On Thursday, March 6th, GDP University hosted Unpacking the Key Trends Shaping Meetings & Events in 2025, featuring an expert panel of industry leaders who shared insights on the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping event planning this year. With rising costs, shorter lead times, and evolving industry dynamics, planners must stay agile and strategic. The webinar also provided actionable strategies to navigate these challenges while maintaining innovation and engagement.
Webinar recap:
Interested in viewing the full on-demand video of this webinar? Log in to GDP University, and find the full video, “Unpacking the Key Trends Shaping Meetings & Events in 2025”, on our Courses page.
Key Takeaways:
- Contracting & Force Majeure – To maximize the budget, contract early to lock in rates and terms. Along with rates, negotiate deposits, attrition and concessions.
- Short Lead Times – Events often confirm just months in advance, increasing logistical challenges. Consider rush fees for last-minute requests.
- Budget Pressures & Inflation – Nearly 50% of planners report stagnant 2025 budgets, while costs remain high. Share budgets upfront (even broad ranges) with DMCs. They can provide ideas & creative expertise to stretch them further.
- Staffing Challenges – Justifying staffing needs is a common challenge for planners due to cost pressures. Create guidelines for which onsite roles should be filled with internal vs external staff.
- High Demand – Availability remains a challenge in many markets, so earlier contracting may be required in order to secure venues and event suppliers. Educate procurement teams to help them understand this reality in order to improve outcomes.
Experts shared additional strategies to navigate these challenges, including smarter contract negotiations, creative cost-saving measures, and leveraging DMC partnerships.
Interested in viewing the full on-demand video of this webinar?
Log in to GDP University, and find the full video, “Unpacking the Key Trends Shaping Meetings & Events in 2025”, on our Courses page. If this is the first time you’re hearing about GDP University, the first step is registering (it’s free!) which will give you full access to on-demand videos, resources, and upcoming live webinars.