Associations Forum, Australia’s largest broad-based network of associations with over 600 members, has recently published the findings of its Association Events Survey 2020. The goal was to investigate how business events organised by associations were affected by the pandemic and bring out the new trends.
With 194 associations participating, the Survey showed that only a fifth of events were cancelled. A third were rescheduled whereas the majority chose to go completely virtual or – much less though – hybrid, half of which were run by associations in-house staff. Among other findings, almost half of the associations saw a decrease in sponsorship income of their major event.
Association Forum General Manager, Fatima Sunderji, says: “Events are at the core of associations. They assist the association in meeting its education and information objectives and also provide a valuable income stream. This year, events were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associations successfully moved swiftly to virtual and hybrid models.”