Reeling Them In - 3 Ways to Boost Meeting Attendance

The signs of recovery are definitely there in the meetings industry, but some prospective attendees remain a little gun-shy about actually booking the flights, reserving hotel rooms and allocating a budget for those after-hours events. Here are 3 ways to lure them into action:

1. Piggyback an incentive - we recently managed a group client trip to attend a Vision Expo. Our client decided to follow-up the trade show with an incentive trip for top performers. This obviously helped increase attendance and enthusiasm for the expo itself!

2. Technology sponsors - corporate meetings have been utilizing sponsors to help pay for breakfasts or after-hours cocktail parties. The side benefit is that exciting sponsors draw more attendees. Because many of the newest gadgets entering the consumer market are released in New York City, meeting attendees here are getting first looks and tries at the coolest mobile products and apps.

3. Book a hot hotel - New York City's hotel industry is booming. Behind all this activity are exciting new hotels with whom Shackman Associates already has great relationships - the W Downtown, Eventi in Chelsea, and the Intercontinental Times Square. These properties offer spectacular amenities, plenty of meeting space and quick access to the city's most desired dining and entertainment venues.