Meeting planners face a litany of ups and downs, highs and lows, dreams—and dare I say—nightmares? All in the name of the events industry we all love so much.
I’m still recovering from being the only girl on campus not to be accepted into any sorority Freshman year. Your loss, Tri-Delts.
Ask any random passer-by what their biggest worries are and you’ll likely hear a variety of answers including everything from financial woes, to relationship goals, and even some career worries thrown in the mix. (Oh, my worries? I’m still recovering from being the only girl on campus not to be accepted into any sorority Freshman year. Your loss, Tri-Delts.) Ask a planner what keeps them up and night and you’ll hear a set of industry-specific fears most meeting profs can relate to.
According to a recent survey from the Events Industry Council, meeting planners were asked about their worries and concerns. These five trends emerged in the flurry of responses.
Safety and Security
You’ve heard it since you were a kid: “Safety first.”
You’ve heard it since you were a kid: “Safety first.” Meeting planners are responsible for the well-being of their attendees, so it’s no surprise that safety and security top the list. The survey received everything ranging from natural disasters to terrorism.
If you’re a safety-conscious planner, check out Financial and Insurance Meetings: Security Questions You Need to Ask. Then head over Answers to Your Burning Security Questions for even more insider tips on safety strategies for planners.
Workforce Issues:
Baby boomers vs millennials. It’s a topic not likely to disappear soon. Both sides have expressed concerns about maintaining happy, healthy relationships with the other. The survey found that many meeting planners worry about finding fresh-faced millennials who have the right skill set to succeed as an events professional. Although, we see many companies today with productive, well-functioning dual-generational teams, proving that the adults and the kids tables can combine to make one big, happy planning family. Aww, group hug.
For more on this topic, check out How Millennials and Baby Boomers Can Work Together.
Advancing the Event Profession
My advice? #KCPO
As with many professions, the value of a meeting planner’s job rests on the position of the industry. With an economy that seems to shift more than an Uber driver in San Francisco, fascinating advancements in technology and unforeseen changes in the industry forecast, some planners are concerned about staying relevant. My advice? #KCPO
Impact of the US Political Climate
Heated topic as it may be, today’s uncertain political climate is proving to be a point of concern for many. Planners’ woes surround both meeting popularity and which of their attendees will actually show up.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions seem to be around every turn in the business world, and the events industry, is no different. With these changes impacting heavy hitters across the board, the trend eventually trickles down throughout the entire events industry as a whole. One cause for concern for some planners is that, while mergers and acquisitions are on the rise, organizational memberships may lower.
Now how about a slow clap for meetings!
It’s pretty obvious, we’re in an occasionally tumultuous, but consistently exciting and rewarding industry. Let’s allow our fears and concerns to motivate and inspire us, instead of stressing us out. After all, the show must go on. So let’s keep our heads up and keep being the #bosses that we are. Now how about a slow clap for meetings!
