Artificial intelligence, hyper-personalization, geopolitics, and the economic outlook for MICE businesses in 2024 are just a few of the issues addressed in the 2023 edition of IBTM World’s annual Trends Report.

Released today in a session at IBTM World 2023, the report is authored by Alistair Turner, managing director of Eight PR & Marketing.

“It is no understatement to say that 2024 will be one of the most important years of the 21st century,” says Turner. “The economic, political, and ecological outlook of our planet is on a knife edge and the advent of AI can swing it in a number of ways. Our industry has a crucial say in these outcomes and this year’s report looks to understand what this role should be, and how we can act to create positive environments around the biggest conversations of our time.

“This report is at the same time scary, optimistic, insightful, and in-depth. We’ve once again benefited from over 60 sources and some of the great thinkers, both within and outside of our industry. The results are fascinating and I’m looking forward to trying to bring them to life at IBTM World 2023.”

Turner is leading two sessions at the MICE industry show on different trends discussed in the far-reaching report. Central subjects include the influence of AI on the meetings and events industry, the growing importance of accessibility, from physical, to sensory and intellectual, and the economic outlook for businesses working in meetings and events.

The report also covers the global outlook from a geological position, investigating the move from an Atlantic to a Pacific economy, the complexities of the Middle East and Africa, and the powerhouse of the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, the report looks at the fortunes of vertical industries, from Esports to Pharmaceuticals, and how the dynamics of these industries are impacting their meetings and events spend.

Outside of the many trends addressed in the report, Turner says one of the main insights will be the new “Generation Me.” Here the report looks at hyper-personalization, the role of accessibility, and issues around individual security, data, and agency in the creation of experiences, events and meetings.

IBTM World 2023 runs until Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Fira Barcelona, Spain.