For large conventions, logistics will hugely benefit from AI. Anything from people flow, food distribution, layout and power, security, and hospitality can all be supported with AI, says TEDxMelbourne’s Jon Yeo.

At Convening Leaders, a large screen shared real-time data points with all attendees — thanks to machine learning and a few humans.

When it comes to event-tech decisions, your rule of thumb should be that customer experience trumps staff efficiencies. This means that instead of organizing around your organization’s products or silos, organize around your customers.

Rory Brett, VP and senior creative director for Jack Morton Worldwide, explores what artificial intelligence means for events.

What should strategists expect this year and next?

Mass alerts about an emergency situation might actually incite panic at an event. Here’s a more strategic — and safer — way to send text notifications. 

What are the top technology trends in the business events industry in the coming year? Who better to ask than the tech experts at Convening Leaders, many of whom presented educational sessions in the Innovate and Elevate Arena. We asked: “What’s the one technology trend you are keeping your eye on in 2019?”

All Convening Leaders participants were automatically registered for the Braindates platform for peer-to-peer networking. As the conference got underway Jan. 7, approximately 68 one-on-one and 51 group meetings had been scheduled, and more than 138 topics had been offered.

Freeman’s Ken Holsinger offers his perspective on respecting each attendee’s data and points the way to a brighter future in which appropriate data capture leads to better decisions and better experiences.

Five Convene editors looked back over 2018, asking this question: What’s one meeting trend we’ll be keeping an eye on in 2019?

Organizing an event or your work life? Here are suggestions for the tech tools you’ll want on your smartphone or laptop.