Fall is always a busy season for event professionals. Summer vacations are over; kids are back in school; and as we get well into the second half of the year, it feels more like a new beginning. Inevitably, there are a number of industry events to help you keep your professional development going strong. If you have the education and travel funds available, and enough time to use them, here are some events to consider attending.

Haute Dokimazo – Sept. 9, Austin

A Haute Dokimazo signature event is like no conference you've experienced as an event industry professional. There are no keynotes, no breakout sessions and no expo. Open to 100 attendees, the conference follows a hybrid model that blends traditional and participant-led, peer-to-peer engagement. The September event will be the first HD held in the company’s new office, aka the Haute Spot. By attending, you qualify to attend the Secret Family Reunion extravaganza in November (more details below).

IMEX America – Sept 10-12, Las Vegas

IMEX is a free-to-attend worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. The event brings together meeting and event professionals from a wide range of disciplines and sectors. If you're a meeting and events professional, you'll find all the suppliers you need for your events — from new venues in major cities across the world to the latest event tech providers. And don’t miss Smart Monday, powered by MPI, a day of free education on Monday, Sept. 9. Learn more here.

CEMA Educational Series: The Theory of Creativity – Oct 9-10, Chicago

Want to jumpstart your creativity and learn how to think differently? Join Corporate Event News and the Corporate Event Marketing Association at this special workshop for event professionals led by creativity and innovation leader Duncan Wardle. Wardle spent 25 years at the Walt Disney Company, most recently as head of innovation and creativity — and has come up with a revolutionary design thinking toolkit designed to help you spark new ideas through creative problem solving. The event will kick off with a networking reception the evening of Oct. 9 followed by the full-day workshop on Oct. 10. Find out more here.

Haute Dokimazo Secret Family Reunion – Nov. 2-7, mystery location

How does the idea of showing up at JFK airport in New York with your passport in hand and a suitcase packed for parts unknown sound to you? If you’re intrigued, and have attended any Haute Dokimazo event in the past (or, can make a case with the HD team for qualifying remotely), apply to attend the Secret Family Reunion. The event is an immersive learning experience limited to just 80 people — with fewer than 40 spots still open. There will be more than 12 hours of peer-to-peer educational content over three conference days, to begin aboard the chartered plane. Find more details here.

SPINCon – Nov. 3-5, Monterey

Senior Planners Industry Network is the only network of senior-level meeting and event professionals in North America. All members have at least 10 years of full-time experience planning meetings or supplying goods and services to execute them. SPINCon is the group’s annual event, focused on bringing together body, brain, being and business. Get more details here.

Have you attended other events in the past that you’d recommend to your peers this fall?  Let us know in the comments below, or email me at dwmenegus@corporateeventnews.com.