The Moment Has Arrived: Let’s Build the Blueprint for a Stronger, More Effective Industry.

With the generational gap, economic pressure, and the rise of AI, the event industry is evolving rapidly, bringing both challenges and opportunities. As professionals, we navigate increasing demands, higher costs, more competition and evolving expectations. But instead of reacting to these pressures, what if we shaped the future of our industry on our own terms and together decided how to tackle them so were all playing by the same Rules of Engagement?

Scope creep, pricing inconsistencies, idea shopping, just one more thing, clients or leadership who text us on holidays and weekends.. contract gaps, and supplier negotiations – all continue to challenge even the most experienced professionals. How do we strengthen industry standards and create a more sustainable path forward—without waiting for someone else to fix it?

We discuss these things behind closed doors—over coffee, in boardrooms, and at industry meetups. But it’s time to move beyond conversation and into action.

This session is designed for corporate planners, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals who want real strategies to survive and thrive in today’s evolving event landscape. If YOU had the power to set the rules of engagement, what would they be? What does a truly respected and structured event industry look like?

Together, we will co-create the blueprint for our future. Whether you’re a veteran planner who has spent decades navigating these challenges or are new to the industry and wondering what all the fuss is about—this is the session where we lay everything on the table, hash it out, and make a plan to put it into action.

Format and Content

• 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Welcome & Setting the Stage
• 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM | Opening Discussion Panel: Aligning Our Goals & Opportunities
• 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Interactive Roundtable Discussions: Collaborating for Change
• 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Key Takeaways + Response Panel: Transforming Insights into Action
• 12:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Closing Call to Action & the Future of Events
• 12:30 PM | Closing Networking Lunch

What You’ll Learn & Walk Away With

• Proving Your Value: How to demonstrate ROI, justify budgets, and position events as strategic business drivers.
• Negotiating Better with Suppliers: Strategies to protect your interests, secure fair contracts, and ensure long-term partnerships.
• Protecting Yourself: Setting boundaries, using contracts effectively, and getting paid for expertise—not just execution.
• In-House Planners: Ensuring recognition & fair compensation: tactics for ensuring your role is valued internally and advocating for salary, title, and resources.
• Entrepreneurs and suppliers: Levelling the playing field: Competing against unfair pricing practices, creative idea shopping, and industry-wide inconsistencies.
• Supporting the System: How we can build a more effective industry: from pricing transparency to potential accreditation models, we’ll discuss what’s possible and what’s next.
• A Powerful Network of professionals committed to driving real change.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s an opportunity to co-create real solutions that empower planners to work smarter, not harder, while ensuring the industry is stronger, more professional, and more respected. This highly interactive session will leave you with actionable strategies to make your role more manageable, efficient, and profitable while also addressing the bigger picture: How do we create a more sustainable, structured industry for the future? We’ll explore how to move beyond discussion and into action, turn this blueprint into reality, and define the role of industry associations, government, and corporate partners in driving lasting change.

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