IBTM World has announced first details of its Knowledge Programme for the industry trade show which takes place at Fira Barcelona, 29 November -1 December. Featuring a refreshed format with three keynotes and five targeted tracks, this year’s Knowledge Programme has been designed, say organisers, to provide cutting-edge insights and tangible take-home learnings.
In partnership with ACS, IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme will focus on the event’s core theme of ‘culture creation’ as the business events world adapts to a more disparate working environment post-pandemic, and will include session tracks on connections, business, careers, brands and experiences.
IBTM World’s first keynote speaker will be Anick Beaulieu, VP, growth and partnerships at business event C2. She and Igor Beuker (pictured), futurist and entrepreneur, will discuss how business entertainment can shape culture, using the C2 Montréal event as a case study.
The second keynote is Gareth Kelly, senior director and head of strategic events EMEA at Salesforce. He will explore how Salesforce uses its empowering and inspirational events to bring better business results and create meaningful cultural experiences for businesses.
Day three features Igor Beuker again, who will share his radical vision and ideas on the question: What will the events look like in 2030?
Another highlight of the event is Despoina Zachariadou, lead UX designer – creative technologist VR/AR, Jack Morton Worldwide. She will explore storytelling to story experiencing, as she considers how the metaverse is shaping communication, behaviours and communities and what implications it may have for the future of events.
David Thompson, event director, IBTM World, said: “Our market-leading Knowledge Programme is the place to be inspired by the best expert speakers from within our industry and beyond, all under one roof. We’ve gathered an amazing schedule of new voices this year, to deliver fresh perspectives, interesting solutions and thought-provoking concepts. This is content that delivers tangible, take-home value, and that will inspire people to think outside the box and help them create their own incredible events.”
A full programme of sessions will take place on the IBTM Accelerate stage, which returns this year to help answer delegates’ questions on the future of the events industry. This year IBTM Accelerate presents ‘Tech for Good’, with three days of content that aspires to assess where the industry is now, what it looks like in the near future, and what is to come next in the world of technology, both within the events industry and out.
With a combination of interviews, keynotes, panel discussions and highly interactive formats, Accelerate will look at everything from Gamification, the metaverse, AR and VR, to the changing face of technology in events, and how it fits into a new world of ethical, values-driven events.
Accelerate stage speakers include creative director at Chorus, Grant Dudson, who will examine the future for tech innovation at events.
Other highlights of IBTM World include the Global Meetings & Events Trends report presented by AMEX and the annual IBTM World Trends Watch report, presented by its author, Alistair Turner, MD of Eight PR. A preview of the 2023 Trends Report is now available for download on the IBTM World website.
On the 28 November The Association Leaders’ Forum and The Corporate Experiences Day will both take place in Barcelona. The Corporate Experiences Day is a tailored day of learning for Corporate Buyers, designed to provide an interactive look at the latest technology and sustainability developments within the events industry. The Association Leaders’ Forum, curated by Stylianos Filopoulos, international associations expert, will consider the role that associations can play in our changeable world.
