The regional format allows for a more streamlined event. Corey Hayes, a Flight Coordination Supervisor for Jet Linx, explained, “This event was beneficial for reaching out to our vendors and fellow operators at a more narrowed, regional level. It allowed discussions to focus more precisely on concerns of the regional operators and allowed us to find opportunities to better our own operation through their help and insight.”

Regional forums feature all the same exhibits, education sessions, lectures, and opportunities to create relationships and network that a national event offers – but everything is wrapped up in just one day. “The regional event makes it more tailored to those operators and vendors in the region,” Hayes added. “While it is not exclusive to that region’s operators, we all gained some much-needed insight through the educational events and took part in multiple discussions with regional leadership.”

The regional approach can be beneficial to companies of any size, as they get to meet their partners face to face. While a smaller regional event, it still attracted more than 1,700 attendees and 140 exhibitors, including six Jet Linx team members.

Because the event took place at William P. Hobby Airport, the Jet Linx team was also able to retreat to the Jet Linx Houston private terminal for moments of rest or to have lengthier discussions with different vendors. For many team members, it was their first time to visit the Houston Base location, and meet face-to-face the people that they work with on a daily basis.

Danielle Patterson, Charter Support Specialist, had not attended an NBAA event before but enjoyed the opportunity. “It was nice to see one of our facilities and to see first-hand the hospitality that our clients are given when flying to the Houston Base! I also got the chance to meet with some individuals from different companies that we work with on the operations side and hear what kinds of materials and programs they are working on to help improve our daily operations,” Patterson revealed.

“The actual event took place just outside the hangar that we use in Houston so that was very convenient. The aircraft on display sat right outside of the door of our private terminal, so a lot of people saw our beautiful local Base,” Patterson continued.