Face-to-face interaction is the platform where deals are struck, relationships are forged, and ideas are generated. There is real power of what business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel and corporate events collectively do for people, businesses and communities. There’s no substitute for a handshake and the value of your network can’t be overstated. This conventional wisdom is all true. But beyond the qualitative, there are concrete, tangible outcomes that come from personal connections which are forged and strengthened at meetings and events. Every business needs to make smart decisions with its resources. Hosting a client event, sending a team to a conference, providing employees with incentive travel, and investing in a trade show are significant investments — but what’s the return? Here’s a hint: it’s far more than you think.