International Confex is ready to welcome back event profs to discover an exciting seminar programme and meet innovative suppliers, iconic venues, and exciting tech providers to help shape their future event plans.
International Confex is set to return to ExCel London, bringing together the largest gathering of event professionals in the UK. Thousands of events organisers are expected to attend on the 8th and 9th March to catch up with venues and suppliers across the industry. Organised by Mash Media, visitor badges also give delegates access to The PA Show, Event Production Show and The Publishing Show for even more networking and content opportunities.
A full programme of talks and seminars will be hosted by leading bodies of the industry to discuss the key talking points facing the current events landscape, with open discussions on corporate event, sales, and marketing innovation strategies also on offer. Major touching points will continue the global topic of sustainability, with Manchester Central Chief Executive Shaun Hinds delivering a presentation in the Confex Theatre on day one, revealing the latest industry research and insights into developing a carbon-neutral events industry.
Event tech is also making a big presence with a comprehensive overview of the market’s hottest technologies and opportunities for suppliers to demonstrate the latest online and hybrid extensions to live events in The Event Tech Zone. Head of Marketing at Shocklogic, Johnny D. Martinez, will lead the discussions at the Event Tech theatre with a presentation on using gamification tools to enhance events, while Hyperight CEO Goran Cvetanovski will share ideas on how planners can combine elements from virtual and in-person events for a more meaningful experience for all involved.
Networking opportunities will be also at the heart of the show, with the Mash Hub hosting several events in collaboration with leading industry publishers, including Conference News, Exhibition World and Access All Areas. The networking sessions include the Women in Exhibitions Network and the Diversity Trail, which returns for its second year. Launched by Diversity Ally, the project continues to highlight the exhibitors with similar brand values for attendees to connect with and share the discussion on diversity within the industry. Speed networking sessions are also taking place throughout Confex
’22 for attendees to register for, providing opportunities to meet innovative suppliers face-to-face for one-hour sessions spread out across the two days in the Confex networking bar and VIP lounges.
Working together to secure the future of in-person events, discussions on the concept and development of a legacy programme will also be held by several major industry leaders, including Barbara Calderwood of MCI UK. The sessions will focus on the value of in-person meetings and how event planners need to work harder to justify the need to meet face-to-face. The interactive discussion will give delegates the opportunity to develop the conversation in smaller groups and collaborate on creating a published paper for the wider events community.
“The events industry is the most dynamic sector in the world and, if anything, the pandemic has served to speed up rather than arrest the evolutionary process of events and their significance,” said Director Liz Agostini. “International Confex ’22 will reflect this evolution, not just from the most obvious angles of technological advancement, but ethical, environmental and cultural progress. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all our fantastic exhibitors, sponsors and speakers who make Confex the leading event for UK event profs for the past 39 years. Confex will continue to be the showcase for best practice, with lively debate and invaluable insight guaranteed.”
To register for International Confex 2022 and view the full agenda, visit International- confex.com