MCLEAN, Virginia—From the rise of a work-from-anywhere tradition to an elevated demand for incentive and group journey, the previous couple of years have reworked how the world conducts enterprise, giving rise to a brand new era settling into the workforce that’s altering the way forward for work and in-person connections. To answer that transformation and provide options for eventgoers and planners alike, Hilton launched an initiative known as “World’s Most Welcoming Occasions.” Hilton launched a piece of the 2025 Tendencies Report—The Conferences Maximizer: The Subsequent Technology of Conferences & Occasions.
“At Hilton, we try to fulfill the evolving wants of each occasion planners and attendees to supply a really revolutionary occasion expertise,” mentioned Chris Silcock, president, international manufacturers and industrial providers, Hilton. “‘World’s Most Welcoming Occasions’ is meant to set a brand new customary of hospitality by supporting our clients with the fitting insights and instruments to encourage significant moments of connection.”
From the Gen Z worker taking up their first full-time job to the Gen X senior chief who has attended conferences and occasions for his or her complete profession, report findings from a U.S. survey of greater than 1,000 adults planning to attend an in-person work assembly or occasion over the subsequent two years uncovered developments for the conferences and occasions expertise:
Occasion Prep
- Attendees really feel extra welcomed at in-person conferences and occasions once they obtain an agenda upfront (71 p.c), obtain a greeting as they enter the occasion (61 p.c), and have the power to textual content a quantity to have their questions answered (59%).
- With 47 p.c feeling anxious about becoming a member of a gaggle of individuals already in dialog and 45 p.c fearing that they’ll find yourself in a controversial dialog, easy preparations may help ease anxieties and promote constructive private branding and the boldness of eventgoers. As an example, 54 p.c of eventgoers report feeling extra snug having icebreaker questions to assist begin conversations.
Stress-Free Conferences
- Having meals menus despatched upfront (60 p.c), non-alcoholic drink choices (52 p.c), and meals choices for individuals with allergy symptoms (52 p.c) can cut back meal-time anxieties.
- Seventy-nine p.c of Gen Z report feeling not less than a little bit anxious about not having the fitting apparel when attending a piece occasion. Sharing recommended apparel pointers permits assembly goers (67 p.c) to really feel extra ready at in-person occasions.
Silent Assembly Time
- Seventy-eight p.c of respondents agree that typically when they’re at a piece occasion, they want a break or time to themselves. Having devoted quiet areas to work or test work emails permits attendees (65 p.c) to really feel extra snug at in-person occasions.
- Having smaller conferences as a substitute of huge ones allows attendees (62 p.c) to really feel extra comfy talking at in-person occasions.
Group Journey
- Seventy-one p.c agree that they’ve met somebody at a piece occasion who has helped them additional their profession.
- Attendees desire to go to conferences or occasions if they’re with anyone they know (82 p.c), sticking to a small group of attendees to spend time with at an occasion. Based on Hilton’s 2025 Tendencies Report, almost 30 p.c of worldwide vacationers (29 p.c) usually journey with “Frolleagues,” mates who’re additionally colleagues, on leisure journeys.
“The facility of in-person gatherings and face-to-face interactions is limitless from strengthening office tradition and constructing better workforce belief to in the end driving enterprise outcomes,” mentioned Frank Passanante, senior vp, international head of gross sales and HRCC, Hilton. “Understanding the altering wants of shoppers and attendees and appearing shortly to evolve and innovate is pivotal to propelling our business ahead.”
