The world of corporate events is constantly evolving, thanks to new and improved technology, as well as rapidly changing consumer behaviour. The following five corporate event trends are set to become increasingly popular:
- Content delivery for the digital age
Short attention spans are one of the least desirable effects of the digitisation of modern society. But what does this mean for corporate events? For one thing, the way your attendees engage with content has changed, profoundly so. Hour-long speeches are now a no-go: audiences become restless and disengaged, thanks to the fact that there’s no scope for participation. If the best way to get someone to fall in love with your brand is by evoking an emotion, you need to ensure that attendees are actively engaging in your content. Do this by eschewing traditional content delivery of yesteryear and embracing new formats of content delivery and dissemination, such as group discussions and activities, as well as a setup where attendees share the floor with a facilitator.
- Destinations used as playgrounds
Play has long been hailed as one of the most effective means of facilitating the understanding and retention of new information. As corporate event managers seek to find new ways of engaging attendees, we’ll see a new approach to destinations emerge: that of framing them as a playground. City-wide scavenger hunts, multiple venues across a city, dining out in local eateries and cocktail tours of secret bars will become popular ways of offering an immersive experience to corporate guests.
- Hubs for networking
Your venue layout and setup dictates the way your attendees utilise the space. As authentic connections gain currency, corporate events will begin to emphasise the importance of physical space that’s conducive to conversation. From dining areas with tables of multiple sizes, to lounge areas that host informal breakaway sessions, more and more venues will be designed to specifically cater for interpersonal networking.
- The championing of wellness
Arianna Huffington’s manifesto “Thrive” posited the notion that corporate success doesn’t have to equal physical and mental exhaustion. In fact, she argues, we should not only avoid these ramifications at all costs, but should champion wellbeing as a marker of successful employees. Her call to arms to corporate to not only embrace but invest in the health and wellness of their employees has sparked a revolution in the way companies facilitate the success of their human resources. A welcome knock-on effect of this movement is the prioritisation of “wellness and mindfulness” zones are corporate event venues. We’ll become accustomed to seeing nap pods, massage chairs, and meditation and quiet rooms. We’ll also see more physical activities offered, such as yoga, and the use of free bicycles.
- Thinking like an attendee
If you want to truly engage and delight your guests, you have to think like one. When planning the layout and schedule of an event, first get inside the mind of your attendees. Have a brainstorm session and mind-map this out. What does she see when she first arrives? Where does she go from there? What needs or challenges will she be dealing with? The moral of the story: corporate events will become increasingly tailored to the unique needs and preferences of guests, resulting in elevated engagement and brand advocacy.
Make sure your corporate event management company can keep up with the times. Get in touch to find out how we can assist you.
