Events of the Future: Smaller and Better?

by Genny on March 16, 2010

A new international study out this month on the future of meetings, venues and destinations predicts that face-to-face meetings will change drastically in the next ten years. Conducted by Fast Future Research, survey findings from Convention 2020 reveal that meeting planners believe meetings and conventions will be scaled down in size, more specialized and much more high-tech. The study also reports that events will need to offer strong price-based incentives in order to attract attendees.  

The largest single group of respondents to the study were external event organizers and meeting planners. Clearly, there is much revelance to our industry in these findings.  Among other interesting predictions, Convention 2020 revealed that the majority of organizers and planners believe there will be more smaller and competitive meetings in the next ten years, that venues at schools, universities and colleges will offer the most competition to convention centers, and that ethical and enviornmental factors will continue to influence attendance.     

If the Fast Future Research folks had polled you, how would you have answered these questions about the future of the exhibitions and events industry? Perhaps we can start a discussion of predictions today. 

 Complete survey results are available at www.convention-2020.com.

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More on Millennials (and Gen Xers too)

by Genny on March 9, 2010

It seems that everywhere you look, more analysis surfaces on the generational diversity distinguishing today’s workforce. Marketers and exhibition organizers are smart to turn their focus to the emerging younger generations - Gen Xers and Millennials - in an attempt to understand them and engage them. One reason they are important is the sheer number of these young people - 50 million Millennials comprise America’s newest generation.

CEIR’s Power of Exhibitions (POE) study released last year offers organizers and exhibitors a wonderful guide to attracting both groups of current and potential young attendees to our industry’s events. Organizers and exhibitors can find new tips and expert’s advice on delineating Gen Xers and Millennials here and in many new industry publications, including a feature this month from Association Conventions & Facilities magazine and new research out from the Pew Research Center published through the Center for Media Research.

Have you found other great sources this year for generational marketing information and tips? Share them here!

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CEIR Goes Digital for 2010

March 2, 2010

Last year, CEIR’s Digital + Exhibiting Marketing Insights 2009 made a splash in the exhibition and events community as it was the first study to analyze the influence of exhibition organizers’ and brand marketers’ use of digital media.  Because of its popularity, CEIR is revisiting the project in 2010 - with a new survey launching [...]

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Spontaneity in Its Finest Form

February 26, 2010

By now we have all heard about the cancellation of the ASAE technology conference In Washington DC due to bad weather.
It was amazing to see how the “unconference” was created and its impact not only on those who were in DC, but the ripple effects in our industry.  We should examine what took place and [...]

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Looking Into Doug’s Economic Crystal Ball

February 18, 2010

In this interview segment, I ask Doug when the economy is going to turn around for us.

What are your predictions?

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Booth Staff: Choose Wisely

February 16, 2010

In researching what young people think about exhibitions and events last year for CEIR’s major POE study, we were able to break down the study’s findings into sectors. This has enabled CEIR to thoroughly examine specific young attendees’ attitudes towards events, particularly those who work in government and not-for-profit industries. Not surprisingly, when it comes [...]

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Doug Ducate’s Interview in BtoB Magazine

February 9, 2010

2010 outlook: Boutique events, cost management
Story posted: February 8, 2010 - 6:01 am EDT
Doug Ducate is president-CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. BtoB talked to him about upcoming trends in the events industry.
BtoB: Are there any hurdles you see for the event industry this year?
Doug Ducate: The two big challenges are time and [...]

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Calling all Exhibition Organizers! Deadline for 2009 Data Submission This Friday

February 2, 2010

All CEIR members know how important the data submission process is for the annual CEIR Index.  Without show data from organizers, Index analysis would not be possible.  I’m positive those who have reported their data using CEIR’s online tool before would attest to the rapid and easy nature of doing so. CEIR only needs six [...]

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How Show Organizers Are Using the Generational Study

January 29, 2010

CEIR’s POE study of young professionals has proven to be an insightful and useful tool for exhibition organizers since its release last year. It offers dozens of tips for building communities of young attendees to individual events.  In this video clip, Doug Ducate shares additional information on the Generational Study.

How are you using this study to modify your [...]

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A New Coalition in Town

January 26, 2010

Tradeshow Week has a story about a new coalition.  Here is a portion of that article from January 11, 2010 by Michael Hart.
Exhibitors are mad, and they’re planning to do something about it. That, at least, is the assessment of a group of five exhibitor-related trade associations that have formed an Exhibit Industry Council to [...]

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