5 Emerging Event Trends to Look Out for in 2022

What event trends does 2022 have in store for us?

COVID-19 sent shock waves through the events industry when it began in 2020. And of course, we saw some fundamental event changes from 2020 to 2021. Now as individuals, we have protection thanks to the vaccine, but this doesn’t stop the virus from infecting our events in the coming year. 2022 is a new year, and with it comes new challenges as well as opportunities. Although we have no crystal ball to look into to predict the future of events, we have some ideas. We’ve collected information from marketers to predict what we can expect in the next year. So let’s take a look at our 5 emerging event trends for 2022.

1. Physical events are uncertain

Although things in terms of the pandemic settled a lot at the beginning of 2021, it has changed moving into 2022. Despite the rollout of the vaccine, many countries are seeing a spike in figures thanks to new variants. As a result, event trends show that physical events remain uncertain. Our reports show that only 26% of marketers are confident that they will host physical events in 2022. The main reason for this was safety-related concerns. But, as much as the pandemic affected physical events, there are more factors at play. Let’s not forget that people enjoy the flexibility of virtual events. You can watch your event from the comfort of your home and don’t need to travel to the venue. Our study also shows that marketers are getting value from virtual events and can reach larger audiences virtually.

2. Virtual events are here to stay

On the other side of the coin, while physical events are unsure, virtual events are. Event trends show that virtual events are going nowhere and might become even more popular in 2022. In the last two years, we’ve seen major developments in virtual event software which gives us a better feeling of connection. Now we can use a few features like breakout rooms, polling, and interactive boards which help with screen fatigue.Our report finds that 87% of marketers are already hosting virtual events. As well as this, over half of these plan to host the same or more virtual events next year. So, going into 2022 virtual events will continue to grow.

3. Better event software

Another event trend we’re predicting for 2022 is an improvement in event software. Already in the past year, we’ve seen improvements in event software and features. We all know how boring it can be to sit and stare at a screen for an event without any interaction. It’s the interactive features like breakout rooms and a collaborative whiteboard that keep us engaged in an event. From our survey, three-quarters of marketers think that using an interactive environment is key to the success of an event.

4. Increase in hybrid events

We could argue all day about the pros and cons of physical and virtual events. But we have a solution that blends the two and that’s hybrid events. Event trends show that hybrid events will be even more popular moving into 2022. 97% of our marketers believe that hybrid events perform the same or better as virtual or physical events. Of course, there are many benefits to using multiple event platforms, you can expand your outreach. You have something for everyone and that will drive more engagement with your content.

5. Sustainable Events

The pandemic has driven us to think of the world in a more collective way. That brings about the event trend of sustainability. We need to take responsibility for the world and how the events industry affects that. Our concerns around climate change have increased over the last decade and virtual events give us the opportunity to help. If we move some of our events online we reduce waste from the event, as well as the fumes from vehicles traveling to the venue. Even think of how much paper we save from emailing the event schedule instead of printing!

And that’s a wrap for event trends

So there you have it, our 5 Emerging Event Trends to Look Out for in 2022. Of course, the events industry is always changing, so who knows where we could be in another year. One thing is for sure, you will need a dependable virtual events platform for your events this year. At Remo, we have many collaborative features that will make your event interactive. For example, our customizable floor plans can transform the location of your virtual event. Take a look at our plans, they start from completely free so nothing to lose!