The worldwide event industry sustained a significant hit when the Covid-19 epidemic began. A survey conducted by Meeting Professional International (MPI) and Event MB showed 96% of event organizers experienced cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to create distinctive and realistic event experiences, event planners had to use virtual event platforms due to the norms of social distancing and lockdown.
We are now into the last quarter of 2022. The event industry has experienced some interesting advancements this year and there will be much to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Here are 5 key event trends to look back in 2022.
- Hybrid events will be the future
With the release of new covid variants as well as the tightening travel restrictions, the ideal event design for event planners is evolving to be hybrid events. Based on recent event industry reports, hybrid events were featured in the event portfolios of 63% of organizations with 2000-5000 workers. The virtual event concept has provided organizations and attendees with a number of advantages. Including: global audience reach, reduced environmental impacts and costs, greater flexibility, easier access to data as well as insights and etc.
To be the perfect addition to the physical structure, hybrid event platforms are supported with several features like attendees check-in, premium video streaming, live polling, Q&As, online exhibition hall and more. Hybrid events are projected to continue to be a major trend in 2022 if a suitable location is picked with a reliable hybrid event platform.
- A Move Towards Eco-friendly & Sustainable Events
The earth is heating up. Concern about environmental sustainability is one of the main event trends that increased yearly. As a matter of fact, going green has really become increasingly important to attendees and event hosts in recent years. According to MeetGreen’s statistics, a typical national conference attendee produces more than 1.89kg of waste a day.
It has been noted that the event industry makes a significant contribution to global pollution in a variety of ways. As a result, businesses that focus less on the impact of environmental sustainability will find that their customers move on to other conscious brands that share the same values. There are numerous strategies to minimize the environmental impact of the events industry and this is what the general public expects.
- Solidified focus on health and safety protocols
Safety precautions are now the top priority in public awareness due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Some people would prefer to attend hybrid or virtual events even after physical events have returned. A recent industry poll highlighted that 55% cited safety concerns as the biggest obstacle to event planning. By using touchless technology during hybrid events, it might enhance the event and visitor safety as the issues of safety have become the top priority of attendees, travelers and presenters.
While in terms of health, the new emphasis on cleanliness as well as the capacity to maintain social distance have emerged into the hybrid events. Some appropriate measures are being taken by event organizers to guarantee the health and safety of guests throughout the event such as using online registrations to avoid crowds, several hand-sanitizing stations, UV-C purifiers throughout the venue and so on.
- Utilizing AI in Event Organization and Analysis
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become more prevalent in the events sector in the coming years. This is due to the fact that AI will help to enhance event security by minimizing human oversight as well as doing more accurate identity checking.
For instance, Ai-powered chatbots. It can manage complex dialogues, automate ticketing, follow up on leads in customer service and pre-event marketing. Another great function of AI-powered chatbots is facial recognition, which can be used at events for everything from security and speedy registration to personalizing experiences.
- Data collection and analysis during and after the event
In order to assess the effectiveness of marketing initiatives during and after an event, it is vital to collect and analyze data. During a virtual or hybrid event, clients are more willing to know about the behavior of their attendees. What is the average time spent watching your content? How on point and engaging is your event content? This information can provide companies with valuable insights by tracking the clicks of the attendees.
Recent virtual event statistics highlighted that only 42% of attendees say they watch the whole virtual event. As a result, the primary tool for bridging the gap between where events are and where they should be is the collection of real-time data.
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