Over a third of event organizers anticipate investing more in hybrid events in the coming years. The bigger the business is, the more likely they will be to hold hybrid events that combine live content and a virtual platform. 63% of companies that have between 2 and 5,000 employees claim that hybrid events are a part of their events portfolio going forward. If you have a company with more than 5,000 people 71% of them have said they are expanding the number of hybrid events they host. Not only the largest businesses which are shifting their focus to hybrid events. Over half of businesses that employ less than 1,000 people are also planning to create the hybrid event platform to boost the number of people who attend.

If you’re currently searching for a hybrid event software and software for hybrid events, you’re not the only one. 21 percent of marketers are in search of virtual venues software to host virtual events.

2022 will turn out to be the year of the new technology. The past couple of years have seen a transformation in the event industry, shaping and changing it. In 2020, virtual event trends were the rage, and 2021 brought about hybrid event. What’s next for 2022?

Enveloping Hybrid Event Trends

Certain trends will determine the future of hybrid events in the world. Event planners should keep an eye on these trends and organize their events according to these.

  1. Hybrid Events Will Favoured

Since 2021 the advent of hybrid events has gained significant traction. As per research 75% of would like to keep some elements that are virtual regardless of the fact that things will normalize and become more accessible. So, 2022 is expected to see an increase in hybrid events.

  2. Multiple Chunk Events Instead of Annual Event

Another trend emerging is micro-events. We’ll see multiple smaller-scale events instead of single large one. Hybrid platforms for events allow businesses to manage events on the scale that they want much more efficiently. This will result in more targeted micro events in 2022 spread throughout the year.

 3. Hybrid Events in PR Strategies

In the past, events were viewed as revenue-generating activities and were therefore treated accordingly. Nowadays, events are also seen as PR-related activities. Instead of focusing on a handful of individuals with exclusive events the companies are now opening up hybrid and virtual events to a wider audience. These events will be targeted across the funnel of sales.

 4. Collection of data as a Driving Force

One of the most important reasons that make these events distinct from physical counterparts is the huge possibilities for data gathering. This is now a major motivation for companies to host events. They view hybrid events as data mining operations, and plan the events accordingly, using surveys and games, as well as visitors’ information thoroughly kept. This trend will increase in 2022.

 5. Increased Interest in Event Technology

There are more people taking a leap into event tech more than ever. There were previously only a handful of pioneers in the field of event platforms including AVIANETs. After and during the pandemic, a lot of new companies were born and will continue grow over the next year.

Industry-Specific Hybrid Event Trends

There are also specific industry developments that are already emerging. These will affect a variety of sectors, including trade, education, as well as human resources.

1. Recruitment Drives

The growing use of remote working means that businesses have access to candidates from all over the world. This could cause international recruitment efforts and hybrid events for recruitment taking a significant role. It is likely to witness more hybrid and virtual job fairs and career fairs in the near future.

2. Internal Events for Remote Workforces

Social distancing and other restrictions that prevent contact with a person in person and other restrictions, many workplaces noticed their culture affected. They began to work on internal events within the context of a hybrid. The events are open to all employees physically and online, which makes them ideal for conducting exercises and ice-breaking activities.

3. Hybrid University Open Days Become the Norm

Open days at universities are a crucial element of a prospective college student’s experience. However, travel restrictions, cost and time restrictions have prevented many prospective college students from investigating the opportunities they would like to explore in 2020 and 2021. Hybrid events have altered this aspect by allowing colleges to reach more people, across both physically and on the digital platform. They’re expected to be the norm by 2022.

4. Academic Conferences Go Universal

Academic conferences have always been a crucial component of the education sector. In the past, conference organizers had to have substantial budgets for speakers. They needed to cover the travel and accommodation. Through hybrid events, attendees are able to find the same speakers to be able to attend remotely. This means they do not have to think about scheduling and financial support. This is why academic conferences will become more worldwide and easily accessible by 2022.

5. Trade Expos Gather a Wider Audience

Expos for trade were a crucial aspect of the calendar for numerous companies. They were, however, usually only available to those within or associated with the industry in question. In recent times, more and more novices are attending the virtual versions to these gatherings. This does not just increase the number of attendees however; it also generates new leads and potential for the business. You can expect more diversity in audience as well as attendance to trade fairs in 2022.

Information that Stand Out

There is a myriad of hybrid events that will be surfacing in the next season, it is worth mentioning a few particulars that are notable particularly.

1. More Interaction for Less

The most beneficial trends that you’ll be seeing in the coming year is an event that is interactive and has fewer resource demands. This is due to the possibilities to increase attendees’ engagement in can be created by a hybrid platform. It’s possible to integrate a range of features to increase engagement like:

• Scavenger hunts
• Surveys
• Leaderboards
• Polls
• Virtual Photo Booths

2. Lower Staffing Requirements

With more events becoming hybrid by 2022 it will mean fewer requirement for staff. Businesses won’t need to invest large amounts of funds hiring people to conduct an event. They can organize a small-scale event in person and let it be accessible to larger viewers through an online event platform. This trend will become more prevalent in the near future, because the ease of use and cost savings attract digital event organizers as well as attendees.

3. Focus on Physical Safety

2022 is also expected to see the increasing awareness of physical security. It is due to the fact that past incidents have shown that large-scale physical events simply not sustainable any longer. In today’s more cautious and regulated situation hybrid events make more sense. The focus on safety and social distance will not stop in the near future.

4. AR Adaptation

The shift to hybrid technology has resulted in some great developments in the field of event technology. Augmented reality is among the most notable. While it has its applications in different industries events, hybrid organizers are using it in their advertising, signage, and even gamification. With AR becoming more sophisticated and wearables becoming more accessible we can you can expect more AR used in events over the coming months.

5. Mobile Apps for Events

The majority of people today browse the internet via smartphones. If attendees access the virtual aspects of a hybrid event, they’re more likely to access the event using their mobile. Therefore Event management platforms are developing the apps themselves. .

Conclusion

In the end, the strategy for events will definitely change over the next few months. This is because the last several years have seen quite a bit significant for the business of event planning. Many times, companies favor hosting hybrid events to have the most benefits of both. This could lead to new ideas and a shift in the hybrid event trend as well as other new changes. We are eager to see the results of all.