AR & VR for Events: Revenue Opportunities You're Ignoring

AR/VR

Pranay Bhandare

4 Min

May 9, 2025

The events industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with augmented and virtual reality technologies opening doors to revenue streams that many organizers haven't fully explored. While these immersive technologies have been around for years, their application in events remains surprisingly underutilized, despite their potential to significantly boost engagement and profits.

Unlocking Premium Interactive Experiences

Have you considered charging for enhanced immersive experiences? Today's event attendees are increasingly willing to pay extra for unique interactions that traditional events simply can't offer. Think virtual backstage passes, exclusive digital meet-and-greets, or product demonstrations in fully-realized 3D environments.

Smart organizers are implementing tiered access models—offering basic immersive features to all attendees while reserving premium interactive content for those willing to pay more. This approach satisfies both casual attendees and those seeking deeper engagement without alienating either group.

Gamification Creates New Sponsorship Avenues

The integration of AR-based scavenger hunts, interactive challenges, and virtual competitions does more than just entertain—it opens entirely new sponsorship categories that traditional events can't match.

These interactive elements are particularly effective with younger audiences who have grown up with gamified experiences. Millennials and Gen Z attendees often rate experiential elements as the most memorable parts of events they attend, making AR/VR gamification a powerful tool for both engagement and monetization through brand partnerships.

The Hidden Value in Attendee Data

Perhaps the most overlooked revenue opportunity lies in the rich data collection capabilities of AR and VR platforms. These technologies can track precise user interactions, attention patterns, and preference indicators in ways physical events simply cannot.

As third-party cookies continue to crumble, this kind of first-party behavioral data becomes increasingly valuable. Forward-thinking organizers are already packaging these insights for sponsors or using them to refine future offerings, creating entirely new revenue streams from information that would otherwise go uncaptured.

Virtual Networking Spaces Transform Connection Possibilities

Traditional networking at events has always been limited by physical constraints—you can only meet people who happen to be near you. VR-powered networking lounges demolish these limitations, allowing avatar-based interactions regardless of geographical barriers.

This technology enables the creation of premium networking tiers, exclusive digital meeting rooms, and AI-powered matchmaking services that physical events can't replicate, all of which represent new monetization opportunities.

Global Reach Through Hybrid Attendance Models

Why limit your event to those who can physically attend? AR and VR technologies enable truly engaging remote participation options that go far beyond simple livestreams. Virtual attendees can explore interactive booths, participate in networking, and enjoy exclusive digital experiences.

This approach doesn't just increase ticket sales—it fundamentally expands your market beyond geographical constraints, potentially multiplying your audience many times over while adding new pricing tiers for different levels of virtual access.

Significant Cost Reduction Through Digital Assets

Beyond generating new revenue, immersive technologies can substantially reduce expenses. Digital AR assets can replace costly physical materials like printed brochures, elaborate stage designs, or physical signage—all of which represent one-time expenses with no reuse value.

Once developed, digital AR/VR content becomes a reusable asset that can be deployed across multiple events with minimal additional cost, dramatically improving your return on investment over time.

Enhanced Brand Activations Command Premium Fees

Traditional event sponsorships often suffer from poor engagement and difficult measurement. AR and VR activations solve both problems by creating memorable brand interactions while providing precise engagement metrics.

From branded photo opportunities with AR overlays to fully immersive virtual product launches, these technologies enable sponsors to connect with attendees in ways that justify significantly higher sponsorship fees than traditional banners or booth space.

The Social Media Amplification Effect

There's a reason AR filters have become so popular on platforms like Instagram and TikTok—they're inherently shareable. When attendees encounter novel AR/VR experiences at your event, they naturally want to capture and share them, creating organic social promotion that extends your event's reach far beyond the venue.

This amplification effect delivers value to both organizers and sponsors while driving interest in future events, creating a virtuous cycle of engagement and promotion.

Why These Opportunities Remain Untapped

Despite clear consumer interest (research shows 67% of attendees want AR elements at events), only about 48% of event brands currently offer these technologies. This adoption gap represents a significant opportunity for organizations willing to embrace immersive experiences ahead of competitors.

Many organizers still view AR and VR as experimental "nice-to-haves" rather than essential revenue generators, missing the substantial monetary potential these technologies offer when strategically implemented.

Moving Forward with Immersive Event Strategies

The event landscape is increasingly competitive, with attendees expecting more engaging, personalized experiences than ever before. AR and VR technologies provide practical tools to meet these expectations while simultaneously unlocking new revenue streams that traditional event formats simply cannot access.

From premium experiences and gamified interactions to valuable data collection and global audience reach, these technologies represent not just the future of events, but increasingly, their present. The question isn't whether you can afford to implement these technologies—it's whether you can afford not to.

About the Author

Pranay Bhandare
SEO Executive