Industry Confidential Check in every issue for the unfiltered thoughts of our guest writers and contributors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports tourism. Join the conversation by tweeting us: @pushsports In this issue, our guest writer discusses the subject of conference optics.
When will it end? Year-end and year out, we finish attending conferences with a feeling of quantity over quality. As we work through the first stage of our post-pandemic sports tourism reboot, now is the time to change many aspects of our industry. I’m hoping we start with a switch on conference experience by moving to a post-conference feeling of quality over quantity.
fall in several ways if we, as an industry, are not careful moving forward.
The majority of conference attendees are from small to mid-market destinations. Among this segment of our colleagues, most represent government entities or are at minimum funded by tax dollars. Over the past ten years, we have witnessed more scrutiny for return-on-investment measurement, both internally and externally. Some Destination Marketing Organizations and Sports Commission have sales process and room I have a full understanding of what it takes night quotas that must be met on a monthfor a conference to be successful. From des- ly and annual basis. Based on budget, those tination bid fees and in-kind services to destinations dependent on conference apvariety in exploring a destination’s assets, pointments to meet and discuss new and expectations on room night pick up, and repeat business must showcase results. sponsorship fulfillment. Conferences and trade shows are a huge undertaking, and Thus far, in 2021, I have attended five conthey are a massive sales and marketing tool ferences on the State and national levels. on all sides of the sports tourism industry. At each conference, I have encountered colleagues who have no idea what lies ahead As they can be a game-changer for many during appointment sessions. They cannot of us in developing new business op- describe the next steps for bidding opportunities, they too can become a pit- portunities, future event development, or
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