7 Trends for Post-Pandemic Expos and Trade Shows
Predictions for Business Travel in 2022
Companies are looking forward to the future of travel in the next year. The pandemic has caused travel to permanently change, and when you travel to your next business event, you will notice these changes in both your domestic travel and international travel.
International business travel is expected to increase by as much as 34 percent in 2022, most likely to make up for some of the losses due to the pandemic.
Seasoned travelers are looking to take that long-coveted bucket list trip that they have been putting off.
The pandemic brought on a tumultuous time for the expo and trade show industry. Most companies had to reluctantly default to remote operations during the lockdowns. Now that corporate travel has mostly resumed, event planners are working to make expos and trade shows better than ever. In this article, we will tell you about the current industry trends for expos and trade shows post-pandemic.
Top 7 Trends for Expos and Trade Shows Post-Pandemic
Virtual Events and Hybrid Events are Here To Stay
Trade shows and expos became virtual events that took precedence during the pandemic. It seems that this trend will continue into the future. A recent study reported that an astounding 93% of businesses plan to host virtual events in 2022.
The event market also expects to see an increase in hybrid events, where a combination of in-person and virtual trade shows work in tandem. For a hybrid event, be mindful that your company will have to display a physical booth at the venue, in addition to a virtual trade show booth. This can be quite challenging as you will balance the in-person and online interactions.
Technology Advances in Trade Shows
Trade shows and expos allow the attendee to learn about and use many products before the mass market. Many shows use state-of-the-art technology to create a successful event. In the future, attendees can expect to see even more technological innovations. As a result, there will be an increase in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in the trade show booth designs. There, you will have a fantastic hands-on experience in a controlled environment.
More Marketing Space
Trade exhibitions are going to step up their game with more creative marketing spaces. Long gone are the days of banners, signs, and promotional logos. Today, marketers are utilizing every inch of space available to them at trade shows. At your next trade show, expect to see brighter contrasting colors, exciting light displays, and AV displays to make booths stand out above the rest.
Specific Trade Shows
Until trade show attendance picks up post-pandemic, expect to see smaller, more specific trade shows in the near future. This means instead of promoting to the entire industry, they will focus on a specific niche in the industry. This is beneficial for businesses as it will allow them to connect with these market segments and expand in that niche market.
Safety with Booth Designs
For in-person trade shows and expos, attendee safety will be a priority. This means that event planners will implement current safety protocols such as mask mandates and social distancing measures. In addition, safety will come into consideration with booth designs. This will include ample space for all attendees to gather safely.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Be Used Frequently
AI can help a business learn the consumer’s likes and develop a buyer persona that can deliver appropriate content to the right people. One example is the chatbot. This AI integration will help show attendees get all information they need by using keywords entered by the user. Even better, the chatbot can translate your content into the user’s primary language.
Livestreaming
Streaming has become increasingly popular with trade shows, and this trend is expected to continue. Livestreaming enables interaction and engagement in real time, which raises the bar on the audience experience. One advantage of livestreaming is that the online attendees will see the uniqueness of the event, and this may motivate them to attend in-person in the future.
Traveler’s Q follows special events and industry trends. Our event professionals can help you plan the best corporate event possible. Contact us today for all your event travel planning needs.
