Ten Events Sector Trends to Watch in 2024

The meetings and events sector is ever-evolving, if there’s one thing we can always bank on. And 2024 won’t be any different, with the development of AI, an increase in the desire for immersive events, and a renewed emphasis on sustainability and diversity.

However, there are other factors to take into account, like growing expenses and the requirement for teams in charge of events, marketing, and hospitality to accomplish more with less.

Continue reading to learn about the top 10 meetings and events trends for 2024 and how they may affect your plans for the upcoming year.

1. While in-person events still rule, virtual events are here to stay

There’s no doubt that the majority of event and hospitality programs in 2024 will revolve upon in-person gatherings. Face-to-face interactions are crucial for business since they offer greater chances for networking, deeper involvement, and connection.

In-person events are currently included in 86% of event programs, according to statistics from our Cvent platform. Furthermore, according to 89% of global event and meeting strategy professionals in a commissioned study by Forester Consulting on behalf of Cvent, in-person events are crucial or vital for boosting revenue.

While live events are important, virtual and hybrid experiences are as worthwhile and will continue to exist.

635 European planners were polled for our Annual Planner Sourcing Report (Europe Edition), and the results showed that 24% of them are already organizing virtual events for 2024, while 41%—an 8% rise from 2022—are organizing hybrid formats. Comparably, virtual components are present in 45% of event programs on our platform.

Why do events that are virtual or hybrid still have such value? They increase the event’s reach and provide participants more flexibility, not to mention the advantages for sustainability.