70 Event Planning Industry Statistics for 2025

As a planner, you have the task and pleasure of creating events that bring businesses and their customers face-to-face.

You understand that both sides of the commerce coin find value when engaging outside regular transactions along the buyer journey. Consumers nowadays invest in their experiences more than in the past, so things are working well for you, too. 

But the perfect event experience doesn’t happen on its own, so staying current on the latest trends, statistics, and technology, like event management software, is crucial for every event planner.

If your clients still believe there are plenty of better and more effective marketing tactics than events, keep reading. We have the latest stats to help change their minds. 

General event planning statistics

The event planning industry is on a roller coaster of trends, attendee preferences, and brand-new technology. But amidst the chaos, in data we trust. 

• 67% of executives predict an increase in meeting budget and spending in 2024, out of which 13% believe it will be a straight 10% increase.
• Globally, 61% of millennials and 63% of Gen Z say they’ll attend more events.
• Nearly 55% of Americans think that events spark feelings of connection.
• 54% of Americans would rather receive a ticket to a live experience than a physical gift.
• 81% of meetings will have an in-person component in 2024.
• 86.4% of organizers planned to maintain or increase the number of in-person events in 2024 compared to 2023.
• The top five meeting locations in North America in 2024 are Las Vegas, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto.

• The top five meeting locations in Europe in 2024 are London, Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Paris.
• The top five meeting locations in Asia Pacific in 2024 are Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, Sydney, and Hong Kong. 
• When selecting an event location, 28% of attendees are influenced by the region’s safety and health protocols, followed by 24% by the ease of travel.
• Over 85% of event planners use event management software.
• The global event management software market is expected to reach $18.4 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 12.9% between 2022 and 2029.
• 86.4% of event organizers plan to organize the same or more events in 2024 as compared to 2023
• 52% of event planners say their biggest challenge is increasing attendance.
• 67.6% of event attendees agree that free time - beyond networking, sessions, and parties – is vital to their event experience.
• 67.4% of organizers say they have changed or plan to change their event management software vendor within the next year.
• 65% of event planners say they will use technologies like onsite check-in tools (53%), QR codes (49%), artificial intelligence (42%), and virtual reality (40%) to maximize the associated opportunities.
• 26.8% of attendees said sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are their top event priorities.
• 62.7% of attendees say that sustainability was emphasized at the most recent event they attended.

Event marketing statistics

Event marketing is a powerful tool for igniting brand love and getting tangible results. But simply "winging” your event doesn’t cut it anymore. To unlock the full potential of event marketing, you need to understand its language: numbers.

• 77.7% of event attendees say in-person B2B conferences are best for networking.
• 37% of people think in-person events are best for learning how to use a new product. 
• 84% of marketers say events let them stand out from the competition.
• The top 3 most effective types of events for marketers are product launches, internal team meetings, and customer advisory boards.
• Event marketing is the second largest expenditure for businesses, after online advertising (19%), branding (13%), content marketing (12%), and offline advertising (11%).
• 52% of marketers say event marketing adds more business value than other channels.
• 69% of event marketers expect to plan more events in 2024.
• In 2022, 52.1% of organizers saw attendance increase compared to the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• 19% of marketers rely on 4–7 different event technology providers to meet their needs, which eats up time and resources. 

• 78% of event organizers acknowledge that live events are crucial for businesses.
• 23.8% of organizers say that the biggest challenge of planning B2B conferences is fitting the event into their wider marketing plan.
• 19% of organizers say that their top priority for their next event is increasing attendee engagement.
• 77% of marketers believe events are the most effective marketing channel for their company.
• 42.4% of B2B in-person conferences are held in Q2 of the year.
• 35% of marketers consider events to be the most effective strategy for generating B2B demand.
• 80% of marketers agree their company would benefit from an event-led growth (ELG) approach.
• 93% of US-based companies are meeting their revenue goals through ELG, a key strategy for improving the efficacy of events as a marketing channel.
• Businesses using ELG are noticing benefits like better brand visibility (63%), stronger customer relationships (63%), and stronger or new partnerships (52%).

Hybrid and virtual events statistics

The post-pandemic world has irrevocably changed the event landscape. Hybrid and virtual event formats are experiencing an unprecedented surge. Compared to in-person events, they offer unparalleled reach, more accessibility, and better flexibility. With this new sector on the rise, a wealth of data is waiting to be explored.

• 2% of organizations say they aren’t using any event technology.
• 55% of people believe hybrid events are best for learning about a new company.
• 50% prefer hybrid events over virtual-only events (18%) or in-person events (32%).
• On average, in-person events are 47.8% more expensive for planners than virtual ones.
• 44% of marketers know that virtual events lack the personal touch and want to find new ways to help attendees network.
• 61% of event marketers say that keeping the attendees engaged is one of the biggest challenges of hosting a virtual event.
• 40% of marketers believe that virtual events are most effective for launching a new product. 

• 67.5% of attendees agree that it’s vital for events to offer a mobile event app for in-person conferences.
• 92% of event marketers plan to improve their post-event attendee follow-up, and 77% want to build year-round attendee engagement.
• 62.9% of people agree that they expect in-person conferences to use modern technologies,  like smart badges or RFID wristbands.
• 72.5% of organizers agree that their event management platform contributed significantly to the success of their most recent event.
• 76.6% of businesses scheduled an in-person B2B conference in 2023.
• 77% of all attendees say they trusted brands more after interacting face-to-face with them at live events, with effects lasting at least a month for 64%, resulting in long-term brand trust, recognition, and sales.
• 77% of customers who interacted with a brand at a live event left with greater trust that the brand would do what was right. 

Event venue statistics

The success of an event begins with the perfect venue. It sets the stage for attendee experience, impacts logistics, and influences budgeting. And navigating the complex world of venue selection requires data-driven insights, not just aesthetics. Check out these event venue statistics to go from a venue viewer to a seasoned selector.

• 42.6% of organizers say that getting venue proposals in a timely manner is their biggest venue sourcing challenge, whereas, for 27%, it’s getting an executive alignment.
• 43.2% of event planners search for venues through Facebook, WhatsApp, or Slack event communities. 28.6% rely on Google, and only 10.9% rely on recommendations from friends and colleagues.
• 64.6% of attendees agree that the venue can make or break their event experience.
• In 2024, 46% of organizations will conduct their internal meetings in a different city than their corporate office, 52% at a hotel, and 36% at a non-hotel venue.

• More than 50% of companies are lowering their event emissions by reducing waste and prioritizing recyclable materials.
• 40% of organizations have already implemented the practice of choosing venues with emission reduction practices, and 41% plan to do so in the near future.
• For 20.5% of attendees, venue location tops the list of factors that determine whether to attend an event or not. For 15.9%, it’s their second priority.
• 33% of organizations incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their events by focusing on accessibility, like booking wheelchair-friendly venues.  40% provide the option to attend virtually.
• Marketing dominates organizer budgets, followed by catering and venue costs.
• 87.1% of organizers say that at least half of their B2B events are conducted in person at a venue.

The industry that never slows down

Do you have what it takes to keep up? The event industry will continue to gain power and influence in the business world as new technologies, trends, and innovations emerge.

These statistics prove that not only are events one of the most important tactics for any business strategy but that face-to-face interactions will always cultivate and strengthen customer relationships. 

Ready to send out invites? Learn how to really engage your customers at events by reading the most jaw-dropping experiential marketing statistics!