From the rise of silent meeting time and extreme
meeting preparedness, to the emergence of pod squad travel and 'frolleagues', Gen Z is redefining the future of meetings and events,
according to Hilton’s latest trends report.
The survey of more than 1,000 adults planning to attend an
in-person work meeting or event over the next two years uncovered key trends at
the heart of a welcoming meetings and events experience.
The results have been published in a special section of Hilton’s
2025 Trends Report – The Meetings Maximizer: The Next Generation of Meetings
& Events – paired with the new World’s Most Welcoming Events Playbook. Key
findings include:
Event prep 2.0: the surge of extreme meeting preparedness
- Attendees feel more welcomed at in-person meetings and
events when they receive an agenda in advance (71 per cent), receive a greeting
as they enter the event (61 per cent) and have the ability to text a number to
have their questions answered (59 per cent)
- With 47 per cent feeling anxious about joining a group of
people already in conversation and 45 per cent fearing that they will end up in
a controversial conversation, simple preparations can help ease anxieties and
promote positive personal branding and the confidence of event goers. For
instance, 54 per cent of event goers report feeling more comfortable having
icebreaker questions to help start conversations
Attendees seek a stress-free start
- Having food menus sent in advance (60
per cent), non-alcoholic drink options (52 per cent) and food options for
people with allergies (52 per cent) can reduce meal-time anxieties
- 79 per cent of Gen Z report feeling at
least a little anxious about not having the right attire when attending a work
event. Sharing suggested attire guidelines allows meeting goers (67 per cent)
to feel more prepared at in-person events
The rise of silent meeting time
- 78 per cent of respondents agree
that sometimes when they are at a work event, they need a break or time to
themselves. Having dedicated quiet areas to work or check work emails allows
attendees (65 per cent) to feel more comfortable at in-person events
- Having smaller meetings
instead of large ones enables attendees (62 per cent) to feel more at ease
speaking at in-person events
The emergence of pod squad travel
- 71 per cent agree that they have met
someone at a work event who has helped them further their career
- Attendees prefer to go to meetings or events if
they are with somebody they know (82 per cent), sticking to their “pod squad,”
or small group that attendees spend time with at an event. According to
Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report, nearly 30 per cent of global travellers (29 per
cent) often travel with “Frolleagues” – friends who are also colleagues – on
leisure trips
“The power of in-person gatherings and face-to-face
interactions is endless from strengthening workplace culture and building
greater team trust to ultimately driving business results,” said Frank
Passanante, senior vice president, global head of sales and HRCC, Hilton.
“Understanding the changing needs of customers and attendees and acting quickly
to evolve and innovate is pivotal to propelling our industry forward.”
To view the findings, read the full report at
stories.hilton.com/2025EventTrends.
