What does 2024 hold for the events industry?

Thanks to rapid innovation and the global sharing of ideas entrenched in technology, event managers and planners have started experimenting with new methods and ideas in order to create the perfect blueprint for their events.

At the same time, the core of what makes a successful event remains the same: Events are about the experience, from start to finish (and beyond). People want to feel connected, they want to be entertained, and they want valuable content to take away with them.

Let’s take a look at the top event trends that will shape 2024.

Food and beverage selections at events are becoming more cross-cultural. Today’s event menus include more diversity instead of sticking to one culinary genre. Southern-Indian fusion, Japanese with an Italian twist, Korean-Mexican mash-ups—2024 events will include ingredients, flavors, and styles from multiple cultures and cuisines.

Attendees expect more than good food from event dining experiences in 2024—they are also looking for how dishes and beverages are presented to them. It’s all about curating their eating experience.

The art of food plating, from arranging ingredients creatively to presenting photographic dishes, makes a significant impact on the attendee experience. Event planners and managers will need to pay attention to how food is served and plated to keep up with event industry trends in the coming year.

In 2024, we’ll see attendees looking for unique event experiences—even in how their beverages are served. Drink trees will rise in popularity, as will serving drinks in pineapples or other unique objects.

Think of it this way: Instead of attendees grabbing a margarita, it’s more memorable if they can choose from multiple margarita flavors that are served in a tree-like stand.

QR code menus aren’t going anywhere in the hospitality and restaurant industries, but the current trend in the event planning industry requires looking above and beyond the expected.

Design-forward and elevated menus are in style for 2024 events. Personalized menus for attendees with curated choices, interesting flavors, and sophisticated selections will take over events catering in the coming year.

As cannabidiol (CBD) oil becomes legal in more and more states, it has become a popular addition to many 2024 event menus. CBD-infused drinks, seltzers, and dishes will be a common sight, and we expect CBD’s relaxing, calming benefits to heighten attendees’ enjoyment of an event.

Pickleball and axe-throwing are no longer just for breweries. In 2024, we’ll see more activity-based events.

Games, contests, live music, and shows are a great way to get attendees engaged in and excited about the event. Whether it’s intimate private concerts or corporate volleyball games, expect to see more activities on the itineraries of events this year.

New advances in AI technology are streamlining the everyday work of event planners and managers, improving organizational efficiency, and enhancing the overall experience for attendees.

We’ll see more and more event professionals use AI in a number of ways. Event planning apps and platforms will use AI and its advanced data collection abilities to make events more engaging and secure, as well as improve post-event analysis.

From AI-based chatbot concierge services that provide support for attendees to automated ticketing processes and 24/7 customer support, this emerging trend isn’t going anywhere.

Every event needs a theme, but in 2024, the event industry is taking themes to a whole new level.

For larger events or events of any size involving multiple rooms, a new trend in event management is creating a different theme for each room. Giving each room its own unique theme or vibe is an innovative way to curate a truly unforgettable experience for attendees. We expect to see a rise in choose-your-own-adventure style event themes in the coming year.

Personalization is key to event success—and in today’s world of data-driven insights, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence, event managers and planners can offer personalization across the entire event experience.

Customizing each attendee’s experience so that it feels like the event was tailored to their specific needs can increase satisfaction as well as the likelihood they will attend an event in the future. From branded floor decals to personalized post-event email messages, creating a unique, tailored experience for guests leads to maximized results.

Event personalization is likely to continue impacting meetings and events in 2024.

Event technology platforms continue to advance, and we’ll see these new platforms and upgraded data-based technology used in events across industries this year. With advances in data collection and analysis, event technology can accomplish anything from tailoring attendee experiences to automating routine event planning tasks. 

By investing in event tech that collects and reports on more data, event managers can streamline the event planning experience as well as make the experience more enjoyable for attendees.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives will be imperative for successful events in 2024. With a growing focus on events that welcome and cater to diverse voices, ideas, and audiences, event managers and planners will invest more resources in DE&I in 2024. By prioritizing DE&I in the coming year (and beyond), event industry professionals can ensure that attendees from various walks of life are welcomed, catered to, and engaged.

Accessibility is more than a trend—it’s a requirement. Fortunately, in the last year, we’ve seen more and more event managers, venues, and planners center accessibility, and we expect to see the trend continue in 2024.

Whether it’s providing automatic closed captioning on speaker stages, creating sensory areas for attendees to take a break, hiring sign language interpreters, or ensuring venues exceed accessibility expectations, we will continue to see improvements in this area that create better event experiences for everyone.

In 2024, sustainability remains a top priority for event planners, managers, and attendees. Across industries, people expect sustainable and eco-friendly practices, materials, and initiatives to be the foundation of events and meetings.

To meet the demand for sustainable events, the events industry has made huge leaps toward environmental consciousness. From making venues more sustainable and reducing waste to offering plant-based menus and using recyclable materials, the events industry will keep the spotlight on sustainability.

Immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) make it possible to transform how attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests experience events. With AR technology, attendees can take 3D tours, view interactive layouts and maps, participate in scavenger hunts, and more. VR technology reveals an entirely new virtual world where guests can interact and engage with presentations, booths, and each other.

We expect to see new, exciting, and fun immersive technologies influence events in 2024 and beyond.

If you’re looking for an event planning partner, turn to Attendease.

Attendease is one of the leading names in the field of all-in-one event management software. Offering all the key features needed to stay relevant in 2024, Attendease provides event managers and planners with an intuitive, seamless, and convenient digital experience that goes hand-in-hand with live, virtual, and hybrid events.

Contact us or book a free demo today to learn more about how Attendease’s complete event management software and automation platform can help you plan your next event.