Decline invitation to speak at conference

Rejection letters are letters written to inform people that something they have made, written, etc., has been turned down. It's best to bring bad news directly, but you can bring it politely and choose to explain a good reason. In this case, it's best if you could also introduce somebody else that you trust that can do the job as well, or is also a specialist on the same topic. A referral is a win-win situation since you are helping out two other parties.

How to politely decline an invitation to a conference? 

After receiving your rejection the people that are affected might need to find an alternative solution on short notice. If you send a professional but well-drafted rejection letter to them, this will soften the blow and encourage them to keep trying, and also make them aware you are worth to contact again in the future for other events. Consider the following when writing a decline letter:

1. Show appreciation for the invitation, and mention specifically what you were invited to do;
2. Mention the specific event on the specific date;
3. Express regret that you are unable to accept the invitation, briefly mentioning the reason without elaboration;
4. If appropriate, suggest a qualified replacement;
5. Your rejection letter must carry a tone of appreciation while expressing regret;
   
6. State your decision politely and assertively;
7. Provide the right reasons for it. If you are rejecting a job application, for instance, give a genuine reason for it and encourage the recipient to apply for other positions;
8. Express wishes for the event's success;
9. Provide a referral to somebody in your network that could do the speech instead.
   

Sample sentences decline message:

Dear Sir or Madam, Thank you for the invitation to perform at your event. Unfortunately, I am unable to accept it because I have already committed to perform for another organization on the same day. However, my good friend, He is an accomplished speaker, explain the reason for referral, and may be willing to speak instead. You can reach him by telephone at {{Phone number}} or by email at the following address. Thank you very much for your consideration and time, Yours sincerely,

This sample letter is provided absolutely free. Easy to edit, print, share this document. Save this Decline invitation to speak at a conference email template now for your convenience.