Everyone likes to know what lies ahead In addition to the monthly telephone meetings, I attended five Board of Directors meetings across North America, with the sixth (and final) meeting coming up at the end of March prior to the Annual Conference in Atlanta. During the board meeting this past January, I was able to assist in a brainstorming discussion regarding the IACC 2010 conference, prompting discussion surrounding new ideas that would potentially re-vamp the entire event. The discussion sparked ideas surrounding open-space and other fundamental changes to the future of programming, from pre-and post-conference blogs to embedding more free time options within the event. I look forward to seeing the impact that this input and discussion will have in the years to come. One of the most meaningful and memorable experiences was participating as a panelist during IACC’s first “Town Hall” meeting during the 2008 Annual Conference in Midway, Utah. Representing the voice of my committee, I was given the opportunity to share the development of the Emerging Trends Task force with not only the conference attendees, but also the IACC members the world over, via Webcast. I was able to provide ideas and insight from a new angle, which sparked several questions from the audience during the Q&A. The presentation experience alone was amazing, not to mention the opportunity to poke fun at my *ahem* baby boomer fellow-panelists!
ance to their clients during their stay: healthy menu options as a part of the CMP (Complete Meeting Package); fitness programs of a wide variety offered at several times during the day; on-site spa service; promotion of outdoor running trails and walking routes; and group teambuilding activities. As more Millennials are becoming meeting attendees or meeting planners, I foresee this trend expanding and growing into an expectation; similar to what we have seen over the past year in terms of the direction of the green and sustainability movement, it will be a “must-have” from all perspectives. Everyone likes to know what lies ahead. Although I do not hold a crystal ball, my hope is that this short article has inspired all generations to seek out new opportunities and move those ideas into action. Ultimately, it isn’t about age or which generational “category” one falls into, it is simply about embracing new ideas and uncovering new trends that will take you to the next level. ••• Melissa Bell is an Account Executive for Dolce Hotels & Resorts, supporting BMO Financial Group Institute for Learning, Toronto. She just completed her 16-month term as IACC’s Board Associate.
THOUGHT LEADERS: IACC AND THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS The Inaugural Thought Leaders Summit, held on my hometurf at the BMO Financial Group Institute for Learning in Toronto in October of 2008, offered the opportunity to experience the summit as a “fly on the wall” by viewing the entire meeting via simultaneous video-cast. The Summit involved industry representation relating to all aspects of the meeting experience, from architecture and sustainability to adult-learning styles and Food & Beverage; the summit truly was an ideasharing think tank. The question of “will technology replace the need for face-to-face meetings?” is often raised throughout the industry, and this was eloquently addressed during discussions surrounding the growing demand for “modular” and “blended” meeting design. As a member of generation Y, my answer to this question has always been that it is up to us to embrace new ideas and trends and find ways to integrate these ideas into the overall meeting experience. I was pleased to hear that my own understanding of the future of our industry was on track with the minds of industry experts. One correlation between discussions during the Emerging Trends committee calls as well as during the Thought Leader Summit was the increasing demand for work/ life balance. Conference centres have an undeniable ability to offer a balMarch ’09
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