An Independent HelmsBriscoe Associate | 636-678-7661 | jstone@helmsbriscoe.com

Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

Luck O’ The Meeting Planner

in: Meeting Planning Experience

meeting planner

Happy St. Patty’s Day Meeting Planner! And yes, after a harrying year, you are definitely in need of less Covid and more 4-leaf clover.

Covid knocked us down a bit, but the events industry is filled with resilient and creative people. We stood up to the challenge, we hung in there and now we’re seeing signs that in person meetings will happen once again.

  • In a survey conducting by Northstar Meetings Group, 81% of you are planning to hold in-person meetings in 2021.
  • The report also shows that associations are the first to head back into live meetings. While corporate meetings will be slowly returning, they are returning none-the-less.
  • Even so, virtual is here to stay. We’ve figured out how to make virtual run smoothly. The pandemic definitely pushed us and technology to create better virtual offers.
  • Hybrid events are definitely on trend for the foreseeable future and have the ability to provide an experience that match new and yet-to-be-found levels of participation and budgets.
  • Covid risk while flying has remained low due to many factors, including proper airflow on planes, and the many successful precautions that have been put in place.
  • Lost jobs are being recovered; the current 2021 prediction for hotels is that an additional 200,000 operational jobs are expected. Not at the level it was pre-Covid, but definitely a step in the right direction.
  • Right now is the time to start reaching out to attendees and find out what they are feeling and thinking; ask them their expectations so you can understand how to remain a valuable part of their world. The more you understand them, the better you can customize experiences for them.
  • Planners are being called to use their creativity and budgets to construct virtual events that meet attendees’ desire for quality content, immersive activities and new ways to create connection.
  • Keep an eye on destination cities like Las Vegas for example. LV is prepared to host in-person meetings, and other cities are following suit. Contact the CVBs to learn what protocols they have put in place for their city.
  • The same can be said for venues; they’ve taken their sanitization protocols to an impressive level and have plans in place to keep their transient residents safe during their stay.

I have kept up as well! During me searches for the perfect venue for my clients, I am asking all the questions, doing the research and ensuring that the properties I present to them are accomplishing what should be expected as we head into a whole new way and world for meeting planners.

Remain optimistic, meeting planners! But also, remain cautious. And please feel free to reach out to me. I’m happy to consult with you about how to venture back into live events. Myself and my associates from around the world communicate often; I’m informed about the cities, the venues and the information you need to know as you prepare for the possibility of an in-person meeting.

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