How to Choose the Best Meeting Industry Events to Attend

Short for time? Scroll to the bottom to discover the key takeaways. 

Whatever your role in the meeting industry, attending events can be an incredibly valuable move for your business and your career. From networking opportunities to being the first to hear about new ideas and developments in the MICE industry, events are a place to elevate your prospects and your industry knowledge.

When you’ve got a clear plan in mind for what you want to get out of an event, or just want to make sure that you’re making the best use of your time and resources, choosing the best meeting industry events to attend is incredibly important. In this article, we share the key things to consider when deciding which events are best for you to attend.

Why Should You Attend Industry Events?

Before we dive into what to consider when you need to choose your event, here are some of the key reasons why you should attend industry events.

• Networking opportunities
• Expert advice and insight
• Potential partnership opportunities
• Increasing brand awareness
• Improving your professional reputation
• Learning about innovation and trends
• A chance to upskill
• Potential career opportunities

What to Consider When You Choose Your Event

When you’re deciding the best meeting industry events to attend, there are a range of different factors you can consider to ensure you’re making the right decision for your career and your organisation. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most important.

Goals

One of the most important things to consider when choosing to attend industry events is what your goals for attending are. Whether you’re seeking networking opportunities to help advance your career, want to make the most of meetings with potential clients, or are looking for chances to participate in workshops and panels, your goals will have a significant impact on the events you should attend.

Identifying your goals should be your first step, even before you start to choose your event. With this intention in mind, it’s much easier to start searching for events that will cater to what you’re looking for and ensure that you reach the goals you’ve set out to achieve.

It can be useful to make a list of the opportunities you’re seeking at events and the outcomes you’d like, and then reference these with what various events offer attendees. 

Sector

First of all, consider the industry sector that the event is catering for and whether this is a niche that is relevant to you. Large-scale events in the meetings industry like IBTM World cater to a range of attendees and exhibitors, but plenty of events are also tailored to more specific sectors and professionals who work here.

Think about whether it would be most beneficial for you to attend a broad industry event, or whether a niche opportunity would be more aligned with your intentions and goals. If you opt for a more specialist event.

Speakers and Schedule

Another of the most important things to consider when comparing events is the speakers attending or the schedule of activities and opportunities. Making sure that these align with your expectations is a key part of having a successful experience.

Suppose you’re hoping to attend an event to make the most of networking opportunities, for example. In that case, you won’t want to end up at a conference with a full schedule of speakers that leaves very little time for attendee interaction. Alternatively, if you’re looking for events that will share insight into industry trends and spotlight industry leaders and their ideas, you don’t want to end up spending most of your time socialising.

When an event schedule is available, make sure that you check it before booking a ticket so that you can be certain you’ll have the experience you’re looking for.

Budget

On a more practical note, especially if you’re attending events independently, you should consider the budget you have available. This isn’t just about the cost of attendance; you may also need to pay for transport, accommodation and food, especially if the event takes place over multiple days.

Events in the meeting industry take place all over the world, so you must be prepared with a realistic budget when planning which events to attend, especially if you have a few in mind. This can be really helpful when it comes to deciding how many events you’d like to attend, or how far you’re able to travel for an event.

Location

In a similar vein, you should also consider the location of the meeting industry events you’re thinking of attending, as this will likely impact how easy and or/costly it is to attend. Whether because of budget or family commitments, not everyone can travel a long way to attend events, which can limit your selection.

The location of events will also affect the other attendees who are there, which is another thing to consider. Prioritising local events can be a great way to connect with people and businesses nearby and develop productive partnerships, whilst attending international events can be the best way to meet certain professionals and establish yourself in a particular sector.

Size

Size is a major thing to consider when you’re choosing to attend industry events, both from a personal experience point of view and a business outcome perspective. Both small and large events have their benefits and drawbacks, and you should consider whether any of these considerations are important enough to you to impact your decision to attend.

Large events obviously have the advantage of attracting a large group of attendees and more established businesses in the MICE industry, as well as often having a more diverse array of activities. Smaller events can often facilitate better opportunities for collaboration and connection, as well as also being less overwhelming and tiring.

Format

Events can take a range of formats, from trade shows and conferences to more casual networking events. When you’re thinking about the kind that you’d like to attend, it’s really important to consider the format and whether this is suited to your goals. 

This is particularly useful to bear in mind if you’re branching out and starting to attend larger events which will be more formal and structured. Be sure to research what the event will actually involve and also look at previous attendee testimonials to get a well-rounded understanding of whether this format will work for you.

Business Opportunities

Many events in the MICE industry offer opportunities for vendors and potential clients to interact, whether this is through conversations at stands or planned meetings. If your intention at events is to set up and facilitate business opportunities, particular events will be suited to this kind of interaction.

Equally, you might have business opportunities in mind that would be better approached in a more natural and casual setting. In this case, attending events that are more focused on networking and connection will be more aligned with your goals.

Speaking Opportunities

You might be at the stage in your career where you’re ready to start speaking at events instead of just attending them. If this is the case, your approach to choosing the best events in the meeting industry should be focused on events where you are already established in the sector and potentially have useful connections that will give you credibility.

If you’re already reasonably well-known in the industry then you may have reached the stage where you are approached to speak at events. But if this isn’t the case and you’re right at the start of your public speaking career, it can be a good idea to start attending the kinds of events that you want to speak at and get a better idea of what’s involved and who’s in charge.

Other Attendees

Judging whether a meeting industry event is going to be right for you can be made easier when you get a good idea of the other, typical attendees. You can do this by reading reviews of previous events or potentially by asking other professionals in our sector about the kinds of events that they enjoy going to. 

If you’re looking for opportunities to connect with specific people, this may be a major factor in your decision about which events to attend. Whether you aim for events with people at your career stage, or with people you want to learn from and work with, it’s an important consideration when it comes to getting the most out of events.

Event Reputation

Something you should definitely consider before you attend industry events is the reputation that they have and what other attendees and professionals have said about their experience. If you plan your event attendance intending to make beneficial connections and become better known in your sector, you’ll want to choose events with a very high reputation that will present you with the best possible opportunities to further your career.

Preparation Time

Some events in the MICE industry facilitate business meetings between clients and potential buyers, which may be one of your main reasons for wanting to attend. If this is the case, preparation and research are key to getting the most out of these meetings, so you need to make sure that you’ve got the time to sufficiently prepare.

If your event schedule is reasonably spaced out then this might not be an issue, but you should consider your workload and other responsibilities before deciding to attend an event that will require a large amount of preparation time. You want to make the best impression possible, and failing to do so because you didn’t have enough time could have a long-term negative impact on your reputation.

Capacity

Finally, when you choose your event you may want to consider the capacity and whether this aligns with your intentions and goals. If the event has a limited capacity then not only do you need to be ready to buy a ticket as soon as they go on sale, but you also need to prepare for an event which is going to feel more intimate, will likely require more networking, and probably be tailored to a certain kind of attendee. To make the best use of your time, make sure you’re choosing your spots wisely.

Summary

Choosing the right event for your business and/or your career can have a brilliant impact on your prospects, so it’s definitely worth putting the time in to consider whether it’s the best option for you. This process is valuable no matter how experienced you are as an attendee, as your needs will change and the value of attending events will develop. So whether you have specific goals as an attendee or just want to make sure that you get the most out of your events, it’s well worth running through this list we’ve outlined in this article.

If you’re looking for the best events to attend in the MICE industry, IBTM World takes place in Barcelona November and is a great opportunity for meeting industry professionals to build connections and be inspired. Register your interest or find out more on our website.

Key takeaways

• Define your goals before selecting events; they guide your decision and ensure alignment with your career or business needs.
• Consider factors such as budget, location, and event size, which can impact both experience quality and accessibility.
• Evaluate the event's reputation, speakers, and schedule to ensure it meets your professional development objectives.
• Think about whether you want broad networking opportunities or sector-specific interactions, as both types of events offer unique benefits.
• Review other attendees and the format to ensure the event aligns with your intentions, whether it's learning, networking, or securing business deals. 
   

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