Optimizing the Attendee Experience: Inclind's Frontend Refresh for U.S. Travel Association

The U.S. Travel Association, a prominent advocate for the travel and tourism industry in the United States, organizes IPW, the nation’s leading international marketplace for travel. To elevate attendee engagement and optimize the event experience, the U.S. Travel Association collaborated with Inclind to refresh the event program schedule. The objective was to create a contemporary, intuitive, and high-performance schedule that aligns with current web standards and provides a seamless user experience for all event participants.

The previous IPW program schedule had several limitations that needed to be addressed to enhance user satisfaction and operational efficiency. Navigating the schedule was cumbersome, often leading to frustration among attendees trying to find specific event details. The outdated design also lagged behind modern web performance and accessibility standards, resulting in slow page load times and lower engagement levels. Additionally, the content management system was inefficient, making it difficult for the U.S. Travel Association’s team to promptly update and manage the schedule.

Inclind developed a tailored strategy focused on overhauling both the front-end user interface and the back-end content management system to deliver a more efficient, user-friendly solution:

1. Revamped Event Schedule Interface: We redesigned the program schedule to emphasize intuitive navigation and ease of use. The new layout is clean and visually engaging, enabling attendees to quickly access the information they need, thus enhancing overall satisfaction.
2. Performance Optimization: Recognizing the importance of speed and efficiency, we implemented several performance enhancements to significantly reduce page load times. This involved optimizing media handling and refining rendering processes to ensure the schedule met Google Core Web Vitals standards, delivering a smooth experience for users.
3. Efficient Content Management Overhaul: We comprehensively assessed the existing content management workflows and identified key areas for improvement. We streamlined these processes, simplifying the management of schedule updates and enabling the U.S. Travel Association team to operate more effectively with fewer resources.
4. Accessibility Enhancements: Accessibility was a central focus of this project. We ensured that the updated event schedule complied with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, making the schedule accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This upgrade aligns with the U.S. Travel Association’s commitment to inclusivity and providing an equitable experience for all attendees.
5. Thorough Quality and Usability Testing: We conducted extensive quality assurance (QA) and user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure optimal performance across various devices and scenarios. This rigorous testing process guaranteed that the new schedule functioned flawlessly before launch.
6. Advanced Data and Analytics Setup: To provide the U.S. Travel Association with deeper insights into attendee behavior, we integrated Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics 4. These tools allow the association to track and analyze user interactions, facilitating continuous improvements to the event schedule and enhancing future events.
7. Customized Project Collaboration: We maintained a collaborative approach throughout the project, working closely with the U.S. Travel Association to ensure our solutions were delivered on time and within budget. This partnership enabled us to tailor the project to meet the association's specific needs and goals.