For the past few weeks, my phone has been actively buzzing with calls and messages from clients, old and new, looking for assistance with putting together future meetings and events. From incentive trips to sales meetings, golf tournaments and volleyball matches – everyone who is looking to bring people together in 2021 and 2022 are starting to procure resources for these events.
What’s been the most inspiring is that nearly every person who calls wants to collaborate and brainstorm ideas. In other words, they aren’t limiting their requirements to “let’s just do what we did last time” I don’t think I need to spell out why – let’s just say 17 months of virtual meetings have led people (Both clients and their attendees) to ask “What’s the best solution to meet our new expectations?”
How has the conversation changed?
In some ways the conversation hasn’t changed. We begin with understanding the goal and objective - What’s the purpose? Next up - how to best accomplish the purpose, whether face to face, hybrid or virtual. That part of the conversation has remained the same, however the brainstorming is new – and sounds different. It sounds like Reinvention.
Yes, there’s something comfortable and predictable about the check-the-box style of repeating a successful event. Why mess with success? Several reasons –
1) In the pre pandemic life, assuming the DILLY (Do It Like Last Year) Method will bring a successful outcome ranges from naïve to dangerous. While most people are anxious to “getting back to normal” – I don’t believe this is what they mean when they say that.
2) My clients and their attendees want more – a more people-focused interaction, more quality, less filler. Repeating what may have worked in the past doesn’t really honor this wish – it’s time to re-define what is valued most from these experiences – and develop plans around that.
3) There’s no way around it - for the foreseeable future, we will be working with different models for gathering. Face-to Face, Virtual, or a Hybrid of the two. This isn’t about what the CDC says, or the requirements about the locations and venues. It’s not only about the guest comfort, but the best option to accomplish your goals.
Different goals call for different ideas.
Client and guest expectations have shifted and require new ways of meeting and exceeding those expectations. Everything from onsite gifts or mailed home gifts, to hotel selection, virtual check-ins and meeting attendance options – they are all up for consideration. We are in a great position where collaboration and partnership to solve for these new experiences has strengthened client/vendor relationships and given the opportunity to begin new ones!