Whilst much of the onus is on the M+E organiser when it comes to the planning, as the venue, we can learn a lot from trend watching the meeting and events space each year.
For 2022, here are 5 of the most pertinent to get you thinking about how to best provide for your M+E bookings.
Hybrid Meetings & Events
Over a few years, we saw meetings and events go from completely in-person to totally virtual. Where does that leave us now in the ‘new world’?
The answer to that is hybrid with some attendees making the trip and some tuning in from their laptops. For this reason, it is expected that many venues and hotels will be investing in tech to make the hybrid experience as seamless as possible, thereby increasing the likelihood of landing the booking. According to Event MB, in 2021, 71% of organisers said they would continue to employ a digital strategy once the world returns to normal.
Further to this, there is expected to be an increase in the need for quality AV equipment to feed the need for on-demand meaning that attendees can access the content at their leisure after the event has passed.
Having said this, we are seeing an overwhelming demand for in-person events meaning that face-to-face communication will always be preferable- a positive for the M+E space.
Personalisation
As discussed in our blog about Personalisation in the M+E industry, gone are the days when a set menu, basic wine list and plain decor was something that organisers would buy into.
Taking into account everything from dietary requirements to responsible sourcing, from wellbeing practices to hybrid tech needs, venues must be open to discussing the bespoke requirements for each and every event or meeting.
Sustainability
Corporate responsibility is a big buzz term right now and M+E is the perfect way to showcase this for any business.
It is also said that the events industry has a special role to play in tackling climate change and any business that has made a climate change pledge is probably going to want to discuss how their meeting or event can reflect that.
Sustainability impacts everything from catering to waste disposal, how you provide water, what you do with the leftover food, power sources and even ticketing systems- as one of the most important discussions happening right now, it’s worth doing your research as soon as possible. Quite rightly, this looks to be far more than just a trend.
To discover how your venue can start taking these steps, check out the information available at Net Zero events.
Health & Safety
The world may be returning to normal but the events of the pandemic have given us all a serious reality check.
To ensure people feel safe returning to in-person events, health & safety protocol will continue to be of utmost importance. Expect to see pre-screening requirements, socially-distanced event layouts and a need for an advanced air filtration system.
Mindfulness and Wellness
Along with doing better for the world at large, there is an increased interest in doing better for ourselves too.
Though the after-meeting wine will remain, expect to see yoga sessions, massage stations and hubs to get a tech break becoming serious requirements - your supplier network may well need to expand and diversify which is great for the local community too!
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