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What the Near Future
Holds, by Timothy Schneider, Publisher, Association News
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Los
Angeles, CA – January 2016 / Newsmaker Alert / It will come as no surprise
to regular readers of this
magazine that the world of association management continues to undergo
significant changes. With a shift in membership demographics, continual
advancements in technology, new tools for staying connected and a changing
economy, associations must find new ways to grow their membership as well
as keep current members engaged. Much of this, of course, is accomplished
through the meetings and trade shows that associations organize, which
makes it imperative that association executives stay abreast of the major
trends in the meetings industry.
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 The
International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) recently updated
its white paper report with what it sees as the major trends impacting
meetings and events in the next three years. Here are several findings
from the report that are of particular interest to association executives
and meeting planners:
Utilize
data capture and Wi-Fi capabilities. Data collection, analysis and
the measurement of results are becoming fundamental practices when planning
a trade show or other association event. Being able to capture data on-site
at a trade show allows organizers to understand attendee behavior and better
design the expo floor and program the event. Measuring the results after
the event can also bring to light the improvements that need to be made
at the next show. A few data-capture technologies that have been popular
at trade shows include near field communication, iBeacons and “smart card”
registration systems. With the rise of these data-capture technologies,
having a reliable Wi-Fi infrastructure should be a priority. Venues equipped
with the appropriate bandwidth and data services are now a necessity.
Increase
security planning. Both data security and physical security are becoming
increasingly important concerns. Data hacking has made any database – even
that of the federal government – vulnerable. Associations should consider
implementing effective data security systems and protocols to protect the
privacy of their membership. Recent incidents around the world have also
triggered the need for having an effective security plan in place (which
Steven Hacker details in the “Association Doctor” column starting on page
16).
Improve
educational offerings. Association executives need to keep their educational
offerings fresh in order to accommodate the broad spectrum of their membership,
which may range from the older generations familiar with traditional practices
to technologically savvy millennials. The industry is also facing demographic
differences in attention span and learning styles and, therefore, must
be cognizant of how people learn and how education should be delivered.
As
we go about the process of planning Meetings
Quest, the nation’s longest-running series of educational and networking
events for meeting planners, we rely on research such as IAEE’s to help
us produce an event on the leading edge. A close look at the big-picture
industry trends helps shape the content and format for Meetings Quest,
and we invite you to experience firsthand the difference this approach
makes at Meetings Quest in Bloomington, Minnesota, July 13–14, 2016. For
more information, see
the ad on page 13, call 877-577-3700 or visit MeetingsQuest.com.
|
 Timothy
Schneider is the publisher of Association
News and SportsTravel
magazines, which serve group travel planners responsible for generating
106 million hotel room nights annually. Schneider
Publishing also organizes Meetings
Quest, America's longest-running series of trade shows for meeting
planners, and the TEAMS Conference
& Expo, the world’s largest gathering of sports-event organizers.
TEAMS ’16 will be held September 26–29, 2016, in Atlantic City. For further
information on advertising or sponsorship opportunities, please call toll-free
877-577-3700 or 310-577-3700 if calling from outside the United States.
The
current issue of Association
News can be viewed in digital format online by clicking
here.
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Media
Contact:
Timothy
Schneider
310-577-3700
Schneider
Publishing Company, Inc. |
