Increased Attendee Expectations vs. Rising Costs February 24, 2026 by Dave Lutz Attendee’s want unforgettable event experiences, less friction and lower costs. As margins slip, event professionals are being pressured to hold or lower event expenses. The three categories attendees value the most are also the ones that are escalating in cost faster than inflation (30%+ over the past four years). The big three expense areas include … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Modernizing Your Post-Con Survey February 5, 2026 by Dave Lutz The post-con survey is key to measuring the success of your event and planning for the future, but planners continue to find it a challenge to get participants to respond to them. Unless you require them to complete the survey to earn their CE credits, your post-con survey response rate could be 10 percent or … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Design Conferences That Attract NextGen Attendees January 7, 2026 by Dave Lutz Attracting NextGen attendees continues to be a top priority for conference and trade show organizers. What we’ve learned is that success has less to do with age and more to do with shifting workforce dynamics and rising expectations for practical, immediate value. Conferences that emphasize relevant learning, intentional networking, and flexible engagement are seeing … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Show-Floor Theater Best Practices October 8, 2025 by Dave Lutz Last month, I was able to experience InfoComm, billed as “The Coolest Pro AV Gathering on the Planet.” Here’s what I took away from that experience. InfoComm, held June 7-13, attracted nearly 31,000 AV professionals to Orlando. One of the events highly engaging features was the handful of large theaters on the show floor. Three … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Night at the Disco August 20, 2025 by Dave Lutz **Lost Post written five years ago. This blog post was published in Convene, but not published on our site in 2020 due to the pandemic and changing priorities during that time** My wife, Margie, loves to dance. To ring in the New Year and new decade, we went to one of our favorite hangouts. As … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Amplifying Your Industry Awards October 1, 2024 by Dave Lutz During a recent client roundtable, we had a lively discussion around the challenges of changing up the way awards are presented during general sessions at events. While all agree it is important to celebrate professional accomplishments, award presentations are one of the hardest event features for leaders to agree to modernize, change, or make more … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
APA Gathers in Washington August 16, 2023 by Lisa Block You belong here….was the theme of the American Psychological Association’s “more than just an annual convention” recently at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Our team had the opportunity to participate and observe both the in-person and virtual event as the post-Covid rebound continues. That theme manifested most successfully in: Intentional content and messaging delivered … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Configurable Conference Journeys August 9, 2023 by Dave Lutz For many annual meetings, the Great Resignation has resulted in erosion of loyal, regular attendees and an increase in first-timers, whose experience can be improved with guidance on the best course for them to follow during your program. In his book, The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz writes: “Learning to choose is hard. Learning … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Five Smart Strategies for Post Pandemic Success July 24, 2023 by Sarah Michel Last week I attended the National Speakers Association’s (NSA) Annual Meeting, Influence 2023. As a 25+ year member of NSA, I was eager to see how they would weave in their 50-year anniversary and deliver on a promise to elevate the education and main room experiences. They did not disappoint. Below I’ve highlighted five strategies … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
Putting Plan B into Play for Your Main Stage April 12, 2023 by Dave Lutz Last fall, two of our consulting clients were scheduled to have their annual conferences in Orlando. In late September, Hurricane Ian pummeled central Florida, triggering a significant number of flight cancellations. Group No. 1 had no choice but to cancel its in-person event. Fortunately, this association had already planned a digital version of the conference … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design
