Guide to AWS re:Invent 2024: Tips, Schedule, Secret Party

Every year, thousands of AWS enthusiasts and professionals face the same challenge at AWS re:Invent, maximizing their time while soaking in as much knowledge as possible. This guide offers solutions to this challenge.

(If you're here for the ticketmaster voucher raffle, here are the details.)

From December 1-6, the desert oasis will transform into a techie’s dream, with cloud enthusiasts, developers, and business leaders from around the globe flocking to the Strip for a week-long marathon of everything AWS.

The guide features detailed information on keynotes, technical sessions, workshops, and rife networking opportunities, offering something for everyone - from engineers looking to break into the ecosystem to CXOs gauging industrial trends and potential upgrades to their internal systems and product offerings.

AWS re:Invent Pass Cost & $150 Discount

You can catch the event virtually for free. No lines, no flights, no FOMO. However, if you're planning to come to re:invent, grab your tickets. We've got some sweet discount for you, get $150 off on the full conference pass. We’re offering a special $150 discount on full conference passes, typically priced at $2,099. Your AWS account manager may have additional discounts, so be sure to check in!

Pro Tip: Book a demo with Zenduty at Booth 1942 and you could save up to $1,000 on your trip costs—a substantial win-win. Not only will you enjoy significant savings, but your team will also benefit from enhanced reliability through our solutions.

Every demo attendee will get an in-depth, personalized walkthrough of how Zenduty can optimize their incident management processes. You'll see firsthand how our tools integrate with your existing systems and offer real-time solutions to enhance your operational efficiency. Plus, we're offering exclusive discounts and promotions only available to those who book a demo!

What to Expect in AWS re:invent 2024

1. Keynotes: Expect AWS legends like Matt Garman, Dr. Werner Vogels, and more to take the stage and drop some serious cloud wisdom. Spoiler alert—there's always a new service or two (or ten) being announced.
2. Breakout Sessions: Hundreds of sessions. Literally. Whether you're into serverless, machine learning, or security, there’s something for everyone. Just be ready to make some tough decisions on what to attend. Hint: Use the app to plan your schedule!
3. Hands-On Labs: Roll up your sleeves because you're going to get hands-on with AWS tools. Whether it’s Lambda or S3, you’ll be solving real-world problems in these guided labs.
4. Networking Galore: Let’s be honest, some of the best conversations happen outside the sessions. Grab a coffee, hit up the after-parties, or join the unofficial Slack channel where attendees plan meetups and discuss sessions in real time. Don’t miss out!

Pro Tips for the AWS re:Invent Newbies (and Veterans)

• Comfort Over Style: Sure, it’s Vegas, but this is a walking conference. You’ll easily rack up 10,000+ steps per day, so wear those comfy shoes.
• The Real Networking Happens After Hours: Parties, lounges, happy hours—you name it. If you're looking to make connections, this is where to be. Who knows, you might just land your next deal over a cocktail.
• Plan Your Attack: With so many sessions and events, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Map out what you want to see ahead of time, and remember, you can’t do it all. Prioritize and go in with a strategy. And to help you keep up, here's an unofficial reinvent planner.

What's AWS re:Invent is all about?

AWS re:Invent is the Super Bowl of cloud computing, the place where AWS drops all their biggest announcements, new services, and innovations. Whether you're a cloud beginner or have been navigating the AWS seas for years, this event is your golden ticket to all things cloud. 

And if you thought you were coming just for the technical deep dives, think again—this is where serious networking happens. We're talking after-hours mingling at some of Vegas' most iconic spots. Work hard, play hard, right?

AWS re:Invent 2024 Schedule

AWS re:Invent isn’t just a conference, it’s a full-blown cloud carnival. There’s so much happening over the course of six days that it’s easy to get lost. Lucky for you, here’s the cheat sheet on what to expect:

Day 1 (Sunday, December 1, 2024):

Not much action on the first day—think of it as the calm before the cloud storm. You’ve got badge pickup and a chance to grab some AWS swag (who doesn’t love free T-shirts?). It’s all happening from 10 AM to 6 PM at The Venetian, where you’ll also find the merchandise store open for all the gear you didn’t know you needed.

Day 2 (Monday, December 2, 2024):

While the big keynotes haven’t started yet, Monday still packs a punch. There’s bootcamps, spotlight labs, and plenty of sessions happening all across the venues from 8 AM to 6:30 PM. Your highlight for the day? Monday Night Live with Peter DeSantis, AWS SVP of Utility Computing. With over 600 sessions lined up, you’ll be sprinting between venues (comfy shoes, remember?).

Day 3 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024):

Now, we’re talking. Matt Garman, AWS CEO, kicks off the first big keynote, and you can bet he’s got plenty of cloud tech to reveal. The Expo at The Venetian also opens its doors from 10 AM to 6 PM, so be sure to check that out. Don't miss the PeerTalk Lounges and networking coffee sessions (because business talks go great with caffeine), plus evening networking receptions across the MGM Grand and The Venetian from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Day 4 (Wednesday, December 4, 2024):

Early birds, this is your day! There’s a 5K race at 6 AM (yup, tech geeks can run too) at the Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena. For the more traditional conference-goers, there are two major keynotes: Dr. Swami Sivasubramanian at 8 AM, talking about all things AI and data, and Dr. Ruba Borno at 3 PM, focusing on AWS partnerships. You’ll also find the Expo and Expo Happy Hour running from 10 AM to 6 PM. Grab a drink and chat with fellow cloud enthusiasts!

Day 5 (Thursday, December 5, 2024):

You won’t want to miss this one—Dr. Werner Vogels, Amazon’s CTO, takes the stage at 8 AM for his keynote. Expect deep insights and strategies for managing complex systems at scale. After that, it’s your last chance to catch sessions, innovation talks, and labs. But the real highlight? The official after-party, re:Invent, kicks off at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. Expect live music, food, games, and everything you need to let loose after a week of brain-busting sessions.

Day 6 (Friday, December 6, 2024):

By this point, you might be ready for a long nap, but if you’re sticking around, there are still a few sessions in the morning from 8:30 AM to noon. For most attendees, though, it’s wind-down time and a chance to wrap up any last-minute networking before heading home.

The Lowdown

AWS re:Invent 2024 has a packed agenda that’ll keep you on your toes all week. Plan ahead, pace yourself, and most importantly—enjoy the ride. Whether you’re there for the tech or the networking, this is the cloud event you don’t want to miss.

Looking to score a deal? If you’re going with a group, there’s a solid option. Buy 10 full conference passes, and you get one free. That brings the cost per person down to about $1,908. If you’re going on behalf of your company, you can also bill the full pass to your AWS account—same cost, just easier on the expense report.

Well, if all this gets heavy for you and you feel like dropping the plans. We've actually planned a pre-event dinner to connect with top industry leaders.

Join the AWS re:Invent Kickstarter 2024 with Amnic & Zenduty!

Join Amnic and Zenduty for an evening that’s all about good food, great conversations, and connecting with fellow tech leaders in a welcoming space. Unwind, share ideas, and get to know others who are just as passionate about shaping the future of tech.

Note: Registration required, subject to approval.

Getting to AWS re:Invent (and Where to Stay)

Flights to Las Vegas? Easy. You can get to Sin City from almost anywhere, and if you’re hunting for travel deals, Delta Airlines is offering a 2-10% discount for AWS re:Invent attendees. Every little bit helps, right?

Now, when it comes to where to stay, you’ve got two solid options:

1. Stay in an official AWS re:Invent hotel: These are prime spots like ARIA, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and The Venetian, among others. Why book these? Because they come with perks like daily shuttle buses to the conference venues and a bunch of other conveniences.
2. Book your own stay: Las Vegas has hotels in all price ranges, so you can go this route if you’re feeling adventurous or looking for something cheaper. Just remember, you might miss out on some of the conference benefits if you go off the official grid.

Pro tip: If you can swing it, stick with one of the re:Invent hotels. They’re offering pretty decent rates like $646 for 5 nights at Harrah’s, and it’ll save you some headaches with transportation and logistics. Most places are pricing in the ballpark of $250 per night.

Exclusive Discount for AWS re:Invent 2024

Just for you, we’re offering a special discount on the full re:Invent pass:

• Discount Amount: $150 off the Full Conference Pass
• Discount Code: SSALedvchogf

Redeem this at checkout. Swing by, meet the Zenduty team, and see firsthand how we can make incident management smoother than ever (plus, we’ve got swag!).

Meet Zenduty Team at AWS re:Invent

We’re going to be there in full force, ready to show you how Zenduty can make your incident management smoother than a Vegas blackjack win. 

Come say hi at our booth 1942 and chat with our team about how we keep your systems reliable and incident-ready. Not only will you get to see our real-time alerting and automated workflows in action, but we’ve also got some pretty cool swag for you to take home.

And here’s the kicker—book a live demo with us during the event, and we’ll help you save up to $1000 on your incident management setup. That’s right, more money to put towards...well, more cloud tools or maybe a nice celebratory dinner in Vegas (your call).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about AWS re:Invent 2024