Event tech trends outlined at IMEX America

The rise of event technology was outlined at IMEX America as thousands of industry professionals gathered in Las Vegas.

ExpoPlatform was at the event to showcase our solutions, learn from colleagues and gain new insights about the future of live shows.

We found a number of key trends around digital tools which will emerge in 2023.

Download the AI Blueprint to learn how data science can help improve the offerings of a organiser.

Meanwhile, IMEX America coincided with the world’s largest tech show as innovators went to Dubai for GITEX Global.

The show, which utilised ExpoPlatform digital solutions, saw the announcement of a new GITEX Africa. Read the full Week in Events for more.

Event tech in focus at IMEX America

Predictions for the development of event tech were set out at IMEX America, with key trends to keep an eye on.

The 11th edition of the show involved four days of business and networking that heralded a welcome return to form for the industry.

Around 12,000 people took part – including more than 4,000 buyers of which 3,300 attended the hosted buyer program.

Luke Bilton, ExpoPlatform’s Chief Growth Officer, was among the event tech experts who set out predictions for the rise of digital solutions through 2023.

He said: “Smart Events – using technology to add value to in-person events – is arguably the most important trend for the year ahead.

“Planners are focusing on using technology to create more valuable live experiences, taking the tools they adopted during the pandemic and applying them improve key areas of the visitor or exhibitor journey.”

Examples of this include the surge of mobile app use – three times higher than 2019, more focus on improving exhibitor ROI, tech-fuelled hosted buyer programs as well as personalisation.

Dahlia El Gazzar told ExpoPlatform how this final area will be key for the coming year.

The founder of Dahlia+Agency said: “What I see will happen with event technology in 2023 is that it will humanise and personalise journeys of each stakeholder when it comes to an experience.

“For examples, for attendee it’s going to personalise the conversations they can have and the content they consume.”

You can read Luke’s full analysis for event tech trends in 2023 here.

New GITEX venture launched at tech mega show

A new international venture from GITEX has been announced at the mega tech show.

Thousands of innovators met at the Dubai World Trade Centre to meet, learn and do business last week.

The latest edition of the showcase saw the launch of a new international venture through GITEX Africa, in partnership with Morocco’s Digital Development Agency.

GITEX AFRICA marks the first international venture for world’s mega tech showcase, in partnership with Morocco’s Digital Development Agency! #GitexGlobal pic.twitter.com/0COoz7wMzO

— GITEX GLOBAL (@GITEX_GLOBAL) October 11, 2022

Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president of Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “The time for Africa is now. Against a stuttering world tech market, Africa has risen and punched well above its weight recently, with big tech investments rocketing and start-ups funding recording the best year ever in 2021 at six times over the global average.

“It takes a lot to build and sustain an outstanding tech event. GITEX has a global following of communities that trust the brand’s motivation in discovering new tech geographies and marketplaces for greater empowerment and knowledge sharing in the new generation economies.

“The Digital Development Agency Morocco is committed to accelerating widescale digital transformation of its society and the tech modernisation of the wider African continent.

“The unified commitment from the stakeholders embodied in GITEX AFRICA shall amplify the African tech opportunities and bring to forth the world’s next biggest digital economy.”

The inaugural GITEX Africa will take place between May 31 June 2 in Marrakech, Morocco.

ExpoPlatform provided event technology for the mega tech GITEX Global show at the DWTC.

Easyfairs becomes co-owner of services firm

Easyfairs has become co-owner of an exhibition stands constructor based in Sweden.

The move follows a long-standing collaboration between the organiser and Malmö Mäss-Service to build effective meeting places.

Easyfairs now assumes a 50% ownership in Malmö Mäss-Service from co-founder Lena Rosén Persson while Peter Hinderoth, co-founder and 50% owner, remains as CEO.

Joachim Warnberg, CEO of Easyfairs Nordic, said: “It is a great pleasure for us at Easyfairs to further strengthen the successful collaboration with Malmö Mäss-Service and CEO Peter Hinderoth.

“We strive to deliver inspiring, effective and sustainable meeting places for the communities we serve, and the partnership with Malmö Mäss- Service makes us better at doing just that.

“By working even closer together, we will be more efficient and able to deliver superior customer value whilst reducing our carbon footprint.”

Messe Frankfurt joins net zero mission

Messe Frankfurt has signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge with a view to driving forward sustainable development in the industry.

This was initiated by the Joint Meetings Industry Council and is supported by various organisations and associations across the sector.

All those that sign the pledge commit to making their events more sustainable and climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest.

Sustainability first: #messefrankfurt is one of around 1,000 companies participating in the pilot project for the new UN #globalcompact reporting, which is based on internationally recognized sustainability standards. From 2023, they will be mandatory for all companies. pic.twitter.com/teGmp9Bbzo

— Messe Frankfurt (@messefrankfurt) October 12, 2022

Wolfgang Marzin, CEO of Messe Frankfurt, said: “Messe Frankfurt aims to work closely together with the sectors to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable events.

“Through its active membership of national and international associations, the group plays its part in gradually reducing emissions and working towards the target of zero net emissions in the global event sector by 2050.”

Eventprofs can download the free Sustainable Events Checklist which sets ways organisers can reduce their carbon impact.

Leaders set goals for Asian events growth

Decisionmakers across Asia have identified five key collaborative areas to focus on to grow business.

The Joint Leadership Summit in Singapore saw government representatives and events industry leaders gather for talks.

It saw them agree to develop five key areas to activate the potential of shows and to boost growth through international and regional collaboration.

The areas of focus are:

• Define Business Events as “controlled gatherings”
• Establish Business Events as both an economic and tourism tool
• Accessibility
• Talent and capability development
• Sustainability

Dato’ Vincent Lim, president of the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations, said: “All of us are united in rebuilding and reviving Asia’s Business Events and MICE industry together.

“We hope for businesses and governments to work with stakeholders in closer collaboration to create a powerful synergy to drive our industry forward and upwards, as it is an important and invaluable economic contributor to many countries.”

We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful. At ExpoPlatform, we want to help you build better events and communities. Please get in touch and ask for a demo here. Thank you.