‘Tis the season for wearing holiday sweaters, giving gifts to loved ones, and reading industry prediction pieces. Since we specialize in all things events, we wanted to get in on trendspotting and identify what will shape the events industry next year.

Here’s what to expect in 2020:

More diverse speaker line-ups: Events are planning on bringing more diverse speakers to stages, meaning that all-male panels—aka “manels”—could soon be a thing of the past. Earlier this year, Shoptalk boldly announced that 100 percent of 2020 speakers will be women and the following years will feature a 50-50 split.
Mid-size cities taking centerstage: While many conferences will take place in top destinations like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, “second-tier” cities like San Diego, Nashville, and Denver are having a moment. These cities can offer ease of transportation and walkability, as well as unique culture and authenticity. Some examples of events in mid-size cities are Kindred 2020 in San Diego and Health:Further in Nashville.
Creative and unique event spaces: Hotels and convention centers are cool, but have you ever been to an event held in a repurposed parking garage (like Segment’s Synapse 2019)? A study by SocialTables found that 92 percent of event planners believe events are more likely to be booked outside of a hotel compared to where they were five years ago.
Live-streaming for the folks with FOMO: Event organizers are committed to delivering awesome content, even if that means bringing the keynote to your computer. Conferences like AllThingsRTC live-stream sessions so industry pros can remotely watch the content. RampUp also live streams popular sessions in overfill rooms so attendees don’t miss out.
More face-to-face time: Networking opportunities can be one of the biggest motivators drawing attendees to events. That’s why events like the Bowery Capital Leadership Series and MIT AI Conference carve out time in the agenda for attendees to connect over coffee or cocktails. Events like Collision Conference and Harvest Summit offer pre-scheduled, on-site mentoring for up-and-coming founders.
Increased investment in Event Tech: Event pros are investing more in event technology, as 52 percent of organizers will spend more of their budget making their event tech-friendly. For example, SaaStr Annual will use the Brella app to help attendees network with people who align with their interests.
Curating conference experiences: Attendees are hungry for more opportunities to take ownership over their event experiences. Conferences like SXSW give attendees a chance to vote on the types of panels, presentations, and workshops they’d like to see. Multi-track events like GUILD’s Serendipity offer attendees an opportunity to curate their agenda.
Make room for mindfulness: Setting aside time for mindfulness at events can boost brain function and help attendees be more present during sessions. For example, cred client D Sharma, founder of Meditation.Live, will have an interactive session at HBS Tech Conference on how founders can avoid burnout by practicing mindfulness.
Let’s get physical: Adopting active experiences can boost your audience’s attention span and provide more social activities. Events like Techonomy and FORTUNE Brainstorm Tech are adding activities like yoga sessions, group runs, and bike rides to encourage attendees to stretch their legs and break a sweat before or in between sitting in sessions for hours.
Sustainability before swag: As much as we love free exhibitor swag, the events industry can’t ignore that 41 percent of event waste ends up in the landfill. There are several ways to make your event eco-friendly, like providing water refill stations or saying goodbye to goody bags. Case in point: Segment’s Synapse conference donated $30,000 to local nonprofit Hamilton Families in lieu of distributed swag bags.

Ready to implement some of these trends into your 2020 events strategy? Connect with us at events@credpr.com.