Maximise AWS Re:Invent experience

First of all, congratulations if you are visiting this event. I think it is one of the best opportunities in your career to not just learn about AWS technologies but also learn about leadership, communication, networking, community building, meet new and exciting startups and most importantly realise that you add a lot of value in your day to day activities working around AWS.

I visited AWS RE:Invent at Las Vegas in 2024 and it was a mesmerising experience. The entire week was filled with sessions, meeting fellow Engineers/Architects/Sales and a lot of AWS enthusiasts like myself. Apart from the sessions and other AWS hosted events, I did enjoy visiting near by places like Grand Canyon, dinners with my colleagues, playing games and simply walking.

Based on this visit and talking to other people, I realised that it could be an overwhelming experience to sustain the entire week, be on time with the schedules especially if the sessions are at multiple locations (and yes sessions are at multiple locations), taking notes, attending labs, dealing with jet lags etc. Hence I decided to write a blog to help the upcoming visitors with some pro-tips that would help in organising yourself to maximise the experience !

Here is the agenda and I will try to be concise in the explanation. And do not miss some pro-tips at the end of this blog.

✈️ Before travel

✅ Registration and logistics

Registration usually starts in the beginning of June.

• Upon registration, you will receive a conference pass and access to “Attendee portal“ where you can see your profile, manage events etc.

• 

  Selecting hotels could be trickier based on availabilities but I suggest to book a hotel near to the event venues.

✅ AWS Event Catalog and planning sessions

AWS provides session details in advance. It is very very important to atleast add your favourite sessions in your event profile.

AWS opens up the link to actually book the sessions somewhere in the beginning of October (In 2024, it was on 8th October, 19.00 hrs CET). You will receive a notification email from AWS beforehand.

Do not wait for the reservation link to open to mark sessions as your favourite, you can do it now as well.

Sessions are reserved very fast when the link opens. Joining waitlist is also an option if your favourite session is full. It becomes very difficult to join the session in person without reservation as it becomes very crowded. You will only loose time waiting in the queue outside the room.

While booking sessions, make sure to look at the venues and be realistic because it could be very time consuming changing venues.

Expo, Sports forum etc are usually at one location and so if you are planning to spend sometime there, book your sessions accordingly so you don’t have to travel unnecessarily twice in a day.

✅ Understanding AWS events venues

Here is the list of event venues for 2025 (same as 2024)

Being efficient at Re:Invent is important to save time and energy. Plan you sessions based on the venues. Travelling between venues whether by walking or shuttle is really time consuming.

My experience

“The venetian“ location was with Expo, Sports Forum, Community building activities etc. I spent a lot of time there and hence planning sessions accordingly would help. For example: I spent my morning at “MGM Grand“ to attend some sessions, travelled during lunch at Venetian, and attended some sessions there together with Expo visit.

AWS Agenda for Expo and other activities for Re:Invent 2025.

🎟️ At Re:Invent

✅ Getting your Re:Invent badge

AWS starts distributing badges 1-2 days before the event. You can already pick up the badge on the day you arrive to avoid waiting in the queue on your 1st day.

✅ Keynote

Keynote session do not need a reservation but it’s very very busy, so being early is advisable before the room fills up. You can also attend online but I strongly suggest to attend in person, it’s amazing to listen to the pioneers.

✅ Be on-time for sessions

Assuming you have reserved your sessions in advance and your venue selection is planned, you won’t have any issues attending the sessions. Reserved seats are always given priority.

In case, you are attending a sessions without reservation, you have to queue up in the “non reserved“ line and you may or may not get a seat. Same applies to the fact that how late you arrive for the session.

✅ Attending AWS hosted events

Apart from sessions, expo, sports forum, AWS hosts other events such as Networking receptions, AWS Re:Play. Please register to these events, I had a great time there.

✅ Have fun

At the end, it’s all about having a great time at the Invent. Sometimes, you might miss an opportunity to attend a session or miss something but that’s okay.

Pro-tips

• Buy water bottles/snacks at nearby super markets.

• Make sometime to visit nearby attractions.

• Use AWS provided shuttles to travel between venues. Cabs are also affordable.

• Download AWS Events app. It’s really handy to check the schedules and calendars.

• Check the type of the session you are attending, take your laptop in case of lab/handson sessions.