Plan meetings and events that have a lasting impact on attendees.

Successful corporate events are no longer just about business. Instead, they should have elements that impact employees on a deeper level. Delivering customized experiences for events and conferences can help boost employee engagement, inspire them to build lasting connections—and enhance their workplace satisfaction. As a result, attendees will remember the meeting or event fondly, which can increase retention at future meetings and events. Here, we’ve gathered ideas and resources to help you personalize and add local touches to your gathering in Rogers, AR, from pre- and post-event information to share about the destination to how to put together Arkansas-inspired goodie bags.

Pre-Event

Send your attendees a quick overview of the city of Rogers and the greater Northwest Arkansas area to help familiarize them with the destination before they hit the road. 

• Highlight Rogers’ position as a hub for business as the home to major companies such as Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport, as well as a robust community of small businesses.
• Mention that Rogers is also a cultural center situated amid the breathtaking beauty of the Ozarks, a hub for hiking and biking as well as art gallery and museum hopping. There’s also a thriving food scene worth exploring.
• Consider including ideas for activities for attendees to  enjoy between meetings—or opportunities to extend their trips to experience more attractions in the city and beyond.

Event

Incorporate local products and only-in-Rogers experiences into your attendees’ itineraries.

Welcoming Employees

• Provide attendees with refreshments from a Rogers purveyor such as award-winning Onyx Coffee Lab, which has an expansive events space and offers convenient catering options.
• Put together a welcome bag with local goods from businesses like  Alexander Baking Co. (customizable cookies, cakes and other treats), House of Webster (fruit preserves, pickled products, salsas and other pantry staples), Fresh Harvest (olive oils and balsamic vinegars).
• Include a Destination Guide for attendees to use a resource while they’re in town.

Tailored Local Experiences 

• Host excursions to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, an institution tucked on 120 acres of gorgeous Ozark landscapes.
• Plan hiking, biking or boating excursions at nearby parks such as Lake Atalanta or Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area.
• Book wine tasting, brewery tours or artisan workshops for team-building experiences at local businesses. 
• Secure tickets to an event or concert at Butterfield Stage or Walmart AMP.
• Plan a few rounds at TopGolf or play 18 holes at one of the area’s golf courses.
• Curate a fun, photo-worthy appearance from Tusk, the mascot for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks

Spotlighting Local Industry Partnerships

Show off Rogers’ place as a leader of innovation in the Northwest Arkansas region.

• Connect with the Rogers-Lowell Chamber to organize relevant industry panel discussions to inspire and engage attendees.
• Provide networking opportunities at venues in town with influential leaders from these industries.

Post Event

Provide memorable takeaways, encourage future visits to Rogers and collect and share feedback.

• Send attendees home with local products to remember their time in Rogers; ideas include Onyx coffee beans and other artisanal shelf-stable goods.
• Blast out recaps of the event via email featuring images of meetings and networking and extracurricular activities; share success stories and case studies. 
• Offer recommendations for visitors to return to explore more attractions in Rogers; partnerships with local businesses offering discounts or exclusive experiences for visitors
• Gather testimonials and stories to gain relevant feedback from attendees.