2024 Trends: Looking Back Over Event Trends with ACC Liverpool

The top event trends of 2024

The events industry is constantly evolving, but there are some event trends that have certainly left their mark on 2024. Below, we’ve picked out four standouts that we feel have had a big impact over the last year…

Sustainability

We think sustainability is, and will continue to be, one of the biggest trends impacting the events industry. This is a multifaceted event trend; from using recycled materials, to sustainable energy sources, to exploring alternative or offsetting measures for delegate transport, there are several ways sustainability has been explored over 2024. There is also a massive importance in ensuring that both organisers, and visitors, do all they can to reduce their environmental impact – so that we can all enjoy events well into the future.

At ACC Liverpool, we have taken several steps to prioritise Sustainability, both as an event trend and a way of working; which we have also passed onto organisers and teams working with us.

One example of this is with the Labour Party Conference 2024. Hosting this event for the 6th time, we are well-versed in supporting our delegates – but we’re always looking for more ways to improve on their previous experiences. In 2024, one of the key methods we did this was through improving the sustainability and biodiversity of our campus; supported by the Labour Party delegates. By paying a small fee to compensate for the carbon emissions involved with large-scale attendance at our venue, the funds raised allowed us to add an additional beehive to our campus.

The benefits of this are twofold. Not only will this help to protect these humble (but vital) pollinators and support our endeavour to become a more sustainable events venue; but this has allowed the conference and attendees to leave a legacy that will only continue to grow in years to come.

Accessibility

Another important 2024 trend that we feel has an impact within the industry over the past year, and will continue to do so in the future, is accessibility. As we’ve learnt over the years, accessibility isn’t just limited to meeting physical access requirements, but covers a broad range of accommodations to make sure all attendees are comfortable and can have an enjoyable experience. After all, accessibility as an event trend involves making sure that anyone can attend an event – and is the responsibility of organisers AND the venue.

Reflecting this, at ACC Liverpool, we’ve continued to grow our Accessibility resources to make entertainment available to everyone throughout 2024. This event trend requires clear goals and transparent information sharing, which is why we’ve been developing our Accessibility Strategy and have continued to invest time and energy into learning new best practices.

2024 has also seen the development of our Inclusivity Toolkit. Built to house our top resources around inclusivity and accessibility, this knowledge bank is designed to help organisers keep on top of their responsibilities – and provide valuable insights, advice, and resources to allow all guests to participate in whatever an event has to offer.

Event legacy

We mentioned it briefly above, but event legacy is another event trend that has been at the forefront of the industry, and our efforts, in 2024. As a whole, the events industry has the incredible ability to be a force for good in the local community; not in the least by stimulating economic growth, and increasing social engagement. When events can leave a positive legacy for the wider community, it can benefit so many more than the core audience and attendees.

One event that comes to mind from our fantastic 2024 programme is our work with Alzheimer’s Research UK. As part of their Early Careers Research Conference, we helped ARUK host a collection of satellite events, including Our Wonderful Brains at Liverpool Central Library. Aimed at families, this was a fantastic way to get members of the public engaged and learn about the work of ARUK in a fun, interactive way.

These satellite events allowed ARUK to engage with the Liverpool community, which helped to spread their message outside of their core group for a more lasting legacy.

For us, event legacy is vital to create more valuable connections between event organisers and the wider communities. Liverpool is a thriving, exciting city, and generating meaningful links between our events and the city is an event trend we hope to see continue in the future.

Learn more about this event planning industry trend with our guide to Event Legacy: What is it and How Can You Create it?

Technological advances 

An exploration of event trends wouldn’t be complete without touching on the impact of technology. Over the past year, we’ve found that guests expect more from their events, and advanced technologies are one way to improve the attendee experience. They’re also valuable for event organisers. The right technology can help to plan an event efficiently, allowing you (as an organiser) to focus on areas that need more of your expertise.

According to the 2024 trends, technologies like AI, AR, and VR have continued to develop both within and outside of the industry. Using these technologies appeared throughout the year in instances like:

• Using AI during event planning stages to automate routine tasks, or evaluate data in post-event reporting.
• AR and VR are popular options to elevate guest experience by creating an immersive atmosphere.
• Hybrid event models continue to be on trend, opening up access to a much wider audience.

ACC Liverpool’s 2024 in numbers

Event trends are definitely interesting to explore, and they can have a tangible impact on the engagement and attendance to events. Whilst measuring this can be tricky, we have picked out some of the numbers that have made our year. And, in 2024, our campus hosted 158 events and saw over 770,000 visitors pass through our doors

Want to see how our predictions measured up with reality? Compare this article to our thoughts on The Key Event & Conference Industry Trends to Watch in 2024…

Start your 2025 events programme with ACC Liverpool

Stride into the new year with ACC Liverpool. Located in the heart of the Liverpool Waterfront, we offer everything you could need to succeed. Explore our superb Services to help you put on an amazing event, and don’t forget to take advantage of our fantastic teams and In-House Expertise throughout the whole of your event journey.

AI & Accessibility: Using AI to Make Your Event More Accessible | How to Make the Most of Your Time at a Party Conference | Choosing Event Venues: Why Location Matters