Many people say that the popular culture landscape was altered forever as soon as the Jimi Hendrix Experience began their set at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Hyperbole aside, today’s meeting experience is vastly different from that of just a few years ago, impacted and influenced by forces such as social media and other technological innovations. It’s not your father’s conference anymore, as delegates demand fresh ideas and plenty of interactivity with any and all program participants.
Our May cover story, “The Attendee Experience,” dives into this new trend of immersive meetings, where just sitting in a convention hall staring bleary eyed at a speaker, or wandering aimlessly down tradeshow aisles looking to make that elusive golden connection, just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Today’s cutting-edge events reach out and grab attendees, and allow them to disconnect from the crowd to problem-solve in their own affinity groups.
Although, unlike Jimi, we can’t light our guitar on fire at the end of the issue—well, maybe Shawna Suckow’s webinar on the topic May 28 will provide the spark—we do thank you for letting us stretch the concept a bit to make a point.
And besides, using the Hendrix connection allows us to run a trippy, late-’60s-style rock poster art cover. What’s not to like?
Also in This Issue
Our, “Back to Life” feature explores some of the top adaptive-reuse buildings that can be used as meeting and event sites, including a former Coca-Cola bottling plant, an erstwhile brewery and even a repurposed Federal Reserve building.
Check out our government meetings feature to get the latest on all of the woes facing government planners, and how this embattled segment is starting to fight back against the villainization of face-to-face government meetings.
For our conference centers story, editor Zach Chouteau traveled to the IACC-Americas Annual Conference, and discovered that the association is trying even harder to change impressions that conference centers tend to be staid and one-size-fits-all.
Global coverage this issue features a destination piece on Costa Rica, followed by the regional destination coverage selected according to where you plan meetings.
Finally, check out the departments section to get MPI’s take on the recent controversial changes to its CMM Program.
Until next time, enjoy the read!
