What the Cost of Living Crisis Means for the Events Industry
I’ve been thinking about the impact of the looming cost of living crisis on our industry. What does that mean for the events world?
Recent news reports say everyday spending is down, and it’s already hit hospitality hard, with 1 in 10 businesses closing in the past year.
It feels like the next wave will be businesses needing to curb spending—or at least be seen to curb spending. There’s a sensitivity that’s emerging, a shift in optics as much as budgets.
And events are inherently visible.
From lavish weddings to high-end brand activations, they don’t just cost money, they show that money has been spent. That kind of visibility used to signal success or ambition.
But right now? It might be seen as tone-deaf if not carefully framed.
Clients are starting to ask different questions. Not just “how much will it cost?”but “how will it look if we do this now?”
So what does that mean for the events world?
From private celebrations to corporate hospitality, no corner of the sector is immune. It’s not just about whether the money is there but whether it feels appropriate to spend it in certain ways right now.
I’m curious—have you already seen a shift? Is client spend dropping? Are budgets being reframed or rebranded? Are some events being postponed or repositioned entirely?
And for those of us working in event strategy and design, how are you helping clients balance perception and impact?
How are you justifying the spend while staying sensitive to the times?
It feels like we’re on the edge of another change, and I’d love to hear what others are seeing across the industry.
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Hey! I’m Rachella — founder of Event Kit and an Event Consultant with 25+ years of experience running world-class festivals and public events. I created Event Kit because I knew there had to be a smarter, less overwhelming way to plan pro-level events.
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