Using last year’s fill rates to shape next year’s program
How program committees can read attendance charts without overreacting to a single crowded or quiet room.
A packed breakout does not automatically mean the topic should expand next year, and a quiet hall does not always mean the subject failed. Time of day, competing sessions, and room placement all shape the numbers.
Compare sessions within the same time slot before ranking topics. A 60% fill rate at 16:30 against three parallel tracks can be healthier than an 85% fill in a morning slot with no competition.
Look at repeat patterns across editions when you have them. One soft year for a niche clinical track may reflect a speaker conflict rather than declining interest.
Bring the charts into the program meeting with those caveats written at the top. Committees make calmer room and slot decisions when the caveats travel with the numbers.