At Disney Meetings, we understand that today’s business professionals attend events seeking inspiration in an interactive learning environment. They want an immersive experience that actively engages them in the moment and helps them retain the event’s primary messages. 

"An experiential meeting enhances an event in ways that help attendees to better understand and retain the desired messaging," says Robby Briley, senior event consultant at Disney Event Group. "When planners include experiential elements - big and small - that trigger all of attendees' senses, the content is better understood and better utilized, which helps attendees remember messaging. When we incorporate experiential elements throughout an event, we often hear from planners that it was 'their best meeting yet' and they'll ask, 'how are we going to top this next year?'"

An experiential event can offer meeting professionals endless possibilities as far as event planning, team building, and networking events. Read below for four key tips on how to plan and deliver a truly experiential and impactful event from Robby Briley:

1. Budget-friendly changes, as simple as mixing up a general session's seating configuration for a classroom-style arrangement or including couches and highboys, can add a new perspective for your audience. Incorporate basic stretching exercises to keep their minds and bodies fresh.

2. Ideally, attendees should be able to interact with the content that they're learning about. This can be done by creating a multisensory experience that takes attendees out of the traditional meeting environment, or refreshing a general session with talent that will get attendees tweeting. 

3. Experiential components can be carried over into the smallest event details, such as mealtime place cards or favors that correspond with the experience theme - inexpensive and effective touches. Banquet chefs can also play a part in incorporating your theme into menus. Additionally, invite attendees to participate in meal preparation - a great opportunity for groups to converse and learn with colleagues. 

4. Professional development experiences can involve a tour or a team-building exercise. Engaging, behind-the-scenes learning experiences are also a meaningful way to make an experiential event more impactful. "I love when we create experiences that build on one theme," says Briley. "It allows attendees to enjoy the entire program, and it also provides a holistic approach to the entire meeting." 

At Disney Meetings, we strive to make every meeting and event experiential and impactful for attendees. From Walt Disney World convention hotels to theme parks, our venues can accommodate any group’s needs to help them make the most of their meeting or event.

Tell us –  What are your tips for making meetings or events more experiential and impactful? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn using hashtag #DisneyMeetingsBlog. 

We're eager to help you create the perfect meeting or private event for any size group, theme and objective. To speak with a Disney Meetings representative about our pricing and options available at our Disney Parks & Resorts destinations in Florida, California, Hawaii, or at our international destinations, please Contact Us or Submit a Request for Proposal. Or, Sign Up to stay in touch and continue learning more about Disney meetings and events.