8 Event Trends to Consider for the Rest of 2019 (and Beyond!)
It’s all about standing out from the crowd these days, being up-to-the-minute and moving with the latest trends, so why should your events be any different?
Whether you’re a party planner, venue manager, or simply looking to throw the biggest party the world’s ever seen, there are many new and innovative methods you can use for your events and event marketing this year. From veganism to Instagrammability, 2019 may be the year of the pig in the Chinese calendar, but in the events industry, it’s all about being unique.
So, how can you make sure your event is memorable for your guests? Here are some of the top event trends to think about:
Image courtesy of Time Out
- Be immersive
The last thing you want when a guest comes to your event is for them to be bored and look like they’re on the point of leaving. You want them to be wowed, and the easiest way to do this is by making your event immersive. (And starting with your event entry is a perfect way!)
This can be done in a number of ways. Some people like to take people on a ‘journey’ during events, via related storytelling or décor, whereas others prefer more of an interactive approach, incorporating uniquely-designed games and activities (more on that later). Whether you take inspiration from a fun themed venue, such as Ballie Ballerson, or a slightly barmier themed event, like the well-known Gingerline, being immersive will definitely keep your event in the forefront of guests’ minds.
Image courtesy of DesignMyNight
- Incorporate games
Another fun way of engaging your guests can come from incorporating games and activities into your events. You may have already noticed that more and more ping pong bars and crazy golf clubs, such as Bristol’s Kongs of King Street and London’s Plonk Golf, are popping up all over the UK, so why not take a leaf out of their book?
Everyone loves a bit of friendly competition, so adding easy-to-use games could be a great way of guaranteeing your guests have an entertaining time at your event.
Image courtesy of The Independent
- Utilize the vegan food movement
Love it or hate it, veganism is a food trend that is here to stay. It seems to be pretty much everywhere these days, with over 300,000 people recently taking part in this year’s Veganuary – an event encouraging a vegan diet throughout January.
Leading news magazine The Economist also predicted late last year that 2019 would be ‘the year of the vegan’, so why not use that to your advantage for your event catering or its growing popularity within your event design?
Image courtesy of Natural History Museum
- Think about health and wellbeing
Another trend that has been consistently growing year on year is the rise of events focused on health and fitness. Whether it be fitness classes like Pilates, yoga or Zumba, or healthy food and drink launches, such as Lean Cuisine’s #WeighThis campaign, the events industry loves the health and wellbeing bubble. It’s tried and tested, relevant to everyone, and highly marketable – what’s not to like?
Image courtesy of Go Dine Digital
- Posting on the ‘Gram
Talking of marketability, social media is your best friend. While organising the most amazing event may be great, making sure that it’s also being seen and heard about is arguably as important. There’s no better way of doing this than through social media, and the photo-sharing app Instagram in particular. The much-loved software is a great way of spreading news and images of your event, helping it to be seen by the masses.
So, how can you use it? For starters, you want to make your event as photogenic as possible, giving your guests something worth sharing an image of. Next, you should encourage them to link their images to your brand’s Instagram account, potentially featuring a specific hashtag solely dedicated to your event. This will help ensure that your brand is clearly visible online. #greatplan
- Terrific technology
Technology has come a long way over the years, so why not use it to your advantage?
Live streaming is a great option for guests who are unable to attend your event, as it still involves them in the shenanigans. It also makes it look like you’ve gone the extra mile to keep them involved, which will keep you in their good books.
Event management and on-demand entry solutions, like Boomset, also make it much easier for you to plan a great event - before, during and after it takes place. Beyond session and schedule management, see who’s coming, and avoid check-in queues from forming, while adding a more engaging AND time-saving experience.
Image courtesy of Best Venues London
- Party all day, sleep all night
Source: Best Venues London (Image caption: Warehouse 89 in East London is close to two tube stations, making it easy for guests to commute to and back from.)
Ease is another big thing to consider when organising an event. You have to think about it practically from a guest’s point of view: are they really going to want to come to an event that’s difficult to get to transport-wise and location-wise? Or, is there anything you could do to make it easier for them, such as arranging transport or accommodation options?
Just because you have to combine a place to party with a place to stay doesn’t mean you have to hold back on style. Take a look at The Royal Court Hotel in London for instance. It’s a fabulous venue for all sorts of events, with hotel rooms available right above the event function rooms. It’s a perfect place for ensuring your guests can have a great time, without the need for a night-time curfew.
Image courtesy of Oxfam Apps
- Get sustainable and eco-friendly
Another big trend for this year is sustainability, which goes hand-in-hand with being eco-friendly. It’s all about keeping that carbon footprint as low as possible, whether that be through waste management, using local produce, reducing guest transport fees or sending digital invites.
With research finding that over a third of all food produced globally goes to waste, events with initiatives to combat food waste are also a big win-win. Think about partnering up with a food donation program to help your event reduce what’s being thrown away.
Guest Author Bio: Dakota Murphey has been working as a professional content writer for over 10 years. She enjoys writing extensively about anything event and business-related, and has done so for a number of established companies in the industry.
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