As you begin planning your 2025 conferences and events, you're likely considering the best location, envisioning the event's overall design, and mapping out the ideal agenda.
With new trends transforming how we plan and experience events—thanks to tech innovations and new engagement strategies—it's important to stay ahead of the curve.
To help you create more dynamic and memorable events, we’ve rounded up 8 key trends to keep an eye on for in 2025.
1. Gamification
Are you finding it difficult to get attendees engaged at your 2024 events?
Traditional conference formats often miss the mark when it comes to keeping people engaged.
That’s where gamification comes in.
Gamification is becoming a go-to strategy at conferences lately, adding an extra layer of engagement for attendees.
It's a fun way to motivate participation, from interactive games to rewarding achievements, and we’re seeing it pop up more and more as a trend in event planning.
We expect even more events to embrace this trend in 2025, taking attendee engagement to the next level. Check out these 8 gamification ideas for your next conference or corporate event.
2. Wellness
Wellness is set to be a major trend for 2025 conferences, and it’s about more than just physical health.
Companies are expected to show that they genuinely care for their employee’s overall well-being—mentally, physically, and financially.
We’re expecting to see more opportunities for attendees to focus on their health during events, whether it’s through exercise breaks or sessions aimed at helping people recharge, like guided meditation or mindfulness workshops.
Companies are recognizing the importance of mental health and may offer sessions that encourage attendees to take proper breaks, hear from mental health experts, or learn simple ways to manage stress.
Financial wellness is another area that might become a big focus. Depending on the audience, there may be sessions on financial planning—like how to work with a financial advisor, save for retirement, or navigate uncertainties in the stock market.
These elements allow attendees to walk away with practical tools to improve their personal lives, not just professional insights.
Incorporating wellness initiatives shows that while the company’s goals are important, so are the people attending.
3. Crafting the Right Event Vibe
In 2025, we’re expecting to see a growing emphasis on the vibe of events—the mood and atmosphere you create.
Post-pandemic, people are more sensitive to these subtleties, so being intentional about your event’s vibe can set your gathering apart.
It’s the intangible element that can make attendees leave saying, “That was a great event,” even if they can’t quite put their finger on why.
Whether you’re aiming for a high-energy buzz, a calm and focused environment, or something in between, having a clear and purposeful approach to your event’s vibe can make a big difference.
Just like companies put thought into their culture and how they want to be perceived, you should put the same effort into shaping the atmosphere of your event.
Discover how to set the right vibe for your event and build a strong sense of connection and energy among your attendees.
4. Trending Locations
In 2025, we’re anticipating a rise in popularity for a range of trending locations.
Cities like Nashville, Louisville, and Kansas City are catching attention, as well as warmer spots like Puerto Rico, Dallas, and various parts of the Southeast, including Atlanta and Orlando.
As we head into the winter months, these locations become particularly attractive for those looking to escape the cold.
Keep in mind, you might find better deals and more availability in colder spots during the off-season. We know it can be tricky to balance weather and cost for your group.
Here are some tips on the top cities for hosting your conference in 2025, along with advice on how to choose the perfect destination for your next event.
5. Creative Program Formats
In 2025, we’re likely to see a shift toward more creative program formats, even in areas that traditionally haven’t been seen as creative.
The focus will be on designing agendas that maximize efficiency while enhancing the attendee experience. Rather than packing long, marathon sessions into a tight schedule, it’s becoming clear that breaking information into smaller, digestible chunks helps with retention.
Expect a return to basics with more small group interactions, participatory elements, and roundtable discussions.
Here are 23 creative and fun conference activity ideas to help spark some ideas.
6. Re-Designed Program Structures
In 2025, we’re expecting a trend toward reevaluating program structures, especially when budgets are tight.
For example, instead of hosting one large sales meeting for 1,000 people, consider breaking it into four smaller regional meetings for 250 attendees each.
While this might mean leadership needs to attend more events, it could be more effective for your attendees.
When planning your next event, consider the best way to structure your programs to give attendees the best experience and results.
7. Focusing on Event ROI
Ever heard the saying, “If you don’t set a goal, you won’t hit it”? Well, this definitely applies when it comes to assessing the ROI of your conferences.
In 2025, paying attention to event ROI is going to be even more crucial.
Here’s a simple guide to measuring the impact of your conferences:
- Define Your Vision: What are you trying to achieve with your event? How does this goal fit into your overall business objectives?
- Identify Your Core Motivations: What’s driving your event? What are the key reasons behind it?
- Align Metrics with Objectives: Break down your goals into measurable components and track them.
It’s common to be unsure about the difference between quantitative and qualitative results. Revenue is important, but so is understanding how people feel in their roles and how their behaviors shift.
Both quantitative and qualitative data are crucial. Review them after your event and use those insights to make next year’s events even better.
8. AI in Events
AI is set to play a bigger role in corporate events and conferences in the next couple of years.
You might even already be starting to use AI tools for a variety of event planning tasks.
For example, AI programs can help you visualize floor layouts and organize event spaces more effectively.
Tools like Gamma are being used to create presentations and slide decks, while Midjourney is used to create event graphics.
Runway is making it easier to generate videos, images, and other multimedia content, and Suno is even helping to create custom event music.
As these technologies continue to advance, they’ll provide even more innovative solutions for crafting engaging conferences.
Want more ideas? Here are 6 interesting ways to use AI at your next corporate event.
Incentive Travel Trends for 2025
Curious about the top incentive travel trends for 2025?
From record burnout to high employee turnover, this year is set to make incentive trips an important business strategy.
But there are also important considerations around cost that are starting to reveal themselves in overwhelmingly large bills.
What Trends Are You Seeing?
As you plan your conference this year, let us know what trends you're seeing and how we can help you plan for them. Let's chat about your upcoming conference or corporate event.
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