21st Century Conventions: What's new?

• Author: Anderson, Tom
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Conventions & Corporate Travel - Technological innovation in conventions

When contemplating what comprises a convention in 2015, one would likely envision a large ballroom or mosaic of smaller meeting rooms, hustling attendees draped with lanyards, decorative tables and booths, myriad events, thoughtful presentations, scattered work sessions, and a large dining room where meals are hastily distributed from lunch to dinner.

The paradigm for Alaska conventions, from multi-thousand participant events to smaller triple digit venues, has certainly evolved with the growth of technology, architectural dimensions, and event amenities. The age of lightning speed Internet and culinary advancement equates to better connected and more efficient convention functionality.

Jack Bonney, public relations manager for Visit Anchorage, has been in the industry for five years and has researched and understands the historical perspective of conventions in the city.

"Technologically speaking, it's a given that when people come to Alaska for a convention they expect modern audio/ visual and WiFi technology," he says. He adds that in 2014 at the Dena'ina Center the Scoliosis Research Society set a record for the single largest number of attendees accessing the wireless Internet simultaneously--more than nine hundred people.

"If you were to have asked me fifteen years ago what people expect when they look for a convention in Alaska, I would have said green' meetings were the new hype," Bonney notes. "Today however, green and ecological-minded events are the norm. Many of the upgrades in the centers, especially the Egan Center, aren't necessarily things people would consciously notice but are still important, such as touchless faucets and low-flow toilets which save on the amount of water used. Automatic lights and touch-controls conserve electricity and save money on operating costs in the long run."

He added that recycling, using less paper, and more digital communications; "healthy" meetings that include nutritious food, breaks for hiking on trails, or a yoga class; and even therapeutic massage sections are all facets of a modern Alaska convention.

Convention Science

One unique facet of convention science is the "personality" and trending outside of technology. Bonney explains that when comparing the demands of conventions in 2015 to 1995, attendees now pursue a deeper connection to the community. In Anchorage, for example, a conference room with windows facing the Chugach Mountains may be a preference. Alaska-themed meals are common...