What's Left of an Event When It's Over?

When I organise something, I usually do it to satisfy the participants. It has to be in order. And when it is over I like to receive feedback, compliments that it was good and that they will remember it for a long time. But now when we talk about Event Legacy, there is a bit more to it. Since the rise of event culture, different thought patterns have emerged that often tie into morale and sustainability. The aspects of partying, entertainment and fun are no longer at the front of the list. An event is now thought through before, during and after its course... and preferably with a long-term vision.

I was able to delve deeper into Legacy in a study commissioned by the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), on “The broader importance of Business Events”. In it, much emphasis is placed on the fact that it has always been thought that the impact of congresses is primarily economic. Well, this view has now been overtaken! A congress can also make an important contribution from a social perspective, and these effects are often more indirect in the long term. The research also led to the creation of a clear definition of “legacy”. A legacy of a congress is a long-term positive contribution made for the national associations, for the community, for the host country or region where the congress takes place and for society as a whole.

Those interested in learning more about “legacy” as researched by the Ecorys study firm can request the full report from the NBTC. Very interesting in this is the “DESTEP analysis”, an analysis to map the macro environment. It pays off!