IBTM World Trends Report 2021 first details revealed

IBTM has today unveiled first details of its annual IBTM World Trends Report, which underlines the role that the meetings and events industry has to play in ‘building back better’ in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The full report, which analyses the future of the meetings and events industry, will be available on day three of IBTM World Virtual, which will take place online from 8 – 10 December.

In a session on IBTM TV titled: IBTM Global Trends Report 2021, Build Back Better on Thursday 10^th December at 09:10, this year’s IBTM World Trends Report will seek to understand the full impact that Covid-19 has had on the industry as well as forecast what may lie ahead in 2021. Calling on over 60 sources, the comprehensive report analyses different industries, geographical locations and consumer trends, and weaves this information into the performance of our own industry to paint a picture of 2021 in the global meetings and events industry.

Report author, Alistair Turner, comments: “From a position of relative strength, growth, prosperity and innovation, COVID-19 has decimated the industry in 2020, causing wide ranging disruption on an economic, political and often deeply personal level. This year’s report looks to understand just how the industry has been impacted, so learnings can be gathered for the future.”

Alistair continues: “Equally, the industry has been given the opportunity to reset itself and re-imagine what its ‘new normal’ will look like, addressing major trends such as sustainability, technology, security and diversity as areas where the industry can use tragedy to change its trajectory and do things better in the future.”

David Thompson, Event Director, IBTM World Virtual, said: “The widely anticipated IBTM World Trends Report not only makes for informative and insightful reading, it also acts as a ‘temperature check’ on the state of our industry and our place within the wider world. In the wake of the global pandemic, this report feels more important than ever as we navigate our way towards a strong and sustainable recovery.”

As well as assessing the impact of COVID-19, the report includes a global economic analysis for 2020; a deep dive into global mega-trends including security, sustainability, wellness, diversity and inclusion; an exploration of the virtual experience economy; an individual industry analysis; an examination of meetings and events performance by sector; and a regional analysis.

The report was compiled using key industry data, case studies and interviews with leading experts both inside and outside of the industry, including President and CEO of PCMA, Sherrif Karamat; Economist Philippe Legrain; Executive Director, Conference & Events, ExCeL London, James Rees; and President and CEO of MPI, Paul Van Deventer.

The IBTM Trends Watch report 2021 is sponsored by Megaron Athens International Conference Centre and will be available to download at www.ibtmworld.com from the 10^th December.