You’ve probably heard that event planning is a big business, but did you know it’s also one of the fastest-growing industries in the US?
It’s true: the event industry has grown by over 4% each year for the past two decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, we’re predicting even more growth for next year!
What does that mean for you? Well, if you’re a planner or an entertainer working in this industry (or even if you want to get started), it means more jobs and more opportunities than ever before.
And it means more money flowing into communities across America—and around the world!
Here’s what we’re predicting will be the 10 hottest trends in this growing industry:
The event industry is looking great for 2023!
Events are a great way to bring people together, build your brand, develop your business, and advance your career.
From conferences to trade shows and expos, events offer opportunities to connect with attendees and create relationships that can lead to partnerships or new opportunities.
Events are also a great way for companies to generate leads and increase sales through their marketing efforts.
So, if you’re thinking about hosting an event in 2023 or beyond—or even if you’re not currently planning anything but would like to consider it as an option for the future—it’s worth considering these factors:
- The type of event you want to host (business conference vs charity fundraiser)
- How much money will be required (and whether you have any sponsors lined up)
#1. Experiential Entertainment
If you’ve been to an event in the past few years, then you’ve probably experienced some form of experiential entertainment.
This trend has taken the industry by storm and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. While fun and games may be enough for some people, others are looking for something more—a memorable experience that they can take home with them.
That’s what experiential entertainment is all about: creating an immersive environment that attendees will talk about long after they leave your event space.
This type of planning can be done well in advance (for example, through registration) or at the last minute (think theme-park rides).
The point is that it’s all about providing your audience with new experiences that go beyond what’s expected from a typical conference or trade show booth.
#2. Indoor Festivals
Indoor festivals are a great alternative for outdoor festivals. Not only do they allow you to plan your event when you want, but they also offer many other benefits.
Indoor festivals can be held at any time of day and in any season, making them ideal for those looking to hold their event during the winter months or on rainy days. Another benefit is that indoor venues aren’t limited by geography; an indoor festival can be held anywhere with a suitable venue, including hotels and convention centers.
Indoor festivals are easier to execute than outdoor ones because there’s no need for tents or large stages; these elements can just be brought inside if need be—or removed entirely if the weather gets too hot (or too cold)!
#4. Micro weddings
In a world where weddings have become increasingly extravagant and expensive, a micro wedding is the perfect way to save money on your special day.
According to the Knot, these small affairs usually consist of no more than 50 guests—and if you’re looking for even more ways to cut costs, you can even host them in your own backyard!
While micro weddings may not be as popular as they were in the past (when they were called “tiny weddings”), they’re still going strong and are becoming more popular every year. After all, who doesn’t want their wedding day to be full of love, laughter and good food?
#5. Contact Tracing
Contact tracing is a method of identifying, tracking and monitoring individuals who have been in contact with an infected person. This can involve identifying everyone who has had physical contact with the infected individual, or everyone who has come into close proximity to them—such as being on the same bus or subway car together.
In healthcare settings, contact tracing is used to track down anyone who may have come into close proximity to a patient before they became symptomatic.
If a doctor thinks their patient might be contagious, they can use contact tracing as part of a quarantine strategy by asking people whether or not they’ve been in physical contact with the patient in question. This allows them to isolate any potentially infected patients from other patients or staff members until it can be confirmed whether or not they actually have anything contagious (i.e., measles).
Contact tracing is an important component of public health efforts because it helps prevent further spread within communities and reduces overall risk levels for outbreaks happening again later down the line.
#6. Virtual Learning Events
Virtual learning events are growing in popularity, as they help you reach a larger audience. This can be used to promote products and services, but also brands. Virtual learning events can also help you reach a global audience.
Virtual learning events can be used to raise awareness of causes and issues as well. They are especially useful for this purpose because they allow you to present information in a visual way that is easy for people to understand at their own pace.
It’s important to keep in mind that when using virtual learning events for the purpose of raising awareness about an issue, it’s important not only that the content itself is compelling enough but also that there is sufficient context around each piece of content so that viewers know what they’re looking at and why it matters—otherwise, they won’t care!
#7. Self-Serve Bar
A self-serve bar is a great way to save money and have more control over your own experience. You can buy as little or as much alcohol as you want, and you control the pace at which drinks are served. This allows guests to enjoy themselves while they wait for their friends, and it also gives patrons a chance to try out different varieties of beer or wine without feeling pressured by restaurant employees.
If you want this feature in your event venue, make sure there’s plenty of space available for people to stand comfortably around the bar with their drinks.
Also consider how each drink will be served: if some tables will have bottles with straws sticking out of them so that guests can sip from them, then there shouldn’t be any open glasses on top because those could spill onto expensive clothing.
#8. Socially Conscious Menus
If you want to add a socially conscious element to your event, consider adding a pay-it-forward component. In other words, allow guests to contribute anonymously to another guest’s experience by paying for their ticket or including them on the guest list. This shows that you care deeply about giving back and supporting others in their time of need.
Some examples of socially conscious events include:
- A charity auction with all proceeds going toward a worthy cause (e.g., cancer research)
- A silent auction where all proceeds go toward a specific charity or organization
#9. Virtual Currency for Attendees
Virtual currency is a new trend in event management, and it has a lot of potential benefits for both attendees and organizers.
Virtual currency can be used as an incentive for attendees to attend your event, or as a way to make transactions easier during the conference. It can also be used as a thank you gift at the end of the day or during breaks.
For organizers, virtual currency gives them another way to monetize their events by encouraging attendees to buy more ticketed items like t-shirts or other merchandise like pens with logos on them. When people are buying things, they’re also spending time at your event so there’s added value from that perspective too!
#10. Green Events
Planning green events is the way to go. It’s not just about being environmentally friendly—it’s about being sustainable.
When you plan a green event, you’re doing more than just reducing your carbon footprint. You’re reducing the number of resources that are used by the event itself and by everyone who attends it. And that means more efficiency in your planning and execution, as well as less waste.
You don’t have to be an expert in renewable energy or recycling to make your next event more environmentally friendly—all you have to do is start with a few simple steps:
1) Think about how much stuff you’re going to need for your event and how many people will be attending it. This will help you determine how much waste could be generated by your event, and what kind of waste management system will work best for your needs.
2) Assess whether there are any local recycling programs available near where you’ll be holding your event (for example, if you’re having an outdoor picnic in San Francisco or Seattle). If there aren’t any programs nearby, consider bringing along some bins so guests can recycle on their own instead!
Conclusion
As we can see, events are looking for new ways to engage attendees and create an experience for them. While some of these ideas seem a little crazy, others are more realistic.
Discover more innovative event trends at the 2022 Event Planner Expo. Click here and get your tickets now before they sell out!
