Eventex insights: Jury Presidents highlight industry trends 

As we have just wrapped up the 2023 Eventex Awards edition, reporting a total of 761 entries from 49 countries, a first in the awards’ more than a decade-long history, we decided to ask our esteemed jury presidents a few questions. They comprise some of the industry’s most prominent names and their unique insight allows us to view this remarkable record-breaking edition through their eyes. 

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Events reimagined: Tackle the challenges and unlock the possibilities

The past two years have been a difficult time for many businesses and as the industry adapted to post-Covid realities. According to 100% of the answers in our jury president's survey, this was the biggest challenge for businesses over the past 2 years. 

With the pandemic forcing many companies to switch from in-person to virtual events, it became increasingly important to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the shift. And with the pre-covid status quo not quite restored companies needed to find a way to please both remote and in-person attendees without deterring either group. This meant finding a way to make sure that everyone could attend regardless of their location, while also ensuring that those favoring in-person experience could still have it.

The best solutions, approaches, and technologies of the edition

While the jury was divided into the best solutions and approaches, their responses had one thing in common — technology. As technology continues to evolve, so do the possibilities for hybrid events. 

• Augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) were two of the most popular technologies used in hybrid events, allowing attendees to experience immersive activities that felt like they were actually there. 
• Meanwhile, drone technology was used to capture content from faraway locations and provide a unique perspective on an event. 

Unlocking the potential of 2023 and beyond

The majority of our jury presidents believe that attendees should be more actively involved in the proceedings to get the most out of them. By engaging attendees in a more meaningful way, event organizers can ensure that they are getting the most out of their events and making sure that everyone has an enjoyable experience. 

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This will also help foster a sense of community and create lasting memories for those involved. Attending an event is an enriching experience, for attendees and organizers alike. It is important to ensure that all attendees have a great experience, regardless of whether they are attending in person or online.

By focusing on the attendee experience and not just on meeting the client's concept or goal, event organizers can create memorable experiences that will leave a lasting impression on their visitors. With this in mind, it is essential to pay attention to both in-person and online attendees when planning an event. By understanding their needs and preferences, event organizers can ensure that all attendees have a positive experience.

Today's impact on tomorrow's industry

Most of the jury presidents agree that AI will play an important role in creating a better event experience in the future. 

In today's digital age, AI is becoming increasingly important in the events industry. It has the potential to revolutionize the way events are organized and experienced. The following technologies are already set to have a beneficial impact on the event thought-leadership funnel, execution, results, and the industry's future:

• Branded event apps — the consumer's undivided attention is captured and their time is saved, resulting in a better and more engaging experience when information, updates, and event details are available at one location or source;
• Eco-friendly events — going digital rather than printable, enabling highly functional hybrid events to reduce transportation footprint, and managing during-event technologies with recyclable and biodegradable options, all supported by robust technology, will be not only popular but essential trends;
• Live multilingual translation — making events around the world more accessible and far-reaching can be achieved by utilizing multilingual translation technologies;
• Gamification — definitely one of the best methods to keep attendees interested in the news and guarantee their attendance at future events because who doesn't like to demonstrate their abilities, compete, and stay in the spotlight;
• Contactless check-in — this has become a default setting now and data indicates that it enhances engagement techniques;
• Live streaming — one of the most popular event trends of 2023 as it can be used effectively to increase reach to a wider audience through various media platforms, across different demographics, while also generating income, especially during hybrid and in-person events.

Professionals in the event business can improve their operations for optimal effectiveness while providing their visitors with a more engaging experience by utilizing the power of technology. 

By leveraging technology potential, events will become even more engaging for attendees while also providing better ROI for event organizers. Case in point — Eventex’s use of awards management software Evalato allows us to streamline our whole awards process from beginning to end, creating a hassle-free application and judging experience.

What stood out to our jury presidents

Here the jury presidents think alike — bigger budgets, more in-person events, and the inclusion of technology. 

• The events industry is rapidly changing, and the trends in events reflect that. As budgets become larger and more organizations embrace technology, there has been an increase in both in-person and hybrid events. This has opened up a world of possibilities for event planners to create unique experiences for their attendees.
• In-person events are back in fashion, much to the relief of the whole industry, with the easing of Covigd restrictions and relaxing of travel bans making these events much easier to organize.
• With bigger budgets being allocated to events, planners can now afford to be more creative with their designs and incorporate technology into their plans. This has led to a rise in interactive elements such as augmented reality games or virtual reality experiences that help make the event even more memorable for attendees.

When all is said and done

The year 2023 is set to be an essential year for the events industry. 

As event planners become better equipped with the latest technology, they can offer more engaging and interactive experiences for their attendees. Events have become increasingly popular and technology is playing a major role in this growth. With the help of technology, event organizers are able to create more immersive experiences for their attendees. From virtual reality to artificial intelligence, event organizers are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create unique experiences that leave a lasting impression on their attendees.

This year, the Eventex Awards is set to be bigger and better than ever before. The 14th edition of the awards will once again recognize and highlight the excellence of the global event industry.

Don't miss out — register now and catch the early-bird rates.

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