Conclusions In 2019, the Meeting Room of the Future turned to meeting planners for their outlooks on the industry. Four years later, the meetings industry has undergone profound transformations. The way we live, work and meet has changed and so have, in turn, the spaces and technologies required for business events and conferences. Much of today’s workforce is now hybrid or remote. Attending events virtually has become a new norm, so in-person attendance must be worth the time and costs of the trip. As such, the “experience” of events has been placed front and centre. Human connection, meaningful travel, and involvement of local culture and cuisine help to build these experiences. Planners and venues are prioritising creativity in their offerings, and the flexibility to shape spaces to the individual events. Many planners are looking to move away from traditional conference rooms and lecture theatres and the share of meetings held at hotels continues to show a downward trend. To help adapt to the demands of tomorrows meetings, venues must ensure they invest in their technological capabilities, such as virtual streaming and participation, internet access, AV and cyber security. At the same time, sustainability and social responsibility will continue to grow in importance, ensuring the meeting room of the future is a positive force for the future. The IACC Vision: IACC is a community of passionate people and companies delivering innovative and exceptional meeting experiences. ABOUT IACC: Founded in 1981, IACC is a not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the meetings venue industry and to giving member properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptional IACC meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Germany and Ukraine.
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IACC wishes to acknowledge those who have contributed to the funding of the IACC Meeting Room of the Future (TM) initiative.
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