Approximately 80% of meeting planners agreed that their current role in planning meetings involves more ‘experience creation’ for attendees compared to pre-pandemic, according to the latest Meeting Room of the Future report from IACC.
The international venue association’s annual report found that, with people working from home post-pandemic, planners say that it is crucial to create an event which is seen as having more value from attending in-person as opposed to attending virtually.
On the report’s findings Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC, said: “Planners must take a step back and ask themselves whether it (the event) can be done over Zoom. If so, it clearly has no place in the room.”
A change of plan
Additionally, the report looked at post-pandemic event planning:
- 41% of respondents are continuing to look for venues with larger spaces
- 33% prioritise outdoor spaces
- Strong technological capabilities, such as virtual streaming and participation, internet access, AV and cyber security, are also crucial
Robyn Domber, senior VP, Research at Development Counsellors International, added: “Having partnered with IACC on this study in 2017, 2019 and now in 2023, it’s abundantly clear that the meetings industry has undergone some profound transformations.”
“The way we live, work and meet has changed and so have, in turn, the spaces and technologies required for business events and conferences.”
