A Fork in the Road in the Face-to-Face Meetings Industry

More than a decade ago, the Internet made its appearance in the meetings and exhibitions industry and it intrigued as much as it frightened event planners and suppliers. The main question back then was whether the Internet would replace face-to-face meetings. It didn’t.

Over the last several years, as social media went mainstream, the same doubts and excitement surfaced. More than one article was written in 2008 about the death of tradeshows at the hands of Facebook, YouTube and virtual meeting platforms. And although most experts agree that social networking platforms and virtual events won’t replace live events, there is still some trepidation about how social media will affect face-to-face meetings.

In 2009 the industry was flooded with ideas, platforms and discussion about social networking. More than that, the philosophy of social networking–sharing, collaboration and interactive engagement started to permeate other processes, Apps and tools such that an evolutionary way of working was invented. In 2010, we have come to the fork in the road and turned the corner. We have embraced the potential of social media and begun innovating with the new rules.

This blog is a place for ideas, perspectives and evidence that social media can and will flourish alongside face-to-face meetings and will be expanded to include other innovative technologies that are changing the face-to-face meetings industry.

And, as we explore the world of Web 2.0 and emerging technology, we’ll always be looking for the next big thing to enhance the connection and collaboration at the core of every meeting, conference and exhibition so that as the next fork in the road approaches, we’ll see it coming.