Event technology provider Cvent’s engagement solutions Attendee Hub is gaining significant traction among regional meeting planners.
Will Kataria, country head and senior director, Asia Pacific, told TTGmice that Cvent is seeing demand for tools – which focus on event engagement through features like Q&A and polling – “as planners seek to offer experiential events with robust tracking capabilities”.
Kataria noted that “smart events” that utilise event technologies and strategies to boost audience engagement, enhance post-event value and improve return on investment include integrating AI, AR and VR technology, use data analytics to personalise agendas and content (on-site and post-event) to foster ongoing dialogue.
“Additionally, there is growing demand for lead capture and tradeshow solutions. This trend is evident even at corporate conferences, where there is a noticeable shift towards on-site lead management solutions that move beyond the traditionally manual or basic versions embedded in apps, which often fail to deliver a satisfactory experience,” he shared.
According to Kataria, Singapore is reportedly leading the Asia-Pacific region in adopting advanced event solutions, though significant demand is also emerging from South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, signalling a wider regional trend toward innovative event technologies that improve attendee experience and streamline management.
Meanwhile, Kataria advises that meeting planners, as they navigate economic and geopolitical uncertainties and prepare for future improvements, should focus on centralising event data “to gain a clearer view of programmes and harnessing technology to streamline planning, measure success and make venue sourcing and promotion more efficient”.
“Get creative with venues and formats. Consider unique venues like golf courses or restaurants and explore virtual or hybrid formats to cut travel and accommodation costs. Flexibility with dates and locations can help us snag the best deals,” he elaborated.
Kataria also suggested focusing on hosting smaller, more intimate meetings with fewer than 50 attendees, which can still foster great communication and teamwork without costing a fortune.
She most recently served as group general manager of operations at Heritage Hotel Management.
She was most recently general manager at MGallery Gem Forest Nairobi and has held senior roles at Tribe and Trademark Hotels in Nairobi, the Drake Hotel, and Canopy by Hilton in Toronto.
