[Trend #1] Hybridization: Hybrid events, offering both an in-person component and online content available for attendees participating from organized satellite locations, are now essentially required by groups.
[Trend #2] Healthy F&B: Proper portion sizes minimize calories and give guests the opportunity to try a wide variety of menu items. Mini-burgers, muffins and half-sandwiches are popular and result in less waste. Meeting planners are also asking for foods that produce energy and mental clarity.
[Trend #3] Meeting Environments Must Have an impact on the Success of the Meeting: An effective meeting environment must support collaboration, connection and community.
[Trend #4] Social Interaction: It’s critical to have space where guests, facilitators and staff can engage with one another.
[Trend #5] Environment: Lighting, air temperature, air quality and ergonomic seating all contribute to the success of a meeting or event.
[Trend #6] Stimulation: Meetings must be stimulating. Attendees sitting in circles or groups can accomplish this better than straight rows.
[Trend #7] Clear Objectives: When planned correctly, a meeting or event is one of the greatest marketing expenditures a company can make, so set clear goals.
[Trend #8] Technology: It’s important that a meeting facility has the infrastructure in place to handle the technology needs of today’s meetings. For instance, the facility must have enough Internet bandwidth to transmit data instantaneously.
[Trend #9] Eco-Awareness: Meeting professionals are recycling, minimizing the number of handouts they print and serving water in pitchers instead of giving out individual water bottles.