Conference planning is one of the most challenging tasks organizations face. For many associations and companies, the annual conference or convention is their Super Bowl. It’s a chance for members to meet sponsors and exhibitors, an opportunity for professional development and meeting continuing education requirements as well as a time to kick back and have some fun. With so much at stake, we’ve provided some tips to help you create a conference or convention people will be talking about for months afterward.

Create “wow” moments throughout the event
Many conventions kick things off with an inspiring opening speaker. That’s important. But it’s equally important to keep the sizzle happening. That means creating exciting moments throughout your event to keep your audience energized and excited.

Diversify your session offerings
In addition to hosting sessions with directly relatable content, consider having a few sessions that stray from the path a bit. For instance, you could have a session with a humor/motivational speaker who has no direct tie to your industry. Or, if you’re in the health care field, you might add an interactive session on laughter yoga, so people can see its benefits firsthand.

Make it easy for attendees to navigate
Nothing ruins a convention experience more than not being able to find a session, forcing you to flip through a cumbersome directory while trying to read text messages on your phone. An event app, like IlluminAge’s ConventionReadyTM , puts your entire convention in the palm of your attendees’ hand. With a single app, they can:

  • See everything your event offers
  • Plan a personal schedule
  • Locate venues
  • Set reminders
  • Open session handouts
  • Take and share notes and photos
  • Receive messages, updates and alerts

ConventionReady, or other convention/conference apps you use, will also save you money on printing costs for session handouts, allowing you and your convention to “Go Green.”
To set up a test installation of IlluminAge’s ConventionReady event app, visit us on the web or give us a call at 800.448.5213.