Association Event Trends for 2021

Thursday, March 18th at 11:30 AM CT / 12:30 PM ET

About the Webinar

Associations derive a significant portion of their non-dues revenue from hosting events, conferences and trade shows. These events also further their missions for education, advocacy, engagement, and networking of its members. As the pandemic forced the closure of most in-person events, organizations had to accelerate and implement a digital-first strategy–from virtual events, online communities, webinars and more.

In December 2020, Personify commissioned research with nearly 1,000 association members and staff about their preferences for digital engagement along with challenges and opportunities that have arisen over the past year with virtual events.

Join Rich Vallaster, Director of Client Relations at Personify and the Tradeshow Wonk, on Thursday, March 18th, at 11:30 am C.T. / 12:30 pm E.T. as he shares key findings and a deeper understanding of the data on what members want and how to best engage them with your events as you plot the journey ahead.

Here’s a sneak peek of what survey respondents shared:

  • Virtual engagement is here to stay – As events move forward into 2021, members surveyed want options in choice of attendance as it was nearly split equally between preferences of in-person (33%), virtual (33%) and hybrid with 32%.
  • Virtual success – Members ranked virtual events as the number one activity that has “led to meaningful connections with their association.”
  • Events on pause? – 27% of organizations replaced their annual conference with a different type of event and 20% said that organization decided to forgo the in-person event altogether in 2020.
  • Events as part of member engagement – 91% said that it was valuable in meeting association members’ needs by having events.
  • Your digital networks are crucial – More than half of all survey respondents shared how important it is for an association to provide digital networking and community members. This will be a key strategy for hybrid events moving forward.
  • And much, much more.
Participants are also encouraged to submit questions in advance to [email protected].

Register Now

Rich Vallaster, CEM, DES

Director of Client Relations & Trade Show Wonk

Rich Vallaster, CEM, DES serves as the Director of Client Relations & Trade Show Wonk at Personify. He has spent the bulk of his career in the events business, from large scale outdoor events to tradeshows and conferences. He is an appointed member of the CEIR Research Council, TSNN Expo Chat moderator and is an active member of IAEE and PCMA. Rich serves on several exhibitor advisory committees and speaks to organizers, exhibitors, and attendees regularly on industry related topics.

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