A large majority (84%) of meeting attendees say they love bringing their “authentic selves” to work events — highlighting the growing demand for genuine, in-person connection, according to new research from Hilton called Why We Gather, a special section of the company’s 2026 Trends Report.

The report also found that two-thirds (67%) of attendees report feeling less engaged during events if they don’t get downtime, with 55% admitting they’ll skip sessions to decompress if breaks aren’t built in — making well-being a must-have in today’s event agendas.

Commissioned by Hilton and conducted in partnership with Ipsos, the research, according to the company, provides a global perspective of the meetings and events experience, with insights stemming from a survey of more than 3,000 adults across the US, UK and India who plan to attend an in-person work meeting or event over the next two years.

Why We Gather, according to an announcement, builds on Hilton’s World’s Most Welcoming Events platform and the launch of The Meetings Maximizer Report last year, which leveraged proprietary research and tested solutions to reimagine how meetings and events can be more welcoming across generations.

Chris Silcock, president, global brands and commercial services, said, “As the world of meetings and events evolves, this new research reaffirms our commitment to powering meaningful connection by revealing what truly motivates attendees today.”

Global trend highlights cited in the report include:

• Nearly half (49%) of respondents say meeting new people and bonding with their team will be the main reason they attend work events in 2026.
• 67% agree that AI assistance during work events helps them maximize the event experience by saving them time and effort that can be spent doing other things that are more important to them.
• 84% agree that experiencing a local culture is a big perk of attending work-related events.
• 83% are highly conscious of looking productive during meetings or structured programming.
• 71% admit to mirroring the actions of leaders whose careers they aspire to.
• Over half (57%) globally have changed outfits multiple times a day to ensure they’re dressed appropriately for the occasion.

• While 76% enjoy leaning into work-organized wellness activities, 38% prefer to spend their free time recharging on their own.
• 81% of parents agree that getting some alone time away from the pressures of parenting is an underrated benefit of work events.