7 Ways Conference Centers are Adjusting to Changing Attendees

Pollinator gardens. Biophilic design elements. Experience design. These are not phrases that would have been used years ago to describe conference centers.

In the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)’s just-released 2026 Meeting Room of the Future Report, 124 business event venue operators worldwide shared ways they are adjusting their facilities and services.

Pressure is mounting on conference center managers to evolve and grow, even though their clients often have fixed budgets. “Successful venues are those willing to continually adapt, experiment, and invest with purpose — balancing innovation with practicality,” the report said.

Here are seven findings from the report and how conference centers are changing to meet the evolving expectations of meeting attendees.

1. More On-site Experiences

Conference centers are adding recreational elements beyond the traditional billiards and board games, and geared toward younger audiences, such as darts, video games, and even arcades. Two offerings emerged from the research that are not commonly associated with the conference center experience: well-being activities (offered by 42% of respondents) and outdoor meeting rooms/spaces (offered by 53%).

2. Changing F&B

More than half of the respondents (57%) reported less alcohol consumption, and 89% reported an increase in dietary preferences. Younger generations value local sourcing, and 83% of conference centers reported shifting to sourcing local whenever possible. The same percentage said it is more important than ever for venues to demonstrate sustainable practices.

This can be challenging for the venues. “One of the main challenges we face is balancing increasing client expectations around food quality, dietary requirements, and sustainability with the operational realities of conference catering,” said one anonymous member. “Another is managing expectations around cost and value, as clients often want more premium or bespoke food experiences while still working within fixed meeting budgets.”

3. Casual Meeting Spaces 

Years ago, conference centers prided themselves on ergonomic seating that allowed attendees to stay put comfortably for long periods of time. The report showed a shifting focus toward more meeting spaces being designed outside of the meeting room altogether, with elements such as lounge seating, living room furniture, and dedicated collaboration spaces.

4. Outdoor Time

A full 82% of residential venues said they “encourage connection to the outdoors,” such as bicycles and kayaks, and organize activities such as beach walks and countryside tours.

5. Bringing the Outside In

Two-thirds (66%) of venue operators reported that they “embrace spaces beyond their meeting rooms,” with residential centers much more likely to do so (80%).

“Our venue integrates nature not as a backdrop but as a core experiential and behavioral design element,” said one anonymous IACC member. “Our approach combines location, programming. and sensory design to actively foster connection with the natural environment.”

6. Younger Leadership

A significant number of conference centers are adding Millennials and Gen Zs to their leadership, with 89% of respondents reporting that Gen Z makes up as much as a quarter of their leadership.

7. Free Wi-Fi

Paying for Wi-Fi is a thing of the past, and only 10% of conference centers charge the client and 3% charge the guests. High bandwidth is a given, with 82% of residential conference centers guaranteeing bandwidth capacity as a standard offering.