The Value of In-Person Events in a Digital World
Published: September 10, 2026
Networking, enhancing professional reputations, and staying ahead of the curve are among the benefits of making the effort to attend meetings and conferences in person. Here, we examine why online events may finally be falling out of favour.
Business conferences have long been a source of networking and knowledge. But when Covid struck, and many in the commercial world encountered for the first time the prospect of the online conference, it looked like the days of the in-person event were numbered.
In an always-on, interconnected digital world, where blogs, forums, multiple social media channels, and video and web conferencing tools are pervasive, it did, for a while, seem logical that the face-to-face experience of the business conference would simply fizzle out. The information is online and out there for all to find, so who needs to travel anywhere to find it?
Attending conferences and industry events in person can be expensive, especially when adding in T&E costs. They also carry an additional carbon intensity if air travel is involved. And for many, taking several days out-of-office is not always practicable.
Real-world value
While quality of content and speakers is important at any professional event, online or in-person, it is the human connections made during in-person gatherings that provide the greatest lasting impact. Building new business relationships, strengthening existing ones, and enabling individual professionals to learn and develop from each other, all harbour a positive value that is as true now as it ever was.
Few would counter with confidence the notion that, no matter how convenient they are, digital events simply cannot equal their in-person counterpart in this respect. Indeed, post-Covid data from the Events Industry Council (EIC) reveals that more businesses are now realising the true benefit of in-person conferences. Its research indicates that the total economic impact of in-person events in 2025 contributed an estimated $3.1tr. in total business sales, $1.8tr. to global GDP, and supported 24.2 million jobs.
The numbers may seem rather inflated, but dig a little deeper and discover that they comprise what the EIC refers to as ‘catalytic value’. This includes the difficult-to-truly-measure but nonetheless substantial contribution of events to global innovation, knowledge exchange, and long-term professional relationships.
What’s in it for me?
A paper published in 2023 by the University of New Hampshire Center for Business Analytics describes the importance of investing time and money in physical conference attendance. The report highlights a number of clear benefits:
- Access to cutting-edge research and industry trends: “It’s an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, gain valuable knowledge, and understand the direction in which the industry is heading.”
- Interaction with industry experts: “Engaging with these experts allows you to expand your knowledge, seek guidance, and gain fresh perspectives on your work.”
- Networking and professional connections: “Building these relationships opens doors to future partnerships, job opportunities, and mentorship.”
- Enhancing personal and business growth: “Engaging with industry peers and experts expands your professional circle, leading to skills growth, collaborations, partnerships, and shared insights.”
- Enhanced professional reputation: “Being recognised as an active participant in your industry can open doors to new opportunities and enhance your credibility.”
The 2026 IACT Treasury Management Conference: A reflection by Oleh Kurinnyi, global treasury and operations specialist
I took part in the annual conference of the Irish Association of Corporate Treasurers (IACT) on 1-2 September. I always draw immense inspiration from such meetings with colleagues and like-minded people, and I would like to share what makes these forums so special, and what they offer to members of the business community.
I have many years’ experience of participating in international forums for banking and corporate treasurers and traders, held in Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Germany, Austria and Ireland. It’s a level of engagment that enables me to determine the qualities needed to succeed in this demanding – and changing – field.
As in previous years, the 2026 IACT Treasury Management Conference succeeded in bringing together under one roof not only leading treasurers from companies and FIs operating successfully in Ireland but also a host of highly engaged global SaaS and fintech companies.
It is the interactions between these treasurers and their technology partners and banks that contributes, like nothing else, to the advancement of financial technology and the creation of new avenues for business development.
I wrote about the importance of symbiotic partnerships in a previous article published by TMI. But in addition to the business benefits of events such as the IACT Treasury Management Conference, I would like to draw attention to the human aspect of these gatherings.
Modern business practices are characterised by an ever-dwindling number of face-to-face meetings and on-site projects, as the shift towards online communication using new virtual communication tools, gathers pace.
On the one hand, the digital approach makes it possible to more easily manage projects whose participants are based in different and often far-flung locations. On the other hand, however, the energy of live human interaction – which can be a source of collaborative ideas – is lost. This is precisely why events such as the IACT Treasury Management Conference remain so important to our community. They are about connecting people.
I know, for instance, that these professional events are useful for those who are looking for new opportunities. Impromptu meetings and ‘interviews’ on the sidelines of a conference enable job seekers to reach many more potential employers than they might otherwise. The informality of these conversations often gives both parties far greater insight into each other than any formal job interview.
No substitute
In a piece on the advantages of industry conferences, the Convene global hospitality group noted that in-person events encourage all staff, especially younger members, “to learn new skills, providing the opportunity to connect with clients or peers, and, most importantly, bring meaningful industry insights back to the team and organisation”.
As a provider of event and meeting venues, the intention here by Convene is obviously self-interested. But industry conferences are demonstrably good for both business and professional development, with networking and relationship-building one of the most valuable outcomes of attending a well-run in-person event.
It’s a simple message, but as anyone who ever sat through an online conference during the Covid-era lockdowns will probably now admit, there really is no substitute for that in-person experience.