Ranking Procurement Conferences From Least To Most Expensive

Estimating the cost for an average procurement professional to attend the five conferences—Digital Procurement World (DPW), ISM Annual Conference, Procurement Leaders (World Procurement Congress), SIG (Global Executive Summit), and Supply Chain Canada National Conference—requires factoring in registration fees, travel, and accommodation expenses.

MODEL #1

Assumptions

• Travel Base: Chicago, IL (central U.S., O’Hare hub), a reasonable midpoint for North American professionals.
• Travel Costs: Economy flights (via Google Flights averages for April 2025), plus $100 round-trip ground transport (taxi, shuttle).
• Accommodation: Mid-range hotels (e.g., $150–$300/night, sourced from Booking.com trends), assuming 2–3 nights based on conference duration.
• Registration Fees: 2024 published rates (e.g., from event websites, Procurement Magazine) with a 5% inflation adjustment for 2025, using practitioner rates (not investor/startup discounts).
• Duration: DPW (2 days), ISM (3 days), Procurement Leaders (3 days), SIG (3 days), Supply Chain Canada (2–3 days, assumed 2).
• Currency: USD, converted where needed (e.g., CAD at 0.74 USD).

Ranking from Least to Most Expensive

Rank	Conference	Estimated Total Cost (USD)
1	Supply Chain Canada National Conference	$1,420
2	ISM Annual Conference	$2,565
3	SIG (Global Executive Summit)	$2,735
4	Procurement Leaders (World Procurement Congress)	$3,860
5	DPW (Digital Procurement World)	$4,125

MODEL #2

Summary Table

Rank	Conference	Registration Fee	Travel & Accommodation	Total Cost Estimate
1	Supply Chain Canada National Conference	$1,699 + tax	$500–$800	$2,200–$2,500
2	SIG Procurement Technology Summit	$1,000–$1,500	$1,000–$1,500	$2,500–$3,000
3	DPW	$1,800–$2,200	$1,000–$1,300	$3,000–$3,500
4	ISM Annual Conference	$1,895–$2,395	$1,200–$1,600	$3,500–$4,000
5	Procurement Leaders	£2,200 (~$2,800 USD)	$1,700+	$4,500+

Conclusion

The Supply Chain Canada National Conference is the least expensive due to lower registration fees and domestic travel costs within Canada. In contrast, the Procurement Leaders World Procurement Congress is the most expensive due to its high registration fee and international travel requirements.

MODEL #3

Ranking from Least to Most Expensive

1. Supply Chain Canada National Conference: $2,100 – $2,950

2. DPW General Admission: $3,150

3. ISM Annual Conference: $3,311.21 – $4,011.21

4. Procurement Leaders: $4,200

5. SIG Spring Summit: $5,417

6. DPW Vendor: $6,399

Conclusion

The Supply Chain Canada National Conference represents the most cost-effective option for procurement professionals, while the DPW conference for vendors is the most expensive. When considering attendance, organizations should evaluate not only the direct costs analyzed in this report but also the potential value gained from networking opportunities, educational sessions, and industry insights specific to each conference.

Which One To Attend?

What is the average annual budget allotted per procurement professional to attend conferences and expos?

Based on research, the average conference or event spending is estimated to be $3,500 per person in 2025, with a range of $2,000–$5,000 depending on role, company policy, and event selection.

Within that budget range, which of the above 5 conferences would you attend?

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