Meeting planners and venues are feeling the need to keep up with changing attendee expectations. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/insta_photos
The meeting room of the future will feature a strong connection to
the natural world, with good lighting and acoustics for attendees, and
sufficient networking space outside – yet it will also be at the
forefront of digital technology, with options such as remote access and
event streaming readily available.
Such were the opinions of 170 venue operators and 275 meeting
planners around the world, surveyed by the International Association of
Conference Centres (IACC). In the report, the IACC examines venue
priorities, adaptation to attendee needs, and the outlook for future
investment in technology and facilities.
Venue: Let there be light and sound
According to those surveyed, first impressions really count – nine
out of 10 planners said good lighting and acoustics play a significant
role with attendee experiences, while seven of 10 planners shared that
their clients were expecting different meeting spaces today compared to
five years ago.
The design of the meeting space is also important, with six out of 10
surveyed sharing that they have observed increased usage of breakout
rooms, while nine out of 10 stressed the importance of having networking
spaces outside of meeting rooms.
Technology: Power of strong Wi-Fi connectivity
However, the availability of dedicated, secure Wi-Fi remains top
priority, with eight out of 10 meeting venues surveyed placing value on
client dedicated secure Wi-Fi in venues.
Approximately one-third of venues surveyed also offer over 1GB of
bandwidth in meeting rooms, public spaces and guest rooms – reflecting
an increased expectation of sufficient bandwidth provided for events and
attendees.
Nearly all venues offer free access to Wi-Fi, with out without a log
in necessary, and are largely satisfied with the current amount of
internet and broadband provided to attendees, with less than 40%
anticipating investment in these services over the next year.
Hybrid meetings and streaming services are also likely here to stay.
Three-quarters of all venues offer hybrid event streaming and/or remote
participant and presenter capabilities, and acknowledge that
cybersecurity will grow in priority over the next three years.
F&B: Catering to diverse preferences
One of the greatest changes to the meetings industry recorded has
been to the F&B services provided at meeting venues. Requests to
accommodate dietary preferences have only grown in the past four years
and show no signs of stopping; A focus on sustainability and initiatives
is also priority for venues and meeting attendees, with 87% of venues
opting to use locally sourced F&B items where possible.
Simultaneously, venues are also looking for ways to cut cost for
these offerings – 70% of venues believe that it is important to develop
menus that use lower-priced ingredients in order to support clients who
may want value on a budget.
“This year’s research reaffirms how live meetings are evolving and
venues are adapting to the kind of experiences expected by business
event organisers for their attendees,” said Mark Cooper, IACC CEO.
“Social responsibility is at the heart of many of these trends and it
shows clearly that venues are in lockstep with their development of
facilities and services.”