SedoPro Event Wrapup
The prior week’s SedoPro Partner Forum in Fresh York was a great success.
Sedo knows how to treat its clients well. The prior week, the domain name aftermarket and parking firm treated over 50 of its SedoPro clients to a vacation at the Mohonk Mountain House in Fresh Paltz, Fresh York. Attendees paid only $149 per night, a fraction of the $500 room rate, and were treated to one heck of a time. Those invited included SedoPro clients (Sedo’s professional domain name parking service), some of the firm’s biggest buyers and sellers, and select other domain professionals.
The group met Sunday afternoon at the Grand Hyatt in Fresh York City, where the TRAFFIC conference kicked off a few days later. Around 3PM we boarded three limo buses, each stocked with a cooler of beer, and headed off on the two hour journey to the Mohonk resort. With so many languages being spoken, each bus resembled a UN convention. Visitors represented Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, among others.
The bus ride from NYC to Mohonk
Upon arrival, we were ushered to our rooms to relax for an hour ahead of heading to a lobster bake. Mohonk’s rooms are incredible, with beautiful views of the hills and lake.
A room with a view
Chowing down with fellow domainers.
The event gave Sedo a captive audience to which it could sell why it was best, but Sedo decided to make this event a vacation, not a sales pitch. There were few educational sessions planned until the third day. Even then, Sedo shortened most of its sessions since the weather was so nice. Most days the temperature sat in the 70s.
Monday morning we were given the option of going on a hike, visiting the spa for a massage, playing golf, or hitting around the tennis ball. Regarding 30 people opted for the hike, counting myself. We were given the option to go a leisurely walk, a brisk hike, or a rock scramble. Myself and four other domainers opted for the more rigourous option, and ascended a couple hundred feet in the air by navigating boulders, caves, and a few tight spots (one dubbed the “lemon squeeze”).
Entrance to the rock scramble, called The Labyrinth
Don’t look down! That would be an uncomfortable 200 foot drop.
And they say domainers never get out from in front of the computer.
Following the morning events, everyone gathered for a barbeque and listened to Phil Corwin of Internet Commerce Association tell us regarding some of the dangers ahead for the domain industry. The afternoon included an optional networking event and a game of domainer jeopardy. I opted for the speed networking and got to meet a lot of people I knew of but never met in person.
Barbeque in the mountains
Monday evening, Sedo treated us to a formal dinner followed by a great party. The party included lots of games, counting two huge big screens connected to Nintendo Wii consoles. Unfortunately, nature got the best of me and I was sick by the time the party started. I only attended for a few minutes but everyone who attended stated they had a great time.
Tuesday included a number of brief educational sessions, counting information regarding Sedo’s buyout of Great Domains. The sessions ended in time to relax outside for another hour and enjoy the crisp mountain breeze.
Of all of the planning Sedo did, the best job was planning the weather.
It was great putting faces to the names of some of Sedo’s account managers and marketers. They are a professional group and add legitimacy to this industry. Bravo to Sedo for planning a great conference.
