5 Event Trends (with Examples)

Summary

Julius Solaris reports from MPI's WEON event in Newport Beach, California, showcasing the latest trends in the events industry. He emphasizes how small, intimate gatherings are becoming more impactful for engagement. The video highlights unique event strategies like pre-event activities, boutique destinations, and personalized experiences to foster deeper connections. Solaris interviews event planners about creating memorable interactions, leveraging local partnerships, and embracing smaller, less chaotic destinations. The event combines fun activities like guacamole competitions and personalized welcome parties, showing how content and connection are the keys to successful modern events.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Small, intimate events are becoming more popular for creating real engagement and connections.
• 📍 Newport Beach is an ideal destination for small gatherings, offering unique venues like airports for exclusive experiences.
• 🎉 Events now start before the main event, with activities like welcome desks, tequila activations, and scavenger hunts that break the ice for attendees.
• 🤝 Connecting attendees is key, with fun activities like guacamole-making competitions and one-to-one speed dating-style business meetings.
• 🌎 Boutique destinations are on the rise, providing intimate environments compared to larger, more chaotic venues.
• ✈️ Proximity to major metro areas like Los Angeles makes destinations like Newport Beach appealing for events, offering both convenience and exclusivity.
• 💼 Collaboration with local CVBs (Convention and Visitors Bureaus) can streamline event planning, offering personalized support and destination expertise.
• 💡 Incorporating a mix of engaging content, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities is essential to modern event success.
• 🤩 Tier 2 or boutique destinations provide a more personalized and immersive experience, making attendees feel like locals and ensuring deeper connections.
• 🎶 Partnering with destinations early in the planning process can unlock additional perks, enhance attendee experiences, and save on budgets.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on trends in the events industry, showcasing ideas for organizing successful events, especially small, intimate gatherings, and how to enhance attendee engagement.

Why are small events becoming a big trend in the event industry?

Small events are gaining popularity because they foster deeper connections and engagement. Intimate gatherings provide a more personalized experience, making it easier for attendees to network and build relationships.

What role does the venue play in small events?

Venues for small events are crucial for creating a memorable experience. For example, in Newport Beach, venues like an airport with a backdrop of planes can enhance the event atmosphere, creating unique opportunities for attendees to connect.

How has the concept of event timing evolved?

The event now starts before the official opening. Organizers are engaging attendees from the moment they arrive, with activities such as welcome desks, pre-event networking opportunities, and icebreaker activities like scavenger hunts or group outings.

What is the importance of creating connections during events?

Creating connections is a central part of modern events. Activities like guacamole-making competitions or one-to-one business meetings help attendees engage with each other in a fun, yet purposeful way, enhancing both social and business interactions.

What are 'Boutique destinations,' and why are they trending?

Boutique destinations are smaller, often more intimate locations that provide a unique and personalized event experience. Unlike large, chaotic destinations, they allow for more meaningful interactions and are ideal for smaller, exclusive gatherings.

How can partnerships with CVBs (Convention and Visitors Bureaus) benefit event planners?

Partnering with CVBs helps event planners streamline their planning process by providing local expertise, venue recommendations, and even incentives that can reduce costs and enhance the attendee experience.

What are some examples of event activities mentioned in the video that promote engagement?

Examples include scavenger hunts on Duffy Boats, personalized coconut drinks, ice cream stations, and guacamole-making competitions. These activities promote interaction among attendees in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

How does using tier 2 destinations benefit event organizers?

Tier 2 destinations, like Newport Beach, offer a more authentic and intimate experience for attendees. These locations are less crowded and more budget-friendly, while still providing high-quality services and venues that foster closer connections.

Why is it important to engage with a destination early in the event planning process?

Engaging with a destination early allows planners to leverage local expertise and resources. CVBs can help secure incentives, recommend suitable venues, and suggest activations that align with the event's goals, leading to a smoother planning process and better attendee experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Event Trends and Small Gatherings Revolution

Julius Solaris discusses key trends in the events industry from MPI's WEON in Newport Beach, California. He highlights the growing popularity of small, intimate events, which foster greater engagement and deeper connections among attendees. Citing an interview with Dan Maai, Chief Events Officer at TIME, Julius emphasizes how smaller gatherings (like the 4-500 people event showcased at an airport venue) create meaningful experiences. This new focus on small-scale events offers unique, personalized opportunities to 'wow' attendees while fostering closer bonds.

05:01

🚪 Pre-Event Experiences and Welcome Activations

Julius explains how events now begin before attendees even step into the main venue. With welcome desks, fun lobby activations like free tequila, and even scavenger hunts at places like Newport Beach Marina, guests are engaging before the official event kickoff. These activities provide early opportunities for networking without the usual awkwardness. Julius praises the trend of including live music, personalized coconuts, and healthy food at opening parties, all designed to foster connection from the outset.

10:02

🥑 Connection through Engagement: Group Activities and Fun Competitions

In this segment, Julius underscores the importance of integrating connection-building activities into events. He highlights MPI's WEON for creating moments of fun and networking through group activities like guacamole-making competitions. These engagements not only allow for light-hearted fun but also facilitate meaningful business connections. He notes how one-on-one 'speed-dating' style meetings are becoming an important feature in even small events, balancing social activities with business opportunities.

🌍 The Rise of Boutique Destinations for Intimate Events

Julius discusses the growing appeal of boutique destinations, which are becoming the ideal locations for smaller, more intimate gatherings. These destinations are designed for personal interaction, away from the chaos of larger events often held in mega-destinations like Las Vegas. He emphasizes how boutique venues, such as those in Newport Beach, offer a more curated experience, with the right setting for high-level attendees who value close, personal connections over content-heavy mega-events.

🤝 Collaboration Between Planners and CVBs: Unlocking Event Potential

Julius transitions to the importance of strategic partnerships with CVBs (Convention and Visitors Bureaus) for event planners. Interviewing a planner, he emphasizes how collaborating with CVBs saves time and ensures the best venue and activation choices for events. By leveraging CVBs’ expertise, planners can access valuable resources like venue recommendations and unique activations that improve both event logistics and attendee experience. This partnership is especially crucial for busy planners managing multiple events.

🏙️ Tier 2 Destinations: A New Era of Authentic, Intimate Events

As large traditional venues become overcrowded, tier 2 destinations like Newport Beach are gaining popularity. Julius explores how these smaller, more authentic cities offer unique, immersive experiences for attendees. He explains how boutique locations provide an opportunity for guests to engage with the local culture and community, fostering a more intimate, personalized event experience. Julius notes that tier 2 cities allow for deeper connection and a more relaxed atmosphere, free from the distractions of larger, chaotic destinations.

🚤 Enjoying Newport Beach’s Unique Offerings: Closing Thoughts

Julius wraps up his coverage of MPI's WEON by expressing gratitude for the Newport Beach experience. He highlights the collaboration between MPI and the destination, with unique activations like Duffy Boat excursions, as a testament to the innovative event ideas the location offers. He closes by thanking the hosts and reaffirming the value of intimate, boutique event destinations. Julius hints at more exciting events to come, leaving viewers eager for future industry trends.

Keywords

💡Small Events

Small events refer to intimate gatherings designed to foster deeper engagement and connections among attendees. The video emphasizes that while large events remain popular, smaller events are becoming more effective for creating real engagement. For example, the speaker highlights how Time's events focus on small, invite-only gatherings that promote meaningful interactions, showcasing the trend towards more personalized experiences.

💡Engagement

Engagement is a key theme in the video, referring to the ways event organizers can create meaningful connections among participants. The video discusses strategies like pre-event activities, networking opportunities, and fun competitions (e.g., guacamole making) that help attendees connect beyond formal business meetings. Engagement, both before and during the event, is shown as critical for creating lasting relationships and achieving event objectives.

💡Boutique Destinations

Boutique destinations are smaller, more intimate locations designed for personalized and immersive event experiences. The video highlights Newport Beach as an example, explaining how these destinations offer unique settings that foster human interaction and allow attendees to connect more deeply. Unlike larger, busier venues, boutique destinations provide a relaxed atmosphere ideal for small events and high-level attendees.

💡Pre-Event Experience

The pre-event experience is the concept of engaging attendees before the official event starts, creating a seamless transition into the main event. In the video, Julius Solaris explains how events now begin before guests even arrive at the venue, with activities like a welcome desk at the hotel, pre-event networking on Duffy Boats, and informal social gatherings that help break the ice and build connections early.

💡One-on-One Meetings

One-on-one meetings refer to structured networking opportunities where attendees have individual meetings, often in a speed-dating format, to discuss business or collaborate. The video emphasizes that even smaller events, like the one with 250-300 people, incorporate these one-on-one meetings to ensure that business objectives are met efficiently, while still maintaining a fun and engaging environment.

💡Partnerships with CVBs

Partnerships with CVBs (Convention and Visitors Bureaus) are highlighted as critical for event planning, especially when working with boutique or tier-2 destinations. The video explains how CVBs help planners choose the right venues and organize unique activities that enhance the attendee experience. For example, planners working with Newport Beach's CVB benefit from the expertise and local connections the bureau provides, which can lead to more successful events.

💡Tier 2 Destinations

Tier 2 destinations refer to smaller, less-known cities or venues that offer a more intimate event experience compared to major convention hubs. The video positions these destinations as ideal for planners looking to escape the overcrowded environments of larger cities. Newport Beach is cited as an example of a tier 2 destination, where the lack of a convention center is compensated by a unique, community-focused experience.

💡Attendee Experience

Attendee experience encompasses all the elements that contribute to how participants feel about an event, including the venue, activities, networking opportunities, and overall atmosphere. The video stresses the importance of creating a memorable experience, from personalized coconuts to interactive activities like scavenger hunts, which enhance the overall value of the event for participants and leave lasting impressions.

💡Budget Constraints

Budget constraints are a recurring concern for event planners, especially when trying to deliver high-quality experiences. The video discusses how working closely with destination partners and CVBs can help planners maximize their budgets by accessing perks and incentives. For example, early engagement with CVBs can provide cost-saving opportunities while still maintaining the desired attendee experience.

💡Event Activations

Event activations refer to interactive, engaging activities that enhance the attendee experience, such as photo booths, live music, or team-building exercises. The video showcases examples like the welcome tequila activation and guacamole-making competition, which are designed to bring attendees together in a fun, informal setting. Activations are a key element in making events more dynamic and memorable.

Highlights

Small events are becoming the new big, as they offer real engagement and intimate experiences.

Dan Maai, Chief Events Officer at Time, emphasizes the importance of small, invite-only gatherings to foster meaningful connections.

Events start before they officially begin, with pre-event engagement through activities like welcome desks and early networking opportunities.

At MPI's WEON, guests were treated to unique experiences like a tequila activation at registration and a scavenger hunt on Duffy boats.

Including intentional networking activities in event programs is a growing trend, such as icebreakers and group experiences like guacamole-making competitions.

One-to-one business meetings, even at smaller events, allow for focused networking and commerce opportunities in a more relaxed setting.

Boutique destinations, like Newport Beach, are ideal for intimate connections and smaller meetings, providing a more personal touch compared to larger, chaotic destinations.

Newport Beach offers a perfect environment for events with venues that accommodate smaller groups, like 400-500 people, creating a personalized experience.

Partnerships with CVBs (Convention and Visitor Bureaus) are crucial for event planners to streamline processes, from venue selection to activations within the destination.

Planners can rely on CVBs to assist in choosing the right venues and locations, helping to create unique experiences tailored to the event's goals.

CVBs offer incentives and perks that can benefit the bottom line, especially when engaged early in the planning process.

Tier 2 or boutique destinations provide more authentic experiences, avoiding overcrowded, large venues while offering personal connections with local culture.

Participants in boutique destinations like Newport Beach feel more connected to the community, with opportunities to explore the area as a local.

Personalization and intimacy are key trends in modern events, with planners seeking venues that foster relaxed, meaningful interactions.

CVBs help planners create memorable experiences by suggesting activities like Duffy boat tours, which enhance the attendee experience while promoting local culture.

Transcripts

what's up everybody I'm Julius Solaris

and I'm here at mpi's weon in amazing

newer Beach California to bring you

what's trending in events industry and

to show you some cool ideas for your

next event let's

[Music]

go

hope the event Rec

[Music]

large events always needed incredible

but small events that's the new big if

we're talking real engagement small

events is where it's happening at I

interviewed Dan maai Chief events

officer at time and mention how they're

doing just small intimate Gatherings inv

V only and we're here in Newport Beach

this is a perfect destination for

something like that because look at this

venue like 4 or 500 people incredible

experience in airport next to incredible

planes that's where you create

connections and you while your attendees

it's all about that the second trend is

the event starts before the event and

I've been talking about welcoming guests

now events are expanding outside of the

pure event Zone and so we have things

like a welcome desk right at the

entrance of the hotel hosting the

conference you see here free tequila

activation a registration you already

got your badge you don't get into the

room or whatever it's already here in

the lobby and then the u a part of the

group is taking outside of the hotel

outside of the property to actually go

in the Newport Beach Marina to go do a

scavenger hunt with a network in praco

on uh Duffy Boats just amazing way to

connect and this is like a great

opportunity for people to get to know

each other without that

awkwardness before the event that

actually finishes the first day the

event isn't started yeah it starts with

the opening party live music Selfie

station ice cream soda coconut

personalized coconut obviously ton of

drinks amazing food vegetables healthy

food this is the way you get people

together before the event even starts

including Connection in the program of

your event is the next Trend I want you

to think of NPI did amazingly well at

weon I mean look at this atend is

connecting all the times the table

obviously great for group work but also

they're creating opportunities like this

incredible guacamole making competition

like look at the people having a lot of

fun it is about connection for fun but

it's also about connection for business

and this is where onetoone meetings come

in even for uh a small event like this

one like 250 300 people they still have

Commerce builtin onetoone connection

speed dating Style so you get that

business element done it's fun and

engaging you move on and you go to the

next fun activation Boutique

destinations are the next destinations

to keep an eye on cuz like they're built

for intimate connections they're built

for human interaction as opposed to

chaotic umbrella type of large

destinations where your event is

happening with three other events at the

same time and you're losing that

intimate connection

smaller meetings require a different

breed of destinations these are

destinations that we used to call tier 2

but they're evolving into a new

definition Boutique destinations this is

the case here for Newport Beach they're

very close to Metro areas we're here

close to Los Angeles obviously you have

all of those airports multiple airports

I think there's more than five here and

uh but once you're here you have that

more intimate experience especially if

you're working with groups of very

demanding attendees sea level suite and

you require that extra level of intimate

connection that goes beyond just content

um that makes a whole difference because

if you're having that event in Vegas

with five other meetings happening in

the same venue you got to get lost in

the noise and you got to lose that

opportunity to get attendees to connect

Big Game Changer so we actually

discovered last year that taking the the

planners and the suppliers for our

hosted buyer program and getting them

out of a ballroom and getting them out

into the destination actually makes a

better program for everybody because you

have not just the collaboration with

visit Newport Beach this year and

Renaissance Newport Beach but you also

have the opportunity to build

relationships with both the planner and

the supplier and not just in that 5

minute one-on-one and you know I attend

a lot of these events and you know

destinations are always protagonist in a

way in a sense that they Supply a lot to

the event like here seems to be like

that the partnership is really deep and

they really uh made an effort to

Showcase what newort beach has to offer

talk us through that relationship how

important it is for Meeting Planners and

event planners so I feel that a lot of

event professionals especially outside

of our traditional meetings and events

industry thinking media and Tech Finance

they probably ignore Partnerships that

that can create with dmos and cvvs you

really talked really well about that

because one thing that I've learned over

the last several years is the

partnership as a meeting planner with

the CVB really helps me I don't have to

necessarily go to each hotel or each

venue and ask for an RFP I really depend

on the CVB to be my partner to help me

in that process I don't have a whole lot

of time and so a great way for me to do

that is to contact the CVB and the C CVB

is great because they will help you and

say you know I really think that your

meeting or your event belongs in this

hotel or this venue or let me see what

else that we can do like an activation

to get you out into the destination I

you know I work with San Diego CVB

Newport Beach CVB a lot of the other

cvbs in the area so once I take a

meeting there I say I contact them and

they help me decide a lot of the time

what's best for the meeting and we know

difficult it is to come up with new

ideas fresh ideas all the times and like

these people like do a ton of events so

they know exactly what's going to work

for what type of group uh but also I

want to sort of emphasize how you're

having the Right Mix at the event of

content you know great content with

amazing speakers and uh you know but

also activation experiences stuff like

that and we know attending events these

days is not just about the content we

can get content in a million different

ways it's about that connection so I'm

here with Amanda CLE director of sales

at visit newor Beach thanks for having

us first of all we are absolutely

delighted to be hosting weon and

presenting as a sponsor and showcasing

the beautiful hotel here and the

destination of Newport thank you we're

loving it so far a lot of activations a

lot of ideas for other planners as well

um we've been talking about uh Boutique

experiences how can a destiny help us to

deliver those experiences well you know

it seems that lately uh small is the new

Big and those intimate experiences are

what planners are seeking more and more

of and when you analyze that a little

bit deeper I think what people are

really looking for is that intimacy and

that personalization that comes with

that proper setting that enables people

to relax unwind and connect better with

each other love it we talked also how

important it is is to have a trusted

Partners in this climate where budgets

are so tough how important is to engage

with a destination early in the process

well you just hit the nail on the head

when budgets are so key engaging with a

CVB partner early on and really at the

RFP stage is where you're going to get

the most benefit of that partnership

most people don't realize that more than

being experts in the organization and in

the destination a CVB is really

uh purposed to get you to that

destination to begin with and to do so

there are numerous incentives and perks

that can go direct to your bottom line

as well as enhance your attendee

experience when you engage with a

visitors bureau at the sight seeking

stage there's always been a lot of talk

about tier 2 destination seems like now

is the time to really invest in tier 2

with everybody going back to in person

uh traditional big destinations being

being overcrowded overbooked six seven

meetings happening in the same property

at the same time we're talking about

complete different experience here in

newort Beach tell us more about working

with tier 2 destination why it's so

relevant right now well certainly going

back to that authenticity that U Meeting

Planners are seeking for their

participants when you are in a tier 2

type City uh more Boutique destination

uh say one that does not even have a

Convention Center like is the situation

here in Newport each it's easier for the

participant to be embraced by the

community and have that short stay feel

like it's Through The Eyes of an actual

resident and feeling and seeing what's

going on uh on the streets and in

location and being able to be elbow to

Elbow with locals and taking a piece of

that with them of saying hey wouldn't it

be great to live in Newport Beach

California because I just experienced a

it would be great by the way and those

Duffy Boats were just amazing we're

going to enjoy more of that thank you so

much for hosting us and thanks for

having us it's my pleasure thank you so

much thank you so that's it for me from

mpi's week on 2024 in amazing newort

Beach I'll see you at the next one