Want to know some of the biggest trends of 2018 for the events industry? We’ve got you covered with the top event planning trends of the year!
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed! But, here we are. The events industry has seen a major shift this year with many emerging trends, changes and best practices influencing everything from event planning and decor, to event marketing.
Any event planner will tell you the importance of knowing the latest trends to stay on top of the game. So, we’ve asked industry experts to help us identify some of the biggest event planning trends of 2018. Here’s what they’ve identified as the top trends of the year.
Theme and decor
You know the saying: “Go big or go home.” Industry experts are seeing event planners go all out when it comes to theme and decor. Let’s consider Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference, held in September at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The conference adopted the theme of U.S. National Parks, so Salesforce turned the area into forests with a waterfall at the entrance.
Looking outside the box
Gone are the days when events were confined to four walls. Event planners are expanding their search for venues to unconventional locations, such as public libraries, museums or even art galleries. After all, unusual spaces are a draw for attendees.
Going green
Event planners suggest ensuring your event is as eco-friendly as possible. So, consider going paperless for your event by using mobile apps, QR codes or email communications. With the advancement of technology, going green is easier than ever.
Interactive experiences
Attendees want full immersive experiences at events, conferences and trade shows. There’s been a steady increase in the use of augmented and virtual reality devices, including Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift, to create interactive experiences.
Access to real-time data
Live data is available at the touch of our fingertips. For event planners, this means you can collect data instantly about your attendees. Event analytics and big data allow you to enhance the attendee experience and improve your events for the future.
Infusing local flavors
Event planners also suggest giving attendees a taste of the region. Infuse your event with local aspects, including culture, cuisine and music. This helps personalize the event for attendees and creates a memorable experience.
Virtual engagement
As technology continues to play a significant role in events, we’ve reached a point of experiencing an event without actually having to be there. This means that event planners can expand beyond physical borders through live-streaming, webinars and digital sessions to reach virtual attendees.
Social media engagement
As we know, social media is the norm. Attendees now participate in events by sharing photos and their favourite moments on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Encourage social media engagement by using an event hashtag and incorporating a live social media wall during the event.
Making connections
We may live in a digital world, but brands still agree that making real connections comes first at any event. Above all, create opportunities for attendees to network, connect with each other and build meaningful relationships.
Key takeaways:
- Get creative with your theme and decor
- Location is king
- Go green with your events
- Leverage live-streaming, webinars and digital sessions to reach virtual attendees
- Infuse your events with local flavors
- Create Instagram-able opportunities
What have you found to be some of the top trends of the year? We want to hear from you!
