Each year, Amex GBT Meetings & Events provides a comprehensive snapshot of the industry landscape, helping planners make more informed decisions and plan strategically for the future. Cultivate’s experts extensively reviewed the report and outlined key takeaways in this blog — consider this your TL;DR for the 14th Global Forecast.

Predicted trends reflect a shift towards more engaging, sustainable, and technologically advanced corporate events in 2025, but that’s not all. Keep reading to explore a variety of emerging event and gifting trends to help professionals like you stay ahead of the curve.

Top Corporate Event Planning Trends

According to the forecast, a survey of 519 top meeting professionals worldwide, 74% of respondents feel optimistic about the year ahead. This uptick hints at a year teeming with innovative trends that promise to redefine event experiences. So, what should we look forward to in the months ahead? Here’s a breakdown of what’s trending now:

Sustainability: Companies are incorporating eco-conscious activities, carbon-neutral event planning, and sustainability-themed challenges. This includes letting attendees choose the gifts they’ll receive, reusable decorations, digital invitations, and venues powered by clean energy.

Social Impact: In the coming year, corporate event planners will combine business events with social impact by incorporating initiatives that support local communities, promote sustainability, and align with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. This approach creates positive change while enhancing attendee engagement and fostering a sense of purpose.

This can include not only prioritizing sustainable event practices and promoting inclusivity and accessibility but also bringing in socially impactful speakers and incorporating team-building activities that contribute to positive social change through volunteering or charity-driven initiatives.

Charitable CSR programs combine the core benefits of team building (communication, collaboration, problem-solving) with social impact, providing an emotionally powerful shared experience for participants. 

Advanced Technology: AI, augmented reality, and virtual reality are being used to enhance interactivity, personalization, and efficiency. Gamification will stir up friendly competition and be utilized to enhance event participation. Event organizers will leverage AI for tasks like event registration, personalized recommendations, and real-time data analysis. Advanced analytics will also be used to gain deeper insights into attendee engagement and event value.

Hybrid Events: With only 59% of meeting professionals expected to only meet in person, another 21% are doing virtual-only meetings, and 20% are sticking with hybrid. Thus, combining in-person and virtual participation has become the norm, offering flexibility for planners and attendees.

Given that many team members still work remotely and gather infrequently, we're seeing group getaways as a true cause for celebration, bonding, and fun. What better way to welcome teams, liven up info sessions, or cap off the end of a great incentive trip than with a memorable event gift experience? Hybrid Gifting Suites combine impressive on-site Pop-up Shops with the ease and innovation of online platforms.

Inclusivity and Accessibility: Another key trend this year is that planners will focus on designing events that are accessible to all participants with diverse needs and abilities. This consideration will affect food choices, venue selection, event gifting choices that offer something for everyone, the use of accessible technology, and the choice of activities.

Fortunately for those who want to incorporate team building into a larger company event, today’s programs are designed to involve participants of all abilities. Long gone are the days of grueling obstacle courses or “trust falls” as team-building activities. Programs are now designed for inclusivity.

Innovative Learning and Development: Today’s attendees expect more than lectures and slide presentations. In 2025, events are set to transform into immersive learning hubs filled with interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, and collaborative activities. These learning opportunities will equip attendees with practical skills and insights they can apply immediately, creating more valuable and rewarding experiences.

Gamification comes into play here, too, with planners opting to spice up these activities beyond traditional “lunch-and-learn” sessions. Scavenger hunts, escape rooms, outdoor picnics, and hands-on team-building exercises encourage attendees to interact with each other while learning new concepts.

Immersive Experiences: Planners are creating engaging spaces that foster connections among attendees. Providing a customized gamification program for guests attending a sporting event, for example, allows them to compete with other attendees via a game within a game and remain engaged with one another. Even those who may be disinterested in what is happening on the field remain involved in valuable relationship-building activities from the stands.

Unique Venue Selection: Boring hotel conference rooms and break room events have officially left the chat in 2025. There's a trend towards choosing iconic or unique venues that reflect company priorities and create pre-event excitement. Now, planners are looking to select unique venues as an easy way to elevate corporate events and incentive trips. 

Couple this with an amazing pre-event gift experience, and excitement will only build, creating a group of impressed and eager guests for the remainder of the event.

Wellness and Health: There's an increased focus on attendee well-being, incorporating health-conscious elements into event planning. Techniques range from incorporating physical wellness activities like walking meetings, movement breaks, and yoga. Plus, planners will encourage active participation through ergonomic seating and serving healthy meals and snacks. 

Don’t forget about planners’ health and well-being, too! Check out this throwback blog from 2021 about the benefits of exercising before hosting your next event.

Top Corporate Event Gift Trends for 2025

The top corporate event gift trends mirror the planning predictions outlined above, and since we already know the benefits of B2B gifting are endless for meeting and event planners, now is the time to leverage these trends to maximize event outcomes!

According to research, 66% of planners' event gifting budgets are expected to increase in 2025. With more to spend, planners are rethinking usual strategies and opting for memorable, immersive, and personalized gift experiences Cultivate is known, trusted, and loved for.

♻️ Sustainability-focused gifts: Eco-friendly items such as reusable water bottles, products made from recycled materials, and eco-conscious options are increasingly popular.

⌚ Tech gadgets: Wireless chargers, Bluetooth speakers, and wearable fitness trackers continue to be favored, with a focus on practicality and modernity.

🎨 Personalized and customized items: Gifts that reflect individuality and thoughtfulness are in high demand, such as on-site design experiences and bespoke items.

🧘 Wellness and self-care gifts: Products that promote health and well-being are trending, including smart techs like Oura rings for tracking activity and sleep and infrared sauna devices from leading brands like HigherDOSE. 

⛰️ Outdoor and adventure-themed gifts: Items catering to active lifestyles, such as hydration packs, sports sunglasses, and outdoor gear like Hexa Custom vests or fleeces.

🎁 Curated gift sets: Especially popular for virtual and hybrid events, boxes and kits often include a mix of branded items designed to enhance the event experience.

As the events industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of these trends will be crucial for creating memorable, impactful experiences that resonate with attendees and align with corporate objectives.

At Cultivate, our team is committed to helping you leverage these insights and deliver impactful, premium on-site gift programs that recipients will love and remember long after the event ends. Whether you’re planning an incentive trip that’s months away or need a turnkey experience in a short timeline, we put a lot of love into our On-site Gifting experiences and have earned the love of our clients because of it.

Click the button below to start planning your next event, meeting, or incentive trip gift experience using our On-site Gifting Lookbook. See what’s new, fill out the form, and our team will contact you on the same day!