The International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), the global body representing top global conference and meeting venues, has published its 2026 Meeting Room of the Future report, its most comprehensive annual benchmarking survey to date. Responses from 124 venues in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions highlighted rising expectations.
Produced in partnership with DCI the report builds on years of survey data to track shifting priorities, emerging trends and regional differences across the global meetings sector.
Emerging from this year’s data is a picture of a sector investing heavily in experience, connectivity and sustainability, without losing sight of what has always mattered most. Natural light, acoustics and food and beverage continue to score as highly with operators as any new technology investment.
Connectivity leaps up the agenda
Technology investment has accelerated sharply and 87% of venues report investing in internet infrastructure or hardware in the last two years, with 64% planning further investment in the next two. The importance of secure, dedicated client Wi-Fi has seen one of the sharpest year-on-year movements in the report’s history, rising from 8.2 to 9.3 out of 10, a clear signal that reliable, secure connectivity is a baseline requirement for venues.
Venue operators are clear that the basics still matter as much as any new investment, however. The importance of meeting room acoustics scored 9.2 out of 10, natural light 9.0 and dedicated refreshment break stations 8.8.
The report found that venues are feeling the pressure on affordable inspiring food and beverage offerings and so are their clients budgets. 89% of venues report an increase in requests to accommodate dietary preferences, with 42% citing increased costs as the primary operational challenge this creates. Over two-thirds (68%) agreed that higher food and beverage costs were directly impacting their service delivery.
Client expectations around sustainability are also growing. Locally sourced food and beverage is now the most-requested sustainability initiative, cited by 51% of clients, ahead of food waste reduction (33%) and plastic-free operations (29%). Eighty-five percent of venues say they use locally sourced produce wherever possible, and 83% say demonstrating sustainable practices has become more important to their business.
However, in terms of venue offering sustainable practices there were percentage drop backs from the 2024 survey in environmental sustainability certification (-14%), social responsibility statements (-2%), formal plans to manage food waste (-3%) and programmes to reduce the consumption of single use plastics (-7%).
Drinking habits are shifting too and 57% of venues report lower alcohol consumption among attendees.
Experience creation
More than two-thirds of venues strongly agree they are responsible for ‘experience creation’ as part of delivering successful meetings. Themed food and beverage is the most widely offered experience element (92% of venues), followed by teambuilding (87%).
Residential venues are leading the way on educational programming, with 58% actively enhancing educational content during meetings, up from 51% in 2024, compared to 32% of non-residential venues.
AI adoption
Artificial intelligence (AI) remains in the consideration phase for most venue operators. Guest services and human resource efficiency are the most commonly explored applications, though few venues currently use AI for workforce planning, menu design or food waste management. The data suggests the industry is aware of AI’s potential but is taking a measured approach to implementation.
Aurora Dawn Benton, consultant to the Events Industry Council, said: “Many staff in banquets have been in the industry, and oftentimes in their venue, for decades. The best AI-aided menu design is not going to overcome years of inertia where a human with emotions and influence can still override rules for service set-up, portion sizing and replenishment.”
Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC said: “The insights shared within this year’s Meeting Room of the Future report once again demonstrate the pace at which our industry continues to evolve. The perspectives and experiences contributed by venue operators and industry experts around the world provide valuable guidance that help us shape and navigate the future development of meetings and business events over the next two to three years.”
To download the full report, visit: https://www.iacconline.org/iacc-meeting-room-of-the-future
