What attendees really want: Three event strategies that increase engagement and ROI
Advanced event logistics
Starts in
5
weeks
0
days
18
hours
57
minutes

What attendees really want: Three event strategies that increase engagement and ROI

Audience engagement
Creativity
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2026
1:30 PM - 1:55 PM | America/Los_Angeles

Education session

Bayside | Encore, B4387
English
Starts in
5
weeks
0
days
18
hours
57
minutes
About

Meeting professionals are under constant pressure to do more with less, stretch budgets, prove value and deliver experiences attendees won't forget. Yet new industry research reveals a disconnect: while nearly half of planners say attendee-to-attendee connection is the most important driver of event success, very few intentionally design for it. At the same time, most events still rely on only basic personalization, leaving opportunities to create deeper engagement untapped.

Join a panel discussion for a behind-the-scenes look at the most effective strategies incorporating personalization and connection that delivered greater value while keeping the budget in mind.

Learning outcomes:

Turn attendee research into design decisions that improve engagement

Maximize production and destination investments by designing spaces and experiences for multiple purposes

Partner with suppliers earlier to uncover ideas that increase attendee value and event ROI

This session is approved for the following certifications.

* ICCA Skills Domain CICS/CICE: 0.5

* CSEP Approved

Speakers

Claire Lester

Senior Design StrategistMaritz

Cameron Rust

Sr. Director, Experience DesignHello! Destination Management

Kate Walsh

Regional Vice PresidentHello! Destination Management