7 top event trends for 2023

What will 2023 hold for the event industry? 

We asked colleagues, clients and fellow event professionals this question as we plan for the year ahead. The mood for 2023 is optimistic and broadly positive, despite a challenging global outlook. As Daniel Dessauges, zkipster CEO, remarked:

"We find ourselves once again in uncertain economic circumstances, though the Covid pandemic has fortunately now faded into the background for us and the majority of our clients. There are strong indicators that the event industry will have a good year despite the potential challenges ahead."
DANIEL DESSAUGES | CEO 

The zkipster team keeps in close contact with clients and industry contacts all over the world, so we understand the considerations, challenges and opportunities in every region and can see specific trends emerge. Read on for more insider insights gathered by the zkipster team.

Event formats: the return of seating, plus multi-day events

"Seated events are back in the US - we’re seeing more interest in the zkipster Seating features from our North American clients than ever before. In 2021 we saw a move from hybrid back to in-person events; then in 2022 the trend was for standing cocktail events with a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces to help keep guests moving. Clients are focusing on spending time with their clients, guests, and donors in 2023. They are locking in seated dinners as an effective way to nurture these relationships."
MICHALA KEPPLE | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - NORTH AMERICA

"In Australia and the Middle East we’re seeing the same move towards seated events and interest in Seating features - even automated seating - and move away from virtual and hybrid. Until very recently in Asia the focus was on capacity management, with no seated events. We expect a rush of new event bookings and the same trend for seated formats now that most Covid restrictions have been lifted across the region."
LOUISA HIRST | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - APAC & MIDDLE EAST

"Many European clients with bigger budgets are now booking multi-day, multi-format events. What might have been a one-night only event in the past is now taking place over the course of a weekend, or multiple days. The zkipster Sessions tool really comes into its own for events like these, and the feature will keep developing so zkipster can continue to power events of all formats and durations. Live events are really important for our European clients and we’re seeing that both the confidence and the budgets are back to host them."
CAROLIN GONSCHORREK | CUSTOMER SUCCESS MANAGER - EUROPE

Live, virtual, hybrid - the power of three

There’s a lot of industry chatter around virtual and hybrid as well as live events. What is the ideal split between the three formats? In-person events are the focus for zkipster and our clients, but the platform will continue to facilitate virtual and hybrid events as those formats continue to evolve. The perfect event mix depends on many factors, including brand positioning, industry and budget, but the end goal should always be to bring guests together and create connections between them. 

Creating connections and engaging guests

As event expert Julius Solaris states:“The job you are asked to do as an event professional is to connect people, regardless of the platform.” zkipster is designed to help planners manage events more efficiently and effectively. It frees them up to focus on creating the best and most engaging events and experiences for their guests.

The Guest Relationships feature provides extra detail and insight for guest profiles and lists by allowing the relationships and connections between guests to be clearly defined. And there’s more to come:

"A major new innovation we’re planning at zkipster will join the dots and empower planners to deliver more personalized, white glove experiences for their guests while harnessing the power of automation and providing deeper insights."
DANIEL DESSAUGES | CEO

“Luxury's blockbuster year" (The Business of Fashion) and a “flurry of activity” (Artsy) in the art world in 2022 brought with them a renewed focus on high-end, white glove guest experiences like these. There was a raft of flagship store openings and record-breaking auctions, and brands looking to woo their biggest spenders and create runway dreams: all events at the recent Paris Men’s Fashion Week were physical, for example. As zkipster’s CEO notes:

"The luxury market is reporting a high concentration of - and high revenue from - top tier clients…and one of the best ways to serve special customers is via special events."
DANIEL DESSAUGES | CEO

More events, less event professionals

Art event expert Anna Clark told zkipster in summer 2022: “...the role of the event planner is more challenging and time-consuming now than it was pre-pandemic.” And that was before factoring in staff shortages! A system like zkipster helps save time and fill staffing gaps by simplifying and digitizing event processes, something that is more relevant than ever in 2023.

"I come from an event production background, and this time last year the industry was still dealing with a post-pandemic backlog and a lack of availability. Now the backlog is clear and there are no Covid restrictions; event production budgets are back and there’s highly pent-up demand for events. The industry has bounced back but workforces are not back at full capacity yet: many companies are recruiting heavily to fill their teams."
KELLY BREWER | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - EUROPE

"We see event teams having to run more events with less people: although a good amount of the talent that left the industry in 2020 and 2021 has returned, staffing remains an issue. Therefore the original zkipster goals of tackling inefficiencies and making life easier for hard-working event professionals remain more relevant than ever."
DANIEL DESSAUGES | CEO

Event tech and tools: the next generation

Speaking of tackling inefficiencies, many zkipster users want to go the extra mile when streamlining and automating event processes, and are exploring integrations for 2023. zkipster already has native integrations with Salesforce, Zoom and Zapier. A brand new integration with Tessitura, a popular CRM used by cultural and arts organizations, is in build for 2023. The zkipster API also provides huge scope for building custom integrations with other tools including CRMs, ticketing platforms, communication tools and business analytics software.

"We are seeing event teams build integrations between zkipster and other tools like CRMs more than ever this year to maximize internal resources and efficiency, and with a heightened focus on data security. Event planners in 2023 are working more closely with internal teams and across departments to streamline processes and ensure engagement with clients, guests and donors at events fosters long-term commitment from attendees."
MICHALA KEPPLE | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - NORTH AMERICA

"Pockets of the event industry still rely on outdated, labor-intensive manual practices, so it’s great to see more and more businesses modernizing, embracing automation and putting their trust in intuitive digital tools like zkipster."
KELLY BREWER | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - EUROPE

Trust and security

We have worked hard to build trust with our clients since zkipster was founded in 2009. Many have used the platform for years as a result. Our ongoing investment in data security is integral to zkipster’s reputation, and an increasingly important topic for the event industry too.

"Awareness of data security has improved throughout the industry, at all levels and across departments, which is really encouraging. We expect data protection to be a key consideration for large companies, but now smaller businesses who use zkipster are giving it more value and paying close attention to it as well."
DANIEL DESSAUGES | CEO

"Data security has always been a top priority at zkipster. Being ISO 27001 certified allows us to continuously improve and evolve our security standards, and keep building on zkipster’s reputation for trust and confidentiality."
DÉCIO SOUSA | CTO

Sustainable events

Sustainability is another trend that’s gained a huge amount of traction throughout the event industry - and elsewhere. Given the scale of the climate crisis, it will be high on the agenda in 2023 too.

"Sustainability is now a key consideration for the event industry, with many brands and venues now factoring it into their tender processes. Event management software like zkipster allows event planners to digitize processes and reduce waste by ditching paper invitations, guest lists, seating plans and more."
KELLY BREWER | HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS - EUROPE

zkipster has been Climate Neutral certified and carbon neutral since 2021. We are committed to reducing our overall footprint and offsetting our emissions via climate change solutions. Microsoft hosts zkipster data, and leads the tech industry in reducing the environmental impact of its data centers.

So there you have it: the biggest event industry trends we’ve identified for 2023. zkipster is well placed to spot new trends that emerge, innovate around them, and ensure that we continue to provide our clients with a best-in-class user experience.

Our media partners BFA, whose images feature in this post, will be there to capture all the emerging event trends in 2023 and beyond. See more of their work here.

Header image: OKA X VERANDA WESTPORT LAUNCH. Photo by Matt Borkowski / BFA.com ⓒ BFA