Navigating 2024 Conferences + Travel: What's Worth the Investment?
Mapping out your education goals for the year is no easy feat, especially if you’re looking to tighten up your budget. The great news is that there are plenty of virtual education that don’t require travel or any major investment, but if you’re hoping to attend conferences (or speak at them), that can come with a hefty price tag.
If you aren’t sure which opportunities & speaking engagements are really worth the travel, time away from your business, and money, we’ve enlisted some industry pros to help guide you.
First- what are your goals?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of making your dream list of conferences, it’s important to first understand what you want to accomplish in 2024. Are you a speaker hoping to hit the national stage? Are you looking to continue your education and connect with other pros? Or both? Once you answer these questions, it’s much easier to figure out what your priorities should be for the year.
“Your first point of action should be to sit down in your business and ask yourself what points in your business need tightening up and key things you need to work on,” Jen Sulak of Weirdo Weddings suggests. “When researching conferences, you may also need to ask if it is something that will help you grow versus helping you stay the same. Sometimes, we sign up for things because they are comfortable and easy without giving thought to the challenges in the present that lead to our future.”
According to Kevin Dennis, editor of WeddingIQ, you should be as realistic as possible about what your business may need from you before planning travel or saying ‘yes’ to booked speaking. “You know your schedule and your business best. If your busy season typically falls during the summer or early autumn, keep that in mind for the year ahead. If you’re taking on more clients this year, be sure that you’re paying attention to that growth and not stretching yourself too thin.”
Determine ROI + do your research
Consider all of the things that come along with attending a conference or accepting a speaking engagement. If you’re a speaker, what expenses will be covered, and what will you be responsible for? Do you have the bandwidth and budget to travel? Bear in mind that most conferences will prefer that you attend at least once prior to being accepted as a speaker, so if you’re really hoping to speak to that conference’s audience, you may have to make an initial investment as an attendee.
Shannon Tarrant of Venue Help Desk strongly recommends that you research local opportunities first. “Start by seeing what different education opportunities might already be happening in your state from the different associations and networking organizations. While the conferences might not be as huge in terms of the number of attendees, the educational lineup is often thoughtfully curated and might be more specific to the needs of your market. This could save you time and travel costs.”
If you’re a first-timer or want to get the lay of the land before applying to speak at a new-to-you conference, Sulak advises doing some digging. “Most conferences will have previous social media or highlight videos that give you a taste to see if it is something you vibe with. After your initial research, consider looking into the topics and speakers they have listed. This is a good way to get a feel for what is represented.”
How to maximize your attendance to make it worth your while
Securing your education pass and getting your itinerary in order is only the beginning. Even if you’ve previously attended a conference such as TSE + Catersource or Wedding MBA, you want the ROI to be well worth it.
Networking with like-minded pros is especially beneficial. Vijay Goel of Bite Catering Couture says, “Great people greatly expand the surface area of luck. Hang around with great people, and they are likely to push your thinking, create opportunities for mentorship, open your mind to new possibilities, and give you someone to compare notes with (or even visit) post-conference.”
Sulak urges you to have a plan in place for closing the loop and not letting the investment go to waste. “Conferences and conventions are super fun, but if you only go to get information without activation of your ideas and plans, then you will be wasting time and money in the long run.”
Being strategic with your 2024 education & speaking (and education-related expenses) is a necessity for achieving your goals and staying on track, even if it means turning down some opportunities. Your priority should ultimately be quality over quantity – you’ll thank yourself later!
