Senior association executives and event specialists will
meet in Lisbon this year for the first in-person edition of Associations World
Congress in more than three years.
Compared to previous editions of the congress the number of
tracks and sessions has been pared right back, allowing subjects to be explored
in much greater depth.
“One of our objectives was to do something that couldn’t be
done online”, said Damian Hutt, executive director of organisers
Association of Association Executives (AAE).
The invitation-only event will include 14 half-day sessions
in three streams: Associations Strategy, Event Strategy and Executive Skills.
Why do in-person what you can do online?
Session will be ‘highly interactive’, with case studies, exercises,
Q&A, and roundtable discussions.
Topics include dealing with major disruption, online event
pricing, sustainability, change management, member engagement and improving
innovation, amongst others.
Delegates won’t be charged a fee for attending the congress.
Instead, they must commit to attending various roundtable discussions and
keeping appointments with six suppliers.
Hutt said: “We asked our delegates what we should change.
The first thing they said was ditch the exhibition. They want to meet supplies,
but only the ones they want to meet, who they know can host them, in terms of
numbers for example, otherwise it’s a waste of time.
“The other thing they wanted was more depth. And they wanted
greater input because they felt their considerable knowledge wasn’t being used
to best effect. Usually, conference producers get as many speakers as possible,
as much content, to try and attract as many people as possible.
“The content might be interesting, but you don’t get the
detail, and, anyway, you can do twenty or thirty-minute sessions online. Why do
in-person what you can do online? You have to create an in-person experience.”
Around 120 delegates are expected at the event, which is being held at the
waterfront Altice Arena, September 6-7, 2022. An event for medical associations takes place a day earlier.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
