5 Trends to Elevate Your Next Lansing Meeting

Planning an event in Michigan’s capital region gives you a head start: walkable streets, unique venues, and a hospitality ecosystem ready to shine. But to make your meeting unforgettable, you’ll want to weave in these five trends and tap local assets to bring them to life.

1. Immersive, Experience-Driven Design

Attendees no longer want to passively absorb content; they want to feel it. Design micro-moments (pop-up interactions, storytelling arcs, ambient zones) scattered thoughtfully throughout your event venue. Tap into offsite options like local breweries, museums, or art spaces. In Lansing, a break or networking session might spill into Grewal Hall at 224 with its flexible layout, or use Copper Moon, a stylish industrial space in Old Town, as an evening reception site. Today’s attendees crave experiences that reflect the local culture. Incorporating the spirit of the city creates lasting memories and helps support the local community.

2. Personalized Attendee Journeys

Leverage AI and event data to adjust your programming on the fly. AI tools allow planners to curate personalized experiences based on the local offerings and opportunities. Leverage these tools to make every guest feel like your event was designed just for them.

3. Sustainability Practices

From digital programs and reusable signage to locally sourced catering, planners are prioritizing eco-friendly choices. Lansing is a green-conscious city with vendors and partners who support sustainable practices, making it easier to reduce your event’s environmental impact without sacrificing quality. Collaborate with local organizations such as Greater Lansing Food Bank to add a hands-on volunteer or give-back component to your event. Sustainability storytelling: From pre-event emails to on-site signage, communicating your green choices builds attendee buy-in and reinforces your brand’s values. Are you using onsite badge scanning and printing? Gone are the days of preprinting and stuffing badge holders!

4. Wellness-Integrated Opportunities

Attendee wellness is top of mind. Planners are building in mental and physical health breaks, mindfulness sessions, and even local nature walks. With Lansing’s scenic river trails, parks, and wellness-focused venues, it’s easy to incorporate activities that help participants recharge between sessions.

5. Accessibility by Design

Accessibility has become one of the defining trends in modern event planning and Lansing is being recognized for this. It’s no longer about compliance; it’s about creating events that welcome every body and every ability.

What’s shaping the trend:
Destinations and planners are embracing universal design principles, sensory-friendly spaces, and inclusive tech to make events seamless for all participants. Accessibility now spans physical, digital, and experiential design.

How to do it

• Offer captioning, transcripts, and ASL interpreters for sessions.
• Design websites and event apps that meet digital accessibility standards.
• Provide wide aisles, barrier-free entry, and accessible seating at every venue.
• Include sensory-friendly rooms and quiet zones for neurodiverse attendees.
• Communicate accessibility features in pre-event materials and signage.

Why Lansing leads

Lansing is nationally recognized as an Accessible Destination and featured by Destinations International and Destination Verified by Wheel the World for our inclusive travel initiatives. Our Accessible Travel Guide highlights hotels, attractions, and trails designed for all visitors. 

Bottom line

Accessibility isn’t an accommodation; it’s an advantage. Hosting your event in Lansing sends a clear message: everyone is welcome here.

Contact the Experts

Partner with Choose Lansing® early in your planning process! Our team can connect you to local experts, help you navigate regional assets, and support your sustainability, inclusion, and experiential goals. Let’s plan something that doesn’t just check boxes but is a memorable experience for your attendees!