How Cvent in Dubai Highlighted AI’s Growing Influence on Event Strategies

Written By: Sunil Soren Majhi

Sunil Soren Majhi

I newly began my journey in journalism, focusing on the dynamic world of travel and tourism. As part of Travel and Tour World, I create engaging stories that explore industry trends, showcase impactful developments, and connect readers with the evolving landscape of global travel. My work reflects a passion for discovery, innovation, and meaningful storytelling

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October 8, 2024 4:43 AM

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Cvent, a prominent force in meetings, events, and hospitality technology, concluded its second annual Cvent Accelerate event in Dubai, focusing on the transformative impact of technology in the industry. This year’s conference centered on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to fuel substantial advancements in event planning and hospitality.

Drawing over 380 attendees, the event offered a dynamic lineup of sessions led by industry experts. These sessions highlighted the pivotal trends set to shape the future, with a particular emphasis on AI-driven analytics, which enable event organizers to create targeted strategies and significantly enhance return on investment. Sustainability also emerged as a central theme, with discussions on incorporating eco-friendly practices into event planning to support global environmental goals.

The high turnout at this year’s event reflects the industry’s renewed preference for in-person interactions. In line with this sentiment, a recent survey found that 47% of event planners expect an increase in face-to-face event demand, a trend that was clearly evident at Cvent Accelerate, where engagement levels were notably high.

Gokul Bajaj, Senior Director of Sales & General Manager, Cvent, emphasised, “Dubai’s events industry continues to thrive, gaining worldwide recognition for its international conferences, incentive events, venues, and exhibitions. 

“Event professionals are progressively embracing cutting-edge technology to improve efficiencies throughout the event lifecycle, spanning from procurement to post-event stages. They are aware that this uptake will not only fuel growth in the event-driven revenue but also propel them towards their desired goals for future expansion.  

Cvent Accelerate offers a stage where our community connects to explore possibilities amidst challenges and conventionalities. The valuable interactions with professionals from events, hospitality, and marketing have provided us with profound insights, offering diverse perspectives that ignite fresh opportunities, not just for Cvent, but for the entire events industry,” said Gokul. 

Industry leaders gathered to explore the future of event retention, planning, and management, focusing on how technology and data access can drive sustainability in the sector. Pioneering innovators presented transformative ideas, such as harnessing attendee foot traffic to generate event power and using aeroponics to cut down on food waste.

Cvent Accelerate Dubai made a tangible impact on environmental conservation. The event pledged to plant 118 trees in a mangrove reforestation site in Mozambique and committed to offsetting 18,000 kilograms of CO2e through investments in United Nations Certified Emission Reduction renewable energy projects. Additionally, the conference prioritized local participation, with nearly 99% of the 400 attendees and staff traveling from within the region, further reducing its carbon footprint.

Nico Nicholas, CEO, Trees4Events – Zeero – Trees4Travel, Cvent’s sustainability partner said: “With sustainability being more crucial than ever, there is an intensifying need for our leaders to inspire positive change, educate, reduce and mitigate the impact of events.  

“Events are a perfect platform to walk the talk when it comes to showcasing and implementing the sustainability goals.  The impact of events on environment is definite, and today we have advanced technology to understand the impression it leaves. We can easily track the data, analyse it and use it for implementing practices that reduces our carbon footprint,” said Nicholas. 

In its second year, Cvent Accelerate fostered vital discussions for event professionals, serving as a collaborative platform for venues, organizers, and suppliers to strengthen partnerships and drive innovation within the industry.