"First, we are designing plays that will maximize our talent. PMPI’s service and professional development opportunities for its members will be expanding in 2014-2015. New educational and networking opportunities will be unveiled, as well as some true team efforts collaborating with other industry partners and affiliates in the D.C. area. Look for a big announcement regarding these developments to come very soon.

"Second, we are creating a comprehensive playbook that encompasses all of our talent. In order to better understand our members, PMPI will be engaging this fall in focus groups and task force initiatives to better understand the needs and talents of team PMPI. We want our members to help us craft new tools that will meet their professional and technological needs, as well as begin the transition into an online platform that will provide relevant training and professional development materials at your fingertips." 

"And finally, as I mentioned before, we are officially now talent scouting. At our spring training (or Board Retreat as some may know it), I challenged the Board to strengthen our roster. Not only does PMPI rely on the skill sets of our current members to develop, but we also require new team members who can continue to help us redefine and enhance how we do business. Starting now, our teams are officially in scouting mode, and will be actively seeking you to join a committee. New recruitment and engagement tools are in place for the year, including our "scouting" event at Summer Sizzle on August 19 at the new rooftop of the Embassy Row Hotel. See you there!"

"Again, I am truly honored to be coaching Team PMPI. Thank you all for your support. Time to get training and creating MVPs."

For planners, the most important application is the meeting app. At a minimum, these apps need to be the go-to place for the show’s schedule, the individual’s itinerary and maps. Apps are also taking on many other duties: social networking, exhibitor/sponsor guides, speaker directories, audience response systems, surveys and more.

Individuals are engaging your meeting website on his or her laptop, smartphone or tablet. Now, responsive websites alter the display based on the capabilities of the viewing device and provides a great solution.. 

The process of using game techniques to engage show attendees and solve problems is called gamification. Mobile apps are at the heart of this growing trend and attendees love the level of interaction they provide. Applications range from scavenger hunts using QR codes, to quizzes and game shows.

Tweets, photos, blogs, posts videos and more are being created at conferences. A number of software tools can take this information, coupled with the information the show producers generate, to create "stories" about the conference. Social media monitors strategically located on the conference floor are becoming very popular as well.

Geo-fencing refers to creating a virtual "perimeter" around a specific area. An attendee, when in the zone, can be given special offers, notices or announcements. Companies will be rolling out "beacon" technology over the upcoming months to make these virtual areas more accessible with your mobile device. Expect to see big ticket players like Apple taking this technology to a high level.

Expect Google Glass to start making a big splash at shows soon. Glass is part of a general trend to make everything Internet-aware. Networked wearable devices such as watches and wristbands are expecting huge growth in the near future. The list includes wristbands that track attendee interactions and apps that can broadcast from a smartphone rather than an expensive central A/V system.

The big loser here is the printed program. Mobile friendly and 100 percent green websites and apps have greatly increased the demise of the big booklet. If you have not started toning down your printed program, you should consider heading toward a mobile-only version.

 

K.C. Hopson, President of EventRebels, has been doing business with meeting planners who have need for technology solutions for more than 10 years. He frequently writes about meetings technology on his company’s blog. K.C. is currently serving his second tour of duty on the board of PMPI.