What innovative ideas have you used in event planning?

1 Virtual and hybrid events

Recently, event planners have had to face the challenge of transitioning their events to virtual and hybrid formats. These formats offer many benefits, such as wider and more diverse reach, cost and environmental savings, and increased flexibility and accessibility. However, they also bring with them some difficulties, such as maintaining engagement, security of the technology , and adapting content and format to the online medium. To address these issues, we have come up with a few innovative ideas. These include using interactive platforms and tools like polls, quizzes, chat rooms, and live Q&A to make the experience more engaging; creating a virtual event hub for attendees to access agenda information, speakers, sponsors, recordings etc.; offering a variety of content formats and delivery modes to cater to different learning styles; providing opportunities for networking; and incorporating elements of fun like music, comedy, trivia etc.

2 Sustainable and social events

We have noticed and embraced the increasing demand and expectation for sustainable and social events in event planning. Sustainable events are those that minimize their environmental impact and promote ecological awareness, while social events are those that support a social cause or benefit a community. These types of events reflect the values and interests of the organizers and attendees, as well as create a positive image for the event and its stakeholders. We have used or seen some innovative ideas for sustainable and social events, such as choosing eco-friendly venues and suppliers , implementing green practices and policies, educating and engaging attendees on environmental and social issues, and partnering with or supporting a charity or non-profit organization. For example, providing reusable or biodegradable cups and plates, avoiding single-use plastics and paper, donating leftover food and materials, encouraging public transportation or carpooling, hosting speakers to discuss climate change, biodiversity, human rights, or social justice, donating a percentage of ticket sales to a charity or non-profit organization, organizing a fundraiser or donation drive, or offering volunteer opportunities for attendees.

3 Personalized and experiential events

In event planning, we have put a great emphasis on personalization and experientiality. Personalized events tailor content, format, and delivery to the specific needs of attendees, while experiential events create a unique and immersive experience. These types of events not only increase satisfaction and loyalty, but also leave a lasting impression. To achieve this, we have implemented various innovative ideas. For example, collecting data from attendees through surveys and interviews to customize the event, offering choices and options for them to select their preferred speakers or topics, using technology to create an immersive atmosphere, and incorporating storytelling elements into the event such as creating a theme or challenge.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?