Event professionals looking for the right data platform and education to properly integrate data to enhance the attendee experience

TYSONS CORNER, Va – Cvent, Inc., the leader in meetings, events, and hospitality technology, today announced the results of a survey of more than 600 leading event producers, meeting planners, and corporate event marketers, as well as event attendees. The study, entitled The Power of Live Event Data, was conducted in partnership with Event Marketer between July and August 2017 and provides insight into how event professionals leverage technology to capture and analyze data and enhance the attendee experience.

The study revealed that 81 percent of event professionals say gathering data from attendees' digital and physical footprints at live events is extremely important so that event planners can track the attendee journey to create better events and realize their full ROI – but only 20 percent feel their organizations are effective at this integration process.

"It is essential that event planners and marketers have access to the proper tools and technology to gather and harness event data in a way that provides actionable insights," said Patrick Smith, Cvent's Chief Marketing Officer. "Having a better understanding of event audiences – and their interests and preferences – enables event producers to develop a more compelling program, produce a better experience, drive more attendance, and ultimately deliver a greater event ROI."

Highlights of the survey include:

• Three out of four event professionals feel their organization is missing out on marketing opportunities by not integrating a wider range of attendee data to build out and use attendee profiles. These profiles track the attendee journey and give planners and marketers additional insight into their customers and prospects.
• Event professionals feel they need to be more effective at collecting and using attendee data. Only 29 percent of event professionals say their organizations are effective at collecting data, and just 23 percent that say they are effective at using their event data.
• Most event professionals can do better at tracking and understanding what their attendees do while at their events. Only 38 percent of event professionals say they understand what their attendees do on-site.
• Event Attendee Survey Insights: On-site technologies provide a better experience for attendees. Eighty-eight percent of attendees agree on-site technologies, such as self-service registration kiosks, improve their event experience.

The study marks the launch of Cvent's global campaign, The Power of Live Events, which highlights the importance of experiential marketing, data collection, and technology to deliver world-class meetings and events.