Three BIG Takeaways from the SITE Texas Roadshow 2024

Three BIG Takeaways from the SITE Texas Roadshow 2024

by | Sep 23, 2024 | Gen Y, Gen Z, Meetings & Events, Tips, Travel

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the SITE Texas Roadshow 2024, where I connected with incentive travel professionals in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Our discussions revolved around one crucial topic: the impact that Gen Z and Gen Y are having on the incentive travel industry. These younger generations are redefining how organizations design travel experiences, and here are three key takeaways I learned from our time together.

1. Personalization Is No Longer Optional—It’s Expected

One of the most significant shifts in the incentive travel industry is the demand for immediacy and personalization. Gen Z and Gen Y generations want more than just a well-organized trip; they want experiences tailored to their preferences, values, and interests. In Houston, we discussed how corporate travelers today expect custom experiences that reflect their individuality. Whether it’s cultural immersion, adventure levels, or wellness-oriented experiences, there’s a strong focus on personalization.

This shift is driving incentive planners to dig deeper into data, ensuring that no two travel experiences are alike. It’s not just about rewarding top performers anymore—it’s about creating something memorable and unique to them.

2. Sustainability and Purpose Are Front and Center

In Austin, a key topic that stood out was the increasing importance of sustainability and social responsibility. Gen Z and Gen Y are vocal advocates for environmental stewardship and ethical practices. Incentive travel is no exception to this trend, as professionals in the industry are finding innovative ways to align travel programs with eco-friendly values. From eco-conscious venues to carbon offset programs, the focus is shifting toward experiences that not only reward employees but also give back to the planet.

These younger generations also care about purpose. Incentive travel can no longer be just about relaxation or luxury—it needs to incorporate a sense of impact, whether through CSR activities or support for local communities.

3. Tech-Savvy Travelers Are Raising the Bar

By the time we reached Dallas, it was clear that technology is playing a critical role in how Gen Z and Gen Y engage with incentive travel. These groups are tech-savvy and expect seamless digital integration from start to finish. Whether it’s using apps for real-time updates, booking, or tracking rewards, they prefer travel that comes with digital convenience.

We talked about how incentive planners need to embrace digital platforms not only for logistics but also for enhancing the overall experience. This could include augmented reality tours, virtual concierge services, or gamified reward systems to keep participants engaged before, during, and after the trip.

THE SUM

Wrapping up this tour was an eye-opener. Incentive travel is evolving fast, and the influence of Gen Z and Gen Y is pushing the industry to think differently. These generations want more personalized, purposeful, and tech-driven experiences, and those who adapt to these preferences will lead the charge in the future of travel. The key to winning them over is to exceed the expectations that they are setting for themselves in their leisure travel, which can be a tall order. With the right creative planning, any incentive travel buyer or planner can be ready for Gen Z and Gen Y.

Event and Meeting Planning and Marketing Made Easy with AI

Event and Meeting Planning and Marketing Made Easy with AI

by | May 2, 2024 | AI, Meetings & Events, Tips

This past April, I took the stage at the Northstar Meetings Group Small & Boutique meetings show just outside of Houston. The room was filled with event and meeting planners from all over the country who were eager to learn how AI was going to change the way they plan and market events forever.

I showed them how to embrace their AI fears, build a simple plan, and get started using AI to free up their valuable time to deliver a better experience for attendees. We discussed how planners now have a powerful tool at their disposal to streamline processes and enhance outcomes throughout the event lifecycle and put their focus on making their event or meeting awesome!

One attendee sent this wonderful note to me post-event: “I wanted to share that your AI presentation has been a point of conversation for me! I talk about and ask everyone I encounter now if, when, and how they are using AI. I’m younger and newer in the Meetings/Events world and I’ve never used even an ounce of AI. Thank you for opening the AI world to me, I’m not sure if I would have come around to it any time soon without your presentation.”

What a testimonial! She was clearly motivated and inspired ‒ which are the top goals of any professional speaker. To get other planners feeling the same way about using AI, I wanted to share the three phases that I presented at the show:

Pre-Event Phase

Before the event, AI can assist planners in making data-driven decisions for planning and marketing. By analyzing vast datasets, AI algorithms can recommend optimal venues based on factors such as location, accessibility, and attendee preferences. Wouldn’t it be nice to know the number before you know the numbers? Well, predictive analytics further empower planners to forecast attendee turnout accurately, enabling better resource allocation and budgeting. 

AI tools also allow planners to craft targeted marketing campaigns tailored to individual attendee preferences, maximizing engagement and conversion rates. This can be deployed in promotional social media posts, event websites, and even AI-based chatbots that facilitate questions to increase conversions. But, the #1 thing during the pre-event phase, is how generative AI can free up a ton of time in creating content, like blog posts, to market the event or create detailed agendas or even speaker summaries.

On-Site Phase

Planners can focus more on the attendee experience during the event with AI-powered tools that radically increase operational efficiencies. Automated registration and check-in processes powered by AI reduce wait times and minimize errors, enhancing the overall attendee experience. Real-time data analytics provide valuable insights into attendee behavior and session attendance, allowing planners to make informed decisions on the fly to optimize event dynamics. There will be less of a need to rely on volunteers when chatbots and virtual assistants can offer instant support to attendees, answering inquiries and providing directions seamlessly.

One of the creepiest use cases I have seen is using AI-powered facial recognition software to know who is on-site and who is not supposed to be there. This would require the use of a venue’s camera infrastructure, but it sure would be a great way to keep attendees safe while also thwarting badge swappers.

Post Event Phase

Now that event high is over, wouldn’t it be nice to kick back instead of being inundated with post-event tasks? AI can help with that! AI analysis can enable planners to measure success metrics accurately and identify areas for improvement. AI-driven analytics platforms aggregate and analyze post-event data, including attendee feedback and social media mentions, providing valuable insights for future event planning, all of which can easily be compiled into a report, and you and your team can debrief on and use for next year’s planning.

It gets even more fun with personalized follow-up strategies based on AI segmentation and targeting that can further nurture attendee relationships, fostering long-term loyalty. You can use tools like ChatGPT once again to help you create post-event surveys for attendees, sponsors, and vendors instead of staring blankly at a Google Form guessing what questions to ask.

The Sum

AI is a game-changer for event and meeting planners, they just need to try it out and start small By leveraging AI throughout the event lifecycle, planners can innovate, iterate, and excel in delivering memorable and impactful events for attendees. Soon, I will be releasing a guide on the exact steps to take and AI tools to try when planning and marketing your next event. Stay tuned!

3 Ways Gen Z is Changing the Meetings & Events Industry in 2024

3 Ways Gen Z is Changing the Meetings & Events Industry in 2024

by | Jan 17, 2024 | Gen Z, Meetings & Events, Tips

I’ve been speaking (and posting) about Gen Z for a long time and continue to be fascinated with their habits, especially their obsession with the 90’s style – that one I will never quite understand. These kiddos continue to have a limitless impact on literally everything, and the target of understanding them seems to always be moving. However, I believe that as meetings and events (and travel) are bouncing back after the pandemic, there are a few ways we can adapt to their desires.

1. Build Towards Hybrid & Virtual Experiences

The traditional 4-wall event boundaries have been obliterated thanks to new technology and hybrid and virtual events forced by the pandemic. Gen Z can now expect that events blend physical and online participation as their inherent comfort with technology has driven a significant shift towards making events more accessible, inclusive, and globally connected. That means Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are being increasingly utilized by event producers to create immersive environments, allowing attendees to engage from anywhere in the world.

2. Emphasis on Authenticity and Social Responsibility

Gen Z seeks genuine connections and experiences, pushing event organizers to prioritize authenticity in the way the event looks, feels, and is communicated (BizBash has a great article on how to bring authenticity to an event). Also, Gen Z is very committed to social causes which is influencing events to incorporate sustainability practices, diversity, and inclusivity wherever they can. They are after all the most diverse generation ever and have expectations of your event mirroring who they are at their core.

3. Influence of Social Media and Influencer Culture

The power of social media over Gen Z has forever changed the way events are marketed and experienced. Events are increasingly using social media geared toward the younger generations (i.e. TikTok) to amplify their reach and make events more interactive. Also, the rise of influencer culture has become a powerful tool. If events can engage with social media influencers in the right way, it will not only promote the event but lead to that desired authenticity mentioned in point 2.

The Sum

Gen Z is driving some serious transformative changes in the meetings and events industry.  Though technology and digital seem to be at the core, they are after all only human and desire a more meaningful and educational experience when attending your next event. The bar may seem high, however, the most minor tweaks will knock it out of the park for this generation.

3 Reasons to Say YES to Virtual Events

3 Reasons to Say YES to Virtual Events

by | Aug 17, 2021 | Marketing, Speaking, Tips

Like all speakers over the past 18 months, I have seen my speaking career deflate like a helium balloon two days after a 10-year-old’s birthday party. The pandemic response has all but wiped out the live events industry, forcing resourceful groups to hack their way through creating virtual meetings and conferences, thus limiting the volume and scope of engagements for speakers.

If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would have attended all-day virtual conferences and spoken to large groups while sitting in my home office wearing workout shorts — and that this would become a cross-industry norm — I would have said ‘HELL NAW!’

Alas, this is the world we live in now. The good news is, live events are picking back up and even amidst this new Delta surge, in-person events are visible on the horizon.

I have attended and participated in a few virtual conferences and while they are lackluster compared to their in-person counterparts (Zoom fatigue is real), they are a great place to sharpen your speaking skills and practice your material. Think of how a stand-up comic will hit up an open mic or two to try out new material between tours. Even the greats stop by for random late night, unpaid bits at the Comedy Cellar.

I’ve got a few reasons why you should say YES to virtual speaking gigs until we’re back to normal.

  1. Keeps You Sharp – Just like how your muscles will atrophy after skipping the gym for six months, so will your speaking skills. Certainly there’s no better way to fine tune your delivery than the adrenaline-pumping experience of dominating a stage in front of hundreds of attendees, but that’s just not a reality right now. So, instead of hanging up your dancing, I mean speaking, shoes, get your practice in at virtual events. You can still create great content and honestly, it’s an even bigger challenge to keep someone’s attention online vs. in a ballroom for 45 minutes. There are just so many distractions at home.
  2. Keeps you consistent – Just like a job seeker, a speaker shouldn’t have huge gaps of time with no activity. Granted, event planners and content curators will completely understand this 2020-21 gap or lull that all speakers will have in their resume, but wouldn’t it be great to have a slight edge over the competition? So even if your engagements are virtual, it’s good to have that engagement listed in your timeline even if the footnote is that the event was 100% online.
  3. Keeps you relevant – Every pro knows that this speaking thing is a bit of a popularity contest. And the most popular speakers win. When you keep up your appearances, even when virtual, it helps to keep you top of mind and gives planners something to talk about and reference. Virtual engagements, while seemingly less impactful, can and will keep you relevant especially because many of the events that perhaps you would have spoken at in-person have now moved online.

The bottom line is this: virtual events may not be as glamorous or have a big draw, but they do offer the ability to keep up regular speaking and create an opportunity for continued exposure. So, even though they pay pennies or sometimes nothing at all, bite your tongue before you blurt out a sharp NO. Take the opportunity to do something lightweight where you can try out some new material, or venture into a business sector that you haven’t tried before. In the world of speaking, there’s always something new to learn, even if it’s virtual. So, keep an open mind and take what you can get to stay sharp, relevant and consistent.

Have a look at my recent session on how Gen Y and Gen Z are reshaping travel and work with the Oregon BTA from the comforts of my home office ?

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Video Impression of Inspire Startups

Video Impression of Inspire Startups

by | Aug 12, 2013 | Startups

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I have been coordinating the monthly Inspire Startups showcase since February and we are excited to be hosting our fifth showcase and pitch event on Aug. 21. Since the first event, we have had 40 companies, 4 excellent speakers and over 300 attendees come though the IBC doors. With all that excitement, we thought it would be fitting to produce a video that showed off the Inspire Startups format. With thanks to the guys at Brin Hill Media and SollywoodTV, here’s the debut!

See more about the Inspire Startups project on my Projects page.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZwbGF5ZXIudmltZW8uY29tJTJGdmlkZW8lMkY3MjE5MTIyOSUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyNjQwJTIyJTIwaGVpZ2h0JTNEJTIyMzYwJTIyJTIwZnJhbWVib3JkZXIlM0QlMjIwJTIyJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]