Stress at an All-Time High in Events

The rise of dispersed workforces continues. Gathering employees face-to-face to strengthen company culture is more important than ever. More gatherings mean more work for meeting professionals, and many are feeling the stress. 

Approximately 79% of event professionals admit that their job roles are more stressful today than before the pandemic, according to a survey by IBTM World that is part of The Culture Creators Report 2023. 

Stress is Being Compounded

“Stress isn’t a new topic for event planners, but we’re now working with a backdrop of new challenges. This is undoubtedly taking its toll on the industry, as our data highlights, and we need to do more to support amidst the increased pressures,” says Nick Nagle, marketing manager at IBTM World.

In addition, 61% of event professionals report taking on additional responsibilities as part of their roles. There are long hours, tight deadlines, juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, heightened pressure, and more workload. Despite all the added stress, 90% of event professionals report no change to their compensation packages. 

Focus On Well-Being Missing in the Industry

Burnout and a mass exodus from the industry are possibilities as a result of record levels of stress. According to the American Psychological Association, those who feel undervalued will start to look for new roles. This is a challenging scenario as in-person experiences are needed more than ever.

Similar to the findings in this study, Janice Cardinale, founder of Event Minds Matter, an organization focused on amplifying the industry’s conversation on mental fitness, says a focus on well-being and dealing with stress is missing in the industry.

“We must concentrate on creating human sustainability going into 2024. If we don’t, the industry will go to pieces as we must sustain what we have as we are not attracting anyone new,” she says. “I am really frustrated by the lack of leadership around mental health.”