IBTM World Trends Watch report 2020 highlights exciting new opportunities ahead for business events

0
2425

IBTM has revealed first details of its annual IBTM World Trends Watch Report, with a forecast that the virtual experience economy will be the next big area of growth for the MICE sector.

The report explores the progression of the experience economy into the virtual experience economy and considers how this may change the meetings and events landscape, and what new opportunities it presents. The report predicts that this exciting new trend will mean more than just new technologies integrating into existing events, but the creation of an entirely new industry which sees ‘digital’ and ‘experience’ merge.

Major global issues, including climate change, are also assessed in the report, along with an evaluation of what we can do as an industry to contribute positively to the solution.

“This report aims to take a short and medium term look at the global meetings and events industry and the political, economic, ecological and geopolitical trends that will affect it,” commented Alistair Turner, the report author. “This year though, we predict a major long-term trend, the virtual experience economy, that could be as influential as the experience economy was before it.”  

David Thompson, event director, IBTM World, said: “The much anticipated IBTM World Trends Watch Report is an important gauge for the current state of our industry, as well as a valued and trusted source of information and industry opinion about what the future might hold.

“The 2020 report highlights some exciting developments, as well as more serious global issues, and ultimately looks at how the meetings and events industry might play its part in those future opportunities.”

The chapters in the report are: a global economic outlook for 2020; an overview of global trends; an exploration of different industry sectors including automotive, banking / finance, esports, information and communications technology and pharmaceuticals; an insight into meetings and events performance including corporate events, associations and incentive travel; technology trends and regional variations.

Alistair Turner, MD of EIGHT PR & Marketing, compiled the report using over 25 key sources of existing industry data, case studies and interviews with industry luminaries including Sherrif Karamat, CAE, president and CEO, PCMA; Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC; Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA and James Latham, producer, The Iceberg.

Molly Hookings
Author: Molly Hookings

Molly joined the editorial team in March 2019. She has several years’ experience working in broadcast and journalism, as well as marketing and PR. Past experience includes working for the BBC and independent publishing houses. If you have a story you think Molly might be interested in, please email: molly@eventindustrynews.com