The dates that matter
Book before you fly
The people you want to meet fill their week early. A meeting that already has a reason gets a yes.
Meetings with AWS. AWS tells partners to ask their AWS account manager about meeting opportunities and executive forums.2 Send your one-sentence positioning and your three target accounts with the request.
Sessions. Reserved seating is for registered attendees, through the attendee portal. Partner sessions sit in the PEX track, and the hands-on Partner Bootcamps (TNC track) have limited space.2
Receptions and forums. Several are invite-only or by RSVP in the attendee portal, such as the Public Sector Partner Forum on November 30.2
Booths. The Partner Advantage Zone in the Expo has the APN Booth, the AWS Marketplace Booth, the Specialized Partner Solutions Booth and AWS Partners LIVE! at booth 1686-E.2
Your list for the next two weeks
Four things to do before November 16.
- Email your AWS account manager for meetings and executive forums. Attach your one-sentence positioning and your three target accounts.
- Reserve your partner sessions (PEX track) and any Partner Bootcamp (TNC track) in the attendee portal.
- RSVP to the partner receptions and forums you are invited to.
- Block the 48 hours after you get home for follow-ups, before anything else fills them.
Not going? Watch the keynotes
re:Invent has a free livestream.1 I read the Partner Keynote for you in the December edition of the change tracker.
Follow up within 48 hours
A conversation in Las Vegas becomes pipeline AWS acts on only once it is in ACE. Every opportunity you share is scored when you submit it and given a co-sell motion.3 Write the record the week you get back, while the customer's words are fresh. How AWS scores the deals you share.
Send segmented follow-ups: one for customers, one for every AWS seller you met, each with the one next step you agreed on.
The money and the badge
MDF. Marketing Development Funds help offset marketing costs that drive demand and build pipeline.4 Check in Partner Central that your activity qualifies before you spend, and don't count on it for travel.
Certification. In-person attendees get a 50% voucher for an AWS Certification exam, to use by January 31, 2027.2 Certified people count toward your partner tier.5
Sponsorship. Premier partners get early access to AWS events sponsorship packages.5
Sources
Checked November 3, 2026.
Plan the next one with the funding in place.
From AWS seller sessions to AWS Summit partner meetings, I plan the budget, the invitations and the follow-up.