American Express Meetings & Events expects face-to-face meetings to return in 2023

The trend looks set to continue: after last year's publication of rather optimistic forecasts on the resumption of meetings in 2022, American Express Meetings & Events is waiting for a real recovery before 2023. On Tuesday, the events division of American Express GBT published its Global Forecast. Based on a survey of 580 professionals of meetings and events in 23 countries, the overall objective is to " an increase in the number of face-to-face events and budgets in 2023 ".

The figures are indeed positive, with three quarters of those surveyed (77%) saying they are optimistic about the situation in the sector in 2023, with a clear increase (+6 points) compared to the Global Forecast published in 2021. Nearly seven out of ten professionals (67%) expect the number of face-to-face events to return to pre-pandemic levels within one to two years.

North America ahead, Latin America goes green

Le North American market has already exceeded 2019 volumes, according to the American Express Meetings & Events report, which notes: " In North America, where respondents reported the highest percentage of remote 100 % staff, internal and small group meetings have already surpassed 2019 levels ".

L'Europe has not yet reached this stage of recovery, but here too the trend is towards a return to face-to-face meetings. " Europe has the second highest number of respondents who expect the number of face-to-face participants to return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future (69%), behind Latin America (78%). "the authors of the report. However, they also point to mixed figures when it comes to the environment. The Global Forecast estimates: " When it comes to taking sustainability into account when planning meetings and events, European respondents are the third most likely (78%) to integrate sustainable development and the least likely to say that their organisation has defined a sustainable meeting programme strategy (66%). ". Can - clearly - do better... Conversely, in Latin AmericaMore than eight out of ten professionals (86%) report taking sustainable development into account when planning meetings and events in their company, and 84% of those surveyed report having a sustainable meeting programme strategy (84%).

For Gerardo Tejado, Managing Director of American Express Meeting & Events, the forecasts in the Global Forecast report " reflect a greater perception of the usefulness of meetings and events, and the essential role they play in building corporate culture and business development. The report also reveals that the sector has learned from recent years to bring about positive change, particularly in terms of technology, well-being, sustainability and inclusiveness. "he continues.