Want to make your seminar an unforgettable experience? Arrange social activities in the hours – and even days – preceding and following your event. Social activities allow participants to relax and bond with each other, as well as give them another opportunity to get to know, like and trust you. 

For example, you might host a cocktail reception the night before your seminar kicks off, a dinner one evening after the educational content wraps up for the day, or even an informal breakfast the morning after the seminar ends.

Activities can be as formal as you’d like. If you want to arrange a sit-down dinner for all of your guests, great. But leading an excursion to a local restaurant for any interested participants can be just as much fun.

If you decide to play cruise director, be sure to announce your plans at least 30 days in advance. This gives attendees a chance to arrange their travel schedules so they can take advantage of the fun. If you wait until the last minute to announce bonus activities, a portion of your audience will not be able to rearrange their plans without great hassle or expense … and missing out on an opportunity to spend more time with you can lead to ill will.