How do you choose the best leisure travel industry events and conferences to attend?

1 Identify your objectives

Before you start browsing the endless list of events and conferences, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve by attending them. Do you want to learn new skills, find new partners, generate leads, or showcase your products or services? Do you want to focus on a specific niche, destination, or market segment? Do you want to meet influential people, potential clients, or peers? Your objectives will help you narrow down your options and prioritize the most relevant and valuable ones.

2 Research the agenda and speakers

Once you have a shortlist of events and conferences that match your objectives, you need to dig deeper into the details. Check the agenda and see what topics, sessions, and workshops are offered. Are they aligned with your interests, challenges, and opportunities? Are they informative, practical, and engaging? Do they offer enough variety and depth? Also, look at the speakers and their backgrounds. Are they experts, leaders, or innovators in their fields? Are they credible, inspiring, and accessible? Do they have something new or valuable to share?

3 Consider the format and logistics

Another factor to consider is the format and logistics of the events and conferences. Are they online or offline, or a hybrid of both? How long do they last, and how flexible are they? How much do they cost, and what do they include? How easy or difficult is it to register, access, and participate? How many attendees are expected, and what is the profile of the audience? How are the networking opportunities facilitated and supported? You need to weigh the pros and cons of each option and see how they fit your preferences, budget, and schedule.

4 Seek feedback and recommendations

One of the best ways to choose the best events and conferences is to ask for feedback and recommendations from other leisure travel professionals. You can use your existing networks, such as associations, groups, forums, or social media platforms, to find out what others think of the events and conferences you are interested in. You can also look for reviews, testimonials, or ratings online. You can also reach out to the organizers or speakers directly and ask them questions or request more information.

5 Evaluate the outcomes and benefits

Finally, after you attend the events and conferences, you need to evaluate the outcomes and benefits. Did you achieve your objectives? Did you learn something new or useful? Did you make new connections or strengthen existing ones? Did you gain exposure or recognition? Did you enjoy the experience? You can use surveys, feedback forms, or self-assessments to measure your satisfaction and return on investment. You can also follow up with the organizers, speakers, or attendees to maintain the relationships and leverage the opportunities.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?