Planning Conferences and Corporate Events in 2022: Trends and Challenges

Planning Conferences and Corporate Events in 2022: Trends and Challenges

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1. Virtual and hybrid events still reach the masses

Virtual events may have become popular because of COVID-19 restrictions, but many creators have found that online events can reach a much wider audience than traditional in-person events.  A virtual event is held completely online, while a hybrid event has both an in-person and hybrid component. Hybrid events have emerged as 

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1. Virtual and hybrid events still reach the masses

a trend in meetings and events because of the way they accommodate attendees who are comfortable with in-person events and those who are not.

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2. Bring people together again with in-person events

People have been craving togetherness, so if it makes sense for your event – and if local regulations allow it – an in-person event has the potential to be a big hit.  Make sure your venue has enough space to allow for any social distancing requirements, and check to see if there are any local restrictions or safety regulations you need to follow. 

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2. Bring people together again with in-person events

In general, providing hand sanitiser or checking vaccination status at the door are good ways to ensure your attendees feel safe.

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3. Keep it intimate with a micro event

Smaller events have become a current trend in the events industry due to previous restrictions on the number of people who could gather during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have always been certain benefits to hosting these types of gatherings.  A micro-event with a single speaker will give attendees the opportunity to truly interact 

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3. Keep it intimate with a micro event

with the speaker, unlike an event with a packed auditorium. Your micro-events can be more interactive and involve more discussion. This type of event works well for workshops and team-building exercises.

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4. Wellness and connection in the wake of the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot about our day-to-day lives, including the way we work.  Organisations have had to pivot in order to better support their employees, whether that means allowing remote work, more flexible scheduling, or support for those who were directly affected by the pandemic. Wellness was a trending 

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4. Wellness and connection in the wake of the pandemic

conference theme before the pandemic, and now taking care of ourselves and our loved ones has become even more critical. Consider an event that centres on helping people manage both living and working in their homes, with sessions that focus on work-life balance, flexible working styles, productivity, dealing with burnout, and other related topics.

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5. Diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Current events have brought issues with corporate diversity to the forefront of our minds. I n an age where several companies are global and employees need to work across time zones with colleagues from other cultures, many people and organisations are considering how they can best foster respectful communication and safe 

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5. Diversity and inclusion in the workplace

working environments for everyone.  Plan an event that brings together diversity and inclusion experts, HR professionals, and others who care about healthy and diverse corporate cultures.

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6. New technology in your field or industry

Many organisations will be on the lookout for the newest and most innovative technology, so it’s no surprise that tech conferences are an evergreen choice for a corporate event.  Give vendors a chance to demonstrate new products and attendees the opportunity to try the new tech out. Invite speakers or panellists to discuss recent technological 

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6. New technology in your field or industry

trends and what they mean for your industry as a whole.  These types of events are always attractive to companies who want to stay on the cutting edge.

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7. Accessibility

Ensure that every single person attending your event leaves a positive impression by planning ahead for a diverse crowd.  Provide captions on your livestreams or appropriate interpretation for in-person attendees who need it. Check that any in-person venue you choose is physically accessible for all your attendees. If any aspect of your event is hard to 

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7. Accessibility

navigate or understand for some attendees, it may prevent them from coming to your events in the future.

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8. Networking capabilities

One reason that many people like events is because of the aspect of human connection they provide.  Even if you’re hosting an online event, choose a platform with a chat function that allows attendees to network and discuss the event on their own. Consider putting together an app that lets them connect both during and after the event.

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9. Contactless check-in

Make check-in safe and stress-free with a contactless process. Send attendees an email with a QR code or barcode that they can pull up on their phones.  This means you won’t need to organise a will-call and no one needs to worry about keeping track of physical tickets.

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10. Sustainable aspects

Sustainability is becoming a concern for more and more people, and your attendees will likely want to see you making smart choices when it comes to your event.  Instead of giving out lots of cheap branded merchandise that no one will use, think carefully about creating swag that will be meaningful to attendees and will be 

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10. Sustainable aspects

something they’ll use over and over. Look into biodegradable and recyclable utensils, plates, and cups if you’re serving food, and provide all the necessary recycling receptacles at the event.  When you make a concentrated effort to make sustainable choices, your eco-conscious attendees will notice and appreciate it.

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