After two years devoid of face to face networking, in many ways 2022 felt like a return to the good old days.
Exhibition halls were once again full of vibrant stands, buzzing crowds and innovative ideas designed to move the facilities management sector forwards. Many overdue catchups were had, and new relationships formed.
Although virtual events proved their worth during the lockdown days, there is no substitute for seeing people in person. Yes, the return to attending physical shows has reintroduced the enormous amount of work that goes in behind the scenes and during the events themselves, but it has also reminded us that key business objectives such as lead generation, strengthening relationships and increasing sales can be met.
It is therefore no surprise to hear that in-person event spending increased by an estimated 83% in 2022 versus 2021. Indeed, reasons to attend specialist events and tradeshows span far beyond commercial metrics such as leads and revenues.
As we now look ahead in this thriving arena, here are three of the top reasons to attend facilities management shows in 2023.
Facilities management events provide networking opportunities
Face to face interaction helps to build relationships in a way that emails, phone calls and teleconferencing simply cannot match.
The FM sector in particular is built on human-to-human interaction, making it one of the best suited to in-person events. With all major stakeholders under one roof, the opportunity to introduce your company to potential new customers, strengthen ties with existing clients and discuss the latest innovations that could futureproof your business should not be ignored.
Trade shows offer the chance to learn from other FM players
The latter feeds into a whole new reason to commit to tradeshows in 2023. Most if not all FM businesses will admit they don’t have all the answers and responses to all the sector’s challenges and trends.
Events offer the opportunity to see what others are doing, be they FM service providers or members of the value chain such as software vendors and recruitment specialists. What is the latest development in the world of BIM that can give our business a competitive advantage? How can I tackle the challenges in the current labour market? Answers to such questions await at tradeshows where all realms of expertise gather.
Events can be a source of motivation
Delegates are also likely to leave an event feeling motivated.
Whether it’s through making new contacts, picking up new ideas, or simply being reassured that the wider sector is in the hands of capable people who are passionate about the health of the industry and those within it, there are many ways to feel inspired to return to your organisation and implement key lessons learned.
Motivation can also stem from enjoyment. Events represent a different experience to the usual routine and can ignite or reignite your or an employee’s passion for the job.
What facilities management events should I attend this year?
Fortunately, for those inspired to get some dates in the diary, the FM events calendar is looking busy for the year ahead.
London plays host to some of the sector’s most revered tradeshows, including the Facilities Show (May), The WaterCooler (April) , the Smart Buildings Show (October) and Gartner’s Digital Workplace Summit (May).
For those interested in a more focused category, why not check out the Diversity & Inclusion Conference (April), The Cleaning Show (March) or International Security Expo (September)?
There really is something for every FM company to benefit from. A few other facilities management events to considering attending in 2023 include:
- The Health and Safety Event (April)
- Workplace Trends – Research Summit 2023 (April)
- Assist FM Conference (May)
- Consec Conference 2023 (October)
- Expo Real (October)
No matter which event your organisation plans to attend this year, it is vital to invest your resources widely and be as well prepared as possible.
A keen eye for detail is critical when it comes to event strategy, and putting in the groundwork well in advance of tradeshows will pay dividends, ensuring you extract maximum value from the show itself. This is something we have more than a decade of experience in supporting clients with.
