Remote work became standard operating procedure in many cases during the pandemic, and its impact on business and society in general lingers in the post-pandemic environment.
While the travel and meetings industry quickly reverted to pre-pandemic form, the business world is just now seeking to scratch a return-to-office (RTO) itch, with many large corporations and the federal government compelling workers to report back to the office either full time or at least a few days a week.
We checked in with frequent Meetings Today contributor Scott Steinberg, a futurist keynote speaker and consultant for over 2,500 brands, on this new trend shaping society and how it may manifest in meetings and events.
Here’s Steinberg’s take on this changing landscape, both for internal and external meeting environments.
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Hybrid Becomes the Standard Model
Corporate gatherings are being restructured to address increasingly distributed workforces, given multiple office locales. Apart from implementing livestream and videoconferencing meeting options, organizations are increasingly investing in sophisticated event technology platforms that support interactive elements. Meeting spaces are being redesigned with multiple camera angles, interactive polling capabilities and dedicated remote participant moderators to ensure virtual attendees have the same ability to contribute.
Hub-and-Spoke Meeting Formats
Conference formats will expand to include both large-scale events at headquarters and distributed models where smaller groups gather in regional offices or co-working spaces while connecting virtually to HQ locations. Planners are finding that multi-location hybrid events achieve higher overall participation rates and better engagement than traditional centralized gatherings.
Enhanced Focus on Workplace Culture and Teambuilding
Given increasingly hybrid workplace environments, events and meetings are being reimagined as critical culture-building opportunities. Companies are investing more resources in creating meaningful in-person experiences that justify the commute. That includes incorporating more social activities, teambuilding exercises and informal networking opportunities. The emphasis is shifting from pure content delivery to fostering human connections and strengthening organizational bonds.
[Related: 10 Ways to Design More Interactive Event Programming]
Technology Integration Grows
Basic videoconferencing tools are being replaced by more advanced technology solutions. Companies are adopting AI-powered meeting assistants, augmented reality presentation tools and interactive collaboration platforms. Meeting rooms are being outfitted with multiple screens, spatial audio systems and smart cameras that automatically track speakers.
Increased Emphasis on ROI and Metrics
Firms are putting greater emphasis on measuring meeting effectiveness and return on investment from gatherings. That means tracking new metrics like virtual vs. in-person engagement rates, knowledge retention across different participant types and the impact of various meeting formats on team performance and collaboration.
Rise of Purposeful Presence Policies
Certain firms are moving away from blanket return-to-office mandates in favor of more nuanced approaches that tie physical presence to specific purposes and outcomes—and issuing clear guidelines about which types of gatherings require in-person attendance and which can be attended remotely. Organizations are developing frameworks to help managers make decisions based on meeting objectives, participant roles and desired outcomes.
[Related: How to Stay Relevant With an Evolving Workforce]
Office Space Design Changes to Support New Formats
Traditional conference rooms are being redesigned to better accommodate hybrid meetings and events. Planners are creating more flexible spaces that can be quickly reconfigured for different types of gatherings, installing better acoustics and lighting for video capture, and incorporating informal meeting areas that support spontaneous collaboration. Companies are also investing in videoconferencing breakout rooms specifically designed for virtual participation in larger meetings.
Greater Focus on Wellness and Work-Life Balance
The push for RTO mandates has made many employees more conscious of work-life balance, leading to changes in how corporate events are scheduled and structured. Companies are also being more mindful of time zones when planning hybrid events, limiting the duration of meetings and incorporating wellness activities into multi-day gatherings. There’s a trend toward offering more flexible attendance options for longer events, allowing participants to choose which sessions to attend in person vs. virtually, too.
[Related: More Scott Steinberg Trends Stories]
Shift in Event Budgets and Resource Allocation
While some traditional costs like venue rental and catering may be reduced due to smaller in-person attendance, new expenses are emerging related to technology infrastructure, production quality and support staff for virtual components. Organizations are also investing more in training for live/virtual meeting facilitators and event planners to effectively manage hybrid formats.
Emergence of New Meeting Management Roles
Trends are creating demand for new skill sets and roles within organizations. Companies are hiring hybrid event producers, digital experience managers and technology integration specialists. There’s also increased emphasis on training existing staff in new meeting facilitation techniques that effectively engage both in-person and remote participants.
