Daily Buzz: Meeting Planners’ Toughest Tasks in 2019

What’s on planners’ minds in 2019? Budgets, technology, a new generation of attendees—and all the challenges that come with them, according to Teneo Hospitality Group’s 2019 survey of planners and hoteliers  (opens in a new tab).

And though it might not be surprising that finances are top of mind, the report notes that outside budget increases in various corporate departments are having a big effect on the entire planning process, from training staff to contract negotiations.

Another financial strain: next-fen attendees. “With millennials and Gen Z beginning to take over the industry, event professionals are tasked with creating more engaging and entertaining activities,” writes Tess Dunn on Smart Meetings  (opens in a new tab). “That is a positive trend as the interactive components can help everyone get more out of the experience. The downside: this also increases costs.”

Meanwhile, a younger generation of attendees brings challenges to the tech front, too.

“Hoteliers and planners expressed an inability to keep up with technology, with attendees often more prepared and aware of the newest tech,” Dunn says. “While white boards and LCD media players may still play a role in events, attendees who have grown up with social media and interactive apps will most likely want more. That costs money and brings us back to the budget discussion.”

Celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day

We have all the resources you need to host, attend and promote #GMID19  (opens in a new tab) this year. Check them out: https://t.co/wbm9Korp8s  (opens in a new tab) pic.twitter.com/hdiU79PAW2  (opens in a new tab)

— MeetingsMeanBiz (@meetingsmeanbiz) April 1, 2019  (opens in a new tab)

Get ready for Global Meetings Industry Day! Led by the Meetings Mean Business Coalition  (opens in a new tab), GMID (which takes place April 4) started as a way to share the impact meetings have on people, businesses and the economy as a whole—nearly $2.53 trillion in global economic impact, to be exact.

Join the more than 40 countries that participate by registering your event as a GMID meeting  (opens in a new tab), then promote and attend other GMID-related meetings, too.

Other Links of Note

Augmented reality, who? Meetings’ latest tech trend is motion-capture technology  (opens in a new tab), says BizBash.

A well-designed website can be the first step in attracting new members. Rahul Varshneya from Entrepreneur offers five psychology hacks that can increase conversions  (opens in a new tab).

In need of some good reads? The VolunteerMatch blog shares its April reading list.  (opens in a new tab)

(Tero Vesalainen/iStock/Getty Images Plus)