IACC released phase one of its second annual “Meeting Room of the Future” white paper at MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) held June 19-22 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The white paper reveals how emerging technology and younger delegates are influencing the way we meet, resulting in an increased desire for memorable individual experiences, interactive presentation and personal development.
According to IACC, the report brings together insights from 180 global conference and meeting buyers to identify new trends and illustrate how previously noted trends have evolved in the past year.
IACC’s research found the desire continues to manifest for a more memorable, personal meeting experience which offers delegates more time for creative thinking, networking and collaboration.
This is underpinned by the role interactive technology is playing in driving a more flexible approach to meeting attendance as well as the content and style of presentation. Linked to this is an increased appetite for outdoor space to be integrated into meeting itineraries, with many venues investing heavily in enhancing their surroundings to cater for this desire, offering something different for clients.
“It is clear from our latest report that the format and content of our meetings is being influenced by tech savvy younger generations who are looking for a more individual approached to meetings,” IACC CEO Mark Cooper said. “Delegates want a more memorable experience directly relevant to them and their own personal development with a degree of flexibility in terms of the way they interact with [content].
“Unsurprisingly, businesses remain focused on budget and demonstrating return on investment and therefore organizers are assessing the success of meetings through broader metrics than previously, for example whether the meeting impacted their bottom line and met business objectives,” Cooper added. “As an industry, we need to be conscious of this and look at how we can best demonstrate our value.”
The second half of the “Meeting Room of the Future” white paper will launch at IMEX America in Las Vegas on Oct. 10, 2017, and will report on trends and opinions as seen by IACC venues and suppliers.
A full copy of the latest “Meeting Room of the Future” white paper is available for download here.
