Digital fatigue is setting in among event attendees

4 in 10 event planners often grapple with a lack of engagement during events

Event management is an ever-changing landscape. As 2025 pushes on, planners are coming to terms with shifting concerns and rising trends amongst clients and attendees alike. In their recent report “Navigating the State of Events: Insights and Strategies for 2025”, EventAir addressed some of the challenges that are coming to light and what planners can do to address them.
Budget constraints

Rising costs top the list of concerns, as 63.5% of surveyed planners highlighted financial limitations as their biggest challenge. Price adjustments are common occurrences in logistics, venues and technology, which means that staying within budget often requires a fair amount of resourcefulness on the planner’s part.

While ‘doing more with less’ is easier said than done, employing soft skills like negotiation can have a positive effect. Leveraging long-term partnerships can help planners secure more favourable rates and avoid last-minute surcharges. Cost-sharing can also help to reduce overheads. By roping in sponsors via co-branding opportunities, planners can generate a higher ROI while off-setting event expenses. Virtual events, being more scalable and relatively cost-effective, should likewise hold a space in the event planner’s toolbox.

Attendee engagement

Digital fatigue is contributing to a decline in attendee interest; 42.7% of event planners often grapple with a lack of engagement during events. It is simply no longer enough to deliver a ‘high quality’ experience. Rather, dynamic and interactive content are now seen as key contributors to a compelling and impactful event.

Tools like gamification and AI-powered personalisation are also gaining ground with progressive event planners. Sarah Markey-Hamm, CEO of ICMS, recognises the growing impact of technology in event planning but also stresses the importance of a deft touch. “Technology has immense potential, but it must be relevant and strategically implemented. [It] must align with the event’s objectives rather than being implemented for its own sake.”

Experimenting with novel event formats is another great way to ‘shake things up', with 51% of respondents having pointed to 'Other’ event types, reflecting the industry’s adaptability and willingness to experiment. Allocating resources for post-event engagement, such as follow-up webinars and on-demand recordings, can also extend engagement beyond the event itself and deliver additional value.

Event marketing

Despite the growth of digital marketing tools, as many as 25.7% of event planners still struggle with reaching their target audiences. And as the events industry becomes more competitive, the need for innovative strategies is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Boosting registrations and awareness requires a multi-pronged strategy that encapsulates both social media and thought leadership. Video content thrives on the former, as social media’s extended reach provides the perfect avenue for well-crafted content to go ‘viral’. Meanwhile, collaborating with speakers or industry influencers allows planners to build credibility more effectively by tapping into existing relationships and communities — akin to word of mouth.

Source: meetings-conventions-asia.com