The LUXE Report 2025 - Report - Page 10
Technology: Enhancer or Distraction
Technology’s role in luxury events sparked lively debate. While it can undoubtedly enhance experiences, making journeys
seamless and enabling clever personalisation, delegates agreed it must always serve the human connection, not replace it.
The use of phones was a recurring theme. Several participants shared examples of events where phones were taken
away, such as concerts where devices were sealed in bags so audiences could be fully present. While at first frustrating,
many admitted it ultimately created a richer, more memorable experience. As one put it,
“You’re not looking at it through a screen, you’re actually living the moment.”
The groups discussed the potential for business events without phones, or at
least some sessions where phones are actively discouraged or banned.
“What makes me choose
one over another isn’t just
the offer or the spend, it’s
the people, the culture,
and the community you’ve
built around the event.”
Yet the bigger challenge comes even before the event: cutting through
the noise to secure attention in the first place. As one buyer revealed:
“On average, I get 30 to 50 event invites a week — some of them
extraordinary. What makes me choose one over another isn’t just the
offer or the spend, it’s the people, the culture, and the community
you’ve built around the event.”
Several planners also highlighted the importance of coherence:
aligning the technology with the theme and the “red thread”
running through the event. If the focus is wellness, for example,
the experience should encourage presence and balance, not
more screen time. Used well, technology can anticipate needs and
enable personalisation — but used badly, it risks becoming clutter or
intrusion.
