Event Trends To Incorporate In Planning

You don’t stop being disabled when conference or event sessions end, so why do so many organisers forget about inclusion at conference dinners and networking events? It’s great to see more events offering sign language interpreters, quiet rooms, and accessible seating during the main agenda. But what about during the coffee breaks? The networking dinner? The drinks at the end? If those adjustments vanish the moment the keynote’s over, it’s not inclusion – it’s performance. Disabled people don’t just attend the content. We build relationships, grab lunch, join the side conversations. And if those moments aren’t accessible, we’re being excluded from the most valuable parts of the day. Having sign language interpreters available throughout all event elements; keeping quiet rooms open; offering seated areas during networking; telling people food and drink menus in advance; offering sighted assistance for intros; having portable hearing loops in place; or providing enetworking options. These are all things you can do to show you actually want to host an inclusive event in full, not just meet minimum requirements. Inclusion isn’t a scheduled item. It’s a commitment. #DisabilityInclusion #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #Adjustments #DiversityAndInclusion #Content

I spend hours on TikTok to identify event trends watching what Gen Z is actually doing. And something massive is shifting in the events space. Young people are swapping out big conferences for hyper-specific interest communities: – Book clubs for international women – Young female professionals meetups – Walking social clubs – Photo walks And the list goes on… The pattern? – Keeping it small – No networking pressure – One very specific shared interest I'm seeing 90% show-up rates for these micro-events on social media vs. not seeing enough young professionals at business events I go to. Why? Because when you're passionate about something specific, you actually want to be there. Smart brands are already catching on offering their spaces and budgets to be where this community lives. This is the current state of professional networking: Connections happen when you connect over shared obsessions, not business objectives. Moving into 2026 event planning, remember this: The most successful events will be stepping into a room where everyone shares your vision, values, or drive. Where the connection comes first and business happens naturally after. How are you rethinking networking in your event design?

🌿💚 The New Olympic Color: Green instead of Gold!🌿💚 Five ways Paris is putting on a Green Olympics As the 2024 Olympics kicks off in the city that brought us the landmark Paris Agreement, it is no surprise that sustainability and climate action is front and center. The organizers have set the ambitious goal of halving the climate footprint of prior games and making the event a laboratory for sustainability. Here's how they're doing it: 1. Reducing Waste: Paris is making a concerted effort to minimize waste through extensive recycling programs and by utilizing biodegradable materials wherever possible. They’re also encouraging a zero-waste culture among spectators and athletes, reducing single-use plastics dramatically. 2. Using Clean Energy: The Games will be powered primarily by renewable energy sources. Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower are all being harnessed to ensure that the electricity powering the events is as green as possible. This shift is crucial in slashing the Games' carbon footprint. 3. Promoting Green Transportation: Public transport, electric buses, and bike-sharing schemes are being heavily promoted for athletes and spectators alike. With a robust public transit system in place, Paris aims to drastically reduce emissions from transportation. 4. Repurposing Venues: Instead of constructing new stadiums, Paris is repurposing existing venues and temporary structures. This innovative approach reduces the environmental impact of construction and leaves a lasting legacy of sustainability. 5. More Plant-Based Menus: To reduce the carbon footprint associated with food, the Olympics will feature more plant-based options. Paris 2024 is seeking to show that with innovation and commitment, major global events can be both spectacular and sustainable. These efforts are a testament to the city’s dedication to honoring the spirit of the Paris Agreement and leading the charge toward a greener future. 🌍🏅 #Paris2024 #GreenOlympics #climate #innovation #sustainability #EcoFriendly #ParisAgreement #Paris

4 steps framework for organizing a net zero event. (Offsetting your carbon footprint should be the last one) When planning sustainable events - most companies think of offsetting first. And other 3 important steps are usually skipped. If you don't want to make the same mistake. Follow this framework: Step 1. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Make a conscious effort to avoid venues, transport, or other activities that create more emissions than others. Step 2. 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Focus on improving efficiency, reusing materials, and minimizing waste to lower the overall carbon footprint of the event. Step 3. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Substitute high-carbon activities with low-carbon alternatives. Consider virtual or hybrid events to reduce travel-related emissions. Step 4. 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Invest in carbon offset projects to balance out the emissions that cannot be eliminated, such as renewable energy projects or reforestation initiatives. Following these steps sequentially lowers your event's footprint to begin with. Minimizes waste and saves the natural resources along the way. And reduces offsetting cost too. So when you are organizing your next event. Focus on these biggest emission sources first. And apply the 4-step framework to each one of them. Start with 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Responsible for 45% of emissions. Use shared vehicles, public transport, or carpool. Offer virtual attendance options. Then consider the 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 Contributes to 20% of emissions. Choose venues with renewable energy. Opt for green or LEED-certified buildings. Then think about the 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 sources Makes up 15% of emissions. Source food locally. Offer plant-based options. Avoid food waste. And plan for 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 Adds 10% to the emissions. Select venues with waste management programs. Use biodegradable utensils and reusable items. And finally, 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 That contributes to 10% to the emissions. Use renewable energy sources. Schedule events during daylight hours. So by following this four-step process. And focusing on the bigger emission sources first. You can plan a more sustainable event without any external support. 🌍 And you don't have to be a sustainability pro for it! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now that I've shared the framework and steps, excuses like 'We lack the expertise' or 'It will cost more' just don’t cut it. What’s your excuse now? Comment with the lamest excuse you’ve heard for not organizing sustainable events? #SustainableEvents #NetZero #GreenMeetings

I've noticed a new trend appearing, so I wanted to mention it out loud after discussing it with our volume build clients over the past few months. LED Volumes might have been designed for Virtual Production, but they are increasingly being used for Live Events and Location-Based Experiences, too. We've seen an uptick in enquiries about using our spaces in LA and Melbourne in this way. And it's not really a surprise, if you think about it. As you can see below from the BYD event we did in Melbourne last year, volumes can provide a vibrant, dynamic and engaging backdrop for premium live audience events or pop-up location-based experiences. The wrap-around screens can immerse customers, audiences, attendees or fans in a completely different world, or any other stylized visuals you want, which could be responsive to music or other cues throughout the event. The tracking technologies we have throughout our volumes could also be used to facilitate any number interactive experiences. And the great thing about studios is that they usually have plenty of open spaces and most, like ours, also include adjoining production offices, corporate areas and green rooms, giving a large events team all of the spaces needed to stage something incredible. I've worked on a couple of things like this before and to me, the key to holding an incredible event in a VP space is to lean right into the sense of immersion and perspective it can create. Imagine walking into a key building/location from a major IP franchise - and everything you see outside looks like a live environment from that world, no matter how surreal it might be. Think a settlement from The Last of Us. As an audience, you could freely watch a story unfold or an attack happen through the windows while never feeling like you are in a volume. And then you could also have the ability to interact with the screens using props, or gestures tracked by our mocap systems. These are all brilliant capabilities that would be applicable to most of the largest volumes around the world. But I think there is another reason we've seen an uptick in interest in our LA studios, too. Most volumes are contained spaces that aren't great for large crowds or audience movement. But our Dynamic Volume System in LA changes that by allowing every wallPod, or section of LED wall, to quickly be driven into any configuration that fits any unique plan; you could even change the config and experience on different days to keep things fresh. Being able to create a nice wide, open arc, or an enclosed immersive space with the same volume components - or floating sections that encourage exploration, gives event planners a virtually unlimited canvas with which to get creative. The only thing I'd like to see is more creative events people turn their minds to the possibilities here. Exclusive dance events, striking product reveals, gamified storytelling experiences or fan engagement opportunities; it's all possible in a volume..

This is the Watch-along World Cup. For years the watch-along was treated as a fringe format, a creator with a single cam reacting to a game they didn't have the rights to show. I've had people tell me for years it was niche. Not anymore. Over the last week 45% of total YouTube streaming hours were generated by sports related channels. The World Cup became the most-watched event ever recorded across the livestreaming platforms generating more than 1.1 billion hours watched during the Group Stage alone At 1:40am (UK time) this morning, during the USA match, sports was the single biggest live-streaming category on the YouTube - 9.5 million concurrent viewers spread across more than 1,300 channels (Source: Stream charts) The attention is divided across platforms with official rights, with well documented examples like Caze TV. But then watch-along experiences. Some really interesting examples I think are worth paying attention to: The big name: Trevor Noah's has streamed his 'World Cup Watch Party' for 18 games so far - each show he brings in friends from inside and outside football - from Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink to Taika Waititi - averaging 325k viewers a stream. The regional creator - Markaroni, a young Indian creator, has streamed 43 games so far bringing in an average of 179k views per stream The Watchalong godfather - Mark Goldbridge is of course putting in a shift this World Cup on Thats Football, with 57 streams so far and averaging 151k views. 485k viewers joined him in the early hours for England vs Mexico. There is room for everyone. Nobody is fighting over the same viewers - different experiences for different audience preferences. For any sport the watch-along is no longer a niche. It's now a staple part of how people consume live sport, available to any rights-holder, brand, athlete or creator rather than watch from the sidelines.

🎤 Getting Hybrid Conferences Right = Inclusion Done Right In the past month, I’ve been able to actively participate in excellent conferences because they nailed the hybrid model. 👏 When you make conferences accessible online, you open the doors to: ✅ People with disability ✅ People in regional and remote areas ✅ Carers and parents ✅ Anyone who can’t easily travel for so many reasons Done well, hybrid means you can reach a lot more people and include people who so often miss out on being part of the conversation. Hats off to DSC and Centre for Australian Progress who know how to do this well. ✅ Top Tips for Running a Great Hybrid Conference 1. Make Online Participation Equally Valued Give online attendees a visible presence — allow them to ask questions, join breakout rooms, and appear on screen. Assign a dedicated facilitator for online participants to monitor chat, raise questions, and ensure their voices are heard. 2. Invest in Good Tech and Support Use high-quality AV equipment, microphones, and cameras. Have tech support available throughout the event, both on-site and online. Test everything with both in-person and remote attendees. What's holding us back from doing this better? Please share your thoughts and your tips in the comments. #Inclusion #Accessibility #HybridEvents #DisabilityInclusion #Conferences #Leadership #AccessMatters This image is a screenshot from a hybrid conference. It shows disability advocate El Gibbs speaking at a podium, wearing a black T-shirt that reads "THE FUTURE IS ACCESSIBLE" in bold white text. El is wearing glasses and a dark face mask, and is standing in front of a blue banner that reads "LEADERSHIP 2025" with the date and location "JUNE, PARLIAMENT HOUSE" visible. At the top of the image is the Zoom interface, with multiple participants joining the event online, including Dr George Taleporos, Craig Wallace, Peter Bacon MDEA, Alex Kelly, Madi Weston, and others. This layout highlights the hybrid nature of the event — combining in-person and virtual participation at the Centre for Australian Progress #Leadership2025 Conference

🎪 India's Live events aren’t just back, they're being reengineered and 2025 isn’t about “returning to normal.” It’s about rewriting the live playbook. Having worked across content IPs, live experiences, F&B integrations, and Partnerships, I’ve seen India’s live ecosystem shift from a calendar of events… to a canvas of 'immersive experiences'. We’re no longer just hosting events. We’re building IPs, fandoms, and future-ready formats. 🔍 What’s really happening on the ground: 1. Events are now full-fledged brands themselves. 2. F&B is a mood board, not a utility. 3. Crossover formats are thriving. (Fashion x music. Gaming x music. Fitness x lifestyle.) 4. It’s no longer “sponsor us.” It’s “let’s co-create.” 5. The venue doesn’t matter as much as the flow. (Modular zones, immersive lounges, pre and post-engagement strategies; it’s all part of the narrative.) But here’s the underrated revolution: Alt Sports & Advanced Fitness witnessing the rise of sports IPs outside cricket and they’re coming with community, content, and commerce: 🏓 Padel & Pickleball: Finding cult fanbases in Mumbai, Goa, NCR, Pune. Courts and leagues are popping up. 🧠 Chess: Streaming meets storytelling. 🤼♂️ Jiu-Jitsu: Niche but growing with the rise of self-defence, combat fitness, and training gyms. 🏋️ HYROX: In the advanced fitness category, it’s becoming the “Ironman for everyday athletes.” Perfect for urban professionals who want more than gym feels. 💥 Kabaddi: From mud to primetime, it’s proof of India’s appetite for homegrown sport IPs. Most of these are moving into "XYZ premier league" zone too. Questions for you? a. What's the secret to scaling a regional IP in the same way as some global formats? b. Which crossover collaboration blew your mind this year? c. Are brands truly tapping into fitness and alt sports or still playing it safe? If you're a brand, promoter, athlete, or creator looking to shape this new era; let's build together. Hit me up. #LiveEvents #ExperientialMarketing #ContentIPs

What do conference dinners and sustainability have in common? Imagine this: You're at a wedding reception, enjoying lively conversations as the main course wraps up. Then, The waitstaff arrives, balancing large trays of desserts. Everyone gets served simultaneously, and the trays disappear as quickly as they arrive. Efficient, right? But then you notice a familiar scene: untouched slices of cake, forgotten puddings, and a growing pile of waste. This isn’t just a wedding problem; it’s a sustainability challenge. In scenarios like these, Lean Six Sigma principles can help. By focusing on the entire lifecycle planning, forecasting, and execution we can turn these moments of excess into opportunities for smarter, more thoughtful processes. For example: -Forecasting attendance accurately could help caterers prepare the right amount of food. -Data analytics could reveal how many guests want dessert, avoiding unnecessary waste. -Applying a Just-in-Time (JIT) delivery system ensures desserts are served only when needed, improving quality and reducing waste. Beyond logistics, sustainability extends to choosing locally sourced ingredients to reduce transport emissions and engaging attendees in waste education initiatives. Imagine volunteers sharing how small changes like composting leftover food impact the environment and economy. The real lesson? It’s not just about better forecasting or logistics. Sustainability thrives on creating a culture of respect, humility, and continuous improvement. These ideas, inspired by the Toyota Production System, remind us to focus on people, not just processes. Here's a thought: Next time you plan an event, could you reimagine the experience to reduce waste and foster sustainability? Small steps lead to significant changes when we think holistically. What’s one sustainability practice you’ve seen at events that left a lasting impression?

I jumped into L’Occitane's new Christmas-themed digital store. Set in a cozy cabin in the French Alps, I strolled through the virtual store and was able to collect hidden items to unlock a discount code for my purchase. Such a great example of virtual branded experiences for better storytelling! Beyond customer engagement, we’re seeing virtual experiences evolve with use cases that bring real value for brands and consumers. My favourite examples from the last month: Balmain is using virtual experiences to personalise the online fitting experience for customers. - They partnered with BODS to allow customers to create personalised avatars and dress them in tailored Balmain pieces. - Improper fit accounts for ~70% of returned online fashion purchases. This experience aims to boost consumer confidence and reduce returns. E.L.F. BEAUTY is using virtual experiences to enable Gen Z to build new skills and express themselves authentically online. - They introduced a Roblox experience, focused on creating dream start-ups and gamifying the development of entrepreneurial skills.  - This is based on the insight that 50% of Roblox's Gen Z users prioritise expressing themselves through their in-game identity and 62% aspire to become entrepreneurs (Forbes, 2023). Porche spoke about it’s metaverse vision, with examples such as designers using the metaverse for virtual vehicle interior design, collaborative customer feedback before production and digital twins of factories. Have you visited a virtual storefront before? #customerexperience #digitaltransformation #branding