It's time for our Huddle of the Week! As we continue to explore the top trends shaping the industry, this week we're taking a closer look at how event professionals are approaching venue sourcing in 2026.
The big shift? It's no longer just about finding the best rate. Planners are looking beyond cost and choosing venues that support attendee experience, experiential event design, and measurable outcomes.
That's exactly what our 2026 Cvent Global Planner Sourcing Report found. We surveyed 1,650 meeting and event planners globally and discovered:
- Nearly half of planners are sourcing special-event venues such as restaurants, art galleries, and other non-traditional spaces to create unforgettable "wow" moments.
- AI is becoming a big part of sourcing, with 75% of planners already using AI tools to support venue search, and 61% planning to increase their use this year.
- Experience is the top priority – the majority of planners (63%) cite attendee engagement as their primary success metric.
- What's your go-to strategy for balancing cost and creativity in venue sourcing?
- Have you started using AI or new tech tools in your sourcing process? What's worked for you?
- What's the most unique or unexpected venue you've sourced recently, and how did it elevate the experience?
#HuddleoftheWeek
#SupplierNetwork
#AI
#SourcingaVenue
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Megan Clark
Team Lead, Online Community Marketing
Cvent
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