What’s in and what’s out in events this year

Every year, the team at BeaconHouse delivers over one hundred events across the whole of the UK, and never one to miss out on a trend we’ve put our heads together to share what we think will be shaping events and what events look like in 2025…

IN:  AI and digitally enhanced experiences

This year let’s make tech work hard for us so we can share real, human experiences. From personalised attendee journeys, chat box customer service platforms, augmented reality, unique calendars and itineraries, digital assistants, and gamification; we are going to see tech being used to enhance the human experience, streamline admin tasks and create space for connection and creativity. We love working with our clients in the tech space and are constantly learning how we can use advances in technology to take events to the next level and simplify our processes back in the office, giving us more time to focus on strategy, creative thinking, and building relationships.

OUT: Greenwashing

There’s no place for greenwashing in 2025 so let’s leave wasteful events and big promises firmly in the past. Drop the disposable, plastic event swag, put down the single use marketing materials, and step away from wasteful menu choices. Sustainability is firmly on our agenda, we think this year more clients and event agencies will be exploring how they can have a positive impact on people and the planet with the events they are designing. Sustainable thinking comes into every step of the event journey and this year we expect to see more people focusing on low-carbon travel options for events and looking at how to make more ethical decisions when it comes to catering options, including vegetarian and vegan menus and reducing food waste.

IN: Putting wellbeing on the menu

Forget the Kris, Kim, Kylie, and Kendall – this year the Ks we’re going to be talking about are Kimcho, Krout, Kefir, and Komucha! As an office of foodies, we’re always keeping an eye out for new food and drink trends that our clients will love, and these fizzy and fermented favourites are not only tasty, they are good for you too. Fermented foods like these have been associated with a range of health benefits, including better digestion and stronger immunity. This year we think we will see an increase in people building menus that not only taste good but make delegates feel good too, with an all-round focus on well-being outside of the quiet room.

OUT:  Diversity and inclusion as buzzwords

Diversity and inclusion are often on the agenda, this year though, more businesses are going to recognise that a robust and meaningful DEI strategy for events is a strategic imperative. Attendees expect to hear from a range of voices in the room, bringing a fresh perspective – leading to innovation, richer conversations, and better problem-solving. Forbes notes that inclusive events drive higher engagement and innovation, with 83% of attendees favouring events with diverse speaker lineups but it goes beyond who is speaking. In 2025 event strategies will focus on new ways to make everyone feel welcome and included, whether that’s considering how neurodivergent people consume information before, during, and after an event, food and drink choices that cater to religion, allergies or recovery, and creating spaces where everyone can participate and have their voices heard.

IN: Making memories

Events are about bringing people together, creating connections, and building environments that create lasting impact. This year events are going to be focused on designing experiences that meaningfully engage attendees and give people an opportunity to create lasting memories. Creating connection in your team is proven to lead to more trust, increased productivity and reduced levels of burnout so look out for more events focusing on immersive experiences like field trips or choosing more venues that align with interactive, hands-on moments, and unique, visually appealing environments.

Thinking about doing events differently in 2025? We would love to discuss your ideas in more detail. To speak to our team contact info@beaconhouse-events.co.uk or call 0191 691 3456.