In Person

The world is a melting pot of diverse people and cultures, and we’re living in a time when diversity and inclusion are top of mind. While conferences, summits, meetups and other events are opportunities for people from the same industry to come together, learn, share experiences and make connections.

When you think of “millennials”, what do you picture? Impatient, fickle, job hoppers, disloyal, trophy hunters. Perhaps you’ve heard that they're tech-savvy, always connected, need instant gratification, and are hard to impress. This isn't surprising given the stereotypes out there.All the traits used to describe millennials presents a perception gap between what brands attempt to communicate and offer millennials and how they end up receiving, processing, and responding to it. Meetings and events that don’t take millennial preferences and desires into account will struggle to attract and engage the next generation.So, how can brands be better at catering events and meetings for millennials?

Experiences are at the heart of brand-consumer connections. More than ever, people are craving connections and want to engage with brands that share their values and make them feel happy, counted, and appreciated. Inclusiveness, accessibility, and personalised experiences are at the core of these connections that people build with the brands they love. When it comes to brand love, experiences make hearts grow fonder.

The global events industry has taken a severe beating since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged but there are glimmers of hope for the industry, predicted to be valued at $1,552.9 billion by 2028. Forward thinking brands continue to use events to connect with their customers, suppliers and partners, with technology advancements enabling innovation in the way that meetings, conferences, product launches and other experiences are delivered. 

After 18 months of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the global events and exhibitions industry has had some time to experiment and adapt their strategies – and things are looking up. Surveys suggest that by the last quarter of 2021, most people will be comfortable attending in-person events if safety precautions are taken and numbers are controlled.

As businesses, they also serve as an opportunity for your brand to get creative and stand out from the crowd! But what exactly are brand activations and how do they work? What kind of impact can they have on your bottom line?