Tech News

Jan 19, 2023
Event Tech Live (ETL), which was founded 10 years ago and has been held annually in London, is revving up for its grand in-person entrance in the U.S. with a Las Vegas edition this spring—the only conference and exhibition in the country focused exclusively on event technology. Registration is now open for Event Tech Live, Las Vegas, which will take place April 26-27 at The Expo at World Market Center. As with Event Tech Live, London, which this year is set for Nov. 15-16 at ExCeL, London, the Las Vegas edition is dedicated to bringing global event professionals together to experience and… more
Dec 30, 2022
Responding to the event industry’s need for a standardized data structure and communications protocol for digital, in-person and hybrid events, global assurance provider BPA Worldwide announced that versions 2.0 of the VSef (Virtual Standard Export Format) Standards Guide and VSef API Standards Guide are now available to download, review and implement.  VSef, which was acquired by BPA Worldwide in September 2022, is a data file reporting format designed to streamline the collection and exchange of data within the events industry by establishing standard data structures and common naming… more
Dec 09, 2022
Leading global industry trade association International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has become the latest organization to give its full support to VSef (Virtual Standard Export Format), including the RSDE (Reporting Standards for Digital Events) standards, citing  the continued value and importance of digital events within the world’s expositions and meetings industry. VSef was launched by event insights platform Explori in early 2021 as a response to the rising uptake of digital event platforms and the increase in virtual event experiences. Its goal was creating a global… more
Jan 13, 2023
ExpoPlatform, which uses AI-powered solutions to build events, communities and marketplaces across in-person, virtual and hybrid channels, unveiled the Event Tech Forecast 2023. The report focuses on how the digital evolution of the industry will shape businesses this year and features exclusive findings from professionals and expert insights from top contributors. The four sections of the report include: The amount of annual revenue expected to come from digital channels   The biggest windows of opportunity for event technology   The most important challenges facing event… more
Dec 29, 2022
The event tech landscape continues to evolve as the industry approaches a new year. From security and trust certification to a virtual event and webinar benchmarking report to the opening of award submissions, check out the latest happenings with Bizzabo, Notified and the Event Tech Awards. Bizzabo Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), has achieved Service Organization Control (SOC) 2® Type 2 compliance, which recognizes the company as a secure, trusted industry leader. The accomplishment demonstrates Bizzabo’s ongoing commitment to information security and signals that its… more
Dec 16, 2022
Grip, a leading artificial intelligence (AI)-powered event platform, unveiled MustMeet, a robust meeting scheduler for event organizers, in response to a surge in demand for more valuable and impactful interactions between buyers and suppliers at events. MustMeet uses AI to help organizers increase revenue and demonstrate ROI by easily adding transformational meetings to their events with automated meeting schedules. They can now automatically schedule, manage and host a range of meetings for participants at their in-person and virtual events with ease.  The benefits to buyers and suppliers… more
Dec 02, 2022
After being introduced to trade shows 40 years ago during his first job in public relations for the Netherlands Chambers of Commerce, Jimé Essink has had a prolific career in the trade show and conference industry, and his enthusiasm for events has never waned.   “I am passionate about the teamwork and what goes behind the organization of events, the anxiousness and anticipation if all will go well, and the shared excitement when the event is a success,” Essink said. “I will, for example, never forget the joy we had with the Hong Kong jewelry team, when we split the show successfully over… more
Nov 23, 2022
CampfireSocial, a private professional network designed for member-based or attendee-driven organizations to form meaningful connections, unveiled IGNITE!, software designed to strengthen industry relationships between exhibitors, sponsors and event organizers via a private networking platform. Utilizing CampfireSocial technology, IGNITE! streamlines the engagement experience for exhibitors, industry partners and sponsors so they can network among peers directly, form strategic partnerships, identify other companies for cross-collaboration opportunities or joint responses to RFPs, establish… more
Nov 18, 2022
Ever since she can remember, Anna Marie Rembold has been gathering people—starting with being the wrangler and organizer of friends as a kid, to organizing large groups of youth, to applying that passion to the corporate world. “I absolutely love people, and I love—like it’s new every time—seeing the power of people gather and make connections,” Rembold said. “Those connections power the world, and that’s inspiring." Nowadays, that includes virtual world connections as founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Metavent, a virtual events software platform designed to deliver unparalleled… more
Bizzabo SmartBadge technology
Nov 11, 2022
Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), unveiled Klik Experiential, featuring SmartBadge™ wearable onsite technology that empowers event professionals to deliver enhanced experiences for attendees and exhibitors while capturing insightful behavioral data. The new technology is designed to build upon Bizzabo’s wide range of in-person solutions for registration, check-in and lead retrieval, as the company has seen an increase of 724% in the number of in-person events on its platform between January and September of this year. Looking ahead, 85% of event organizers plan to host at… more
Partner Voices
Located in beautiful North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee is the perfect mountain getaway with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains and new additions to its resort and conference spaces sure to elevate any meetings or event. Completed in 2021, Harrah’s Cherokee’s latest $330 million expansion project introduced an entirely new fourth hotel tower, The Cherokee, as well as an additional 83,000 square feet of meeting space with the Cherokee Convention Center. The Cherokee tower brings with it 725 rooms and 70 luxurious suites spread out over 19 floors for a grand total of 1,800 rooms across the entire resort. The new rooms feature a sleek design with an earth-toned color palette and modern amenities. In addition to the new rooms, the expansion also brought with it a luxurious new lobby and lobby bar, a fitness center, a coffee & pastry bar, and a second pool. Conventions, trade shows, banquets, receptions, and even the smallest, most intimate gatherings can find the perfect arrangement at Harrah’s Cherokee with its 130,000 square feet of flexible meeting space – including the Cherokee Convention Center. The resort offers a myriad of different spaces and configuration options for events, but the largest spaces include the following: 32,000-sq-ft Cherokee Convention Center ballroom with 22 meeting spaces 11,100-sq-ft Cherokee Convention Center ballroom pre-function space 33,000-sq-ft Cherokee Exhibit Hall 6,000-sq-ft Cherokee Exhibit Hall Pre-Function 13,801-sq-ft Council Fire Ballroom able to be reconfigured into as many as four ballrooms from 3,100 to 3,529-sq-ft each 16,815-sq-ft Event Center able to be configured in six different ways to accommodate 100 to 1,500 guests and offers four VIP suites, box seating, and more than 1,100 balcony seats. In addition to the new accommodations and meeting space, Harrah’s Cherokee has also opened several new restaurants as part of the expansion including Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar which includes the chef’s award-winning burgers and barbeque on the menu. Another celebrity chef has also made their mark on the resort with the opening of Gordon Ramsay Food Market which features eight dining concepts ranging from sushi to New York-style deli sandwiches and classic fine-dining fare. Longtime Asheville favorite, Wicked Weed Brewing Pub has also debuted a new location next to Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center creating the perfect after-event center with its bright and bold design, over thirty different beers, and live music on weekends. An easy drive from many of the largest cities in the Southeast, Harrah’s Cherokee provides the perfect blend of majestic mountainscapes, luxurious new accommodations, and authentic Native American culture.