The annual report addresses some of the biggest macro-economic, political, ecological, and next-generation technological issues affecting the meetings and events industry in 2024.
Central subjects include the influence of AI on the meetings and events industry, the growing importance of accessibility, from physical, to sensory and intellectual, and the economic outlook for businesses working in meetings and events.
The report also covers the global outlook from a geological position, investigating the move from an Atlantic to a Pacific economy, the complexities of the Middle East and Africa, and the powerhouse of the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, the report looks at the fortunes of vertical industries, from Esports to Pharmaceuticals, and how the dynamics of these industries are impacting their meetings and events spend. Furthermore, one of the main insights is the new ‘Generation Me’. Here the report looks at hyper-personalisation, the role of accessibility, and issues around individual security, data, and agency in the creation of experiences, events and meetings.
Alistair Turner, author of the report, comments: “It is no understatement to say that 2024 will be one of the most important years of the 21st century. The economic, political, and ecological outlook of our planet is on a knife edge and the advent of AI can swing it in a number of ways. Our industry has a crucial say in these outcomes and this year’s report looks to understand what this role should be, and how we can act to create positive environments around the biggest conversations of our time.”
