Las Vegas is home to a multitude of conferences throughout the year. In September 2009 I attended the Electronic Retail Association’s D2C Convention and today kicks off the start of PubCon. Vegas is a prime location for many large events because the city itself attracts people with it’s sparkling reputation. With Las Vegas conferences often comes Las Vegas fatigue caused by many reasons including indoor smoking, non stop events and staying up all night.

I’ve come up with a few tips to help you avoid or combat the fatigue. They will allow you to get back on track to continue your great conference experience.

1. Stay Hydrated with plenty of water: (And just because you’re in Vegas doesn’t mean Vodka Soda is water) This is such a simple tip yet it’s one of the top reasons why people feel fatigued when working a conference in Vegas. A few tips on doing this:

• Instead of drinking the extra cup of coffee grab a cold water bottle. The temperature of the water will wake you up and the consumption of the water will provide fuel to refresh your body.
• Instead of ordering a cocktail on the plane ride to Vegas or in the middle of the conference (you will have plenty of time for that in the evening) opt for water.
• When checking in to your room, pick up a pack of bottled water at the hotel convenience store so water is readily available in your room at all times. This is more cost efficient than paying  $6 for the small bottle of water in your mini bar.
• When arriving back in your room after a late night of gambling/ clubbing (this is a work conference, but it’s Vegas so the chances of staying out late are high, although networking at bars is definitely where many great business connections are made) make sure you drink a bottle of water before falling asleep. This lessons Vegas hangovers that lead to Vegas fatigue.

2. Request a Wake Up Call: On top of your regular alarm clock, call the front desk to request a wake up call 10 minutes after your alarm is set to go off. The blackout curtains in Vegas hotels are great for blocking sunshine but they’re an extra obstacle in waking up. Being stressed out and rushing to a session because you’re late causes a lot of fatigue especially if you are sleep deprived from the night before.

3. Take a Break to Recharge: While it may seem everything  is fast paced and there is not even enough time to do everything you planned, it’s important to take a mental break to regroup for at least 20 minutes a day during the conference. This means no meeting interruptions, no cell phone calls, no laptops and putting the conference at the back of your mind just for a short time. I recommend doing this back in your hotel instead of in the conference hall. Perhaps do this right after a full day before dinner or during lunch. In 20 minutes there are plenty of things you can do to revitalize your body and mind.

• Go for a quick run on the treadmill at the gym. If you’re exhausted this will boost your energy.
• Go into a meditation. This clears your mind from all the stress of running around the conference hall and the flashing Vegas lights.
• Read an inspiration or motivational book rather than a tabloid magazine or watching the news so your mind is being fed positive thoughts.
• Stretch: There should be enough space in your room to do a few simple stretches. Whether they’re yoga stretches or stretches you normally do before you exercise, activating your body through stretching will definitely give you more energy.

If you have any other tips to avoid conference fatigue please share your thoughts in the comments below. I’m looking forward to a great PubCon 2010 and wish you all the success in your PubCon ventures.