The event planning industry is rapidly changing and staying on top of current trends is more important than ever to be successful. Technology is increasingly becoming a major player in the event and wedding industry, plus digital goody bags are an alternative professionals frequently resort to. Creating more memorable experiences and more engaging event design are also top event industry trends we see at Brilliant Transportation. Experiential Event Transportation Design & Production, as discussed in one of our previous blogs, also becomes a focus point for 2016 to make your event memorable, as well as to avoid disasters such as the recent Shuttlegate episode at the Golden Globes awards in LA.  

So let's jump in and discuss what trends you need to watch out for to stay ahead of the curve.

Top 2016 Tips & Trends for

Experiential Event Planners

1. Event Venue 

     VS  

Picking the perfect venue for your special event seems like an easy task, but be aware that there are numerous other specs to consider besides size and location. Bizzabo's recent article "38 Amazing Corporate Event venues in North America" shows a huge variety of locations to choose from. Be it a rooftop with amazing skyline views of a metropolis like NY or a historic place like the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, keep in mind that the venue will set the tone for your guests, so make sure that it reflects the perfect feel you are going for.

2. Engagement

More and more Top Event Pros start to replace the word "event" with "experiential." As discussed in one of our recent blogs, creating a memorable experience for your attendees is crucial to be successful. A comprehensive strategy to not only engage with your audience during an event but also before and after, will become the industry standard in 2016. Apps, social media and experiential event transportation are just a few of the new standards the event industry is embracing.

But keep in mind that just using the newest technology available as a gimmick will not cut it. Creating a lasting emotional connection between the event and your attendees is crucial if you want to increase brand awareness as well as loyalty and future purchases- especially when it comes to Millennials. A recent study showed that 92% of attendees "would be open to receiving a personalized email offer from a brand following an event."

3. Event Design & Branding

Social media is everywhere- this makes all your event guests potential promoters and who wouldn't want to see their event pics blow up online? You can count on an extra viral boost- especially for product launches and brand-centric events- if your merchandise is seamlessly incorporated into your event design.

“We are now being asked to really create experiences that are photo- and social-media-worthy for posting,“ says Brian Worley of event production company YourBash in a recent interview. 

Unique venues capturing the event theme will keep your guests intrigued. Skip the boring ballroom or conference center and surprise your attendees with something special!

4. Digital Swag Bags

As mentioned earlier in this blog, more and more events switch to digital goody bags- either exclusively or complimentary to physical gift bags.

What are the upsides? Besides being much more environmentally friendly, it will surely surprise your guests and make your event stand out within your industry. In addition, virtual gifts connect your attendees with your brand without loading them down for their trip home.

Still not convinced to make the switch to digital? A recent study by Statista showed that Americans spent close to $2.3 Billion on Cyber Monday in 2015 and projects that that number will surpass $ 3 Billion in 2016. Adopting an online driven solution will also open your event up to tremendous lead generation and analytics opportunities. Your event's sponsors will thank you for this, trust me.

5. Virtual Reality

One of the available technologies, augmented reality, has already been successfully employed at events. It enhances real world objects by layering 3-D graphics on top. VR on the other hand immerses users in a 360- degree view of a complete different world and enables them to interact with and manipulate it.

Major players like Facebook and Google are heavily involved in VR's development- a move that will most likely bring down the cost of devices for all of us. Experience, as mentioned earlier in the blog, is a major factor why guests attend an event in the first place. So in order to keep your event engaging and memorable, we highly recommend being open to this new technology and making it part of your next event.

In our recent post "How to Successfully Engage Your Event Attendees" we mentioned how top event planners have used our Brilliant Vans to successfully unveil new products for their clients while en route to and from the event. Showing off your newest product through VR while comfortably lounging in a customized Mercedes Sprinter Van would surely make you stand out from your competition!

Does Event Transportation cause you nightmares? Download our FREE ebook "9 Reasons Why Event Transportation Can Be a Nightmare (and how to fix it)". Enjoy and feel free to share!