Hosting events is all about creating exceptional experiences for guests and delegates – engaging, delighting and surprising them from their very first interaction.

Keeping up to date with the latest trends in conferences and events, and knowing how to draw on them, is the best way to deliver breathtaking experiences. 

A quarter of the way through 2023 and we’ve already seen trends emerging, including the use of virtual reality technology, a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices, and a shift towards more personalised and experiential events.

Whether you’re planning a corporate conference or a social gathering, these trends are sure to make your event a success. 

Virtual Technology 

One trend that has emerged in recent months is virtual reality technology and technology that enables hybrid meeting settings. We’re seeing virtual reality being used to create immersive experiences for attendees, such as virtual tours of a venue or interactive games. Virtual and hybrid events have become increasingly popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023 and beyond.  

Virtual events allow attendees to participate from anywhere in the world, while hybrid events combine in-person and virtual elements. This allows for greater flexibility and accessibility, as well as the ability to reach a larger audience. Event planners should consider incorporating virtual and hybrid elements into their events to stay relevant and meet the changing needs of attendees. 

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices 

As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, event planners are also looking for ways to make their events more sustainable. This includes using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and incorporating sustainable practices into event planning as well as choosing venues that meet sustainability requirements.  

CENTREPIECE was built with sustainability in mind and achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification in 2021. The space is best-in-class for sustainable practices and provides resource and energy-efficient solutions. 

Some key requirements that clients are looking for include: 

• Using digital invitations instead of paper 
• Providing branded reusable water bottles and cups instead of single-use plastic  
• Sourcing locally grown and organic food for catering 
• Choosing event venues that have sustainability standards in place 

Personalisation and Customisation for ‘Bleisure’ 

In 2023, event planners are continuing to focus on personalisation and customisation to create unique and memorable experiences for attendees. This includes tailoring event content and activities to specific audience segments, using data and analytics to understand attendee preferences and behaviours, and incorporating interactive and immersive technologies like augmented reality and gamification.  

The blend of business and leisure is being dubbed ‘bleisure’ and is rising as attendees travelling for events want to make the most of their downtime. By providing personalised experiences, event planners can increase attendee engagement and satisfaction, leading to greater success for their events. 

Technology Integration 

Technology integration has continued to be a major trend in event planning for 2023. From state-of-the-art conferencing technology to interactive event apps, tech is being used to enhance attendee engagement and create more immersive event experiences.  

From in-house AV specialists to on-stage tech and in-person technology, CENTREPIECE is leading the way in terms of technologically advanced venues in Melbourne. At the recently hosted VTIC awards, the LED screen played a central role in announcing nominees and winners of the awards, and the CENTREPIECE team were able to hang 68x3mm pitch LED panels at a curved 10-degree angle to create the screen. 

In total CENTREPIECE utilised; 150 MAC Aura wash lights, 32 Beam fixtures, 12 B-Eye wash’s and handfuls of other FX Lights, run from a GrandMA3 lighting console.

Get in touch with our team of event specialists and find out how you can make CENTREPIECE your next Masterpiece.