In 2019, Executive Speakers Bureau launched #ESBOutspoken to tackle the meeting industry’s most intriguing questions and communicate with leading keynote speakers and event planners. In each episode, ESB owners Angela and Richard Schelp share their insights on trends, topics, tips, and tricks of the trade to being the best keynote speaker or meeting professional you can be.  

As the pandemic looms, everyone is looking to 2021 wondering what will happen with meetings in the new year. When will we see a resurgence of in-person events, or is the virtual world of meetings here to stay? The answer is both. In the latest #ESBOutspoken episode, Angela and Richard share their research and insights on what they are seeing looking forward to 2021 as leading industry experts, and what keynote speakers and event professionals can do to prepare.

1. Get on board with virtual. Virtual events are not a band-aid. They are here to stay. Many meeting professionals have used the last nine months to foster their innovative and creative minds and go “all-in” with virtual events. Those keynote speakers that have developed and embraced high-tech virtual studios and equipment will be ahead of the game headed into 2021. Despite the research that shows that in-person events may come back in higher demand by Q3 of 2021, studies show that many if not all event planners will continue to incorporate some type of virtual/hybrid programming into their events.
2. Fees and Contracts Remain Flexible. The good news for keynote speakers is because of the demand and the flexibility of being able to conduct more than one virtual event in a day, speaker fees are coming back up to their pre-pandemic levels – especially for those that have perfected the virtual keynote. Additional good news for meeting planners is the incorporation of both virtual fees and in-person fees to event contracts. This shows that meeting professionals are not only hopeful but prepared on the front end for whatever may come in 2021.
3. Trending Topics are exactly what you think they are. Everyone will continue to talk about COVID-19 in 2021. Companies want to hear about it and understand how it impacts their business model and planning. Other top topic trends that are most requested as we move into 2021 include change management, stress, resiliency, innovation, and workplace culture (particularly dealing with remote workplace culture). The even better news is that Executive Speakers Bureau can help you find the right keynote speaker for your next events for these or any number of topics.

You can watch the full #ESBOutspoken episode here to learn more. In short, virtual events are not a band-aid. They are here to stay and those event planners and keynote speakers that have embraced it and really stepped into their element will have an extra foot forward moving into 2021. For more information or to get started planning your next virtual or live event, contact Executive Speakers Bureau at (901) 754-9404.