[2024] REVEALED 120+ Corporate Event Stats Crucial For Every Event Planner

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Events, from corporate gatherings to music festivals, have long been a part of human society. Nowadays, with the addition of digital tools and the influence of technological advancements, the landscape of event planning is continually changing. Let's examine the current statistics shaping this dynamic industry.

• Over half (55%) of event professionals anticipate the majority of their 2023 events to be in-person .
  
  
• Almost all (98%) event organizers intend to host at least one in-person event in 2023, with 85% planning at least three and 35% planning ten or more .
  
  
• In-person events are considered a vital part of the marketing strategy for 72% of event organizers.
  
  
• The cost of an average in-person event is nearly 48% higher than its virtual counterpart .
  
  
• A massive 95% of marketers believe that in-person events facilitate the achievement of business goals .
  
  
• "In 2022, 35% of events will be conducted in-person," as per a survey of 8,227 marketers .
  
  
• Most respondents (88%) expect meetings in 2022 to have an in-person aspect .
  
  
• About 67% of event professionals predict in-person meetings will bounce back to pre-pandemic numbers within 1-2 years .
  
  
• The majority (87%) of 2022 events are expected to include an in-person component .
  
  
• Nearly 78% of in-person attendees prefer networking with fellow in-person attendees, while 58% of virtual attendees are open to networking with anyone .
  
  
• Over 41% of event planners express preference for attending local in-person events .
  
  
• Safety is deemed the biggest hurdle to resuming in-person events by 55% of event organizers .
  
  
• The global events industry is projected to reach $1,552.9 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2%.
  
  
• The U.S. party and event planning market was valued at $3.2 billion in 2022.
  
  
• Despite a -9.1% annualized growth from 2016 to 2021, the U.S. party planning market grew by 4% at the start of 2022.
  
  
• 85% of marketers report that their companies prioritize sponsoring events.
  
  
• 70% of marketers have reported an increased need to validate sponsorship results in the past two years.
  
  
• 54% of event organizers in the professional services industry use events to boost brand awareness.
  
  
• 97% of media marketers believe in-person events significantly impact business goals.
  
  
• Approximately 24% of media industry companies dedicate more than half of their marketing budget to in-person events.
  
  
• In 2022, there were 7,426 trade show and conference planning companies in the U.S., a growth of 11.8% within that year.
  
  
• 31% of event marketers consider trade shows and conferences essential for business.
  
  
• The trade show and conference planning segment employed 77,816 workers in the U.S. in 2022, marking a 15.3% growth from 2021.
  
  
• Only 33% of event speakers were women in 2019.
  
  
• Despite the challenges, 85% of event planners remain optimistic about their job security.
  
  
• The event industry's job market is projected to grow at a rate of 11% and reach 5.9 million jobs.
  
  
• Concert and event promotion businesses experienced a 9.1% growth in 2022, with 73,414 such businesses in the U.S.

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Understanding attendee behavior and preferences is crucial for the successful organization of any event. As the attendee's experience takes center stage, let's dive into the data reflecting their preferences, behavior, and engagement.

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• 88% of event marketers believe in-person events are crucial for their company's success.
  
  
• 81% of event managers conduct virtual events.
  
  
• Nearly 34% of event marketers suggest the cost of attending a virtual event ranges between $500 and $1000.
  
  
• A large majority (61%) of organizers had to transition to virtual events due to COVID-19.
  
  
• Around 38% of virtual event organizers frequently encounter technical issues.
  
  
• For over half (53%) of organizers, procuring the right technology is the biggest hurdle for virtual events.
  
  
• A significant proportion (67%) of B2B firms employ virtual events alongside on-site events.
  
  
• Almost half (47%) of organizers identify the no-show rate as the largest challenge for virtual events.
  
  
• More than half (54%) of companies are increasing the number of their online webinars.
  
  
• A significant majority (65.9%) of event planners provide on-demand access to their virtual event content.
  
  
• Top annoyances at virtual events are a bad connection (38%), poor microphones (30%), and inadequate cameras (20%).
  
  
• A significant majority (63%) of firms are transitioning to digital conferences or events.
  
  
• Three-quarters (75%) of virtual event organizers do not utilize digital goodie bags for attendees.
  
  
• Event managers predict nearly a quarter (23.6%) of their 2021 events will be local, smaller-scale, virtual events with fewer than 25 participants, not requiring air travel or hotel stays.
  
  
• Half (50.7%) of executives predict future live events will feature a virtual element.
  
  
• More than a quarter (27%) of all virtual/hybrid events use mobile applications. 

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The pandemic undeniably accelerated the adoption of virtual and hybrid events. How does this shift compare to traditional onsite events? Let's explore the statistics that highlight the changing dynamics in the event industry.

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• Nearly half (48%) of organizations have adopted a hybrid or remote work model.
  
  
• A substantial majority (70%) of events now offer hybrid or virtual attendance options.
  
  
• The top five attractors for virtual event attendees are, in order, educational content, on-demand access, session time, event reputation, and networking opportunities.
  
  
• The top three challenges associated with virtual events, in order, are engagement, attendance, and budget.
  
  
• Almost three-quarters (73%) of event planners have successfully pivoted their events to virtual formats.
  
  
• Increased attendance (34%) and lower overhead costs (27%) are the top two positive outcomes from transitioning to virtual events, as identified by planners.
  
  
• In a recent survey of over 1,800 event-marketing professionals across 13 countries, 85% held a virtual event last year and 28% stated 90-100% of their events are now virtual.
  
  
• Over half (55%) of event organizers cite Covid-19 protocols as the biggest challenges for in-person events.
  
  
• A significant majority (93%) of event marketers plan to invest in virtual events in the future.
  
  
• More than a quarter (26%) of event attendees believe that virtual events are not enjoyable.
  
  
• Slightly more than two-fifths (41%) of attendees would consider attending a physical event if it were local.
  
  
• More than half (63%) of companies with a workforce size between 2000 and 5000 have incorporated hybrid events into their portfolio. 

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Financials play a pivotal role in the world of event planning. From budgeting to determining the return on investment (ROI), numbers can provide crucial insights. Let's uncover the latest stats related to event budgeting and ROI.

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• A significant majority (65%) of meeting professionals report an increase in meeting expenditure.
  
  
• The average daily expenditure for off-site internal meetings stands at $711 in Asia-Pacific, $662 in Latin America, and $554 in both Europe and the U.S.
  
  
• Just over two-fifths (41.5%) of event professionals are prepared to spend up to $5,000 on virtual event technology, while less than a fifth (19%) are willing to spend over $15,000.
  
  
• Projected meeting expenditure for 2021 in North America shows a 6% decrease compared to 2020.
  
  
• If their budget increased by 10%, one-third (33%) of event professionals would opt to enhance the on-site experience, while nearly one-third (31%) would increase their technology use.
  
  
• The average cost per virtual event stood at $254 in June 2020.
  
  
• Three-quarters of companies with an event budget between $50-100 million anticipate an event ROI exceeding 5:1, while 48% of brands expect an ROI between 3:1 and 5:1, and 44% of marketers witness a 3:1 ROI from event marketing.
  
  
• The advertising and media industry was hardest hit during the pandemic due to reduced event marketing budgets.
  
  
• The average cost per attendee for a large virtual conference ranges from $1000-$1500.
  
  
• Over a fifth (21%) of businesses expanded their event budgets during the pandemic.

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Events can be a powerful tool for driving sales and promoting business growth. How effective are they? We'll delve into the statistics that elucidate the relationship between events and sales.

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• The global event management industry was worth $1,135.4 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow to $1,552.9 billion by 2028.
  
  
• In the US, the party and event planning market size is valued at $3.2 billion in 2022, with a growth of 4% at the start of 2022 after a negative annualized growth from 2016 to 2021.
  
  
• Sponsoring is a priority for 85% of marketers, and 30% plan to increase sponsorship spending.
  
  
• There are 7,426 trade show and conference planning companies in the US in 2022, and the segment of the industry has seen an 11.8% growth in the same year.
  
  
• The trade show and conference planning segment employed 77,816 workers in the US in 2022.
  
  
• There are 335,785 wedding planning companies in the US in 2022, and the segment showed a growth of 1.6% in 2022.
  
  
• There are 933,341 wedding services workers in the US in 2022.
  
  
• 85% of event planners are still optimistic about their job security, and up to 89% of event planners say they love their jobs.
  
  
• There are 73,414 Concert and Event Promotion Businesses in the US in 2022, showing bigger growth than the annualized growth from 2017 to 2022.
  
  
• The top ten event planning software as of 2023 are: 1. Eventbrite, 2. Meetup, 3. Picatic, 4. Bizzabo, 5. Hubilo, 6. Eventzilla, 7. Cvent, 8. Accelevents, 9. Planning Pod, 10. Purplepass.
  
  
• Every industry uses virtual events, with tech and finance being the most popular. Most organizations host virtual events with up to 500 attendees, with webinars being the most popular format. On average, organizations host 60 virtual events per year. The majority of organizations use a mix of live and on-demand content for their virtual events. Organizations that have a defined virtual event strategy are most satisfied with their virtual events. The most common goal for organizations is to generate leads from their virtual events.
  
  

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The cost of organizing an event can vary greatly based on numerous factors. We'll delve into the crucial statistics that provide insights into the financial side of event management.

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• A significant 41% of marketers identify event marketing as the most important channel.
  
  
• An overwhelming 97% of media marketers regard in-person events as essential.
  
  
• A substantial 71% of event marketers plan to maintain their investment in virtual events.
  
  
• The global event industry had a value of $890 billion in 2020.
  
  
• The global event industry is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.48% until 2028.
  
  
• The cost of an average in-person event is 47.8% higher than that of an average virtual event.

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As sustainability becomes a critical concern, understanding the environmental impact of events is vital. Let's scrutinize the stats that shed light on this often overlooked aspect of event planning.

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• The US alone produces 600,000 tonnes of waste from trade shows each year. This has led to a movement within the industry to become more sustainable.
  
  
• A recent study by Oxford University showed that virtual events can reduce travel costs and emissions by 99% compared to physical events .
  
  
• There are already more than 1,000 green-certified venues worldwide. These venues are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint .
  
  
• Major events can generate up to 1,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of 6,000 cars.
  
  
• A single three-day conference can generate up to 20,000 kg of waste, which can have a significant environmental impact.
  
  
• Worldwide, 50% of the top 250 exhibition companies consider it important for their events to be sustainable.
  
  
• In a survey of 7,000 event attendees, 72% said that sustainability was an important factor in their decision to attend an event.

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Known for its vibrant nightlife and abundant events, Las Vegas is a city like no other. We'll unpack the statistics that define its economic impact and the magnitude of events hosted annually.

• In 2019, Las Vegas welcomed 42.5 million visitors.
  
  
• The city hosted over 24,000 conventions in 2019.
  
  
• The tourism industry in Las Vegas supported approximately 234,000 jobs in 2018.
  
  
• The economic output from tourism in Las Vegas was $34.5 billion in 2018.
  
  
• The average trip expenditure for visitors was $831 in 2018.
  
  
• On average, visitors stay in Las Vegas for 3.5 nights.
  
  
• In 2019, the average daily room rate in Las Vegas was $132.09.
  
  
• There were 149,422 hotel rooms in Las Vegas in 2019.
  
  
• The occupancy rate for hotel rooms was 88.2% in 2019.
  
  
• Around 16% of visitors in 2019 were there primarily to attend a convention.

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Holiday parties are a staple of many cultures and societies. Let's take a look at the figures that paint a picture of these joyous gatherings.

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• The first recorded office holiday party occurred in 1923 in New York City.
  
  
  
• The most popular type of office holiday party is a luncheon or dinner.
  
  
  
• According to a survey, 63% of Americans attend at least one holiday party each year.
  
  
  
• 85% of US companies hold office holiday parties for their employees.
  
  
  
• The average cost of a corporate holiday party is $693 per person.
  
  
  
• Americans spend an average of $996 on holiday-related expenses.
  
  
  
• The average person will consume 4.1 alcoholic drinks at a holiday party.
  
  
  
• 40% of workplace injuries during the holiday season are due to slips, trips, and falls.
  
  
  
• The most popular themes for office holiday parties are “festive,” “casual,” and “formal.”
  
  
  
• The most popular holiday gift exchange activity is “Secret Santa.”

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Entertainment can make or break an event. But what does it cost to keep attendees entertained? Let's investigate the numbers behind event entertainment.

• Average cost of Event Entertainment: According to several industry sources, companies may spend an average of 8% to 10% of their total event budget on entertainment. This varies depending on the type of event and the importance of the entertainment to the event's success.
  
  
• Bands: Hiring a well-known band for an event can range from tens of thousands to over a million dollars. Local bands or lesser-known artists will, of course, charge considerably less, often in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
  
  
  
• Value of Event Industry: According to the Events Industry Council, the global business events sector contributed more than $1.5 trillion to the global GDP in 2017.
  
  
• Stand-up Comics: Well-known comedians can charge anywhere from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars for an appearance. Less popular comics or those just starting might charge only a few hundred dollars or even perform for free to gain exposure.
  
  
• Impact of Celebrity Performers: A survey by Bain & Company revealed that celebrity performers can help to increase event attendance by up to 20%.
  
  
• Keynote Speakers: The fee for a high-profile keynote speaker can range from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000. Celebrities, industry leaders, or former politicians tend to have higher fees, while local experts or less known speakers will generally charge less.
  
  
• Motivational Speakers: According to market research, motivational speakers in the U.S. generated around $1.9 billion in total revenues in 2019.
  
  
• Economic Impact of Corporate Events: Oxford Economics and Events Industry Council reported that corporate meetings and events contribute more than $621 billion a year to the U.S. GDP.
  
  
• Pricing Factors: The cost of hiring performers or speakers depends on various factors including: the length of performance, the size and type of the event, travel expenses, the performer's current popularity and demand, and the negotiation of the contract.
  
  
• Cost of Event Planning: Event planners typically charge 15%-20% of the total cost of the event, and this includes sourcing and booking performers.

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The marriage of technology and events is changing the face of the industry. What trends are emerging? We'll dive into the statistics that track the progress of technology in event management.

• 27% of all virtual/hybrid meetings utilized a mobile app in 2020 .
  
  
• Mobile event apps can boost engagement by 42% .
  
  
• 98% of event professionals use agenda and session features in their event apps .
  
  
• 89% of marketers who use event software save time when planning events .
  
  
• Businesses using event technology save about 200 hours per year .
  
  
• The event management software market hit a value of USD 9.13 billion in 2020, projected to reach USD 16.71 billion by 2026 .
  
  
• 90% of event marketers believe that technology can have a major positive impact on the success of their events .
  
  
• 80% of marketers believe their leadership teams support their event strategies .
  
  
• 40% of event app developers claim an average adoption rate of over 80% .

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The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the event industry, particularly in the virtual hosting space. Let's assess the statistics that delineate this impact.

• 60% of leaders consider events the most critical marketing channel for achieving business goals.
  
  
• Global events industry revenue is predicted to reach $2.194 trillion by 2028, up from $887 billion in 2020.
  
  
• 78% of event marketers plan to have events in person in the future .
  
  
• 88% of event marketers say that in-person events are very important for their company's success .
  
  
• 81% of event managers organized events online in 2020 due to COVID-19 .
  
  
• About one-third (33.7%) of event marketers say it costs between $500 and $1000 to attend a virtual event .
  
  
• 61% of event organizers had to switch to online events because of COVID-19 .
  
  
• 38% of people who organize virtual events often have problems with technology .
  
  
• For 53% of event organizers, the hardest part of planning online events is finding the right technology .
  
  
• 67% of B2B companies use online events in addition to in-person events .
  
  
• For almost half (47%) of event organizers, the biggest problem with online events is when people don't show up .
  
  
• More than half (54%) of companies are doing more online webinars .
  
  
• Almost two-thirds (65.9%) of event planners make their online event content available to watch later .
  
  
• The biggest problems at online events are bad internet connection (38%), bad microphones (30%), and bad cameras (20%) .
  
  
• Most companies (63%) are switching to digital conferences or events .
• 75% of people who organize online events don't give out digital goodie bags to participants .
  
  
• Event managers say that about a quarter (23.6%) of their 2021 events will be small local events with less than 25 people that do not need to travel or stay in a hotel, and these events will have an online part too .
  
  
• Half (50.7%) of company bosses believe that in the future, all in-person events will also have an online part .
  
  
• 27% of all online or partly online meetings use mobile apps .

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Combining the best of both onsite and online events, hybrid events have emerged as a popular trend in the industry. Let's delve into the data that highlights their growing prevalence.

• 25% of event professionals cite the ability of the event venue to host hybrid meetings as a key factor in choosing a meeting location .
  
  
• 46% of event organizers say that speakers had difficulties engaging a virtual and in-person audience simultaneously .
  
  
• 38% of event organizers say that it takes more preparation time to host a hybrid event compared to a dedicated in-person or virtual event .
  
  
• 50.7% of executives think that in the future, all in-person events will have a virtual component .
  
  
• 67% of event professionals predict in-person meetings will return to pre-pandemic numbers within one to two years .
  
  
• 55% of event organizers consider safety the biggest obstacle for resuming in-person events .
  
  
• 85% of leadership (senior managers, executives, and board members) believe in-person events are crucial to their company's success .

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The US is home to some of the world's largest convention centers. Let's take a numerical tour of the top ten, looking at their sizes, capacities, and unique features.

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1. McCormick Place (Chicago, IL): As the largest convention center in North America, it covers 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.
   
   
2. Orange County Convention Center (Orlando, FL): This is the second largest convention center in the United States, with 2.1 million square feet of exhibition space.
   
   
3. Las Vegas Convention Center (Las Vegas, NV): The LVCC offers 1.94 million square feet of exhibit space.
   
   
4. Kentucky Exposition Center (Louisville, KY): The Kentucky Exposition Center provides 1.2 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space.
   
   
5. George R. Brown Convention Center (Houston, TX): The GRBCC offers over 1.8 million square feet of flexible event space.
   
   
6. Sands Expo and Convention Center (Las Vegas, NV): The Sands Expo provides 1.8 million square feet of combined meeting and event space.
   
   
7. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX: Opened in 1957, this convention center offers over 1 million square feet of exhibit space.
   
   
8. Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA: Opened in 1993, it provides 1 million square feet of exhibit space.
   
   
9. Sands Expo and Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV: Opened in 1990, it provides more than 900,000 square feet of exhibit space.
   
   
10. Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV: Opened in 2003, it offers over 850,000 square feet of exhibit space.

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Accommodation plays a key role in the event industry. Here we will explore the stats about the largest hotels globally, showcasing their room count and other unique attributes.

• First World Hotel in Malaysia tops the list with over 7,351 rooms.
  
  
• The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas is second with 7,117 rooms.
  
  
• MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Signature have 6,852 rooms.
  
  
• CityCenter in Las Vegas has 6,790 rooms.
  
  
• Sands Cotai Central in Macau has 6,000 rooms.
  
  
• Izmailovo Hotel in Moscow, Russia, has 5,000 rooms.
  
  
• Mandalay Bay, Delano, and Four Seasons in Las Vegas have 4,426 rooms.
  
  
• Luxor Las Vegas has 4,400 rooms.
  
  
• The Venetian Macao, Macau, has 4,049 rooms.
  
  
• Ambassador City Jomtien in Thailand has 4,210 rooms.

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The US hospitality industry hosts some of the largest hotels worldwide. Join us as we dive into the numbers behind these massive establishments.

• The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas with 7,117 rooms.
  
  
• MGM Grand Las Vegas and The Signature has 6,852 rooms.
  
  
• CityCenter in Las Vegas with 6,790 rooms.
  
  
• Mandalay Bay, Delano, and Four Seasons in Las Vegas with 4,426 rooms.
  
  
• Luxor Las Vegas with 4,400 rooms.
  
  
• Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with 4,004 rooms.
  
  
• Bellagio in Las Vegas with 3,950 rooms.
  
  
• The Orlando in Florida with 3,919 rooms.
  
  
• Circus Circus Las Vegas with 3,773 rooms.
  
  
• Hilton Hawaiian Village in Hawaii with 3,386 rooms

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Additional Resources ⛏️

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Quench your thirst for knowledge with these additional resources that further dive into the world of corporate event statistics.

Final Words 👋

And there we have it! We've taken a tour through the busy, buzzing world of corporate events. These events do a lot for businesses: they bring people together, help them share ideas, promote companies, and make employees feel appreciated. The facts and figures from 2023 show us just how important these events are, and how much they're changing and growing.

With each new year, corporate events become more interesting and exciting, offering even more chances for businesses to shine. We can't wait to see what the future holds!

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Sources:

Bizzabo, Zippia, AMEX, Statista, Global Meetings and Events Forecast, EventMB, Sweap, Market, TOPO, Marketing Charts, Skift Meetings, LinkedIn, Global Meetings & Events Forecast, Event Manager Blog, GES, Mordor Intelligence, Markletic, Wikipedia, WHO, Hubspot

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