Event Industry Statistics & Data
Comprehensive data on the global events industry, corporate event trends, virtual events, and the economic impact of meetings and conferences.
38 curated statistics with source citations
The global events industry has experienced a remarkable recovery following the pandemic, with in-person events returning stronger than ever while hybrid and virtual formats remain integral. These statistics capture the state of the industry, from market sizing to attendee behavior and technology adoption.
Data is compiled from EventMB (Skift Meetings), Bizzabo, Allied Market Research, Grand View Research, Statista, and leading event technology platforms. All statistics represent the most recently available published data.
Use these data points to plan event budgets, justify event investments to stakeholders, and benchmark your event strategy against industry averages.
Market Size & Growth
The global events industry at scale.
The global events market is projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.2%.
The corporate events segment alone was valued at over $510 billion globally in 2023.
The US events industry contributed approximately $418 billion to the national economy in 2023.
The Asia-Pacific events market is growing at 12.8% CAGR, making it the fastest-growing region.
Corporate & B2B Events
How businesses are investing in events.
B2B events deliver an average ROI of 5.8 times the investment, making them one of the highest-performing marketing channels.
Sixty-eight percent of B2B marketers say events are their most effective marketing channel for lead generation.
Eighty-four percent of C-suite executives believe in-person events are a critical component of their business strategy.
The average cost per attendee for a corporate conference is approximately $1,500, including venue, catering, AV, and logistics.
Seventy-three percent of event planners say demonstrating ROI is their biggest challenge.
Attendee Behavior & Preferences
What event attendees want and how they behave.
Eighty-three percent of event attendees prefer in-person events over virtual-only formats for networking opportunities.
Ninety-one percent of attendees say they value face-to-face interactions at events as essential for building business relationships.
Seventy-six percent of attendees say the quality of speakers and content is the most important factor in their event experience.
Fifty-two percent of attendees share event content on social media during or after events.
Eighty-seven percent of repeat attendees say community and networking keep them returning to the same event year after year.
Virtual & Hybrid Events
The continued evolution of digital event formats.
Virtual attendees have a 67% average completion rate for online sessions, compared to 85% for in-person.
Hybrid events can expand total audience reach by up to 40% compared to in-person-only formats.
Fifty-eight percent of event planners say they will continue offering virtual options for accessibility and broader reach.
Virtual event platform costs decreased 33% between 2022 and 2024 as the market matured.
Event Technology
Technology adoption and innovation in events.
Seventy-eight percent of event planners use event management software to plan and execute events.
Sixty-two percent of event professionals say AI tools have improved their event personalization capabilities.
Forty-five percent of corporate events now use some form of data analytics for post-event measurement and optimization.
Fifty-four percent of event organizers have adopted contactless check-in and registration technology since 2020.
Twenty-nine percent of events now use AI-powered matchmaking to connect attendees for networking.
Sustainability & Event Workforce
Environmental impact and workforce trends.
Fifty-nine percent of event planners say sustainability is a priority in their planning process.
Thirty-three percent of event budgets now include a dedicated sustainability line item.
The US events industry supports approximately 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs.
Seventy-two percent of event professionals report burnout as a significant issue in the industry.
Thirty-six percent of event companies have implemented carbon offset programs for their events.
Eighty-one percent of attendees say they view brands more positively when events demonstrate environmental responsibility.
Methodology
Statistics on this page are sourced from EventMB (Skift Meetings), Bizzabo, Allied Market Research, Grand View Research, the Events Industry Council, and Statista. All data represents the most recently published findings.
We review and update this page as new industry reports are published. Publication year is noted for each statistic.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Turn Data Into Results
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