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Resources Roundup: Meetings and Conferences

In this article:
These resources from ASAE will help you plan and execute successful events both big and small.

Books and Research

Learn about larger trends affecting the meetings space and how your event revenue and expenses compare to others

ASAE ForesightWorks

ASAE’s future-focused environmental-scanning research initiative identifies 50 drivers of change important to associations. Each is described in an action brief that examines its implications and offers ideas for steps associations can take to respond to the trend. The drivers most pertinent to the meetings space include:

  • Hybrid Meetings. This action brief, updated in 2021, looks at the ways leaders can capitalize on the lessons learned about virtual and hybrid events during the pandemic.
  • As attention spans shrink, mobile use expands, and the need to update skills remains constant, this action brief discusses how microlearning can help meet the demands of lifelong learners.
  • A World Reshaped by COVID. This new action brief provides insights and strategies for navigating the uncertainty and pandemic-related shifts that will last through the early 2020s.

Association Operating Ratio Report, 16th Edition (2021)

The report provides the revenue, expense, and balance-sheet data associations need to evaluate and plan financial activities, identify areas for improvement, and make recommendations on the allocation of resources, including in their meetings and education operations.

Benchmarking in Association Management, Policies and Procedures, Vol. 1 (2018)

Compare your association’s practices against others of similar size and type. This resource focuses on key considerations in eight functional areas of association management, including meetings. The data, collected from responses to the ASAE Research Foundation’s Benchmarking in Association Management surveys, gives you a firsthand look at what other organizations are doing in those areas.

Learning Opportunities

Professional development suited for all meeting pros

LMS Demo Days

This two-day virtual event will feature presentations from a limited number of industry partners that offer learning management system platforms.

Developing a Digital-First Business Model Online Course Collection

Technology is transforming the way business is done. The adoption of new digital best practices enables organizations to operate more efficiently, improve their member experience, refresh processes and operations, and maintain both a positive and innovative culture. This collection will help you explore the basics of emerging technologies, so that you can see how to implement them for a competitive edge.

Related Articles

Additional must-read content from asaecenter.org and associationsnow.com

How a Virtual Course Improved Member Engagement and Nondues Revenue

Transforming an in-person workshop to a virtual one helped the Consumer Brands Association bring in significantly more revenue, test out new networking opportunities, and most importantly, reach an underserved segment of their membership.

How One Association Handled an Active Shooter Incident in Conference City

RIMS was well-prepared for a crisis before its 2023 convention. But a mass shooting that happened a few miles from the conference location revealed what its emergency plan missed.

Report Recommends Innovation in Event Design

New research says planners should think more about making events that are interactive and that foster a sense of belonging. One event strategist shares some ways associations can implement the findings.

Ten Things Meeting Pros Can Do to Improve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

DEIA is top of mind for association event professionals. As they look to deliver an equitable experience to all participants, here are 10 ideas to put into action today.

Why Your Conference Marketing Strategy Should Include Speakers and Exhibitors

Searching for new avenues to promote an upcoming conference? Consider looking to exhibitors and speakers. Asking them to promote an event will not only help bring in new attendees but also allows them to build brand awareness and draw people to their session or booth.

Samantha Whitehorne

Samantha Whitehorne is editor-in-chief of Associations Now.

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