Worth the Trip: Re-designing the Conference Experience for 2026 and Beyond
Join us for MESA's next Meeting Planner Forum
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
1300 - 1400 BST / 1400 -1500 CEST
FREE OF CHARGE TO ATTEND - But you must pre-register
Eligible for Industry Meeting Planners, Event Organisers and MESA Supplier Members
Join MESA (Meetings & Events Support Association) member suppliers and our community of meeting planners and conference organisers for a dynamic and eye-opening session where we look at the format of conferences and meetings!
In an era of digital normalisation and hybrid work, "business as usual" is no longer enough to attract a global audience. Join us for an interactive forum centered on Nicole’s latest white paper, where we move beyond scientific content to focus on the experience. We’ll discuss the three pillars of modern event design - Clarity, Connection, and Impact - and explore how planners and suppliers can work together to overcome traditionalist resistance and create events that are truly "worth the trip."
Adapting to new conference formats requires more than just a good idea; it requires a change in industry mindset. This session brings planners and MESA suppliers together to dismantle the "fear of change" in associations. We will dive into specific breakout topics to share experiences and ideas bringing strategies to make future events more engaging, interactive, and resilient.
It’s your opportunity to build new connections, access actionable insights, and discover what’s next for your meeting or conference in our sector. Register now to secure your place!
Key Discussions:
- The Three Pillars: Applying Clarity, Connection, and Impact to your next RFP or event design
- Overcoming Resistance: How to talk to "traditionalist" stakeholders about ROI and sustainability
- Supplier/Planner Synergy: How suppliers can better support planners in implementing "spark" or "campfire" sessions
REGISTER NOW if you are a planner in the meetings & events industry or a MESA Member!
Our session will include 3 Breakout Groups where you get the chance to discuss:
Clarity: We need clarity to make good decisions (regarding attending conferences or sessions). Delegates report feeling overloaded with choices (sessions, conferences) and at conferences feel they may miss out important/relevant sessions. Breakout Room Question 1: What would you (or have you) changed in your conference structure or your messaging to help deal with the clarity issue?
Connection: Connecting with others is a key reason people give for attending conferences. However, making those connections at the conference often relies on chance encounters and/or having confident networking skills. Breakout Room Question 2: What would you (or have you) changed in your conference to help address the connection issue?
Impact: To justify conference attendance delegates really need to see an impact beyond the conference itself. Breakout Room Question 3: What is one thing that we could change in the current format of a conference to make a difference? (Give a one sentence statement)