Rules to Follow when organizing a seminar

Conference management is an exciting opportunity for personal and professional growth for the planner/organizer.

There are hundreds of details that are done in order to make a conference successful for the attendees that are often unseen by others.

The following is a summary of what conference attendees over the past several years want and don’t want. You should seriously consider them as you plan your conference or seminar.

What do Attendees want?

* Advance knowledge of the program and social activities so that they can prepare.
* Comfortable, convenient housing that is near or at the conference site.
* To be welcomed as individuals and appreciated as such.
* A quick, efficient registration process that is handled by positive, helpful personnel.
* A diversified conference that includes innovative programs, the most current educational materials, techniques and theory, and opportunities to discuss current legislative and social developments.
* Program offerings that are oriented to various groups: administrators, counselors, tutors, classroom teachers, and parents.
* Practical, new and specific ideas.
* Opportunities to speak with other conferees, speakers, and VIPs and ask questions if they are necessary.
* Round table sessions with emphasis on group discussion. Veteran conference goers often want opportunities to talk and network with others.
* Plenty of sessions each and every hour.
* Strands of sessions throughout the conference (e.g., math, study skills, counseling etc.).
* Committee and meetings at different times throughout the conference so people can attend more than one.
* Comfortable furniture that is located throughout the facility to provide conversation locations and better comfort.
* Daily newsletter giving updated information to all attendees and events.
* Opportunities for conference participants to use any and all purposed technology.
* A large Exhibit Hall with many vendors.


What do attendees not want?

* To be trapped in crowded meeting rooms.
* Long registration lines in the hotel and at the conference itself.
* Expensive meals, poor meals, or poor service.
* A lack of proper and easy to access parking facilities.
* Speakers, who do not show up, run overtime or change topics too much.
* Insufficient program offerings in all areas and at all times.
* Programs allowing no time for breaks.
* To get lost while trying to locate concurrent session rooms.
* Inhospitable conference hosts.
* Insufficient ventilation and heating