On the heels of ongoing government policy changes starting in spring 2025, associations across industries continue to assess their event strategies and work to identify the best ways to engage member audiences in a constantly—and rapidly—evolving environment. Notably, there has been a shift from the post-COVID virtual gathering playbook to a culture of pilots and experimentation rooted in technology integration and data-driven initiatives.
This shift underscores a growing imperative for association event planners to stay closely attuned to member preferences, translating subtle signals and shifting expectations into more responsive, flexible event strategies.
With evolving member preferences and behaviors top of mind—such as costs and time for travel, DEI policy impacts on attendance, etc.— associations are rethinking how they deliver value through events, while maintaining agility and cost-consciousness in their solutions. As a result, associations are increasingly consolidating in-person events or shifting to smaller gatherings. This allows organizations to address attendance uncertainty and budget constraints, while fostering community for members.
Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.