Association conference delegates are hankering for a return to in-person events, new research has revealed.
Almost all – 93 per cent - miss the networking and social interaction, according to a survey by Bramcote International and the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO).
And vaccines are playing a huge role in building confidence. Of the 350 people interviewed, three quarters (75%) were happy to attend an event in-person if they were fully vaccinated.
Amongst those who had not been double jabbed, the number fell to 47 per cent.
Surprisingly, perhaps, only a third (34%) said they wanted additional health and safety measures in place at their conference, suggesting growing confidence in the efficacy of the vaccine programme.
The financial implication of attending events was more pressing, with 71 per cent of respondents wanting flexible cancellation terms for registration fees if unable to attend due to Covid.
Seventy per cent of respondents said they would be attending their next event before March 2022. A third would get there by car, 43 per cent by train, and 20 per cent by plane.
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Heather Lishman[/caption]
Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director, said: “This survey is, on the whole, great news for our industry, highlighting not just what delegates have missed but what we can do to entice them back to our events. The results show that conference attendees miss the personal elements of a conference – although they recognise that digital platforms offer highly capable opportunities to share knowledge and learn, it is the human interaction they miss the most – with only 15 per cent saying they do not wish to attend an in-person event for the foreseeable future.
“Flexibility was also a key response if we are to successfully bring people back to live events. The requirements for additional measures to be put in place at events were far overshadowed by a need for more flexible cancellation terms, giving them the confidence to book in the first place. Unfortunately, despite the largely positive elements of the results, sustainability appears to be taking a back seat as delegates express a greater desire to travel in their own cars, avoiding mass transit options.”
The survey was conducted by Catherine Newhall-Caiger of Bramcote International who said: “We have always known that networking, social interaction and meeting people is a key driver for attending events. Our role, as PCOs, venues and suppliers, is to create meaningful networking opportunities where people are engaged, and conversations happen that lead to new business connections, learning opportunities, collaboration, and friendships. The key is listening to our audiences and using this to create the right event, at the right time for the right audience.”
The 350 delegates surveyed were from a balanced demographic of age, gender, location, and sector. The full survey is available by emailing [email protected]
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.
