Top 10 Corporate Event Planning Trends of 2019 (1)

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Top 10 Corporate Event Planning Trends of 2019
The meetings and events industry has been rapidly
evolving in the last few years. Some of the
trends that seemed relevant up until last year
might have become redundant or upgraded into
something brand new. To help event planners catch
up with the rapid pace of change, we have listed
the top 10 corporate event planning trends of
2019. While some of the trends remain evergreen,
others have evolved into something extraordinary.
For instance, the use of event management
software is a trend which is here to stay. On the
contrary, the use of mobile apps will evolve into
a much more robust solution that will transform
the way we think of attendee experience. Other
technologies such as augment and virtual reality
are on the horizon and expected to make a mark
with early adopters using it at their corporate
events. Keeping these points in mind, let us look
at the top 10 corporate event planning trends of
2019.
Trend 1 Smarter, unconventional venues If you
think sustainable venues are the trend of 2019,
you are so in for a surprise. Green venues and
events are so 2016! There is a lot more than
event planners are doing for creating
awe-inspiring events. Unconventional venues with
an unexpected twist are the thing of 2019.
Creative event planners are booking venues like
salt cathedrals, museums and even metro stations
to surprise the attendees and sponsors. An
important point to remember is to make the venue
navigation easy for the participants whether it
is through proper signage or mobile apps.
Trend 2 Secure events In 2019, security will be
one of the top priority for event planners.
Security nowadays is more than tightening
regulations around data and individual privacy.
Event security will be well planned and thought
off this year, especially with the increase in
terrorism around the world. While you make
security a priority, just try not to make it very
obvious. You don't want to scare your
participants or make them think of any impending
threats. A good way to camouflage security is by
allowing guards to dress up like guests and
station them at all the key areas of the venue.
You can also communicate the safety risks before
the event starts for attendees to come well
prepared.
Trend 3 Local flavors Exotic is a thing of the
past. The new accessory at events will be local
flavors of the place where your event is
happening. Organic, farm produce and seasonal
food are set to replace sushi and Buddha bowls in
2019.
Trend 4 Facial recognition Facial recognition is
likely to be the game-changer in the events
industry. It is a trending technology that
attracts attendees and enhances attendees'
check-in experiences. Barcode scanning and
confirmation emails are sun setting, as the
facial recognition dawns upon the events
industry. Facial recognition will also enhance
security at events and avoid impersonation of
people. This technology works like a breeze, and
with a smile checks people in!
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Trend 5 Attract sponsors with augmented reality
Teleport your audience into a different realm
while physically being at your event with
augmented reality. One of the most sought after
technologies, augment reality is soon turning
into a reality for event planners. Argument
reality is an eye catcher and will attract
attendees, which in return will encourage
sponsors to invest in your events. Augmented
reality will also provide opportunities to
sponsors to be found by the attendees in a far
more interesting way!
Trend 6 Increasing mobile app adoption Mobile
event apps have revolutionized attendee
engagement at events. In 2019, they will continue
to play a pivotal role in planning, engaging, and
calculating the ROI of the event with
integrations. With that, event marketers will
also invest in Mar-tech to have a 360-degree view
of their events. Research shows that Chief
Marketing Officers intend to earmark up to 26 of
their marketing budgets for marketing tech stack.
These technologies will create an ecosystem that
will help businesses plan and coordinate events
as well as collect data that can give key
insights into event participants' behavior,
performance, and interactions.
Trend 7 Measuring event data Picking from our
last point, data will be critical to the success
of any event in 2019. With companies investing in
integrated marketing technologies, data will be
collected at every step of event planning and
execution. With tools to measure data, event
planners will be able to enhance attendee
experience while boosting event ROI. They will
get key information into their participants'
interest and pitch related services/products for
effective follow-ups.
Trend 8 Personalized experience The importance
of personalization has not gone unnoticed by
event planners around the world. Personalized
experiences, be it at events or through digital
communication, has become a key element of all
marketing activities. Whether it is personalized
recommendations, emails, website experience, or
at your events, people love to feel special and
welcomed. Smart event apps provide a great way to
create unique and tailored experiences by
customizing event schedules, agenda, content,
etc. It empowers participants to cut out parts of
events that interest them and satisfy their needs.
Trend 9 Chat bots and AI With digital disruption
affecting every industry, people are slowly
leveraging technologies such as artificial
intelligence and machine learning. The rising use
of chat bots on the website is nothing new these
days. But what you can expect from the events
industry is the use of chat bots on the event
floor. These bots are likely to run the show by
helping attendees with their questions and
providing them with relevant information. The
best way to use bots at events is by giving them
a character
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that is attuned to your brand's values and
culture. Such smart chat bot will have an
identifiable personality, act as an extension of
your team, and make your job a lot less stressful.
Trend 10 Upgrading stage design Not a lot of
people talk about it, but stage design is set to
change in 2019. With modern 3D projection and
innovative ways of using lighting, stage design
will be in the spotlight this year. These modern
ways will blend with the old design staples to
create something out of the box. Look out for
more clear-cut themes that will influence stage
designs and appeal to everyone on the floor.