Exhibitions and the Under-40 Crowd: New Research

From Association Meetings:

How do young professionals view meetings and exhibitions, and what can meeting professionals do to attract them? Those were the central questions explored in a study by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, called “The Power of Exhibitions in the 21st Century: Identify, Discover, and Embrace Change from the Point of View of Young Professionals.”

A key finding of the study is that about 87 percent of professionals under 40 plan to attend at least one exhibition in the next two years. But to keep them coming back for more, the report says, organizers need to know what they like, what they don’t like, and what makes them tick.

Generational DifferencesThe report differentiates between Generation X attendees (ages 28 to 39) and the younger Millennials (ages 18 to 27). For example, Generation X is considered the “Family First Generation” and the toughest sell when it comes to exhibitions. “They do not want to become workaholics whose work hours intrude into their personal lives, especially their time with their children,” the report states.

Millennial attendees, on the other hand, tend to be more like Baby Boomers (ages 40 to 63), driven in their careers and passionate about their contributions to society. “Exhibitions represent a good vehicle to exercise that passion,” the report states. While Millennials can be more easily won over than Gen Xers, their tendency toward instant gratification means they could also be lost if not satisfied. Full Article.

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