Looking for the best event management companies to help you manage the logistical aspects of your events?
It can take several sleepless months to plan, organize, and run just one event. And when you work for a large organization in the professional services or technology industry, where hundreds of different types of events take place every year, the pressure to pull off a successful event is even higher.
Event management companies can take some of your stress away by providing logistical support throughout the entire event planning and execution process. No matter whether you need support with in-person event management, virtual event management, or hybrid event management.
But how do you make sure you’re selecting the one that offers all the event management services you need?
We’ve worked with 50+ event management agencies in the 20+ years we’ve been in the event tech industry. And many of them use our enterprise event platform and customizable mobile event app to help organizations to ensure their customers’ events are a success.
That’s why we’ve created a list of the top event management companies to help you, along with our customers from the Big Four professional service networks and leading technology companies around the world, make the right decision when selecting the best event management agency for you.
We are compiling a comprehensive list of the top event management companies and are always adding to it. If you would like to be added to the list or would like us to update your details, please complete this form. We will review your information the next time we update the list.
*This list is based on SpotMe’s experience with event management companies. It is not yet a fully comprehensive list and the companies are listed alphabetically.
What are live, virtual, and hybrid event management companies?
Event management companies specialize in planning, organizing, and executing events. Whether you’re hosting a live, virtual, or hybrid event, the right live, virtual, or hybrid event management company can make all the difference between success and failure. With proper support and expertise, they can help you pull off a unique and memorable event.
These days, it is more important than ever to find an experienced event management company that will handle all the event details from start to finish, especially for large organizations that run hundreds or thousands of events every year.
Event management companies can provide essential services such as venue selection and catering, as well as create unique experiences such as custom decor or entertainment. They’ll also be there to troubleshoot any issues along the way.
So, whether you’re planning a conference, townhall, or training event, the right management company can help make your event a success.
What is the difference between an event management company and an event production company?
When it comes to events, there are a few different services that come into play. Event management companies are responsible for the overall success of your event, while event production companies focus on technical aspects like sound and lighting.
An event management company often provides you with a project manager who is your main contact throughout the planning process. They are responsible for mapping out all the event details, such as budgeting, vendor selection, and timeline.
On the other hand, an event production company will provide specialized technicians who can take care of any audio-visual or technical needs for your event. This could include live streaming equipment, sound systems, lighting design, and more. They can also handle any technical glitches that may occur during the event.
Whether you need an event manager or a production company depends on your specific needs and the type of events you’re hosting. An experienced event team can help you find the right balance between both agencies to ensure your events run smoothly and successfully!
To find companies that offer both event management and event production services, take a look at our list of event management companies below and our list of event production companies to find the right one.
Key event management services
When choosing the best event management company for you, you’ll want to look at their key services. Different companies have different offerings, so shop around and find what suits you best.
Here are some of the key services most event management companies offer:
- Event planning: The event planners help you design, plan and execute your events in a way that stays true to your vision. They know the best vendors, venues, mobile event apps, hybrid event platforms, virtual event platforms, and other resources needed to guarantee success.
- Event site selection: Depending on the size and format of your event, you may need help choosing the perfect location for your attendees. In-person and hybrid event management companies have access to multiple vendors and venues that they can recommend based on your needs and budget.
- Budgeting: Creating a budget is one of the most critical steps in planning for an event, and it takes more than just crunching numbers. With an event management company on board, they can create a comprehensive budget plan for you that accounts for every cost associated with the event.
- Logistics/operations: This is where most of the grunt work comes in – the logistical details required to make the event run smoothly (like setting up a registration system). A good event planning company will be able to handle this smoothly and efficiently so that you don’t have to worry about it.
- Marketing/promotion: Promoting an event can be difficult. But luckily, most event management companies are equipped with marketing professionals who know how to get the word out about your upcoming shindig! From social media campaigns and email blasts, to print materials and website design, they’ll help ensure everyone knows about it!
No matter whether you hire an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event management company, they will make event management a breeze!
3 benefits of working with an event management company
With in-person, virtual, and hybrid event management, there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of details that have to be taken into account. Working with an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event management company can make things much easier for you.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of working with the best event management companies:
Expertise
The first thing to consider is expertise. Event management companies work with events all the time, so they know how to plan an event from start to finish and keep everything running smoothly. They’ll be able to help you create an event that will wow your guests and ensure that all the details come together perfectly.
Experience
The best event management companies also have years of experience planning events. They know how people like to be entertained, what kinds of activities are most popular, and which vendors provide the best service. That saves you time when it comes to researching vendors and lets you focus on other aspects of your event instead.
Networking
Event management companies have contacts in different industries, so they can help you find vendors for your event quickly and easily. This can be especially useful when planning a large-scale or high-profile event since getting quality vendors is essential for success.
If you want your next in-person, virtual, or hybrid event to stand out from the crowd, working with an experienced event management company is one of the best ways to do it!
What makes a top event management company in 2023
Now you know that finding the right in-person, virtual, or hybrid event management company can help you turn your event vision into reality. But what makes for a top event management company in 2023?
Here are some of the qualities you should look for:
- Comprehensive services: Look for an event management company that offers full-service event planning and management services, from event concept creation to decor, catering, and more.
- Flexibility: The best companies should be able to seamlessly transition from in-person event management to virtual event management and hybrid event event management with ease.
- Experience: The top event management companies will have experience in managing events of all sizes and types. Look for companies with extensive portfolios that have worked with clients of all kinds.
- Connections: The best companies will have established relationships with high-quality vendors in the industry. This way, you won’t have to worry about getting the best deal for each element of your event.
- Technology: Top-tier companies will be up to date on the latest innovative technologies that can boost engagement at any type of event.
- Customer service: A great company will demonstrate a commitment to excellent customer service throughout the entire planning process. You should feel supported at every step!
All in all, if you’re looking for an event management company in 2023, ensure they have these qualities for a stress-free experience!
Looking for ways to keep audiences engaged at your events? Check out our blog post full of event engagement ideas.
How to choose an event management company
Now that you know what makes for a top event management company in 2023. But how do you choose the right one for you? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expertise
When it comes to events, you want experts. The best event management companies have specialists with deep knowledge of their field. They know what it takes to create a great event that meets all of your requirements. And they know how to keep stress levels low and avoid unpleasant surprises. So, make sure to research the company’s past experiences and their portfolio.
Budget
You want to make sure that the event management company can work within your budget while still delivering a quality product. Some companies may be cheaper upfront but cost more because they don’t follow through on their promises or have additional hidden fees. So be sure to read all the terms and conditions before making any commitments.
Rapport
You must have a good rapport with your event management company. After all, you’ll be working together for months – and even years – so be sure there’s trust between both parties for things like pricing and project timelines. The best way to establish a rapport is by getting references from previous clients who had similar needs to yours.
Services
Find out what services the event management company offers. Do they just focus on in-person event management or do they also do virtual event management and hybrid event management? Knowing what services are available can help you decide if they’re the right fit for your needs.
Technology capabilities
Ask what kind of technology solutions the event management company uses for their virtual and hybrid events. The right technology can make or break your event – so be sure to ask how the company’s technology stack can meet your specific needs.
Ensure your event management company is experienced, offers competitive prices, and has a positive working relationship with past clients – this will increase your chances of pulling off a successful event.
The best in-person, virtual, and hybrid event management companies in 2023
Agency EA
Chicago, IL
Agency EA is a female and minority owned, MBE certified, full service brand experience agency, operating out of Chicago. These Experiential Alchemists, (EA) have been finding creative solutions since 1999 and have grown their employee base to over 100. The event management company’s specialties include:
- Platform and Venue Selection
- Content Management and Run of Show
- On-Site Staffing
- Rehearsals and Testing
Take your hybrid event or virtual experience to the next level like noteworthy brands and Agency EA clients Facebook, Intuit, Hilton and Samsung already did. Whether big or small audiences, Agency EA is ensuring company events leave lasting impressions.
BCD Meetings & Events
Chicago, IL
Headquartered in Chicago, BCD Meetings & Events brings people together to elevate experiences through remarkable event management whether hybrid or virtual. With a culture of purpose and a team spread across the globe, BCD M&E specializes in meetings management, event solutions and sports.
A long list of comprehensive abilities make this an unparalleled hybrid event management company to consider in 2023. BCD M&E’s services include:
- Venue sourcing
- Event management
- Delegate management
- Accommodation
- Group travel and logistics
- Event production and film
- Event creative and communications
- Virtual Meetings
And more!
GPJ
Detroit, MI
GPJ is the world’s leading event and experience marketing agency employing more than 1,400 workers across 30 global offices. This employee owned agency serves clients like Google, Under Armour, IBM, and a plethora of others who want a well executed in-person or hybrid event.
As you would expect with any event management giant, GPJ holds a wide range of capabilities, but one that is new and unique is their all-inclusive, business-first, virtual & hybrid experience solution, Ospre. This easy to use, full brand experience, is the perfect solution for a variety of companies looking to kill their next hybrid event.
With headquarters in Detroit and offices in almost every continent, GPJ’s reach is sure to expand into 2023.
To get a 6-month practical, step-by-step guide on how to organize a hybrid event, see Hybrid event planning: an executive guide and 6-month practical plan.
Imagination
Multiple Locations Worldwide
Imagination is an experience design company founded on the idea of independent creativity and challenging the status quo. By refocusing their efforts around consulting, immersive destinations, innovative content, and live engagement, Imagination knows what it takes to produce and manage a hybrid event that succeeds.
The event management company was awarded the prestigious Campaign Agency of the Year award in 2020, and Canon, Ford, Samsung, MLB are a few brands that make up their growing client list.
Dynamic live events, live streams, PR and more, are securing Imagination’s seat at the table in the hybrid space. These creative “imaginations” are giving more people access to powerful and moving experiences.
ImpactXM
U.S. and Zurich, CH
Impact XM has been empowering brands for over 50 years while adapting to the ever changing marketplace. This full service event and experiential marketing agency employees over 300 people while managing roughly 6,000 projects annually.
The event management company’s services include strategy and creative, client service and event production, fabrication and logistics, and analytics and measurement.
Impact XM thrives in creating virtual exhibits and virtual environments that captivate their audiences. With constant awards for creativity and innovation, it makes sense why AT&T, Intuit, and many other companies keep knocking on their door.
Jack Morton
Boston, MA
Jack Morton is a brand experience marketing agency that pushes the boundaries across live, virtual and hybrid events. Their ethos revolves around creating a sense of community and bringing the culture of that environment to life. Clients like Adidas, NFL, and countless others have made this a top hybrid event management company to consider for 2023 and beyond.
No task is too much for this Brand Experience Agency of the Year winner and Bronze medal recipient for Best Virtual Experience. The creative team at Jack Mortan leans into experience design to make the most interactive and fresh hybrid experiences out there. Planning further into the future with “touchless experiences” and “low touch technology,” Jack Mortan is creating a hybrid event management playbook many will want to get their hands on.
McVeigh Global
Amityville, NY
Since 1994, McVeigh Global has been providing innovative, cost effective meeting management and event production solutions on a global level. A significant component of this is their specialization in life science and pharmaceutical meetings, congresses and incentives.
By creating human connections, McVeigh brings people together, both virtually and in-person, to make extraordinary things happen. Some of which include:
- 2D/3D immersive environments which can take a gala or tradeshow to another level.
- ConnectUp, a service that rethinks speaker meetings by partnering with local restaurants to provide food delivery to all attendees
- Other hybrid and virtual engaging options to ensure audiences don’t suffer from screen fatigue
These strategic management services are some of the most refined features offered by companies on this list and certainly bring the “wow” factor to 2023 hybrid events.
MCI Group
Geneva, Switzerland
MCI Group is an independently owned agency, headquartered in Geneva and with offices in more than 30 countries. They have been building creative solutions since 1987 and developing events with “the feeling of live and the power of virtual, combined.”
MCI Group helps deliver a variety of events including:
- Company Anniversaries
- Galas & Awards
- Grand Openings
- Product Launches
- Entertainment and Sports Events
Just to name a few.
Using creativity and technology to engage audiences in a personal, participatory and immersive way, MCI is creating “human-centric and multichannel touchpoint solutions to engage and bring people together.” If sustainability is of importance when choosing a hybrid event management company, MCI is also an advocate and practitioner of limiting their footprint.
Meetings & Incentives
Caledonia, WI
This award winning, women-owned organization operates around the globe with offices in the U.S, U.K. and Brazil. The team of over 300 specializes in end-to-end event management of all types including meetings, conferences, incentive, as well as other strategic business operations. This CMI Top 25 Meetings Management Company was an early adopter of event technology, and is an expert in reducing the digital gaps that many companies face today.
When it comes to hybrid events, a dedicated meeting manager will:
- Source, vet, and manage streaming platforms
- Manage attendee registration and event logistics
- Engage attendees with targeted event marketing communications
- Design email invitations and registration pages
- Write, edit, and design presentations and supporting meeting collateral
- Enhance attendee experience with PhyDigital activities
- Setup and test on-site streaming services
Among other duties!
The hybrid event management company’s event tech experts and creative team can also enhance any event with custom content, gamification and more.
Exploring your hybrid event platform options? Check out the 15 best hybrid event platforms in 2023.
Vok Dams
Germany
Creating brand experiences that inspire the world is how Vok Dams is landing clients like: BMW, Ferrari, and Porsche. The hybrid event management company defines hybrid events as live-marketing plus MoSoLo (mobile applications, social media, location-based services), and ensures all of their clients are privileged to just that.
Integrating social media activities, programming event apps, managing digital content for events or exhibitions are just a few of their hybrid event capabilities they possess to ensure brands are connected to both the real and the digital world.
Building on interaction and gamification of events, the hybrid event management company has continually pushed the envelope since 1970 and works with a team of over 200 worldwide. Captivating audiences and event stimulation is a mainstay of the Vok Dams experiences.
Key trends in the event management industry for 2023 and beyond
It’s a big year for event management, with organizations searching for hybrid event management companies to help them run events that have both physical and online aspects.
Knowing the top event management companies can make a big difference to your events. But what trends should you be aware of in 2023?
Hybrid event management
Hybrid event management involves blending both physical and virtual elements for a truly unique and immersive experience. This type of event is ideal for those who want to reach both in-person and online audiences, such as large professional service companies who organize global partner and customer conferences.
To get a 6-month practical, step-by-step guide on how to organize a hybrid event, see Hybrid event planning: an executive guide and 6-month practical plan.
Virtual event management
Virtual events are still around even if in-person events are on the rise. Event organizers are working with virtual event management companies to focus on creating immersive virtual experiences that range from interactive webinars to virtual trade shows. These types of events offer an opportunity to reach audiences around the world in a socially distanced way without sacrificing engagement levels.
If you’re not sure how to track the success of your virtual events. Read our article with the event metrics we recommend monitoring.
In-person event management
In-person event management is the type that most companies are familiar with. This format involves attendees being physically present, so it is a great way to get participants interacting with each other and networking. A lot of in-person events also have digital elements such as an event app to keep audience engagement high.
Social responsibility
Being socially responsible is becoming more important than ever in the world of event management. Companies are looking for ways to create more sustainable events that reduce their carbon footprint. This includes using eco-friendly materials wherever possible and focusing on reducing waste, water consumption, and energy usage.
To find out how to run more sustainable events, check out our blog post.
Discover the event management platform top event management companies use
SpotMe is the enterprise event platform tailored to high-touch industries. With global customers, including the Big Four professional services networks and leading technology companies, we offer an integrated, customizable solution that keeps audiences engaged at any event format.
Run true hybrid, in-person, and virtual events with a branded mobile event app (or congress companion app). Give your participants a hyper-personalized, interactive experience they will love with activity feeds, networking, moderated Q&A, polls, gamification, customizable agendas, a meeting scheduler, and more. And make events more accessible and inclusive with live captioning, translations, and on-demand content.
Thanks to easy-to-use templates and deep CRM integrations, get consistent first-party data insights that flow into your CRM and help you drive your next best action. And with 24/7 instant support and white-glove onsite services and production services, hosting events has never been easier.
Ready to run successful events with an event management company and an engaging event platform and app? Request a demo now.
SpotMe was named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023. Get your complimentary copy of the Forrester wave report now.
Want to feature on our list of the best event management companies?
We are compiling a comprehensive list of the top event management companies and we are always adding to it. If you would like to be added to the list or would like us to update your details, please complete this form. We will review your information the next time we update the list.
Event experts who contributed to this article
- Olivier Aubert (Business Development & Partnerships Director, SpotMe)
- Pierre Boesinger (Head of Sales, SpotMe)
