Whether they are generally bullish or bearish on what's next for meetings, industry insiders agree that the rising cost of events is the top challenge they face.

What’s Ahead for the Events Industry in 2026?

In our recent Meetings Market Survey, Convene asked planners: Are you more worried or more excited about the future? We then put the question to a group of global event professionals. Here’s what they all said.

Planners said they are leaning into data and ROI-driven decision-making, trying out new pricing or revenue models, reworking events to be more localized or segmented, and reorganizing internally to meet current and potential future challenges head on.

What’s Next?

How planners who participated in our annual Meetings Market Survey are bearing up in an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment and what they think the new year will bring.

Planners said they are leaning into data and ROI-driven decision-making, trying out new pricing or revenue models, reworking events to be more localized or segmented, and reorganizing internally to meet current and potential future challenges head on.

Convene’s 32nd Meetings Market Survey Results

Responses from Convene’s Annual Meetings Market Survey show the varying ways that event strategists are managing uncertainty, maximizing attendee engagement, and adopting new technologies like AI.

Meetings Market Survey 2023: ‘The Work Has Gotten Very Difficult’

Respondents to our Meetings Market Survey — which we brought back after a COVID-induced break — shared that the post-COVID business environment brings a host of challenges that have yet to work themselves out. And they are feeling simultaneously anxious and excited about the future of the business events industry.

Meetings Market Survey

Meetings Market Survey: Starting From a Good Place

Going by the responses to Convene's 2020 Meetings Market Survey, the business events industry is on solid footing — which should help it better withstand the negative impacts of COVID-19.

events data

Data Tells the Story of Meetings and Events

According to responses to Convene’s 29th annual Meetings Market Survey, many organizations have changed how they collect and use participant data (attendee and/or exhibitor) relative to their events.

Meetings Market Survey

Meetings Market Survey: Help Us Tell Our Industry’s Story

Respondents who complete the questionnaire for Convene's Meetings Market Survey and you will be entered into a random drawing for a complimentary registration to 2020 Convening Leaders in San Francisco, Jan. 5-8, worth up to $2,080.

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