eLearnity Comment :
October is a key month in the conference and event calendar, and in the UK there were a number of events, ranging from the CIPD conference at Harrogate, and WOLCE in Birmingham, to smaller events such as the e-HR conference in London and individual seminars.
What is very obvious is that the tough times are showing. Vendors stands are down at nearly all the conferences, some by as much as 30%, and key players have been missing even from the larger exhibitions. Other vendors are ‘doubling up’ on stands with partners or those who have compatible products. Those vendors who may have had big, flashy stands a year ago, now have more practical and workmanlike display areas.
Attendance numbers are also down, and those people who do attend are more focused in their approach. Gone are the days of a large team of people from the Training department attending a big conference, idly wandering around the stands gathering information, and sitting in on those seminars which may be of some interest. Now, one person, or maybe two may attend. They make a beeline for the few vendors whom they believe have practical e-learning solutions to their problems. The seminars are full of hard questions on implementation considerations, ROI and overcoming issues. Of course, big names such as Elliot Masie and Stella Rimmington will draw the crowds, but only those crowds who have a justifiable reason for being there in the first place.
Those people who organise small specialised conferences may need to seriously consider the viability of their events, as neither speakers not attendees will be motivated by low attendance numbers. The larger events will certainly see some consolidation, and it will do no harm for organisers to be working hard at providing an attractive package that will really encourage both vendors and attendees to want to participate. The good news is that those conferences which survive will be the ones organised by people who really understand the e-learning business and the needs of all attendees.
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