Trend-Spotting 2024: Where Are Corporate Events Headed Next?

2024 will be less “recovery” and more “revolutionary.”

Hello there, connoisseurs of events and those who sniff out trends like a truffle pig! We’ve just about sprinted past 2023, and as we squint into the dazzling lights of 2024, we’re greeted by a kaleidoscope of new trends in the event industry. We’re talking about a seismic shift towards experiences that are more personalized than a barista remembering your absurdly complex coffee order, more technology-driven than a teenager glued to their smartphone, and more sustainability-focused than a hipster’s reusable straw in a vegan café.

We’re Non Plus Ultra, and let’s just say, our world revolves around producing, curating and hosting experiences in some pretty awe-inspiring venues. As we’re putting the finishing touches on a rollercoaster of a year, 2023, our gears are already whirring into overdrive for 2024. It’s shaping up to be busier than a squirrel during nut season, even eclipsing those halcyon, pre-pandemic days.

Why should you trust our crystal ball gazing? Picture our venues as not just four walls and a ceiling, but as architectural wonders, the kind that attracts the leading global brands and the glitterati of the event professional universe. Being nestled in this nexus of high-octane event frenzy gives us a front-row seat to the trendsetting magic bubbling up in the industry.

As we’re expertly juggling the logistics and sprinkling our creative fairy dust over 2024, we’ve been quietly hoarding a treasure trove of industry insights — the kind that form the bedrock of real, actionable trends. We’re about to unveil what our clients are zeroing in on, coupled with a dollop of our first-hand experience in turning blue-sky thinking into reality.

So, let’s give you a sneak peek into the top ten trends that the event industry’s high-flyers are embracing — think of it as your VIP ticket to the future of events!

1. Rising Costs and Budget Creativity: Costs are hopping around like kangaroos on a sugar rush, and event planners are becoming financial magicians. They’re whipping up value from the ether, transforming budget constraints into a showcase of ingenuity. This includes creative budgeting, trimming the fat off events, stretching booking timelines, and strategically wielding event data. Who said cutting costs means scrimping on fun?
2. Personalization through AI, Mobile, and Blockchain: The era of one-size-fits-all events has gone the way of the dodo. In 2024, the event industry is going full sci-fi, integrating AI for streamlined check-ins, bespoke content, efficient matchmaking, and support faster than you can say “Hey Siri.” With tech giants like Apple and Samsung pumping AI into mobiles faster than you can update your software, 2024 is offering personalized interactions that feel like having Jeeves in your pocket. Yet, navigating the labyrinth of tech regulations is key. Enter blockchain, the new sheriff in town, ensuring your data is as secure as Fort Knox. This trifecta of AI, mobile tech, and blockchain is ushering in an era of more secure, individualized, and data-focused attendee experiences.
3. Designing Experiences with Immersive Realities Technology: Forget VR being the sole province of basement-dwelling gamers (no offense, nerds). Extended Reality (XR), encompassing Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality, is reshaping corporate events into realms that would make even the most jaded attendee’s jaw drop. Virtual attendees can now teleport into 3D tours of venues, experiencing every nook and cranny to hide from that clinging networker they hooked up with at last year’s cocktail mixer, just as though they were actually there! Planners and clients are diving into virtual event spaces, tweaking details from their desks. It’s like playing The Sims, but what you build actually matters. Not keen on strapping a TV to your face? Turn a bland conference room into a 3D wonderland with projection mapping, smart sensors, and directional sound. Still skeptical? The burgeoning demand for immersive experiences is as hard to ignore as a flash mob in a library. These technologies aren’t just about the wow factor. They’re about forging deeper connections, making brand messages stick like cold on ice, and engaging attendees more effectively than ever.
4. Race for Quality Space: The pandemic’s shadow and the economic rollercoaster of 2023 made booking venues as predictable as a game of nursery musical chairs. But as we approach 2024, the appetite for in-person events isn’t just simmering — it’s boiling over like an unattended pasta pot. This surge is sparking fierce competition for top-tier venues… we’re talking post-graduate musical chairs to a tango. The demand wave, crashing against the shores of rising costs and staffing puzzles, highlights the savvy strategy of early, strategic venue booking. It’s not just about securing the perfect venue anymore. Dive into the booking pool early, and you might swim in more favorable pricing waters. However, beware: as the event date inches closer, prices are likely to spiral, driven by the unforgiving laws of supply and demand.
5. Cloud-Based Event Planning: Cloud platforms are the Swiss Army knives of event planning, streamlining coordination smoother than a light saber through butter. Welcome to the era where you can orchestrate an entire event in your pajamas, with a mouse in one hand and an espressor martini in the other.
6. Sustainability and Green Initiatives: It’s not just about hopping on the green bandwagon because it’s solid virtue signaling (which, yes, it is). Planners are getting crafty with sustainable practices, turning each event into a tribute to Mother Earth. If you’re into more than just paying lip service to recycling, 2024 is your year to shine, crazy diamond.
7. Increased Emphasis on Mental Health and Wellness: After years of driving us all mad, the event industry is finally putting mental well-being in the spotlight. Events in 2024 are featuring zones for relaxation, mindfulness sessions, and stress-busting activities, reflecting a broader shift towards holistic experiences. It’s about prioritizing both physical and mental health, alongside professional networking and learning, because let’s face it, a relaxed mind is a receptive mind.
8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): As we step into 2024, DEI isn’t just the flavor of the month, it’s the main course. It’s about creating events where everyone feels heard and valued, regardless of their background, favorite pantone color, or Poke monster with which they most closely identify. This trend sees event planners and brands striving to ensure their events are a mosaic of perspectives and experiences. It’s no longer about ticking boxes. It’s about weaving DEI into the very fabric of each event. From diverse speaker lineups to accessible and inclusive content, nailing DEI means designing events that are not just vibrant and engaging but resonate deeply with a wider audience. In 2024, mastering DEI isn’t a moral “supposed-to-do” — it’s a strategic ace, elevating the caliber and reach of your events.
9. Hybrid and Virtual Events Revolution: If you’re tired of hearing about hybrid and virtual events, brace yourself: 2024’s rendition is leagues apart from the makeshift solutions of yesteryears. These formats have evolved beyond being mere pandemic stopgaps. The magic lies in seamlessly blending the energy of live interactions with the expansive reach of digital platforms. It’s about crafting experiences where virtual and live elements complement each other, creating a balanced and immersive hybrid model. We’re witnessing bold experimentation (which, when successful, is retrospectively dubbed “innovation”). Perfecting this blend is key to unlocking unprecedented success in events.
10. Hybrid Work’s Impact on Travel Trends: And let’s not overlook how the hybrid work model is reshaping travel trends. The blend of business and leisure, or ‘bleisure travel,’ is booming. Hotels, get ready to cater to the suit-and-flip-flops brigade, because the lines between work and play are blurring faster than ever.

As we pull the curtains on our preview of the 2024 event trends, we hope this has been more than just an intriguing read. These aren’t mere speculations. They’re the strategies being deployed by the biggest brands and the most innovative agencies leading the charge in the industry. Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or just dipping your toes into these waters, keep these insights up your sleeve. The future of events isn’t a distant dream… it’s unfolding right here, right now. It’s a vibrant fusion of creativity, technology, and sustainability, peppered with a dash of the unexpected, making our industry a thrilling rocket ship of a journey into the outter limits of possibility. So buckle up!