Their generation started being born in the early 1980s and it spanned a couple of decades taking us into the new millennium. They follow Generation X and therefore are also known as Generation Y. They could be in their earlier days of their life adventure post-education, or have a solid ten years already under their belt. They are the “millennials”.

First up, let’s not fall into that simplistic trap that suggests those making up this group of young adults are all the same, far from it. They are as individual in thought, interests and ambition as any other generation, however, just like any other generation, there are elements that unite them. And when it comes to planning your next event that includes this demographic, it’s worth paying attention to these.

Living the experience

A well-publicized aspect of Millennials, and one where numerous studies generally agree, is that they value experiences more than other generations, and will pay more for it. They seek out what’s going on and want to be a part of it. Remember this. You want to make sure that the event you are dragging them to is going to be memorable, from the interactions ahead of the day to the follow up afterwards. They want to get value from the occasion and have a strong focus on connecting with others in order to grow their networks. Also, where the content you have made available (tantalizing décor, unique F&B, blow-your-mind tech, …) allows your attendees to share it, then you’ve really hit the right buttons.

Can we include there a “quote” tweet like the blog allow. Choosing a sentence of one of the previous paragraph like “#Millenials: You want to make sure that the event you are dragging them to is going to be memorable, from the interactions ahead of the day to the follow up afterwards” (didn’t count the characters but that’s the idea J)

Social media influence

There’s no getting away from one of the biggest influences in the world, social media. These networks connect millions of people in both social and professional environments and take away barriers such as travel in our truly global community. As we’ve said, our millennial group is as tuned into this as any and the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram offer them the chance to share and exchange – don’t underestimate the value of your event #hashtag. LinkedIn is a prime example of the changing landscape where young aspiring employees post their experiences of attending a great event, having an opportunity to speak to a company president, or getting involved in a debate. Tap into this where you can.

New tech, and more to come

This last decade or so has seen technology advances that mean we are working ever more mobile, literally. Our cell phones these days are no longer for making calls to plan the next meeting (although apparently some people still do this!). Instead they are an access point to everything to do with the event. Email, social networks, messaging, latest news… there is little a modern smartphone can’t do for the business professional. And for planners, there’s a myriad of applications to make your life easier, and to engage with the tech savvy millennials. It’s the now and the future, so maximize their input at every opportunity. And don’t even think about Wi-Fi being an added extra – this group, and those that follow, see it as a basic need.

The environment matters

Millennials, as we stated earlier, are not a cloned group who all live to the same political or moral values. But when it comes to the environment and the future of the planet it is clear that this generation is aligned. They’ve grown up immersed in news about climate change and related initiatives; at school they were most likely involved in recycling projects; and they have shown that they are conscious about making decisions where the green option is preferred. In a recent study by Pew Research it found that millennials are the most “sustainable” generation to date. By taking into account that this group of young adults is more likely to support environmentally friendly practices in your events and feel more comfortable in a venue with similar values, what else can you do to match their aspirations?

[bctt tweet=”#Millennials: You want to make sure that the event you are dragging them to is going to be memorable” username=”NHMeetings”]

Valuing more than ever the experience, being immersed in social media and mobile technology, and growing with a green conscious are just a few examples of where the younger generation of event attendees has shared interests. Getting to know your audience is a key element to delivering a successful event, so delve deeper when you plan your next one.