Glenton De Kock, Chief Executive Officer of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), shares his thoughts on what next for the business events sector.

You will agree that a “blended approach” may be how we slowly re-start.As confidence grows and we start to feel more comfortable in meeting in person, many have taken the opportunity to experience domestic travel over this long-weekend. Our long recovery is beginning but it will take some adaptation to the new circumstances. Organisers may want to consider the hub-and-spoke model for their initial events – smaller satellite events complementing larger organised gatherings – which allow for a main event to be broadcasted to smaller satellite hubs around the country. This will accommodate people who might be wary of organised gatherings, but more willing to attend smaller ones. The approach may also be the interim solution for our sector to build demand and re-build confidence.
With budgets being tightened and attendees still wary of the danger of the virus, meetings and events must add serious value to attract people.You will agree that a “blended approach” may be how we slowly re-start. However the most important aspect of a physical meeting in our business events sector will be value. With budgets being tightened and attendees still wary of the danger of the virus, meetings and events must add serious value to attract people.

Time and interaction with others have become even more precious commodities due to the coronavirus crisis, and should not be wasted. The challenge lies in finding a balance that serves our fundamental human need for connection, while also accommodating our new reality as a society.We must accept that expectations of meetings in the future will be different post COVID-19. Time and interaction with others have become even more precious commodities due to the coronavirus crisis, and should not be wasted. The challenge lies in finding a balance that serves our fundamental human need for connection, while also accommodating our new reality as a society. Going forward, meeting planners will be focused on providing more value to their attendees, and to one another, in potentially abbreviated time frames.
The value of being together has increased.The value of being together has increased, and that in most cases is privilege enough in the new world we are in. Added to that, the need for simplicity can’t be over-emphasised as we make sense of the “new normal” in the coming months for the business events sector.