The events sector took a huge hit as events were canceled when the pandemic started. While some organizers postponed their events, they eventually canceled them after the pandemic continues for over a year. But some organizers took their events to the virtual stage, which allowed them to reach more audiences than before.
And with around 290 million vaccine doses administered, event organizers can look forward to the end of the pandemic soon. Even right now, some states are already allowing the reopening of theaters and concert halls. While some have placed capacity limits, others did not put any limitations.
But the event industry will not be the same as before. Industry watchers see some trends that may emerge once everything is back to normal. Here are the trends/
Live Events May Resume Soon
Even as some live events already resumed, such as the Miss Universe beauty pageant, the third quarter of the year may see more live events across the country. The United Kingdom also organized a pilot concert in Liverpool as part of its research on how it can safely organize large gatherings. While the authorities placed limitations during these events, it shows that the live events may soon resume.
And when the country reaches herd immunity, it will increase the chances of the return of live events. With this, venue owners and event planners should start making the necessary preparations when this happens. Venue owners should also continue implementing health protocols and focus on keeping audiences safe once these events resume.
Virtual Meetings Will Continue
When virtual meetings became necessary during the pandemic, one of the challenges people encountered was their inexperience in using the technology. The common challenges people had to deal with were the incompatibility of the browsers with the conference software, technical glitches due to bandwidth issues, and the need to download the software to join virtual meetings. Companies were able to deal with these issues, and virtual meetings became a part of life for many work-from-home workers.
Virtual meetings will likely continue even after the pandemic ends. Improvements in technology will make it easier for companies to use it. The companies also upgrade their employees’ hardware to ensure they will not have any issues while attending virtual meetings. Some people even used the technology for virtual events. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even recommended virtual events in place of large physical gatherings. Due to this, event planners should incorporate technology in their events.
Hybrid Events Will Emerge
Aside from virtual meetings, another trend that will emerge after the end of the pandemic is hybrid events. Hybrid events essentially combine onsite and virtual participants in the events. These events will emerge due to the limitations on the number of people who can be physically present in an event. It offers several benefits, including more profitability, opens access to a new market, and is environment-friendly.
Event planners can focus on different types of hybrid events, particularly digital conferences. These types of hybrid events will have a good number of onsite and online attendees. Event planners should also have the necessary skills and tools to ensure these events are successful. The skills and tools they need are video editing software and skills, which they can use for the event’s digital content.
Commercial Demand Will Continue
Commercial demand for events will continue as companies offer new products and services in the market. And once the authorities lift travel restrictions, event planners can look forward to more onsite participants in events. In this situation, they should prepare to manage these events. They can assist companies with travel arrangements, venue negotiations, and other important aspects of these events.
Priority on Education
Event planners should prioritize education with the emergence of new technologies that they can use in their industry. They should learn these innovations so that they will not get caught flatfooted. Event planners can turn to online resources to learn more about these new technologies. They can also incorporate online tools in their craft, such as YouTube videos, TikTok videos, and even online courses. They can use these tools as part of their marketing strategy or even use them to produce content for their clients.
Situations Will Dictate Events
When it comes to overseas events, event planners should monitor the cases in the countries they plan to work in. This is essential to ensure their safety with the emergence of new variants of the virus. They should also have backup plans in case of postponements or cancelations.
The event industry suffered a lot during the pandemic. But it is gradually getting back on its feet as the end of the health crisis is just over the horizon.
