A summit meeting is an event in which people from different disciplines come together to discuss a specific topic or issue. Governments and intergovernmental organizations host the most high-profile summit meetings, but businesses and industry associations can also create in-person or virtual events to bring together thought leaders. Summits can be educational and energizing, or they can be frustrating. The goal is to leave participants with smart strategies and executable next steps.
For example, the UN recently launched its Act Now summit to encourage all citizens and individuals to engage in global policymaking and advocate for change. The summit offers a platform for allies to share ideas and collaborate on advocacy efforts. Summits can be a powerful tool for sparking new ideas and encouraging innovation, but they take time and resources to plan and execute. They also require a commitment from association leadership and the ability to follow up on the results of the meeting.
In addition to promoting collaborative opportunities and in-depth insights, summits can also be a great way to generate buzz around your event. This is especially important if your summit has a niche topic that will appeal to a select group of attendees. However, the specialized nature of summits can limit exposure to other industry topics and make it more difficult to attract large numbers of attendees. For this reason, it’s important to consider both the perks and potential downsides of hosting a summit before investing the time and money.
