Washington
#2 Business & Financial Industry Event (new to the list)
Former President Bill Clinton has been a featured speaker at all five summits, which focus on the country’s long-term debt and economic future. Other speakers have included Bill Gates, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and past Federal Reserve chairmen Alan Greenspan and Paul Volcker. Next: Spring 2015
Los Angeles
#4 Business & Financial Industry Event (new to the list)
The economic think tank’s annual event offers deep dives into financial topics and broader issues such as education, aging, and healthcare. Speakers this year included Tony Blair, Deepak Chopra, and Sean Penn. Next: April 26-29, 2015
Las Vegas
#5 Business & Financial Industry Event
About 2,000 institutional and private investors, managers, and others head to the Las Vegas Strip for the splashy hedge fund conference. The event convenes an eclectic group of speakers, which in 2014 included Valerie Jarrett, Francis Ford Coppola, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Next: Spring 2015
Los Angeles
#6 Business & Financial Industry Event
The Orange County-based investment-banking firm Roth Capital Partners hosts its invitation-only conference at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, now in its 26th year. The opening-night party always features a big concert and thematic decor; in 2014 the country duo Florida Georgia Line performed, and design elements included straw bales, pickup trucks, and picnic-style tables. Next: March 8-11, 2015
