Through January and February, the big focus for EventLAB was engagement, innovation and technology. We’re rounding up all the insight and knowledge EventLAB has shared over the last couple of months through events and online content. So here are all the things you can watch, listen to and read along with our four key takeaways.
LISTEN
TECH & TRENDS
The News Digest reviewed gadgets and innovations showcased at CES 2019. Sanj Surati, Digital Atelier at Tiger Heart chatted about his predictions for tech trends in 2019 along with the pitfalls to avoid when integrating the latest tech innovations into your existing marketing strategies.
GATHERINGS & GATSBY
The News Digest think globally with stories from Earls Court to Allahabad. Venue Talk returned with an inside scoop on two of London’s hottest upcoming venues. Finally, the Business Design Centre joined the podcast for a special announcement.
CREATIVITY & CLIENTS
Build better relationships and engage more of your audience at events with this episode of the EventLAB Podcast. Alongside a Valentines Day feature all about business relationships and a chat about event tech to enhance the audience experience, the News Digest are discussing questions submitted by you, the audience.
EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT
We’re always hearing about new tech but how do you actually employ it at your events? And is it even the answer? This episode brings you the highlights from our panel on personalising your events so you can impress each and every guest, along with a chat about the Internet of Things and the role it has to play in improving engagement at events.
WATCH
WHY A.I. FAVOURS THE TRUE SALESPERSON
As the Event Industry adopts A.I. how will this affect those working in sales?
IOT AND SMART TECH: WHERE COULD IT TAKE THE LIVE EVENT?
From EventLAB 2018: We hosted a discussion about smart devices, the Internet of Things and their place in the events world. On the panel we have, Theo Priestley, Futurist at World Future Society, Lauren Perkins, Founder of Perks Consulting and Rupert Barksfield, Founder, BigBearX and TheCryptoCrowd.
READ
WILL ROBOTS TAKE OVER? THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF A.I.
We welcomed Dr Maya Dillon, UK AI Lead at Microsoft and technology journalist Charles Arthur to the Conference Stage for an illuminating discussion on the misconceptions surrounding AI, followed by Will Swannell, co-founder of Hire Space presenting how he thinks the events industry will benefit from the technology.
EVENTLAB SERIES: COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PERSONALISE THE EVENT EXPERIENCE AND SURPRISE YOUR AUDIENCE
We welcomed 100 event professionals to LABS Camden House for a discussion on personalisation of the event experience and how to surprise your audience without breaking the bank. Here’s everything you need to know from our first EventLAB Series of 2019.
FAD OR FAB?: THE TECH INNOVATIONS THAT WILL SHAPE 2019 ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS
Every year brings a slew of new trends in technology and a new cycle of excitement and hype. But how do you sort the hot from the not? We asked leading professionals from across the industry for their predictions. Which innovations will be fab for events and which are just fads? See what they had to say then decide for yourself.
OUR KEY TAKEAWAYS
FOR TECH’S SAKE
Adopting new tech into your events and marketing strategies must always be justified. How does it integrate into your brand? What are the outcomes you want it to achieve? Time and time again we’ve seen the same message come up - adopting tech because it’s trendy or a fun gimmick is not the path to success.
IT’S NOT OPTIONAL
Personalising your event means defining your brand from all the others. Your guests need to experience moments that feel like they were just for them. If you can connect your brand to that, then you’re doing the right thing. Whether you do it with the latest tech to provide custom greetings when they touch in with an RFID pass or you write them a letter - event personalisation is a need to have.
PART OF THE NARRATIVE
When you incorporate new technology into an event, it should serve as part of your event’s narrative. Don’t just stick some VR goggles on a stand and call it a day. You’re not showing off the tech but instead, the tech should be showing off your brand.
NEW ISN’T ALWAYS BEST
One of the clearest messages from the Series event at Camden House was that sometimes classic analogue ways of doing things are still very effective at engaging with guests. A personal letter is often the perfect tool to avoid your event invite gathering virtual dust in someone’s inbox.
LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE
Through March and April, EventLAB's content focus will be all about working in the events industry, the challenges that can bring and how we can tackle them.
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