What Will Large Events Look Like in a Post-Covid World?

Will Large Events Ever Return to a Post-Covid World?

While the coronavirus was hard on everybody last year, some sectors were hit worse than others. Large event venues and the people who work with them really took a beating as Covid shut down all large gatherings to keep the virus from spreading further. Now that vaccines are readily available, many of these industries are springing back to life. However, whether they will return to the same strength as before and what they will look like remains a question mark.

Wedding and Event Industry Looks to Rebound

Clearly, cancellations crushed the industry as the amount spent on weddings in the U.S. last year was cut in half to $25.7 billion. But wedding planners and venue owners were far from the only people hurt by the lockdowns and ensuing Covid restrictions. Freelance businesses that depend on weddings and large events such as photographers, DJs, bands, and caterers all saw their revenues plummet because working from home wasn’t an option for them.

On the other hand, many of those who remained employed were able to save more of their disposable income by working and staying home. Now, however, they are itching to spend those savings and celebrate returning to a more normal lifestyle.

As a result, wedding planners and event owners say their phones are ringing off the hook.

Indeed, some couples are planning weddings on Tuesdays due to the pent-up demand and already crowded schedules. Apparently, business is roaring back to normal and then some as some industry projections look rosy for the next three years.

What Will Large Events Look Like in the Post-Covid Era? While things are looking better for the event industry, there is no doubt that the way of doing business has changed. Mask wearing may linger for a bit as larger event venues need to be mindful of the possibility of Covid flareups and areas with stagnating vaccination rates. Some couples have gone as far as mentioning on their wedding invitations the need for observing Covid guidelines like mask wearing.

Hybrid Events May Become the New Normal Although Covid vaccines have become more accessible, large event venues still need to adapt to changes such as a need for hybrid events. Instead of returning to business as usual, many events are adding virtual components to keep people safe. Having the option to attend virtually means that no one will be excluded if they are in a vulnerable group or still aren’t comfortable socializing in large numbers.

Will Some Events Remain Virtual?

The problem facing businesses that depend on large corporate events such as photographers or event entertainment companies is whether some of these events will ever return in the same form. Large galas and fundraisers organized by non-profits and charities represented a huge part of their revenue prior to Covid. Unfortunately, many of these events went virtual during the pandemic, and there is no guarantee that they will ever revert to inperson gatherings.

How Can Large Venues Bring Back Crowds?

To get people back to the types of events they enjoyed pre-Covid, organizers need to add more value while assuring people still wary of coronavirus of their safety. For this reason, health and cleanliness programs will be of paramount importance. But event venues will also have to be very clear about their health and safety protocols in order to put in-person attendees at ease. Essentially, they need to strike a balance between peoples’ desire for face-to-face interaction with their need to feel safe.

After depending heavily on Wi-Fi streaming and videoconferencing this past year, organizers know that they’ll need to offer pretty high production values to keep virtual guests engaged.

One way they can help themselves is by using social media to tout the success of hybrid events. By including the latest photos and videos of a hybrid wedding or business conference on their social media, people will see how they can still create memories and participate in events virtually.

There’s no doubt that business is starting to rebound for large event and wedding venues, event planners, and the industries that depend on them. People still long for the kinds of human interactions that virtual events simply cannot replace.

However, it is also clear that these types of gatherings will have a different look and feel than they had in the past. Most events will be shorter in duration, with fewer people, and held locally in order to remain safe and effective. It is also likely that hybrid events will become the new normal as peoples’ need to feel safe regardless of the circumstances isn’t going away anytime soon.