AI is worth more to organisers as a private tool than as a public shop window, according to an events chief. Simon Foster, group CEO of Arc Network, argues the organisers who come out of this cycle ahead will be the ones who keep their community data behind a wall and spend the technology on …

The rise of AI and deepfakes has seen a surge in CMO interest in live events, according to an events industry leader. Paul Miller, CEO of Forge, believes this trend is running alongside an increasing demand for targeted meeting programmes they are willing to pay for. Forge runs around 160 events and was formed when …

The world has become precarious on multiple fronts – whether it is due to geopolitics, economics or severe weather. Because of this, the events industry has become good at contingency planning but remains overly dependent on fixed dates, flagship gatherings, single destinations and hopeful attendance assumptions. Resilience must now be designed at portfolio level. This …

Footfall is no longer a number organisers can sell against digital channels, according to an events leader. Sharon Roessen, COO of Terrapinn, argues that the meeting is the only unit of event value that produces a figure a marketing director can compare with anything else they buy. Terrapinn runs around 90 events a year – …

Event organizers have long attributed the value of shows to the amount of content they can offer to participants – this has been the status quo for years. This means the more speakers, sessions, panels, exhibits – the better. The belief was that this makes the event more impressive and attractive to potential attendees and …

The exhibitor strategy has remained relatively straightforward for decades. They invest in a stand, attract attendees and hope that leads convert into real opportunities. That model is now obsolete and the exhibitor approach to events has fundamentally changed. In the following guide we will explore: What was the traditional exhibitor approach to events and why …

Jordan Yeates has joined event technology provider ExpoPlatform as its new Director of Engagement and Commercialisation. The appointment represents a significant step forward in the company’s goal to help clients elevate their event experiences and maximise digital ROI. Jordan makes the transition to the technology provider from major event organiser IMEX Group, where he previously …

UFI has shown positive industry results in the latest edition of its Global Exhibition Barometer. It revealed that 90% of companies outside of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have seen minimal negative impact from the current situation in the Middle East. A total of 27% of global exhibition businesses also expect annual revenue growth of more …

ExpoPlatform has been appointed to support tech-enriched meeting experiences across a number of Hyve’s events. The move involves structured meeting formats across flagship shows including Shoptalk Europe, Shoptalk Spring, Shoptalk Fall, Shoptalk Luxe, Groceryshop, POSSIBLE Miami, Fintech Meetup, Bett and CWIEME. Hyve facilitated more than 160,000 meetings in the last year – cementing the organiser …

Easyfairs is taking over full ownership of Nordic Live Expo, having been a long-term shareholder. The organizer now seeks to increase its commitment with a complete takeover. It is also a strategic move to further growth and development in the Nordics region. Your other main industry stories include: Arc appoints new US CEO and Group …

Events in the Middle East have cast a worrying question mark over the region ever since the conflict began earlier this year. The inherent impacts of these tensions are profound for the exhibition industry. Exhibitors, sponsors and attendees need to know which events are still going ahead in the region and how venues and organizers …

Apollo has announced the appointment of the new CEO of the recently unified Emerald and Questex. Paul Miller will take leadership of the combined company. The current CEO of Questex will start this role upon completion of the transaction. Your other top headlines include: IEG set to open new hall that will serve as the …

Easyfairs has announced that it is bringing together three of its leading pop culture events. The event organizer will launch the combined trio as Heroes World later this year. This strategic move aims to build on a strong foundation of success while creating a renewed visitor experience. Your other main industry stories include: Informa reveals …

The Singapore MICE industry is on the rise and now arguably the events capital of the Asia-Pacific market. Its regional access, relative geopolitical neutrality and excellent exhibition ecosystem and infrastructure are all massive contributing factors. But is there a catch to the growth of the Singapore MICE market? Or will it continue to cement itself …

The Hong Kong Tourist Board has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Informa. This agreement will see the global leading event organizer bring a portfolio of premium international exhibition IPs to the region. It is part of Asia’s first-ever “city-as-your-showroom” concept to reinforce Hong Kong’s reputation as “the world’s meeting place”. Your other top …

The events industry is built on bringing large numbers of people together for two-to-five days. It’s brilliant but can be draining. Each of these can last up to eight hours (not including informal gatherings post-event). Attendee exhaustion, overstimulation, exhibition fatigue and staff burnout are becoming recurring issues. In this guide we will unpack the following: …