Does your 123rd Annual Convention look a lot like your 112th Annual Convention? Or perhaps your 26th Annual Convention looks a lot like your 122nd. Association convention attendees’ expectations have changed in the last 11, or even four years. It’s time your Convention changes, too.

If you’re honest with yourself, you already know this. In fact, your convention-planning template is dog-eared—you simply change the dates, the location and the names of the sessions and speakers. It’s easy, it’s comfortable and people still show up.

However…is your fill-in-the-blank version of convention planning what your target audience really wants? If you had all the time you wish, you know that some convention TLC will energize participants who will then spread the news about the IMPROVED 124th Annual Convention!

You can get there more easily than you think. You will learn how to refresh your convention by walking through these three steps: identifying why it’s underperforming, persuading reluctant decision-makers about the benefits of refreshing, and implementing a series of low-cost, high-impact updates.

Key Takeaways

• Identify possible reasons why the event is underperforming.
• Convince stakeholders that change is needed—now.
• List ways to make a big impact on a low budget.
• List resources that will facilitate refreshing your meeting.