Live, In-Person Meetings Matter
Face-to-face networking will always deliver more total value to humans than other electronic options. Daily, relationships are being developed online and then further solidified in person.
In this difficult economic time, partnering is the path to succeed. Intelligent partnering assures that all participants get and give—each has to believe they received value from participation.
Infusing this partnering idea into today’s meetings development will serve both corporations and associations alike. Reported in the July 27, 2009 issue of MeetingNews (www.MeetingNews.com) is their recent survey revealing that 43% of the corporations that reported had canceled a contracted meeting in the past six months. But, only 20% of the associations reported doing the same.
In the August 2009 issues (Meetings, West, South, etc.) produced by www.meetingsfocus.com is an article titled, Building Blocks—Associations Are Grappling with Attendance Issues that you might want to read. Mentioned; $50K keynote speakers being replaced with $20K speakers, content trumps location as well as big-name speakers, and feel-good speeches are gone.
The bottom line is that Americans are still meeting in-person (despite the political fall out in March) because that’s the best way to develop effective business relationships, network, and discover new opportunities. Yes, there are more association meetings than corporate, and that’s okay.
You need PROFESSIONAL speakers at your meeting that are flexible/easy to work with, deliver immediately usable content to meeting attendees, and do it in a fun environment that motivate your people to use the information, somehow moving from point “A” to “B” and will not bust your budget.
If you agree, call me today to talk about how I, Ed Rigsbee, can help you to deliver all the above to your meeting attendees—no matter the meeting purpose. My pledge to you is this, if you want me as your meeting partner, we’ll find a way to make the finances work—I guarantee it!
