The document summarizes a presentation by Dan Berger of Social Tables about the future of events. Some of the key points discussed are that hotels will demand higher profits; most group booking will be automated; remote destinations will compete with traditional ones; a new computing platform like virtual and augmented reality is emerging; we are entering a new industrial revolution centered around AI that will impact events; predictable physical work will be replaced by machines and robots; and the DNA of events is changing as face-to-face events become more important with the rise of experiences and influencer marketing. The meeting planning profession will also become more respected as the value of events is better understood.

1. The Future of Events:
Will You Be Ready?
Presented by:
Dan Berger
Founder, CEO
Social Tables

2. Presenter-Audience Contract
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3. I am a participant.
I am a planner.
I am a supplier.

4. 100 employees
Raised $22 million
Founded in 2011

5. Social Tables is a turnkey groups &
meetings cloud-based platform
Group Marketing & Sales
Collaboration Tools
Diagramming
Guest Management
RFP Management
Interactive Collateral
Proposal Automation
Group Management

6. Out Now: Free Tools for Planners
● Free diagramming for planners
● Free check-in app for planners
(Seating will be free soon, too)
● Free search & discovery platform
with access to thousands of floor
plans at search.socialtables.com

7. 4,800 customers creating
2+ million events with
300+ million participants

8. I am a participant.
I am a planner.
I am a believer.
I am a supplier.

9. Sample of the 50+ awards Social Tables and its leadership have received.
We envision a world where
every face-to-face event
achieves great things.

10. Hotels are more cognizant than
ever of their cost structure.
New JLL report examines global hotel investment trends

11. ● Owners will demand even higher profit
margins.
● Most group business booking will be
automated.
● Most group business will be booked direct
thanks to matching algorithms.
● Supplier pricing power will be even stronger
due to continued consolidation.
Hotels are more cognizant than
ever of their cost structure.

12. The industry’s business model will change.

13. ● Autonomous vehicles will unlock new
destinations.
● Homesharing will add inventory everywhere.
● Events could happen anywhere.
● There will be CVBs for virtual destinations
and sales reps for virtual venues.
New ways to travel are changing
our behavior.

14. Remote destinations will compete with
traditional ones.

15. A new computing platform is
emerging.
1981 1994 2007
What’s Next In Computing? Dixon, Chris.

16. A new computing platform is
emerging.
Investments in Virtual Reality

17. A new computing platform is
emerging.
Internet Trends 2017 Report. Meeker, Mary.

18. ● Site visits won’t be as common.
● Telepresence will be hyper-realistic.
● The way we experience events will change.
A new computing platform is
emerging.

19. Virtual and real events will become one.

20. We are entering a new industrial
revolution centered around AI.

21. We are entering a new industrial
revolution centered around AI.
The fourth industrial revolution: a primer on Artificial Intelligence. Kelnar, David

22. We are entering a new industrial
revolution centered around AI.
Investments in Artificial Intelligence

23. ● Administrative planning work will be
automated.
● Attendee preferences will follow them
around.
● Events will have higher ROI because we will
rely less on serendipity.
We are entering a new industrial
revolution centered around AI.

24. AI will impact events in many ways.

25. Predictable physical work is being
replaced by machines.
Where machines could replace humans—and where they can’t (yet). McKinsey.

26. Predictable physical work is being
replaced by machines.

27. ● The best photographers will know how to fly.
● Robots will replace some security personnel.
● Robots will be used in to setup/teardown
events.
● Interacting with robots will be socially
acceptable.
● The price of robots will decrease below labor
costs.
● Focusing on the customer will be more
important than ever.
Predictable physical work is being
replaced by machines.

28. Automation will be all around us.

29. ● Transparency will be one of our core values.
● Trust will be measured digitally.
● We will be more comfortable sharing
information with our industry partners.
● Hotel sales professionals will be measured
by the success of their meetings.
A new generation is entering our
industry, bringing its own values.

30. There will be a culture shift in our industry.

31. The DNA of events is changing as
face-to-face becomes more coveted.
Internet Trends 2017 Report. Meeker, Mary.

32. ● Corporate user conferences will replace
association meetings.
● There will be consolidation in meetings and
events.
● Large meetings will warehouse smaller ones.
● Influencer marketing will play an important
role in driving attendance.
● Influencers will create popup events.
● Festivilized events (“experiences”) will be the
norm.
The DNA of events is changing as
face-to-face becomes more coveted.

33. Attention will be a planner’s most
coveted commodity.

34. The meeting planning profession is
entering primetime.
● The value of meetings will be universally
understood.
● The meeting planning profession will be
more respected.
● Meeting planners will interact with
executives on a regular basis.

35. The meetings industry will be taken
more seriously.

36. Check out slideshare.net/socialtables for this full presentation
We’re all born with a natural curiosity. We want to learn. But the
demands of work and personal life often diminish our time and
will to engage that natural curiosity. Developing specific
learning habits can be a route to both continued professional
relevance and deep personal happiness.
-- John Coleman, Passion & Purpose

37. Learn More...
socialtables.com/signup
1 (877) 973-2863
Dan Berger
Founder, CEO
Social Tables
@danberger
dan@socialtables.com