10 trends to revitalize your event

1. Virtual Reality is hot!

An event is all about the experience, but how do you keep surprising your guests time and time again? Virtual Reality (VR) offers a wealth of creative possibilities to leave a lasting impression on your visitors. VR glasses are becoming increasingly affordable now that affordable versions are being developed for the general public. Virtual Reality provides an experience that penetrates directly into the brain, and the possibilities for integrating VR with a live experience are virtually unlimited. 

2. Offline is the new luxury

In 2018, people feel the need to escape the online world more than ever. The events industry is innovating at full speed; communicating via beacons, engaging a wider audience through live streaming, and always online with lightning-fast Wi-Fi. We can hardly imagine what it's like to be disconnected, and yet that's what we sometimes want most. Or need. More and more often, events are offering a counterbalance by creating offline spaces. DeFabrique offers a counterbalance with Ruimte voor Ruimte (Space for Space) and the Offline Bar, because you can still connect when you're offline. 

3. Silent presentation

Do you want to captivate and inspire every single visitor? Sub-sessions are the key! However, it is always a challenge to put together a program that does not interfere with other presentations. Now there is a super smart solution for this: silent presentations. Visitors listen to a presentation with headphones on. This allows you to give multiple presentations simultaneously. Visitors can also set their own volume and listen to a presentation with greater concentration. 

4. Striking food concepts

Food manager Kevin predicted it in his preview of food trends for 2018: experience is more important than ever in catering. More and more people would rather pay a little extra for quality and experience than stuff themselves at an all-you-can-eat place. Guests need to be surprised. More and more consumers are sharing what they eat on social media, so if your concept stands out, that's a bonus. "Even a bar has to be exciting," agrees operations manager Melvin de Lange. That's why DeFabrique introduced the lemonade bar 3.0 this year. A bar where guests can mix their own soft drinks. A lemonade bar is not common at a conference or trade show, and the "do-it-yourself" aspect creates much-desired interaction. A win-win situation! 

5. Entertainment outside the box

No one will deny that entertainment makes or breaks an event. This makes it all the more challenging to find entertainment that appeals to everyone. In many cases, people therefore play it safe, always booking the same excellent band or that one comedian from television. But there is another way. We need to be taken out of our comfort zone to become truly inspired. 

6. Gamification

Who doesn't enjoy playing a game? Gamification is the application of game techniques in a non-game environment. Game elements are used to motivate participants and enrich their experience: this also comes in handy in the event industry. It allows you to convey your message to guests in a playful way and let them truly experience a brand. Have your guests just attended a presentation about a new type of car? Let them drive it themselves afterwards! What's more, this is a great way to let guests relax between presentations. 

7. Networking in no time

To make networking as natural as possible and avoid wasting time handing out cards that you've forgotten, various tools are being developed to facilitate networking in an instant. Shake On, for example, has developed a bracelet that keeps track of your social administration. Convenient! KLIK is another such tool that is seen as the new 'like'. Not only does it measure how long visitors stayed and which sessions they attended, but it also allows them to 'like' speakers and sessions. What's more, tools like these give organizers more insight into visitor behavior. You can use this data to improve your event. 

8. Self-streaming is trending

Live streaming is not new. However, despite all its advantages, it is not yet widely used at business events. 2018 is the year that live streaming is making its mark in the events industry. Livestreaming makes it possible to stay in touch with important partners and customers. And there are more reasons to livestream your event. What is new this year are the stream hotspots. Here, guests can stream and share messages in a video frame of the event itself. 

9. Decoration as the icing on the cake

What is the formula for success in organizing a great event in 2018? Experience, experience, and more experience- that's the key. All aspects of organizing a unique event must be aligned. An important aspect of an event is the decoration. Appropriate decoration is essential to fully capture the atmosphere of the event. This alone will leave an unforgettable impression on guests. 

10. Focus on video traffic

Video will continue to play a major role in the new year. It is expected that 80% of internet traffic will be video in 2020 and 87% of marketers will use video in their campaigns. Consider the impact of video when organizing an event. Video can be used in various ways, such as teasers, videos on the day itself, and an aftermovie. Be creative! Think outside the box. 

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