The History Of Event Management: Event Planning Now & Then

Event management has come a long way in the past few decades. What once consisted of little more than arranging space and catering has turned into a full-blown industry complete with its language, procedures, and best practices.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the evolution of event management and explore how this field has changed over time.

1. What is event management?

Event management is the process of planning, coordinating, and executing events such as conferences, workshops, festivals, and concerts. It involves several activities, including venue selection, vendor management, transportation logistics, and on-site support.

Event management is a growing industry globally. Locally, as part of the social and economic reform efforts undertaken by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman - The Crown Prince of the Kingdom - announced a plan to invest $64 billion in the entertainment industry. The investment is a part of the Kingdom's path toward The Saudi Vision 2030.

The rise of social media and the increasing popularity of live streaming has made event management more critical than ever before.

A successful event requires careful planning and execution. Event managers must be organized and detail-oriented, with a strong understanding of the event

2. How has event management changed over time?

Event management has come a long way since the days of print advertising and simple mailers. With the advent of digital marketing, event management has had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the internet.

One of the biggest changes event management has undergone is how it reaches its audience. In the past, event managers would rely heavily on print media and personal relationships to market their events. Today, event managers must be proficient in digital marketing to reach their target market.

Event Management & Planning: Then vs. Now

Registration

Then: Prior to the 1990s and 2000s, event organizers had to use hand-written registration processes and all documents were physically mailed. It could take days to reach its final destination and it was easy for documents to become lost.

Now: Documents can be emailed or uploaded to a cloud storage platform instantly and registration forms can be filled out online.

Locating

Then: Before the internet, attendees had to pull out a physical map to find the location of an event, which may have been difficult and stressful.

Now: One simply needs to type an address into Google Maps to receive turn-by-turn directions and even obtain a new route if they get lost or make a wrong turn.

Attendees

Then: Curious who’s attending an event? Back then, placing a telephone call to your friends or asking them directly in person was the only solution.

Now: Through social media and event organization websites, attendees can see virtually who is interested in or attending an event.

Advertising and Finding Events

Then: Before the internet, flyers, posters, and word-of-mouth were popular ways to advertise events.

Now: People can search for events utilizing websites such as LuxuryKSA or social media platforms, like Facebook or Linkedin. Users can type in their location and find hundreds of events they may not have even known existed!

The most considerable change technology has afforded is the availability for an individual or organization to have more control over event management.

Conclusion

So what will the future say about our events? We’re waiting for you to give an answer.

Don’t get caught looking back too much though. Look to what the future holds for event planning, like hybrid events. Get on top of this new wave by learning how to engage virtual guests.

Now You Know the History of Event & Meeting Planning!

We know events have impacted our world, but how have events changed your life? Join @LuxuryKSA_ on Twitter to chat with us about your place in the event industry.