LONDON: 11 November 2024 – Cvent CONNECT Europe, one of the region’s largest meetings, events and hospitality technology conferences, hosted by Cvent, brought together conference thousands of industry professionals both in-person London and online last week for three days of networking, education, and hands-on technology training. Cvent CEO and Founder, Reggie Aggarwal, opened the conference with a keynote reflecting on Cvent’s 25-year journey and what the milestone meant for its fast-growing European customer base and the industry’s digital transformation over the last quarter century. Aggarwal recalled how the company started as a simple online event registration tool, well before “SaaS” (software-as-a-service) was a technology standard, to becoming “a global marketplace where the entire meetings and events ecosystem comes together.”

In his keynote address, Aggarwal highlighted Cvent's growing momentum through new AI-powered product launches and strategic acquisitions over the past nine months, aimed at expanding platform capabilities in trade show management, lead generation, and event marketing. Key additions include Jifflenow for meeting automation, iCapture for lead capture, Reposite for AI-powered vendor sourcing, and most recently, Splash—an event marketing platform used by hundreds of leading global organisations for smaller, field marketing events. 

Aggarwal also expressed his excitement and optimism about the industry, highlighting an era of rapid technological transformation and the continued prioritisation of in-person experiences. “The events industry isn’t just bouncing back—it’s evolving, reshaping how we work, connect, and engage,” he remarked, signalling a future driven by innovation, resilience, and human connection.

The keynote concluded with Aggarwal sharing insights into three trends and market dynamics driving industry growth. He highlighted these trends as:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Rapid AI advancements are transforming the events landscape, enabling smarter, more efficient planning and delivering data-driven insights that elevate attendee experiences. Cvent is investing heavily in the AI space, with 200 technology experts working on AI developments and more than 20 AI-related product initiatives in production. “We’re doing the heavy lifting with AI so our customers don’t have to. We believe planners, marketers and hoteliers should be able to leverage AI so that they focus on what matters most: creating impactful moments,” said Aggarwal.
2. Prioritisation of Value and Impact: Amid economic pressures, organisations are increasingly prioritising spending with clear, measurable ROI. Aggarwal stated, “nothing consistently delivers direct business impact better than events.” Events continue to be essential for customer engagement, relationship building and revenue growth. Aggarwal highlighted that Cvent’s integrated platform supports businesses in demonstrating event value and making data-driven decisions: “Effective events deliver value not just on event days but throughout the entire customer journey.”
3. Resurgence of the Experience Economy: As hybrid work changes how and why people attend events and travel, demand for meaningful in-person experiences is surging, both professionally and personally. “The experience economy is here to stay,” said Aggarwal. “In-person events are vital for building connections and community.”

Together, these trends signal a new era in which technology, efficiency, and experiential impact are central to event success.

Fireside Chat with Conference MC Dermot O’Leary

Following his keynote, Aggarwal sat down with TV and radio presenter Dermot O'Leary for a lively Q&A session, where they discussed Cvent’s commitment to the UK and European markets. “Europe’s diversity—spanning over 44 countries—requires a highly tailored approach,” Aggarwal explained. He highlighted that Cvent's 200-member local team and strategic engagement with other regional technology leaders, including Amadeus, Thynk, and MeetingPackage, alongside more than 250 third-party relationships and 30 industry partnerships, enable the company to meet regional customer needs more effectively with a localised, hands-on approach.

Aggarwal also shared his philosophy for Cvent’s continued success: hiring the best people, building the best products and listening closely to customers. “With intelligence and innovation as our tailwinds and the human spirit as our guide, nothing can stop us,” he stated. He concluded by emphasising that as Cvent continues to embrace AI and digital transformation, the focus remains on creating memorable, engaging experiences that deliver critical value to organisations, communities and the global economy.