People don’t just come to your events to “watch” something happen — they want to “experience” it. That means expertly crafting an event where your guests have loads of opportunities to genuinely engage with one another and be a part of something new.
At its core, experiential marketing plays a pivotal role in shaping these moments. It’s about creating interactive and emotionally resonant experiences that leave a lasting impression on attendees — and your event is the perfect canvas for this.
But for now, let’s focus on the experiential elements you can include in your own events to make them more memorable for your guests.
At Eventbrite, we’ve powered some of the world’s most innovative and diverse events — from local festivals to global conferences. With years of experience and millions of events hosted on our platform, we understand what it takes to craft experiences that captivate and engage audiences.
Read on to find out all about event experience, and get inspired by event experience examples that’ll sell out your next event.
Table of contents
What exactly IS event experience, anyway?
Why is event experience important?
8 Event experience examples to inspire you
3 Strategies to help you create a memorable event experience
What exactly IS event experience, anyway?
Before we dive into the different ways you can cultivate and curate a unique event experience, let’s pump the brakes for a minute and talk about what “event experience” actually is.
Event experience is a pretty big umbrella term that essentially encompasses how people connect and engage with your event. That engagement can be fostered using a wide range of elements, including:
- Immersion
- Theme
- Senses
- Personalization
- Social
- Food and drink
But no two events are 100% alike — so the elements you combine to create your event experience won’t be exactly the same as the event next door.
You have to assess your target audience, find out what they want from an event like yours, and then use the tools at your disposal to create a unique and engaging attendee experience they’ll never forget.
Why is the event experience important?
When it comes to organizing events, cultivating a sense of experience isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s an absolute MUST. Why? Because people don’t want “stuff” anymore. They want experiences.
According to Eventbrite’s TRNDS 2024 report, 69% of eventgoers say they’d rather spend their hard-earned cash on an experience than material goods.
The same number of event attendees (and 75% of 21- to 35-year-olds) told us they specifically look for new experiences to connect and immerse themselves in nature. And 63% want event experiences that help them take control of their wellbeing.
But crafting great experiences is important for more than just meeting consumer demand. It’s also great for business.
Memorable experiences establish a stronger and more meaningful connection between your brand and your eventgoers. In the same report, 72% of eventgoers (and 75% of 21- to 35-year-olds) told us they feel positive toward events that offer a meaningful, transformative experience.
And those positive experiences create repeat customers.
An estimated 55% of eventgoers say they’d take friends to experiences because they enjoyed it so much the first time. That means every unique experience you’re able to create has the power to turn itself into a new business — and so mastering these experiential elements needs to be at the top of your priorities list.
But don’t get stressed if this is all new to you. We’ve got so many ideas to inspire you.
8 Event experience examples to inspire you
Sometimes the best way to come up with ideas to create an amazing event experience is to see a few examples.
To help you get started, we’ve broken down a few of our favorite event experience examples by type — with elements ranging from immersion and gamification to sensory and sustainability.
Let’s take a look:
1. Immersive experiences
Immersion is all about taking your event to the next level — engaging your attendees on multiple levels to make them feel like they’ve been transported to a specific time or place.
Immersive event experiences often involve multiple sensory elements that work in harmony to create a 4D experience that makes your event feel unique and totally memorable.
Examples might include themed rooms with mood lighting, audio-visual displays, live-action performers, and realistic set designs. You can even tweak elements like temperature, humidity, and smell to create a more unique experience!
This often leaves a lasting impression on your guests (and that’s how repeat-customer relationships are born).
Doing it well ✨ For lessons in best practice, check out Dave & Busters and their LIVE gaming action – The ARENA, Ultimate Immersive Experience.
Their gaming experiences are next-level thanks to the immersive arena Dave & Busters have created — with dynamic games that utilize the floor and walls to get groups of friends up and moving.
2. Event theme
Thematic experiences can totally transform an event venue. This is usually supported by visual elements like decorations and design elements that can completely set the mood for your event. They connect your event’s branding to create a unique atmosphere that reflects the purpose of your event.
Engagement is key, so you have to think about ways you can support your theme. For example, you could customize furniture, floral arrangements, props, lighting design, table settings, or anything in between.
Whatever you do, just make sure it all ties together. Your guests will appreciate the little touches because they all add up to create a thematic experience.
Doing it well ✨Want to see an event organizer that nailed the brief when it comes to the event theme? Check out All American Throwbacks and their recent Emo Night.
Not only did they book a live band to play emo and pop punk classics from the 2000s, but guests were also encouraged to commit to a themed dress code of studded belts, black eyeliner, and teased hair.
Here’s a taste of how they developed their event theme through music to create a sense of time and place:
3. Gamification experiences
Gamification is all about using game-like elements to increase attendee engagement, participation, and interaction at your event.
Why use gamification?
Because by encouraging more active participation at your events, people don’t just go to your event, they’re a part of your event. Gamification also stimulates networking and adds a bit of friendly competition to enhance the overall experience and promote engagement.
If you’re looking for examples, you could try adding points-based systems to activities, setting up leaderboards and quizzes to keep guests entertained, or even planning a scavenger hunt at the start of your event so event guests can get to know your venue.
Doing it well ✨If you’re looking for an example of how gamification can work alongside an event theme to create a successful event experience, look no further than ThingstodoDC.com and their Scavenger Hunt of the Smithsonians.
Starting at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building, this event sees guests split into teams and race across different Smithsonian Museums in the capital to find various items and artifacts.
4. Tactile experiences
Tactile event experiences utilize sensory elements like sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste to create a richer, multi-layered experience.
Why create tactile experiences?
The way you combine sensory elements can heighten immersion and create a mood or environment that feels engaging and cohesive. For example, you could create an ambient soundscape, scent diffusers, tactile seating, or temperature control to transport your eventgoers to a specific time and place.
Doing it well ✨To see tactile experiences done right, check out The Congregation Detroit and their recent Sensory Wine Experience.
As you might guess, this special wine tasting combined taste and smell to create a unique sensory experience. Guided by a wine connoisseur and complemented by charcuterie, desserts, and palate cleansers, it was a tactile experience no taste buds could possibly forget!
5. Personalization experiences
Personalization is all about customizing aspects of the event experience to align with the interests, preferences, or past interactions of your attendees.
Personalized journeys and unique personal touches (both big and small) make your event guests feel seen and valued — often improving attendee satisfaction and loyalty.
Looking for examples of great personalized experiences?
You could try personalized welcome messages for your guests, tailored agenda recommendations based on people’s interests, or custom swag bags catered to each individual.
If you’ve partnered with Eventbrite, you can even create and sell different ticket classes to create different experiences. For example, you could set up a VIP package to include personalized swag bags or certain ticket types that land users with personalized photo experiences.
Here’s how to create different ticket types:
Doing it well ✨For lessons in building personal experiences, it’s worth taking a peek at Tri-Synergy Counseling and their Reducing Anxiety: Wellness Intensive for Women workshop series.
Each workshop gives guests the chance to open up to experienced counselors on a one-to-one basis so they’re able to learn personalized anxiety management strategies designed specifically for them.
Nothing’s more personal than that, and we’re totally here for it.
6. Food, beverages, and catering experiences
Food and drink experiences are a brilliant way to build curated food and drink offerings that align with the theme and atmosphere of the event.
A great food and beverage experience can make an event more enjoyable and memorable. And our research shows interactive or unique dining experiences are the sort of experience people are after.
According to our TRNDS 2024 report, 70% of eventgoers like to experiment with new food and flavors. So how about introducing some themed cocktails, chef stations, food trucks, interactive tasting sessions, or unique food presentations?
Doing it well ✨Want to see how food and drink experiences can combine with theme to create a next-level event? Check out Twisted Vine Restaurant.
Their unique Hijacked Holiday Murder Mystery Dinner event places guests in the middle of a murder mystery — giving them the chance to help events unfold while enjoying a delicious meal.
7. Networking and social experiences
People want to explore meaningful connections, and that’s why networking experiences really bring people together.
By carving out social spaces and structured activities, you get to facilitate interaction and relationship-building among your attendees.
For example, you could set up lounge areas or breakout rooms to get people talking, or ice-breaker sessions, speed networking activities, social lounges, and games to get people talking and laughing together.
Doing it well ✨For a fresh take on your traditional networking experience, take a look at SHCCNJ and their Atlantic City Hospitality Fiesta 2024.
This annual cocktail event doubles as a showcase for local entrepreneurs and Hispanic-owned businesses to meet up, exchange ideas, and create human connections.
If you need help visualizing, take a look at what their past fiestas have been like:
8. Sustainability experiences
Sustainability in events is all about integrating eco-friendly practices or social impact elements into the event design — and it’s in high demand right now.
Researchers at McKinsey found that 78% of US consumers say maintaining a sustainable lifestyle is important to them.
And according to Eventbrite’s TRNDS 2024 report, 81% of eventgoers say they’re willing to pay more for sustainable events. And last year, attendance at events focused on nature and the outdoors grew globally by 25% on Eventbrite.
Translation: sustainability is good for business. Better yet, incorporating social responsibility elements can improve an event’s reputation and attendee goodwill.
For example, you could set up a waste-reduction program for your event series, use sustainable materials and digital swag, or make charitable donations on behalf of your attendees.
Doing it well ✨Sustainable Northwest Wood really has this experiential element down. Their MAKERS MARKET brings together local artisans and crafters to sell their sustainably sourced goods so that customers can rest easy knowing all of their purchases are good for the environment and their communities.
Add beer, wine, a food truck, coffee, cocoa, sweet treats, and an appearance from Sasquatch Santa, and this is one market that ticks all the boxes.
3 Strategies to help you create a memorable event experience
It doesn’t matter which experiential elements you’re keen to explore. There are plenty of opportunities to turn your event into a unique, one-of-a-kind experience — and we’re here to help.
Here are three event strategies to supercharge your experiential elements and take your event journey to the next level:
1. Use technology to create hybrid experiences
Integrating technology is an innovative way to craft a more holistic (and modern) experience for your guests.
For example, let’s say you decide to team up with an events management platform like Eventbrite. Our range of digital tools enables you to set up hybrid events so that both virtual event guests and in-person attendees can have a unique and engaging experience.
To add to your hybrid experience, you could create an event app with hybrid break-out spaces so remote attendees can network with in-person attendees, or integrate virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) tools to give your guests the chance to explore event content in a range of virtual experiences.
2. Bring the “wow” factor
A “wow factor” makes your event more memorable and encourages free, organic promotion for your upcoming events.
Consider your event theme, goals, and purpose — then utilize those aspects to brainstorm ideas to really wow your guests.
For example, you could book a major industry influencer as your keynote speaker. Or you could opt for some immersive decor that transports party guests to a unique sci-fi destination or bring in live entertainers to greet your attendees.
3. Experience what your competitors have to offer
If you want to improve the guest experience at your events, it’s critical that you attend the events of others. So, look for similar events in your vertical and attend as a guest.
Once you’re booked in, identify the key elements that make those events special — but also try to pinpoint what’s missing. You can also chat with other guests about what they do and don’t like, then action those learnings to create your next experience and guide your event planning.
Try exploring events in your area to see what is (and isn’t) already out there.
Let’s start building event experiences
At the end of the day, events are all about creating meaningful and emotional connections. People want to try new things — different flavors, unique sounds, ways of thinking, and everything in between. That’s why it’s absolutely critical that you place experience above all else when organizing your events.
And if you need a hand getting started, Eventbrite is here to help. From setting up custom seating arrangements to create more immersive experiences to selling tickets and utilizing tech integrations to build slick, hybrid events, we’ve got you covered.
