• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 6, 2023

Virtual-only events continue to have the biggest share of advertising/media industry events, according to an analysis compiled by the DBC Industry Calendar.

Virtual-only ones accounted for 43% of the 806 events listed in the 2023 calendar, up from 41% in 2022.

While share of live events remained constant at 38%, hybrid live/virtual combination events declined to 19% from 21% in 2022.

DBC President Bill Daddi says he doesn't know what the total universe of events related to the advertising, media, marketing and ad-technology industries actually is, but he described the DBC Industry Calendar as being representative.

Daddi attributed the continuing popularity of virtual events to a boom in single-day events that are well-suited for webinars.

The percentage of single-day events rose to 64% in 2023 from 48% in 2022. Two-day events declined to 14% from 23% in 2022, while three-day events fell to 12% from 17% in 2022.

Both years had the same top four U.S. host cities for in-person events -- New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. International events have dipped year over year from 17% to 13%.

“Much like we have seen with return to work, the pandemic has had a lasting effect on events," says Daddi, adding: "From ease of planning and attendance, to the cost of physical event production -- as well as lingering health concerns -- the trend of virtual events over physical ones has continued to be strong and I would expect that will continue into the foreseeable future.”