MEP subcontractors have a different conference strategy than GCs or developers. Your primary targets are the GC project teams who will invite you to bid, and the consulting engineers who specify the systems you install.
The best events for MEP subs are the technically-focused conferences: 7x24 Exchange events (especially chapter meetings), BICSI regional events, and AFCOM conferences. These attract the facilities engineers and operations teams who influence MEP contractor selection.
At larger events like Data Center World, focus your time in the exhibit hall meeting GC project managers and engineering consultants. The education sessions on power and cooling are also valuable — not just for learning, but for meeting the other attendees who are working on the same technical challenges.
For electrical contractors specifically, events focused on power infrastructure and grid interconnection are increasingly important as data center loads grow. Utility commission events and power industry conferences are emerging as valuable BD channels.
For mechanical contractors, the cooling-focused sessions at any event are your primary target. The industry is going through a major transition from air cooling to liquid cooling, and the contractors who position themselves as liquid cooling experts at conferences are winning disproportionate market share.
Networking tip: bring technical documentation, not marketing brochures. A one-page spec sheet showing your capabilities on a real project is worth more than a glossy folder of sales materials.