It’s no secret in the industry that SMERF meeting planners are sometimes considered to be the red-headed stepchild of the meeting biz.

Nothing is more central to the continued success of associations today than the value of the educational content presented at their conferences and meetings.

While that knowledge gap remains a constant for many planners, especially at smaller
associations, the demand from attendees for state-of-the-art Wi-Fi capabilities is driving the market.

Every destination is special, every destination is different, but not every destination has the basic component meeting experts might deem the “p” factor. Translation: perfect for planners.

Does anybody have enough staff? The answer is seldom positive in the association world, but the frequent availability of volunteers can be a real asset.

In the not-so-distant past, hotel cuisine easily outshined that of convention centers. But that generalization no longer holds, as convention center catering staffs have been upping their game.

No issue is more important to association conventions and trade shows than the safety and security of staff and attendees. Yet, experts say, too many associations are woefully underprepared for catastrophic incidents such as a terrorist attack, violent protest, natural disaster or medical emergency.

New or recently renovated convention center hotels have seen an increase in overall group business, a result of favorable macroeconomic trends that are currently boosting budgets for corporate events.

Competition among gaming resorts for meetings is heating up as more venues nationwide expand and open new properties. Las Vegas and Atlantic City remain the top casino resort destinations, however, a variety of smaller destinations also aim to attract more events. Burgeoning competitors range from properties in the Southwest nestled amid stunning scenery to small-town destinations in Pennsylvania.

As members of the millennial and Gen Z generations become a larger part of the workforce, many associations are scrambling to design events and conferences that appeal to this new audience.