Events professionals report more work pressures

MICE News
Saturday, 18 November 2023
As the world embraces a new work-from-home culture, the event industry is feeling the pressure.

Nearly nine in 10 event professionals (87 per cent) underline that events are needed more than ever in today’s remote working landscape, according to a survey by the team at IBTM World as part of its The Culture Creators Report 2023. 


In-person experiences are cited as instrumental in forging relationships, enhancing team performance and boosting team morale as workplaces are more physically segregated than ever before. 

Nick Nagle, marketing manager at IBTM World said: “It goes without saying that events are back with a bang post-pandemic, and while that often feels like a thing of the past, we are currently experiencing a different epidemic - burnout. 

"Stress isn't a new topic for event planners, but we're working with a backdrop of new challenges. This is undoubtedly taking its toll on the industry, as our data highlights, and we need to do more to support amidst the increased pressures.”

This comes as a result of remote work increasing fivefold since the pandemic. Some five per cent of full-time work was done from home in 2019, but today’s figure has climbed to as high as 25 per cent in just three years, according to data. This increase is equivalent to what was recorded across almost 40 years of pre-2020.

Now, as a result, almost four in five (79 per cent) of event professionals admit that they find their job roles more stressful today than before the pandemic.

The profession was this year ranked as the third-most-stressful job in the world, ranking only below 'military service' and 'home health aid’. 
It was listed as a higher-stress job than teachers, first responders, surgeons and social workers.

Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) put this down to increased responsibilities with their evolved roles now having a much greater emphasis on tech, data and digital capabilities.

Event organisers now are being forced to explore ideas outside of the traditional comfort zone with a landscape of increasingly digitally-enabled audiences and the emergence of new experience technologies, something that was supercharged during the pandemic.

Yet with increased responsibilities, heightened pressure, and more workload (three-quarters report an increase in the number of events they are planning), a staggering 90 per cent of event professionals report no change to their reward packages. 

Research from The American Psychological Association highlights that as many as half of employees who feel undervalued will look for a new role within a year. 
As many as four in five (81 per cent) emphasise that events are instrumental in forging and strengthening team relationships. 

However, despite its importance, the shift in the workplace brings with it many challenges for organisers.

Event planners are likely to need to offer more incentives to encourage delegates to leave their home offices, particularly as they encounter higher travel and accommodation costs.

Events professionals report more work pressures

MICE News
Saturday, 18 November 2023
As the world embraces a new work-from-home culture, the event industry is feeling the pressure.

Nearly nine in 10 event professionals (87 per cent) underline that events are needed more than ever in today’s remote working landscape, according to a survey by the team at IBTM World as part of its The Culture Creators Report 2023. 


In-person experiences are cited as instrumental in forging relationships, enhancing team performance and boosting team morale as workplaces are more physically segregated than ever before. 

Nick Nagle, marketing manager at IBTM World said: “It goes without saying that events are back with a bang post-pandemic, and while that often feels like a thing of the past, we are currently experiencing a different epidemic - burnout. 

"Stress isn't a new topic for event planners, but we're working with a backdrop of new challenges. This is undoubtedly taking its toll on the industry, as our data highlights, and we need to do more to support amidst the increased pressures.”

This comes as a result of remote work increasing fivefold since the pandemic. Some five per cent of full-time work was done from home in 2019, but today’s figure has climbed to as high as 25 per cent in just three years, according to data. This increase is equivalent to what was recorded across almost 40 years of pre-2020.

Now, as a result, almost four in five (79 per cent) of event professionals admit that they find their job roles more stressful today than before the pandemic.

The profession was this year ranked as the third-most-stressful job in the world, ranking only below 'military service' and 'home health aid’. 
It was listed as a higher-stress job than teachers, first responders, surgeons and social workers.

Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) put this down to increased responsibilities with their evolved roles now having a much greater emphasis on tech, data and digital capabilities.

Event organisers now are being forced to explore ideas outside of the traditional comfort zone with a landscape of increasingly digitally-enabled audiences and the emergence of new experience technologies, something that was supercharged during the pandemic.

Yet with increased responsibilities, heightened pressure, and more workload (three-quarters report an increase in the number of events they are planning), a staggering 90 per cent of event professionals report no change to their reward packages. 

Research from The American Psychological Association highlights that as many as half of employees who feel undervalued will look for a new role within a year. 
As many as four in five (81 per cent) emphasise that events are instrumental in forging and strengthening team relationships. 

However, despite its importance, the shift in the workplace brings with it many challenges for organisers.

Event planners are likely to need to offer more incentives to encourage delegates to leave their home offices, particularly as they encounter higher travel and accommodation costs.