What's Trending in Events in 2023 — From the Event Engagement Perspective
As the new year begins, the events industry is gearing up for another exciting year of growth and innovation. 2023 promises to bring new trends, technology advancements, and creative approaches to the world of events. From in-person event engagement to virtual experiences and hybrid events, this year is shaping up to be one of the most innovative yet. In this blog article, we will take a closer look at the 2023 event industry trends and what you can expect from the events industry this year from the event engagement point of view. Whether you are an event organiser, attendee, sponsor or simply working on your next event engagement strategy, this article is for you.
The Event Industry changes rapidly on so many levels. The following is the selection of topics that we see at Votemo are the most important and most discussed among event professionals all around the world. Feel free to contact us to set up a call to gather ideas for your event engagement strategy or to discuss the future of events. But, without further ado, let's get started with the trending topics.
Environmental Sustainability in the Event Industry
In 2023, the event industry is facing a major challenge in terms of sustainability. With the growing awareness of the environmental impact of in-person events, it is becoming increasingly important for event organisers to focus on reducing waste, conserving resources, and reducing carbon emissions. According to the annual ICE report, 59% of event organisers believe that sustainability remains a key challenge for the event industry this year.
One of the biggest areas of focus will be reducing food waste, paper consumption, and travel-related carbon emissions. This may involve implementing practices such as composting, recycling, and reducing the use of single-use items. Additionally, organisers may encourage attendees to travel by public transportation or carpool, or offset their carbon emissions through investment in renewable energy projects. When writing your next event engagement strategy, think about current solutions you could replace with digital ones, e.g. switch from paper ballots to digital voting and from posters to digital sponsor advertising.
The Digital Transformation of the Event Industry
The digital transformation of the event industry is continuing at a rapid pace, with in-person events becoming increasingly integrated with digital touchpoints. This allows for more engaging and interactive experiences for attendees, as well as new opportunities for sponsors to engage with and measure the impact of events.
For example, attendees may use digital tools such as event apps to access information, network with other attendees, and engage with sponsors. Sponsors, in turn, can use these digital tools to collect data on attendee behaviour and engagement and to evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. While working on event engagement solutions for your event, make sure you'll have enough digital touch points and entry points for attendees to join in and engage.
Investment in Event and Event Engagement Tech
In 2023, event organisers are expected to invest even more in event tech and event engagement tech. According to a recent survey by Forrester Consulting and Cvent, 57% of event marketers increased their spending on event tech in 2022 to support in-person events. This trend is expected to continue in 2023, as event organisers look to enhance the attendee experience and maximise their return on investment. A thought-through event engagement strategy is a valuable tool for setting goals and means to achieve them.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a major role in the event industry this year, shaping how events and experiences are conceptualised, marketed, experienced, and monetized. From personalised recommendations to more efficient event management, AI is poised to revolutionise the way events are managed and executed in the coming years.
Privacy and Data Security in the Event Industry
Privacy and data security will become even more important in the event industry. As events become increasingly reliant on the digital sphere, it is critical to ensure that personal data from customers is kept secure and protected. Personal data is now considered as sensitive as financial information in many parts of the world, making it crucial for event organisers to implement strong privacy and security measures.
This may involve using encrypted communication channels, implementing multi-factor authentication, and conducting regular security audits. Additionally, event organisers may work with trusted third-party providers to ensure that data is stored and managed securely, and may also provide attendees with clear and concise privacy policies outlining how their data will be used.
The Importance of Mobile Engagement in Events
Mobile engagement will become even more important in the event industry, as social media and mobile devices continue to play a more significant role in how attendees interact with events. According to a recent survey by Eventbrite, more than half of attendees now use smartphones at events, making it critical for event organisers to provide a seamless and engaging mobile experience.
This may involve using event apps to provide information, offer real-time updates, and facilitate networking and engagement with other attendees and sponsors. Additionally, event organisers may include the use of social media platforms in their event engagement strategy to promote events, build buzz, and reach a wider audience. With mobile devices playing an increasingly central role in the attendee experience, event organisers must prioritise mobile engagement in their events.
You'll Hear More About the Metaverse and Web3
One of the most exciting developments on the horizon is the emergence of Web3 and the metaverse. These new technologies are set to revolutionise the way events are created, experienced, and monetized, offering new opportunities for event engagement and creativity. The metaverse will provide event organisers with a new platform to create immersive and interactive virtual environments that can be used to host events. This will provide a new source of revenue for event organisers and sponsors, enabling them to monetize their events in a new and innovative way.
Web3 is expected to provide a secure and decentralised platform for data management, which is particularly relevant for events that require the management of sensitive customer data. This will provide attendees with peace of mind, knowing that their data is secure and protected. Event organisers who embrace these technologies will be well-positioned to create new and exciting experiences for attendees and drive growth and success in the years to come.
Reach out to us at hello@votemo.eu if you're working on your event engagement strategy or in case you have any questions or ideas you'd like to discuss, and let's schedule a call. We'll be happy to share case studies and show you how to implement audience engagement tools and other digital elements for your event.