SJBiz_Dept_Experiential Meetings_0324_Dept 3 / 11 / 24 1 : 45 PM Page 1 tive and bring out good connections , but E N G A G E M E N T also be like an experience for them . ” The CCSNJ has responded to that need thanks to the wealth of unique oppor - tunities right in its own backyard . “ What we are seeing is a desire for events to be interactive , for folks to be hands on , for folks not just to be talked at or talked to , but for conversations to oc - cur , ” Renna says . “ And if conversations can occur in creative locations or in creative ways or with fun activities or experiences , then even better . “ For example , at our chamber we do a happy hour at Songbird Karaoke in Collingswood . … That is something that a decade ago we would have never done at the chamber , but people love it because they want to have fun and find ways to have a more human personal connection with people . … It’s up to the business organiza - tion to think creatively about what their members ’ needs are and how to fulfill those needs , whether it be going to a sporting event , whether it be identifying unique ven - A Night to ues like a karaoke bar or Topgolf or the fos - sil park at Rowan and doing a networking dig . These are all kinds of experiences that people are really gravitating toward . ” Kristi Howell , the president / CEO of the Remember Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce , has witnessed the same de - Today’s business community expects more from velopments . She believes in part it’s be - cause people became more accustomed to the meetings and events it attends , with immersive , being home during the pandemic and hands - on experiences at the top of the wish list . need to be motivated to leave the house , and also because organizations like hers [ ByMatt Cosentino ] are facing competition from multiple busi - nesses partnering up to host their own hristina Renna will be the first to As the president and CEO of the memorable events . admit that she’s not the type to Chamber of Commerce Southern New “ Without a doubt , people want experi - grab a microphone and show off Jersey ( CCSNJ ) , Renna is responsible for ential and they also want social , ” she says . C her singing voice in front of a room full of hosting a wide range of events through - “ We’re seeing both — they don’t just want to strangers . Which begs the question : Why out the year , and she is well aware of a go to a conference room anymore and have has she regularly found herself inside a trend she believes has been influenced hors d’oeuvres or have a light breakfast and South Jersey karaoke bar over the past by several factors . kind of grip and grin . They want more . year ? “ We were in a normal networking space “ People want to have fun if they’re go - The answer lies within the creative ways pre - COVID where general get - togethers ing to be out after hours . They want to go that business organizations and event plan - and business card exchanges were still gen - axe throwing , or they want to go to some of ners are responding to the demands of erally acceptable , ” she says . “ Then obvi - those things that were reserved for young their audiences for more immersive , expe - ously the pandemic happened and it professionals in the past , like a wine tasting . riential gatherings as opposed to the tradi - changed how we network totally . When we Our women’s group is talking about put - tional meetings of the past . While it used to got back to in - person networking , people ting together a hands - on self - defense class be standard , and perfectly acceptable , to were definitely more tentative to gather that will be followed by networking . We include some kind of buffet spread and a and spend time in close quarters . The busi - want to do something that’s fun and inter - guest speaker for an informational event , or ness card exchange kind of went away — esting that we maybe wouldn’t do on our to head to a local bar / restaurant for a net - there was a desire to do it but a fearfulness . own . We get to network and do everything working happy hour , today’s business com - “ Now that the fearfulness has pretty else in the meantime . ” munity expects more , whether it’s a chance much subsided , you’re seeing almost the Of course , these types of experiences to build meaningful connections , to en - other extreme happen where people want come with an added cost , and even hosting gage in a multisensory experience steeped not just networking , but they want to build an event at a restaurant or hotel has be - in technology or to participate in fun , rela - relationships in fun and creative ways . So come more expensive because , as Renna tionship - building activities . they want their networking to be substan - and Howell both note , the hospitality indus - 12 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 14 ISSUE 3 | SouthJerseyBiz.net