2022 in review

Happy 2023! Here at zkipster we have big plans for the year ahead, but as we jump into the new year we’re taking a look back at 2022...

...what we learnt, what we achieved and what we celebrated, as well as 2022 highlights from the world of events.

As restrictions eased and the world opened up again, the biggest story of 2022 was the emphatic, exciting return of live events after two years of uncertainty and hardship. Looking at the stats, the overall number of events was back to pre-pandemic levels and, while virtual and hybrid formats were in the mix, in-person events were definitely king. Events powered by zkipster span industries and event verticals, but some stood out in 2022, including…

Art, culture and entertainment came back with a bang in 2022, with iconic in-person events bringing people together again all over the world. The Art Basel and Frieze art fairs went back on the road, starting with Frieze Los Angeles in February and finishing with Art Basel Miami Beach in December, where zkipster powered the most sought-after events. Art event specialist Anna Clark shared her top tips for planning the best art world events with us, from the role of event tech to crafting the most memorable guest experiences.

In 2022 the film industry celebrated with global premieres; festivals everywhere from Berlin to Cannes, Toronto to Tribeca; and starry awards ceremonies; and in September the television industry descended on Los Angeles for the Emmy Awards.

The Television Academy, the esteemed organization behind the awards, is a zkipster client, and we were excited to collaborate with some of the expert professionals responsible for its many events on a series of Case Studies. Covering the Academy’s return to in-person events, hosting compelling member events, and the role of data and digital in its event strategy, the three Case Studies are packed with exclusive insights.

zkipster’s 2022 highlights also included the Nobel Peace Prize resuming its in-person ceremonies - we have worked with the organization for several years - and the return of the Venice Biennale. The British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is managed by the British Council, a cultural organization which uses zkipster to create connections at its events. We created a Case Study with the British Council that came out just before news broke that the British Pavilion had won the 2022 Golden Lion award for Best National Participation.

2022 was also a huge year for sport, with everything from horse racing to Formula 1 racing, cricket to tennis taking place in front of full-capacity crowds of spectators again. Arguably soccer had the biggest year of all, with both the Women’s Euro and the men’s World Cup tournaments being played in front of global audiences. We got the inside track on best-in-class sports hospitality in two more Case Studies with zkipster clients West Ham United Football Club and the European (golf) Tour.

Galas were particularly glorious in 2022. zkipster was proud to power several of the glitziest and most glamorous, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala and the amfAR Gala in Cannes. And we shared our in-house expertise in an essential three-part guide to gala planning that covered the fundamentals, the vendors, and guest management.

Enough about events in 2022, what about the event tech that powered them, and event industry trends? As the event world emerged from the pandemic with new rules and regulations to consider, QR codes came into their own. These tiny square barcodes transformed invites and RSVPs, sped up check-in, and improved event efficiency and safety.

The zkipster apps were updated to improve scanning and printing and Kiosk Mode, which allows guests to auto check-in, was introduced, ensuring our digital tool continues to maximize the power of QR codes. We heard first-hand just how smooth, swift and seamless event check-in can be with QR codes in our Case Study with Futurdata, a leading tech rental company and zkipster client.

Rapid, contactless QR code check-in with the zkipster app. Video courtesy of Futurdata

Hybrid, virtual and in-person were the words on every event professional's lips. While zkipster and our clients focus broadly on live events, there was definitely a place for all three formats in 2022, and this trend is set to continue into 2023.

Regardless of the way you choose to host your guests, creating, facilitating and understanding the connections between them is essential. The Relationships feature was designed to do exactly that, allowing zkipster users to build, nurture and master guest relationships, and take their events to the next level in the process.

We launched another major zkipster feature in 2022, this one delivering even better account and data security for our users. Teams & Permissions allows administrators to easily manage and transfer account and event access permissions for individuals and teams.

Our commitment to trust and security also led to zkipster achieving ISO 27001 certification in December 2021, and we rounded out the year by being re-certified in December 2022.

A 2022 highlight for the global zkipster team was our off-site in Dubai; the first time in two years that many of us were able to meet in person. As well as reconnecting with colleagues and brainstorming ideas, we were lucky enough to experience Emirati hospitality and customs with a view to expanding into the region.

And we thought it was about time we updated the Company webpage to better showcase the vision, mission and values that power zkipster….as well as the amazing people behind the product.

We’ll be looking at the year ahead next - watch this space for our thoughts on what’s sure to be an eventful 2023…

Our media partners BFA capture many of the world’s best and buzziest events, including several of the images included here - discover more of their work here.

Header image: Soho Grand's 14th Annual NYE Black & White Masquerade Ball, New York. Photo by Bre Johnson / BFA.com ⓒ BFA .