When asked how the pandemic has affected the event spaces they are looking for, meeting planners highlighted several new areas of priorities that are likely to remain in the long-term. These related to the need for more space, access to the outdoors and natural lighting, and the rise of hybrid events and evolving technology. How are the meeting spaces that planners are looking for today different from pre- pandemic?
1. More space
2. Outdoors
3. Flexible
4. Hybrid
5. Evolved technology
With the need for social distancing during the pandemic, it makes sense that planners were seeking larger spaces. However, with the worst of the pandemic seemingly behind us, it seems this trend is likely to continue moving forward. When asked how the meeting spaces they are looking for today differ from pre- pandemic, a US-based planner of association and non-profit events says they are “Bigger and airier! We’re vaxxed and all (or, at least, we make explicit policies requesting vaccination or masking), but it doesn’t change the past three years where we got used to having a little extra space. Psychologically, it helps with the tension.” Another US-based planner of corporate events says they “are seeking spaces that are larger in order to spread out more and allow more unique or flexible sets rather than standard classroom, theatre, or banquet traditional room set ups.”
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