The Top Four Meeting Trends of 2014

Here's a look at what the New Year will hold for the meetings industry and how planners can ensure 2014 is successful.

By Agatha Gilmore
January 26, 2014

As we collectively embark on this exciting New Year, with fresh resolutions and fresh hope, we find ourselves looking ahead and eagerly anticipating what the future holds. While there’s no crystal ball for meetings in 2014, there are certainly some emerging trends that will continue to shape the industry. Here’s a look at four of these developments, and advice for planners on how they can not only meet, but beat expectations in the year ahead.

1. Meetings Are Experiences

If there’s one thing that all the experts agree on, it’s that meetings today aren’t just face-to-face gatherings for the sole purpose of exchanging business information. Rather, they’re enriching, one-of-a-kind experiences that attendees will treasure forever.

“It’s less about, ‘I’m going to a conference,’ and more about, ‘I’m going to have an experience,’” says Carol McGury, senior vice president of event and education services for SmithBucklin in Chicago.

 Read full article here from Successful Meetings