINESS WILL FOLLOW.” It’s held true ever since.
The takeaways
- Register and join — membership benefits outweigh the cost.
- Book via the housing bureau, and sort flights and visa early (use the visa letter).
- Redundancy wins — cards and a suit in hand luggage, documents in the cloud.
- Network deliberately — quality conversations over card-scattering; make friends first.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take INTA membership as well as registering for the meeting? Yes — the membership benefits outweigh the cost, even though registering alone is slightly cheaper.
How should I book accommodation for the INTA Annual Meeting? Through the INTA housing bureau for the discounted rates once you register; otherwise compare on kayak, booking.com, hotels.com or agoda.
What should I keep in my hand luggage? Business cards and a suit — checked luggage can be lost — plus cloud copies of your card and travel documents.
What’s the single best networking tip? Make friends first — as the saying goes at INTA, “make friends and business will follow” — and exchange cards only when asked or offered.