10 corporate event trends for 2025
Hosting successful events that grow your business will never go out of style, but there are always new trends within the events industry to consider as you embark on your planning journey. In 2025, the top trends we’ve been seeing in corporate events are all about providing guests with a special, memorable experience that will leave them with a lasting impression of your brand.
From unexpected venue choices to branded customization elements to focusing on establishing real-life connections with audiences, we’ve compiled a list of the latest event industry trends to help with all your corporate event planning needs. Whether you’re planning a grand opening for a new store, a company holiday party to celebrate all your business successes from the year, or a VIP reception decked out in full black tie attire, make any professional gathering stand out with these event industry trends.
For expert insight into the latest corporate event trends, we spoke to Danielle McGrory, founder of PR and marketing agency Communité. On the best ways to stay on top of trends within the events industry, Ms. McGrory advises that anyone planning professional events for a brand, company, or organization follow these steps: “First, keep an eye on other events to learn from them. Second, network with other industry professionals and keep an open dialogue. Next, connect with vendors and learn from their experiences. And lastly, save a folder of great events on Instagram for inspiration.” Read on for our guide to the latest trends in corporate events for 2025, along with tips for incorporating them into your next professional gathering.
Table of Contents
1. Events with a purpose
When throwing any corporate event, there should be a driving reason for bringing guests together. Whether it’s to increase sales, build brand awareness, connect with members of the community, celebrate quarterly wins, or introduce a new product or service, any event should have a clear and compelling purpose. In 2025’s corporate event landscape, defining and communicating that purpose to your guests is more important than ever in achieving a successful outcome.
“We believe that an event should be meaningful and serve a purpose,” says Ms. McGrory. “No events just for the sake of an event. It is always important that the event reflects the hosting brand’s identity and aesthetic, so attendees really feel immersed in that world.”
With clear invitation wording and Paperless Post’s wide range of design template options to choose from in any professional event category, your guests will be sure to recognize the purpose of your event right off the bat. They’ll also become familiar with your branding with the help of our customization tools that allow you to upload your logo, photos, and Custom Colors onto your elevated, professional invitation.
2. Custom brand details
In addition to customizing your professional event invitation, guests appreciate other elements of brand integration more and more nowadays, from the overall event visuals and décor down to the smaller details, like delivering your invitation in a Custom Email that matches the look and feel of your invitation. Brand the email guests will receive in their inboxes with our editing tools that allow you to add your logo, change your Email Style, and edit the text, fonts, sizing, and invitation preview image within the body of your email. Thoughtful touches that reflect your branding make all the difference for corporate event success.
Ms. McGrory emphasizes the significance of this current trend within the event industry. “Custom touches are more prevalent than ever,” she explains. “For example, a brand may utilize a custom print from their archive for a one-of-a-kind tablecloth. Calligraphy for place cards and menus always adds an elegant touch.” When all your design choices reflect the tone and style of your brand, from the personalized cocktail napkin to the custom stamp on your online invitation, audiences will associate your business with an impressive event full of high-end detail.
3. Activities within events
Lately, attendees are particularly drawn to events that entertain them in unexpected ways as they mingle and sip their cocktails. Providing an activity for guests to participate in throughout the day or evening is a corporate event trend on the up and up in 2025. According to Ms. McGrory, “We are seeing a rise in events that include an activity. Dinners and lunches can feel formal and restricting for an attendee, whereas an activity or drop-in event typically warrants a higher RSVP rate. It’s less constricting and feels more casual for the attendee to just drop by.”
If you’re throwing a company picnic, consider providing field day games and letting guests know to bring the whole family for a day of interactive fun. For store pop-ups and launch parties, provide a branded photobooth to capture memories and incentivize social media sharing, incorporating your event hashtag. If you’re hosting a conference, panel discussion, or guest speaker event, allow for a Q&A following the main event to provide guests with a more personalized, impactful experience.
4. Fashion and cultural references
While corporate events may often lean on the more serious side, there’s still plenty of room to incorporate a bit of fun and pop culture inspiration within your planning details. From popular music to current fashion trends to movies of the moment, integrating cultural references is a great way to communicate that your brand is “in the know” while providing an experience guests will truly enjoy. “We’ll see trends that originate on the runway or in culture certainly trickle down to events. We’ve heard the music from Bridgerton play at a wedding or event countless times, for example,” Ms. McGrory says.
If your event is occurring around the time of a major pop culture event or anticipated film release, consider incorporating it into your event theme, like a red-carpet-worthy viewing party themed around an awards night. Or use cultural sporting events to guide your planning, like hosting a horse-race themed outdoor gathering complete with wide-brimmed hats and all the mint juleps guests could want.
You can also take inspiration from popular trending party themes of 2025 when planning your corporate event, which will impress guests and define your brand as having its finger on the pulse.
5. Social success measurement
Not only are we noticing new planning trends within the event industry, but post-event metrics are also changing as digitally driven industries expand. The ways that businesses are measuring the success of a given event are adapting as the world of social media evolves and provides more analysis opportunities for brands. From new Instagram followers to event hashtag usage and more, the number of names confirmed on the guest list is no longer the only way to define your event’s impact.
“Every event has a different indicator of success,” Ms. McGrory states. “Attendance, of course, is paramount, but we also measure success by social media sharing, event coverage, relationship building, and other more qualitative metrics.”
When you send professional invitations with Paperless Post, you can send guests a follow-up broadcast message after the big day, asking them to follow your social accounts and tag you in any content they post for maximum brand visibility.
6. Sustainability and social impact
Prioritizing an event’s environmental impact is a corporate event trend on the rise for very good reason. Hosts and guests alike are putting careful consideration into the footprint an event will be leaving on the world, and are focusing more on choosing eco-conscious event details—from Paperless Post’s digital invitations sent via email, text, or shareable link, to zero-waste and responsibly-sourced vendor choices for food and decorating needs.
“We’re continuing to see clients and guests be mindful of sustainability,” Ms. McGrory explains. “There is so much excess waste in both gifting and takeaways at events, as well as parts of event production. We’re happy to see a reduced amount of single-use products across events.”
Social impact is also an important factor for event planning in 2025, so corporate event hosts should also lean into partnering with sponsors and vendors who align with their brand’s message and values. From locally-sourced ingredients for menu options, to partial profits going toward charitable causes, to ensuring accessibility for all attendees, hosts who prioritize causes their audiences care about will throw events that not only stand out but make a difference.
7. Smaller, intimate events
“We’ve reached fatigue with large-scale brand trips,” says Ms. McGrory. “Social media response to lavish events and trips for creators is more negative than positive as a whole, and I anticipate that these types of efforts will be less popular in 2025. More intimate, elevated events always remain a smart choice.”
Keeping the guest list small can also foster meaningful networking and lead to a more enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance. You can set a maximum capacity on your Paperless Post invitation to cap the RSVP list at a certain number, which can be especially helpful if you’re sharing your event link publicly on social media or your company website. Set an RSVP deadline as well, so you can have as much time as you need to plan an elevated gathering with plenty of attention to detail.
8. One-of-a-kind experiences
Making your event feel truly unique and personalized is a corporate event trend that’s not slowing down any time soon. From unconventional warehouse venues to impressive chef demonstrations to live musical performances and more, giving your attendees an experience they wouldn’t have otherwise will lead to satisfied guests and unbeatable brand awareness.
Ms. McGrory elaborates on the value of unique experiences: “Attendees are always looking for an event to have a reason for being and a point of differentiation. Programming, venue, and event management remain key. Giving them an experience that they do not get in their daily life is the expectation. An impressive venue, an inspired performance, or a new experience sets an event apart and makes it memorable.”
Let guests know all the details in advance to start building excitement. Include a Speakers Block with information on a notable event speaker or distinguished guest of honor, or a Schedule Block to set timing expectations for any performances, speeches, demonstrations, or other happenings guests won’t want to miss.
9. Gathering communities offline
“We are seeing a lot of online communities activate offline,” says Ms. McGrory, on the rising focus on fostering real-life connections. “The community could be held together by a person, a brand, or a common interest.People are oversaturated with meaningless online activity, and they are looking to connect in real life.”
Bringing a guest list together in person who may not otherwise have had an opportunity to meet is a great way to connect with your community and make the event memorable for everyone involved. Spread the word about your event far and wide with a shareable link that you can brand with a Custom URL and post anywhere on social media, your website, email platforms, and more. Invite your social media followers to gather together and connect over shared interests, bring virtual employees to an off-site company retreat with plenty of bonding activities, or simply invite guests to an elegant corporate dinner party with tables of new and old clients and colleagues alike.
10. Unique event marketing strategies
When throwing any corporate event in 2025, hosts will also want to follow the latest and most effective event marketing strategies when spreading the word about the gathering. From utilizing all the current and relevant social media platforms to market your event, to creating compelling event branding materials, clear and contemporary event marketing is key. Posting branded visuals with an accompanying link in an Instagram story may drive turnout if your audience frequents that social platform. Participating in a viral TikTok trend may lead to increased brand awareness and subsequent event attendance if your target demographic skews on the younger side.
Focusing on providing a cohesive and enjoyable experience for attendees from the moment they hear about your event until the feedback they provide after the big day will impress guests and help grow your brand in the long run.
Host on-brand and on-trend events with Paperless Pro
When asked to share any additional advice for event planners and professional hosts, Danielle McGrory remarked on the helpful tools and features available when using Paperless Pro for event planning. “Utilizing Paperless Pro to manage your event allows you to have all the information you may need about a guest: dietary restrictions, addresses, meal or gift preferences, and more.” With the help of Paperless Pro—our subscription that unlocks unlimited access to all our premium designs, customization tools, and guest management features—you can plan successful, on-trend events all year long, from VIP galas to networking happy hours and beyond.
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