How many times did we hear the phrase “you won’t have a calculator everywhere you go” or something similar in classrooms? Teachers had no idea how wrong they would be. From smartphones to smart fridges, even smart litter boxes, technology has woven itself throughout our world. It's no surprise that innovations in event spaces are part of that. And today’s guests are used to interacting with technology, not just sitting and listening. All of this has put smart surfaces (especially tables) on track to become the MVPs of event engagement and guest flow.
What Are Smart Tables (and Why Should Planners Care?)
Smart tables are touch-responsive, LED-integrated, voice-activated, or sensor-triggered tables. Think of your smart watch, but on a table. Imagine the possibilities at your next event. Create an immersive event experience by changing colors based on different phases of the event, let guests order drinks from their table, send live and dynamic directions like “Go to the photobooth now!” Handy for event planners, these smart tables would act as a personal assistant to help with guest engagement, info delivery, and experience personalization right at the tap of a finger.
More Than Tables: Expanding the Interactive Surface Experience
Smart tables may be stealing the spotlight, but they’re not the only surface changing the way we plan and experience events. Touchscreen kiosks, digital walls, and interactive display panels are quickly becoming must-have tech across corporate events, galas, activations, and expos, especially in NYC where innovation and guest expectations go hand in hand.
Touchscreen Kiosks
Placed near entryways, lounges, or brand activations, touchscreen kiosks act as digital concierges. Guests can explore the event schedule, browse maps, vote in real-time polls, leave video messages, or scan QR codes for deeper content. Bonus: They collect data with every interaction, offering post-event insights into what attendees cared about most.
Digital Walls
Think beyond LED backdrops. These massive interactive displays invite your guests to swipe through brand stories, play collaborative games, or post live event photos in real-time social walls. For corporate clients, they’re ideal for showcasing timelines, testimonial reels, or spotlighting sponsors. For private events or mitzvahs, they can double as custom photo backdrops or immersive memory walls.
Smart Counters and Activations
From cocktail bars that light up when your drink is ready to registration counters that greet attendees by name, interactive surfaces can pop up in unexpected places. Want to keep guests moving naturally through a showroom or multi-room venue? Use smart floor triggers or surface prompts to guide the journey without a single pushy announcement.
Why This Matters
Guests want to participate in the events they’re attending. These interactive touchpoints serve a dual purpose. They enhance engagement in the moment and give event planners rich behavioral data after the fact. They’re flexible, on-brand, and totally customizable. Whether you’re running a sleek corporate conference or a playful pop-up, these tools help you create personalized, tech-forward moments that feel anything but generic.
So yes, smart tables are game-changers. But in 2025, the smartest event planners are thinking bigger and bringing the whole surface into the story.
Boosting Guest Flow Without Breaking the Vibe
Nothing will break the mood of your event more than “Table 3, please move to the demonstration,” repeated until table 3 finally hears (or chooses to move.) Smart tables allow for crowd control to be staggered and effective without ruining the vibe that you’ve spent time and money curating. Ideal for large corporate events, multi-room activations, and seated galas, these tables can guide guests during activations, signal movement, light up or gently vibrate cues, and offer other customizable supports. Smart tables keep you from feeling like a naggy parent and your guests from feeling lost for the whole event.
Where Branding Meets Function
Smart tables let you seamlessly embed your branded digital content into functional event furniture. Give guests the menu, show them video intros, even have sponsorship promos. These devices will elevate your event storytelling from a picture on the wall or paragraph in a handout to interactive tech right in front of them. These tables don’t just serve content. They also give you insights. After your event, review the numbers on what guests clicked and interacted with. The tables become multifunctional, so you can turn any event decision into a data-backed decision.
Smart Tables Are the Smart Choice for NYC Event Planners
As an NYC event planner, smart tables will fit well in all of the events you plan. Try guiding breakouts at a corporate summit, revealing a product via interactive tabletops for a product launch, gamifying surfaces in experiential pop-ups, or telling stories during luxury galas through ambient table light patterns. Smart tables offer big benefits for NYC Event Planners. Most importantly, smart tables help you:
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- Stand out in the competitive market
- Match your fast-paced and innovative clients
- Customize to fit various themes and locations
What to Look For in Smart Surface Vendors
Ready to make smart tables your next move? There are a few things to look out for when getting smart tables for your next event. Check that the power and internet capabilities fit your venue. Make sure the tables have integration capabilities with other tech you might be using (NFC, RFID, apps, etc.) Look for a durability and style that fits the vibe you want. Don’t sacrifice aesthetics for tech. Keep looking until you find tech that fits you!
Future of Event Furniture
These aren't just gadgets. They're tools to help curate the experience down to the details, the tables. As the world becomes more and more embedded with technology, guest expectations will too. Make sure your surfaces are ready to meet and exceed them. Find ways to test, rent, or pilot smart tables at your next event!
Discover the Latest Event Tech and More at The Expo
From cutting-edge activations to the newest tools redefining guest engagement, you’ll find it all at The Event Planner Expo 2025. Oh, and don’t just attend. Reserve your booth and put your event business front and center to 3,000+ decision-makers, influencers, and high-end event clients. NYC’s smartest event pros will be there — will you?
