Bismarck, N.D. – The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference has developed a knack for attracting big players in the oil industry, but this year they have outdone themselves. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, will be the closing speaker on May 26.
After the announcement was made on May 4, another 100 registrations to the conference were soon made. That brings the total to 1,950 as of May 9. However, perhaps as a reflection of the price of oil being less than half of what it was in 2014, the last time the event was held in Bismarck, registrations are down by over half as well. In 2014 over 4,250 people attended, breaking yet another record in a string of attendance records. Registrations are taken up to May 24 and cost $400 per person.
Whereas booths used to sell out within minutes, they’re not quite full as of May 9. Tess Sandstrom, who is looking after communications for the event, said in an email, “We currently have 252 exhibitors filling 270+ booths. Attendees are coming from 36 states, five provinces and two other countries other than the U.S. and Canada. Obviously, Donald Trump has brought a lot of attention to the conference and it sounds like they sold out within minutes for the tickets available.”
The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference takes place in Bismarck, N.D., May 24-26. It is hosted by the North Dakota Petroleum Council, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, and the Government of Saskatchewan – Ministry of the Economy. The conference alternates between Regina and Bismarck.
For more information go to www.wbpcnd.org.
