Content & Collaboration: Are we answering the needs of our conference delegates?

Earlier this year I attended an international conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia. A collaborative conference for international associations and conference destinations.

I was excited and apprehensive about attending this conference with my global counterparts. What would I learn? How would New Zealand compare to some of these international conference destinations? Would we have the same experiences and the same challenges?

The first day of the conference began with a conference welcome, and plenary session.

After the first speaker, delegates were asked to share key issues impacting their organisations and discuss within the table groupings. 

My apprehensions quickly turned into contributions. I felt like I was among peers and not competitors. The conversations flowed freely and there was an overwhelming willingness to share experiences, both good and bad.  

The following two days consisted of workshop style sessions. We discussed topics such as how international committees make decisions, how destinations can provide an important community platform, how to overcome international language barriers, understanding the needs of international associations, and sharing the tools & resources we have available when bidding for international conferences.

For the first time in my 15 years in the business events sector I felt like I was at a conference that met my every need. The content, the discussion, the engagement, the collaboration. Wow!

I came away with a greater understanding of my sector and a strong sense of belonging to a wider community who were willing to share and help.  

So how often are delegates really getting their needs met? Are we providing the right content for delegates who are taking precious time away from the office? Are we providing the right opportunities for sector discussions and collaboration? 

During a recent discussion with an association client, they told me that their conference was a driver for policy and legislative change in their sector. They had changed their conference to answer the needs of their delegates vs the need/want of their association. Collaboration had become critical to the success of their sector and this had contributed to a significant rise in conference registrations.

The business events sector is evolving very rapidly. We are seeing the rise of new industries such as AI, electric and autonomous vehicles, new currencies, organic foods, and wearable technologies. We are also seeing a rapid increase in creative meetings such as TedX, Slush, Sibos and C2 where multiple sectors come together and collaborate. These are a significant shift away from the typical format that we have been familiar with.  

 If you are a membership organisation, have you sought feedback on the issues that are impacting the growth and success of your members? Is your industry conference answering the needs of your members and helping to attract new ones?

If you are answering no to these, is it time to revisit your value proposition?

Jessica Vandy | Passionate supporter of business events in New Zealand

For a little bit of creative inspiration:

https://www. c2montreal.com/who-attends-and-why/