May 2014 – How to Increase Attendance at Meetings and Events
How to Increase Attendance at Meetings and Events
Want to increase attendance at meetings and events? Some of these may be tips you have already heard, but have you been following them? Refresh your memory now and see the difference in results.
- BE SENSITIVE OF THE CALENDAR AND OF THE CLOCK…
Attendees prefer morning schedules, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays are preferred meeting days. Avoid Fridays and holidays if at all possible. - LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…
Just because you are getting lower hotel rates and free meeting space in 2nd or 3rd tier cities, it doesn’t mean that registrants will follow! Attendees are looking for ROI also so choose locations with more to offer your attendees and choose cities that are strong convention cities. Also, something as simple as choosing a city/state that has the highest percentage of your members is a great place to start! - GIVE THEM A REASON TO COME…
Does a meeting titled “Annual Meeting of Corn Growers” sound boring? YES! How does “How Corn Growers Can Increase Revenues” sound? Something as simple as the name of the conference can help increase attendance. - EXPAND YOUR ATTENDEE LIST…
Does your Association or Corporation only invite your members? WHY? Expand your attendee list to include corporate sponsors, vertical markets, competitors, educators in your field, students, etc. Many companies are expanding their reach to get new business so if you expand your attendee list, you will expand your attendance! - MAKE YOUR CONTENT VALUABLE…
You must have content that helps your attendees and their ROI, not yours. Focus your education on helping your attendees with their bottom line and in the end, they will help your bottom line. - SHARE THE MESSAGE…
After the meeting share additional handouts and materials referenced by presenters. This will also give you a great opportunity to thank them for coming and to give you direct feedback on what they would like to see in next year’s conference and what was their most memorable experience.
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Mark Dallman “A Meeting Planner’s Best Friend” is the Regional Vice President of Sales for HPN Global (www.hpnglobal.com) is a native Minnesotan and works out of his home in Plymouth, MN. He was in the hotel business for over 20 years and worked in 14 hotels and moved nine times. His recent positions were the Associate Director of Sales at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. He is also the owner of the Linkedin Group “Helpful “Tips” for Meeting Planners” and sends out a Meeting Planner “Tip of the Month” newsletter to over 25,000 Meeting Planners. For more information and to check out his client recommendations and archived “Tips” of the Month, feel free to check out his personal website at www.ameetingplannersbestfriend.com.
With no obligation, no cost and no contracts to sign, send him your next meeting or group RFP and find out why having a former hotelier on your side will make all the difference! Contact him directly at 612-432-1397 or at mdallman@hpnglobal.com.
HPN Global is the nation’s fastest growing site selection and consulting firm and acts as a resource for meeting planners. We will assist with every step of the meeting planning process, from confidential site searches to contract review and more. HPN Global places over 400 meetings per month throughout the country and we pass this buying power to our clients. HPN Global guarantees no out of pocket cost to you and there are no contracts to sign. We are paid a placement fee by the hotels chosen. Unlike the competition, HPN Global offers a more consultative approach to doing business, with service, value and client relationships being our top priorities.