How to Keep Your Annual Events Feeling Fresh

Annual events can make up the bulk of your event calendar; whilst it’s tempting to rely on what has worked in previous years, it’s important to keep these events feeling fresh. Perhaps your gala dinner utilises the same entertainment, or your Q1 conference follows the same format within the same space, every year. When your event starts to feel like a case of rinse and repeat, it’s important to step back and consider what you want to achieve. What do you want your attendees to feel excited about? Are there any achievements from the year you want to highlight?

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel in order to keep an annual event feeling fresh. Small changes can have big impact, from reconsidering entertainment to elevating food and beverage, or even updating the flow of your event. By adding small adjustments, you can continue to breathe new life into your event calendar. 

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Consider a New Space 

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to help an annual event feel fresh is to choose a new space. Whilst this can certainly mean choosing a new venue or location altogether, consider how different spaces within a venue can suit your needs. If you have always hosted pre-function networking at the hotel lobby for your gala dinner, is there a courtyard or hotel bar that you could look at instead? Fresh spaces can provide new inspiration for theming and styling; they might also require less styling altogether, placing money back into your budget. 

Our Events Team can support you in finding the perfect space to freshen up your annual event. 

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Reconsider the Flow of Your Event 

Another way to bring new life into an annual event is to examine the flow. How are guests moving through the space? Are there areas for them to explore and interact? Many conference spaces and ballrooms have operable walls, allowing for breakout rooms and greater flexibility. Can you set up breakout rooms with lounge seating for smaller sessions, or as interactive zones to engage with content at the attendee’s pace? Could food stations or interactive elements like photobooths create different spaces for your networking guests to move between? Creating new ways for your guests to experience your event can help generate curiosity and excitement.

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Elevate Your Food and Beverage 

F&B has seen a whirlwind of innovation and excitement over the last two years, with catering companies and venues alike reimagining the food and beverage experience. If you typically stick to the same supplier, ask if they offer different packages; a grazing or live chef station can create a different atmosphere from traditional roaming canapés. AV suppliers and venues can also support in creating innovative dining experiences, with immersive dining utilising projections to further immerse guests in your event’s theme or chosen cuisine. 

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Update Your Entertainment 

Entertainment can sometimes be left as an afterthought, often taking up whatever remains of the event budget. However, entertainment can truly create an element of surprise and delight for your guests, even if all other event elements remain the same. Roving performers can bring a vibrant energy to your space, reinforcing your event’s theme while immersing guests within the experience. You can also station performers at the entrance, helping your event to feel unique from the moment guests arrive. Or, if your client networking event typically hires a DJ, consider how a live band or DJ Saxophone duo can add something different to your event. Engaging with suppliers early in the planning process ensures they can tailor their offerings to suit your event needs, making the most of their services. 

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Annual events don’t have to feel the same every year, and you don’t have to re-invent the wheel to keep them updated. Small changes can help your event feel reinvigorated and refreshed, from switching up your spaces to experimenting with food and beverage offerings to generate curiosity and excitement year after year. 

If you’re looking to refresh your annual event, our Events Team can help breathe new life into your celebration.