What do business travelers value when attending corporate events in 2025?
Are your business events meeting the wants and needs of today’s business travelers? If not, now’s a great time to update your planning approach. After all, the events industry market is expected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2035, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% each year. And along with this heightened growth comes greater competition, so how can you make your events worth traveling to?
In 2025 and beyond, corporate travel and events showcase sustainability, AI-driven personalization, and innovative experiences. Technology is a staple of the modern business travel experience, and this extends to event planning. Think interactive features at business expos, virtual reality stalls at product launches, and livestreamed entertainment at hybrid conferences.
But don’t forget the human aspect. The success of your event also hinges on the overall user experience. Is your location easy to reach and accessible? Have you considered accommodation options nearby or the facilities attendees will need? In this blog, we’ll look at all the key areas you need to consider to make your business event a success.
If there’s one trend that sums up the state of corporate event management in 2025, it’s personalization. Today’s business travelers expect more than a generic, one-size-fits-all experience at events. And 77% of B2B customers report that they’re more likely to engage with a company when offered a personalised experience.
To meet their needs, use the data. With the help of corporate event management software, analytics, and algorithms, you can provide custom content that resonates with traveler preferences.
What does this look like in practice?
With 61% of event technology companies now using AI-powered features, the key to success lies with today’s travel and event planning apps.
Corporate event managers and business travelers alike became tech-savvy out of necessity during the pandemic years, with virtual meetings being a new standard. Now that in-person events are back, many still take advantage of these remote conferencing tools to offer an innovative hybrid setup. Three-quarters (74.5%) of event planners believe that hybrid events are as important as ever, valued for their flexibility.
By combining onsite events with digital engagement, businesses can access a broad, global audience. The hybrid model works particularly well for product launches where you want the greatest visibility and reach. Examples of this approach could involve:
While business travelers benefit from in-person networking, they can also share content and experiences with team members back at home. Mobile event apps facilitate real-time interactions and breakout sessions between in-person and virtual audiences to encourage interaction.
A growing trend in 2025 is the shift from large-scale gatherings to smaller, more intimate meetings. According to Eventbrite research, 63% of organizers anticipate increased demand for these micro-events, while Cvent’s Pulse Survey found that 58% of planners anticipated capping guest lists at 100 attendees.
This goes together with the trend for personalization, with small group settings giving business travelers the chance to engage and really have their voice heard.
When planning your next corporate event, consider breaking it up into micro-gatherings spread across multiple regions. This type of event is not only more sustainable and convenient for business travelers, who don’t have to cover as far of a distance to attend, but it also fosters more personal, valuable, deeper connection between attendees.
With over half (54%) of meeting professionals listing sustainability as a high priority, the events industry is now greener than ever. Here are a few strategies to integrate into your planning process for more sustainable and successful business events.
Today’s media-savvy business travelers expect something fresh and new, and 83% of planners report entertainment services being vital to an event’s success. Brands can use interactive technologies to tell a story while strengthening engagement. At business expos and product launches, try offering immersive, tech-driven features.
Well-being is a major trend in business travel. To cater for traveler preferences, it’s a good idea to build wellness initiatives into your corporate event planning as well. From corporate retreats to conferences and seminars, consider implementing the following:
To make all your traveling attendees feel comfortable, inclusivity is a core component of hosting any event in 2025. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Your corporate event travel management process should incorporate the latest accessibility guidelines depending on location. This is a crucial aspect to any event to ensure compliance and attendee satisfaction.
Examples include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as well as the European Accessibility Act (EAA) which introduces new guidelines beginning in June 2025. These make sure that all services, including digital platforms and mobile apps that you might use for your event, are fully inclusive and accessible.
Other things to consider include:
During your event, you want to make sure your attendees feel supported. Have clearly signposted areas for easy navigation and clear directions for where to find help if anyone needs it. If your venue is set out in a way that wheelchair users or those with mobility issues might need to use a separate entrance, have a real person ready to help.
Accessibility marshalls are a fantastic idea for any event, so consider briefing some of your team on how they can fulfil this role on the day. It may be helping those with additional needs make their way comfortably to a dedicated seating area, or guiding others to quiet areas if they start to feel overwhelmed, either way, this is a role that is likely to be very appreciated by those who need it..
Knowledge is power and it’s always worth sending out a survey asking how you did so you know how to improve for next time. If, in the worst case scenario, something went wrong, then you should also try to make amends as soon as possible. A lack of social responsibility could instantly cost a business 25% of customers. Alternatively, if things went well, then celebrate everyone who made it possible, get some great shots on social media, share positive feedback, and start drumming up excitement for your next event.
For conference delegates, destination is the #2 factor in their decision to attend, ranking about networking opportunities, cost, and professional expectations. It’s important to get location right. This can be tricky for event planners, as you need to make sure any preferred location still aligns with the guidelines of your corporate travel programs, but that’s what .
Corporate event travel management is all about. And in 2025, that means thinking not only about amenities and accessibility, but also about the trends we’ve mentioned above like sustainability, technology, and wellbeing.
Start your corporate event travel planning by choosing the ideal destination, keeping in mind your core audience. For business travel, factors like infrastructure and accessibility will be more important than they would with leisure.
Then, turn to the available venues. Traditional options include dedicated conference centers for business expos, and hotels for team meetings and retreats. For product launches and interactive workshops, you may prefer more unusual venues like concert halls or even museums.
Successful business events in 2025 are driven by a blend of technological innovation, sustainability and personalization. They’re interactive and meaningful, using multimedia tools to guide attendees through carefully tailored schedules.
But beyond these top trends, optimizing the entire business travel experience, from booking to attendance, is important. Tripeden.com for Business can help you do just that, making it easy to plan and book accommodation, flights, and car rentals.
Corporate events worth attending are in appealing destinations and unique venues that encourage exploration. They also have high-quality amenities including food, entertainment, and wellness facilities.
Technology plays a role in creating a streamlined, user-friendly experience from registration to expenses and reimbursement. To better meet business traveler needs, you can take advantage of mobile event apps as well as all-in-one travel management solutions like Tripeden.com for Business. With a broad selection of business flights and hotels, business travelers will find the most convenient options for managing their journey.
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