Bizzabo Releases Report Pointing to Ever-Increasing Importance of In-Person Events
August 3, 2023
Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), unveiled “The State of In-person B2B Conferences: Analyzing Organizer and Attendee Insights on Today's Most Impactful Gatherings,” a comprehensive report underscoring the value of face-to-face events.
Despite a year of headlines about economic uncertainty and layoffs, in-person events are thriving, according to the survey,” said Alon Alroy, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Bizzabo.
In June 2023, Bizzabo conducted the extensive survey of more than 4,000 event organizers and attendees to gain deeper insights into the current state of in-person gatherings. The survey uncovered insights into the resounding importance and resurgence of in-person B2B conferences as the driving force behind organizational success and attendee satisfaction.
The report provides more than 100 new data insights and analyses around current trends in the event industry, including budget details, event venues, event technology and more.
Additionally, the report features firsthand accounts from organizers and attendees, shedding light on their priorities, challenges and strategic plans for 2024 and beyond.
Key insights from the report include:
- 75.9% of organizers believe in-person conferences will become increasingly critical to their organization's success in the coming years, and 80.4% of organizers say in-person events are their organization's most impactful marketing channel, reaffirming the value of face-to-face interactions.
- Despite the rise of virtual alternatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, 86.4% of organizers plan to schedule more or the same number of in-person B2B events in 2024 compared to 2023, demonstrating a growing confidence in onsite gatherings.
- 78% of attendees agree or strongly agree that in-person B2B conferences offer the best networking opportunities, underscoring the value of personal connections in driving business growth and collaboration.
- 47.2% of organizers say their events team has grown in the past year, while 23.9% say it stayed the same.
- The number of organizers with event teams of 10+ people has increased to 30.6%, compared to 10.2% in 2020.
- Organizers and attendees identified event management software, mobile event apps and smart event wearables as crucial elements for the success of in-person conferences, with 68.9% of organizers saying event software has a major impact on the success of their events, and 62.9% of attendees saying they expect in-person conferences to use modern technology (e.g., wearable event technology).
To download a copy of the full report, click here.
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Partner Voices
Every day, MGM Resorts hosts organizations and individuals from around the world with a diverse array of business purposes, needs and expectations. But they all have one thing in common—a host committed to making their meetings sustainable and unforgettable through close partnership and responsible meeting practices.
Harnessing the Sun
Meetings at MGM Resorts are predominantly powered by the sun, thanks to its innovative 100-megawatt solar array. As the largest directly sourced renewable electricity project in the hospitality industry, the solar array features 323,000 panels and produces up to 100% of MGM Resorts’ daytime power needs in Las Vegas.* Built in 2021, the solar array reduces the carbon footprint of meetings—and all of MGM Resorts—while still delivering an enlightening and electrifying guest experience.
Leading Water Stewardship
Knowing water is essential to operations, guests and employees, MGM Resorts has long employed various conservation measures and has doubled down on its commitment in recent years to become a leading corporate water steward. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate, a United National Global Compact, becoming the first gaming company to endorse the initiative. The company replaced more than 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas and pledged to reduce water use by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. Between 2007 and 2022, MGM Resorts saved more than 6 billion gallons of water through water conservation.
Fostering Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
MGM Resorts serves a world of diverse people, perspectives and experiences by cultivating a workforce culture that embraces all of humanity. From mindful recruitment and hiring practices to meaningful social responsibility initiatives, MGM Resorts is a welcoming and inclusive space for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members and more. The company’s commitment to supplier diversity drives innovation by extending competitive opportunities to local and diverse-owned suppliers, while the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program provides diverse-owned businesses tools and resources to enhance and grow their businesses.
Paying it Forward
MGM Resorts knows that great companies must serve the greater good. That’s why paying it forward is part of its approach to meetings and events. Through the Feeding Forward Program, MGM Resorts collects and preserves unserved and untouched food from conventions held at its properties, then safely donates to food-insecure people through a partnership with Three Square, Southern Nevada’s primary food bank. Since 2016, MGM Resorts has donated more than 3.7 million meals, with a goal of 5 million meal donations by 2025. Donations include unserved perishable prepared foods from events, perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens and nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses.
From world-class venues and experiences to industry leading responsible meeting practices, MGM Resorts is proud to host meaningful and sustainable events.
*Not including The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
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