October 21, 2009

President Barack Obama so far has visited more countries in his first year in office than any other U.S. president before him, McClatchy Newspapers recently reported, prompting the meetings industry to hold him up as an example, citing his busy travel schedule as proof of the power of business travel and face-to-face meetings.

“It is obvious by the president’s actions that he sees the importance of personally meeting with other leaders to advance the objectives and business of the U.S.,” Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) President and CEO David Gabri said in a statement released yesterday. “In other words, he and his team of specialists opted to personally meet, rather than teleconference, e-mail or simply call. Shouldn’t American businesses and organizations be following these same sound business practices? After all, that is how business works.”

According to the McClatchy Newspapers’ Washington Bureau, which published its report about Obama’s travels on Oct. 7, the president has visited 16 countries since taking office on Jan. 20, 2009, surpassing the 15 nations visited by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford during their first years in office.

“Many of [Obama's] overseas trips have centered on international meetings, such as the G-20 economic summit,” author Steven Thomma wrote in his report. “Others have included Obama’s attempts to rebuild international support for the U.S.”

Continued Gabri, “The president’s actions visibly reinforce the importance and effectiveness of meeting together face-to-face to advance your agendas and objectives, to enhance important relationships, to recognize and motivate achievers, and to provide direction and leadership. It shows that ‘Meetings Really Do Mean Business’ and are critical to keeping businesses and organizations viable.”

I have a confession. I’m a conference and event professional that plans conferences, meetings and events for a living.

The question you raise is an important one and one that I think many veteran attendees like yourself and Angela are asking. I’m in the same boat myself if and when I choose to attend a conference. I’m typically not there for the content, most of which I can find online. I’m not there for the vendors, which having been in the industry for a while, I know most of them any way.

However, I do attend to network with all those people that I’ve made relationships with online. I actually think my online relationships drive me to attend a face-to-face event so I can meet, discuss and network with like-minded peers.

As a matter of fact, many of the technology conferences have a widget on their registration page so that a potential attendee can see if anyone else from their social network is registered. Those conference organizers have discovered that “people” are the motivating factor for others to attend.

Sounds like we are in the days of disruptive innovation for conferences and events.

I’ve stamped the backs of hands, punched holes in treasure maps, and collected business cards for drawing prizes. I’ve given out
iPods, cruise tickets, etc.

This is the first national conference I’ve missed in years. However with all the tweets, linkedin and facebook entries, I’m okay with it.