Cvent has released its annual 2025 Planner Sourcing Report: Europe Edition, providing insights into UK and European event planners‘ evolving sourcing priorities. The report highlights planners‘ positive outlook, with 90% expressing confidence in the industry’s recovery and 59% anticipating more on-site events next year. Alongside this increase in demand, planners are calling for quicker responses to venue proposals, with 83% expecting RFP feedback within four days. Nearly half of respondents emphasized that online meeting space visuals and accurate venue details influence their choice to submit RFPs.

2025 Event Planning Trends: AI and Destination Shifts

The report indicates a significant rise in AI adoption, with 54% of planners currently using AI for venue sourcing tasks like bid comparison and RFP creation; this figure rises notably in France (68%) and among Gen Z planners (64%). As demands on event teams intensify, 69% of planners expect to use AI tools even more in 2025. Additionally, sourcing activity has shifted geographically, with more planners now exploring options in Eastern and Northern Europe and North America, while sourcing in Western Europe has seen a notable decrease.