New interactive Exploratory Zone set to inspire delegates at IBTM World

Exhibiting companies include food printing company 3DFoodlab; projection mapping wizards Skullmapping; experience platform Amondo; flight simulators from Mach 3 Management; robot experts Robots of London; on-site event tech company Fielddrive; and pioneering 360 / VR Company Surround Vision. From a 3D chocolate model of the IBTM World logo, a synchronised robot dance routine and an immersive culinary experience to a demonstration of combat and virtual reality in team building, the Exploratory Zone will offer new ideas for enhancing customer experience.

Tech Bar, a technology consulting on demand during the event

IBTM has also introduced Tech Bar, run by Dahlia+ Agency, as part of the new zone. Tech Bar is a genius-bar style question and answer area staffed by technology experts who will run tech-focused and expert-led sessions to enhance technology skills; recommend apps designed to help busy professionals; review delegates’ social media and websites and check their LinkedIn profile to ensure they are being used to best effect.

What technology will have the biggest impact on the future of the Meetings Industry?

Kevin Jackson, Head of Ideas and Innovation at The Experience is the Marketing: “Overall, we are going to stop thinking of technology as a separate part of anything; it will simply be the way things are and will not be thought of as a different category of any industry. Specifically, for the meetings industry, we will get better at making the meeting the hub of the activity or community and allow people to participate wherever and whenever they want, rather like Sky Plus on your TV. You may join the meeting on your commute, attend in person or participate in a Q&A from your office”.

“We will gather emotional data during all meeting and events, either via ‘fitbit style’ wrist bands or through room sensors. We will be able to read in real time what is working, or not, and adjust programmes and predict outcomes. This will really nail the measurement weakness in the industry.

Finally, due to the removal of friction by digitised buying and the transparency created by blockchain, we will be able bring the down the barriers to mass participation. This will make the meeting and events industry the premier marketing channel.”

Kevin Jackson is Head of Ideas and Innovation at The Experience is the Marketing. A disruptor and thought leader with over 25 years’ experience, Kevin has worked with both global brands and start-ups and has been widely quoted in the media. He is also a guest lecturer and public speaker.

Kevin’s IBTM World conference sessions include ‘Growing your business: Work Less Win More’ and ‘How to win more business pitches’

Matthias Schultze, managing director of German Convention Bureau:

“I believe that any technology and innovation that helps create a positive user experience will have a crucial impact. Event attendees increasingly seek disruption, i.e. they expect events to offer something new and special. For instance, this could be any technology that promotes attendee engagement and interaction”.

Matthias’s IBTM World conference sessions include ‘Future meeting space: new requirements, new formats, new meeting areas’

Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC:

“I believe that there will be some serious breakthroughs in internet management over the next few years for conferences, through having greater control over internet infrastructure. We cannot be far away from being able to guarantee and allocate a certain level of bandwidth for each event that is secure and has strong signal and service.”

Mark’s IBTM World conference session is ‘2018 global research: Creating the ultimate meeting experience’