Michelle Mason FASAE, CAE, President and CEO, ASAE

Overall, the meeting industry celebrated a year of incredible growth in 2023, and now it has cast its gaze on 2024, with an optimistic take on the future. 

Confidence among meeting professionals is notably stronger this year than last, according to Michelle Mason, president and CEO, ASAE, the center for association leadership. ASAE is recognized in the industry as the essential organization for association management, representing both organizations and individual association professionals. 

Join Mason as she shares her insights on the evolving landscape of association meetings and events, with a focus on the latest key trends, technology and evolutions. 

Michelle Mason FASAE, CAE, is president and CEO of ASAE

ASAE is very optimistic about the health of association meetings in 2024. While virtual and hybrid meetings have become a permanent channel for content delivery, there continues to be high demand for in-person meetings that are experience-based and deliver on attendees’ expectations for connection and collaboration. Rapidly advancing meeting technology is helping associations personalize the experience for meeting attendees and boost engagement. AI, in particular, has limitless potential for associations seeking to enhance their meeting attendees’ experience.

Ethical and responsible use of AI will continue to be a focal point for association meeting planners moving forward. Associations are also increasingly turning to data and analytics to measure the success of their meetings and identify trends in attendee behavior that can help them plan their next successful meeting.

One highly positive trend we expect to continue in 2024 is the prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion in association event planning. More organizations are actively striving to ensure that all attendees at their meetings feel like there’s been thought given to their experience and they can make the connections they need and engage with the content that is most relevant to them. | AC&F |