From Orlando to Hong Kong...

I added video recaps for the first two days of the ADA Annual Session, so I thought I'd write a little about the third day of the show. Show rhymes with slow, and that's what the third day was. Many exhibitors asked me why the show was Saturday-Monday this year and I think a lot of people were wondering that with the less-than-awesome attendance in the exhibit hall.

Overall, I think exhibitors will tell you that Sunday was the best day on the show floor while the bookend days were fairly weak attendance-wise. The ADA should be posting their final attendance numbers by the end of the month, and that will happen just in time for the Dental Trade Alliance's annual meeting in Palm Springs. Could make for some interesting conversation.

I left the ADA Annual Session a little early so I could make my flights to Hong Kong to participate in the World Dental Forum. After leaving Orlando at 2:15 p.m. ET on Monday, I finally made it to the meeting at 10 a.m. Hong Kong time on Wednesday. It took a flight to Orlando to Los Angeles to Hong Kong, a train ride into Hong Kong from the airport, a taxi to the ferry terminal to catch a ride to Macau (China), the one-hour ferry ride, and finally a shuttle bus from the port to the Grand Hyatt, but here I am, on a sunny warm day in mainland China. Macau is an interesting place as it actually has more money turn over in its casinos than Las Vegas ... and you's think you were in Vegas by driving down the streets here. I can see the entrance to the Venetian from my hotel room ... and that's by looking past the Hard Rock Casino. There's also the Wynn, MGM Grand, and other casinos here, although Viva Macau just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Regarding the World Dental Forum, it's been a good series of lectures thus far. A doctor from France spoke on implants before a professor from the University of Hong Kong discussed edentulist patients. As I type this, a doctor frmo Germany has taken the podium to discuss "Quality and dental alloys." I am doing video interviews with each of the speakers so you'll be able to get a taste of the lectures there.

Tonight brings a cocktail event and dinner ... followed by a night of sleep in a bed that is looking better and better by the minute.

Until tomorrow...

Comment

You need to be a member of PennWell Dental Group to add comments!

Join PennWell Dental Group

Comment by Mary Jane RDH BS on October 15, 2010 at 7:52am: Kevin, I would really like to volunteer as your porter. You do get to see a side of dentistry that most of us catch just a glimpse of. Out of school, I did do two years in Switzerland that were wonderful. But Hong Kong is totally different. Europe has always been ahead of us..now we need to catch up.

Comment by Vicki Cheeseman on October 14, 2010 at 8:37am: hummmmmmmmmmmmm.....................

Comment by Meg Kaiser on October 14, 2010 at 8:28am: All is well and beautiful. We're all talking to each other through our walls and having a good time, but your absence is certainly felt. Machele and Heather are complaining about their sore feet from the show, Darlene just told us her daughter thinks she's rude, and Mark has sworn off sending his fun emails in your absence. Oh! That's Duane arriving and humming. Yes, all is right with the world.

Comment by Kevin Henry on October 13, 2010 at 6:31pm: See, I leave town and all the excitement happens. Figures. As long as it didn't hurt anything at the Panda Express then all is well in beautiful T-Town I assume.

Comment by Penny Anderson on October 13, 2010 at 10:04am: The hard part is going to be waking up once you finally hit a bed!

Comment by Vicki Cheeseman on October 13, 2010 at 9:35am: Yes, I love how Duane just says that earth-shattering (fortunately not literally) news so casually...

Comment by Meg Kaiser on October 13, 2010 at 9:30am: Duane says that so casually. We didn't feel the earthquake here at PennWell, darn it!

Comment by Duane DaPron on October 13, 2010 at 9:27am: Kevin:

Glad you made it to Macau. Sounds like quite a trip. Everything is fine here. Guess we had an earthquake roll through Green Country this morning. So, all is well! Take care.

Comment by Meg Kaiser on October 13, 2010 at 9:25am: Very interesting post, Kevin. It's fascinating that Macau is like Vegas. Glad your trip is off to a good start and all is right with dental world. Go win something at a casino! And enjoy that comfy bed.

Comment by Vicki Cheeseman on October 13, 2010 at 9:20am: Thanks for the great post, Kevin! Looking forward to watching your video interviews. Come back with some good clinical material for DIQ! :)