A whistle-stop tour, with Lively’s opinion, sprinkled in, on the biggest event trends we are expected to see in 2023.

Keep an eye out for Part II coming soon. We’d love to know if you think we’ve missed any. Let us know your thoughts!

1. Physical Events on the up…but, should they be?

2. Events + Technology = Enhanced Experience

3. There’s always time for a game

Physical Events on the up... but, should they be?

It looks like we are finally back to normal following Covid 19 and with that, comes a full throttle return to physical events.

According to Meeting & Group Business magazine, 2023 will see its “strongest year ever” regarding in person events with several other experts suggesting this will become the focus for companies around the world. This isn’t surprising when you look at the statistics for the latter part of 2022, in person meetings and events came back at a faster level than predicted. This isn’t just the story in the business world, consumer events are seeing the same strong return and desire for physical events. Campaign backs this up and adds that whilst “in-person events are thriving”, guests now expect many more digital touchpoints than was the norm pre-Pandemic.

However, due to the considerable rise in the cost of physical events over the last couple of years alongside the added environmental impact, we believe both virtual and hybrid have to, and should, always have a place. Especially when companies are looking to reach wider audiences, what better way than through digital means?

It’s true that nothing quite beats being in a room with like-minded people, but perhaps saving the physical events for those that can’t have the same impact virtually might be the best way forward. 

Events + Technology = Enhanced Experience

In 2023 it’s not enough to just put on an event. We must offer experiences, memorable ones which attendees can emotionally resonate with.

This isn’t new, it hasn’t been for many years. What is new, however, is the way we can elevate an event to an experience using cutting edge tools and formats, such as the Metaverse.

A study carried out by Hirespace concluded that “the Metaverse is coming and has the potential to change the events landscape in a BIG way.” The Metaverse, in super simple terms, is an immersive 3D space, a simulated world, in which guests can interact with, not just on their own but with others.

This is something that here at Lively we have been championing for a long time. Including cutting-edge technology and exploring the opportunities and spaces that this could take us to is a must for us, one of the many reasons we have a dedicated Innovation Team. We are always thinking about how tech can enhance the experiences that we create, not just using tech for tech sake but evolving and bettering. It has to add something.

This shines a spotlight on how we need to be agile, offer options which tick all the boxes and stay one step ahead of the incredible technology that we are lucky enough to have access to.

There’s always time for event gamification

Gamification, again not new but is expected to have a new lease of life in 2023. In a nutshell, it’s the act of incentivising your event attendees to encourage active participation, rather than passive, by adding game-like features. In its simplest form this is pure fun, it's light entertainment, but more than that, it can cleverly and efficiently allow organisers to have an enhanced level of control over what their guests do. 

I’ll give you an example. You’re putting on an exhibition, you want guests to visit as many stands as possible to generate as many leads as possible. The more stands your guests attend, the more points they get. At the end of the day, those with the most points have the potential to win a prize. This is a relatively simple mechanic, you can push it much further which is one of the many perks of gamification.

In all honesty, this trend has divided us here at Lively. Whilst some of us believe there’s not a huge space or demand for gamification in 2023, others think, if done correctly, it can really encourage and enhance engagement. It can allow guests to take control of their experience whilst feeling more integrated and involved, ideally elevating their enjoyment to the next level.

It's down to agencies like ourselves to seamlessly intertwine these elements to an event, not just shoehorn them in, to create a solid event which keeps guests engaged at the event touchpoint.

Have you considered adding gamification to your events this year?

What are your thoughts on 2023 trends? Keep an eye out for Part II of our 2023 Event Trends coming very soon.