We Predict The Hottest Conference Trends For 2020

With the New Year upon us, we caught up with our event specialists to discuss what forward-thinking event organisers will be doing in 2020 to capture the minds of their delegates. It’s clear that the past year was an innovative one for the events industry, where the use of technology to promote engagement continued to rise.

We’ve seen the introduction of virtual reality, and an increasing focus on ‘experiential events’ as a means of capturing the attention of delegates and promoting social sharing. Based on our observations, we’ve identified six key trends that we think are set to shape events in 2020. Read on to discover what’s hot right now in the areas of tech, experiential activities, venues, catering, and health.

The Hottest Conference Trends For 2018 - Predicted by Doltone House

1. Technology – virtual reality and artificial intelligence will continue to grow in popularity as businesses test new ways to amplify engagement. We will be looking at more personalised event experiences this coming year, using tech to gather attendee feedback and patterns of activity. We predict Event Profs will incorporate more interactive items into their programmes, from event-specific apps to crowd-responsive lighting – all aimed at creating a truly immersive experience.

The Hottest Conference Trends For 2018 - Predicted by Doltone House

2. Experiential activities – stemming from the same trend towards increasing delegate engagement, we predict an even greater move towards experientially led events in the coming year. Experiences that cater to the desire of delegates to share something exciting on social media will continue to rise. Whether it’s an interactive culinary experience, team building activity or an immersive photo area like the @museumoficecream or @wearehappyplace, the guest experience will continue to be the focus for business events.

The Hottest Conference Trends For 2018 - Predicted by Doltone House

3. Unique venues – clients are increasingly looking for unique venues to make a bold and memorable statement for their event. An out-of-the-box venue with outdoor meeting areas will facilitate more positive event experiences for corporates, where breakout spaces will be an attractive feature. Venues with a view and venues with inspiring interiors will be highly sought after. However, convenience will remain an important consideration.

The Hottest Conference Trends For 2018 - Predicted by Doltone House

4. Innovative food – high quality and healthy food options will continue to be a focus for event planners. Expectations are high, which will continue to encourage caterers to push their creativity and develop exciting menus. Whether it’s a themed menu, styled food station or personalised presentation that matches the client’s brand colours, Event Profs will look for more opportunities to create a more memorable experience with a sense of theatre.

The Hottest Conference Trends For 2018 - Predicted by Doltone House

5. Health – wellbeing and mindfulness continue to be a hot trend for corporate events as companies try to achieve a better balance between work and fun for their delegates. We expect to see more event planners organising event chill out zones, healthy food options and WiFi dead zones to help give attendees a chance to take breaks and promote relaxation. We predict more business events will also incorporate optional activities like yoga, meditation and mindfulness workshops pre and post event.

So there you have it. For event planners who want to discover new successes with their corporate events, there is a strong need to address technology trends, audience engagement and opportunities for promoting health and wellbeing. Speak to our event specialists for our latest business event offerings and discover how we can assist you with implementing the above trends into your next event >>

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