Meeting Trends

Confidence among meeting professionals is notably stronger this year than last, according to Michelle Mason, president and CEO, ASAE, the center for association leadership.

Optimism reigned in 2022, as in-person meetings and events again took their place as the preferred method to network and learn. While hybrid and virtual meetings serve their own purpose, everyone agrees that nothing can replace face-to-face gatherings.

While banquet-style soirees with featured speakers and networking social hours are a traditional approach that is well-received, more of today’s events are teeming with technological advancements and interactive opportunities that are simply awe-inspiring.

A significant benefit of introducing wellness programs into events is improving attendees’ experiences by stimulating their mental and physical health.

Many association meetings experts were optimistic that 2021 would see things improve quickly after a dismal 2020. But two COVID-19 variants put a damper on the recovery.

Many planners are turning to social media to connect with potential meetings and events attendees.

Associations help attendees feel more physically and mentally fit by adding dedicated health and wellness programming to their agendas

As long as an event involves valuable electronic data — whether on organizers’ devices or attendees’ — it is a potential target of cybercriminals.

If a meeting planner doesn’t take steps to deal with stress, it eventually can catch up to them and cause serious mental, personal or health problems.

When planners design meetings with families in mind, it’s vital that they think about what’s available in the area for everyone to do.