Greetings event professionals, thinkers, doers, and boundary-pushers,
It’s April 2025, and the events industry is no longer in the process of bouncing back. We’re in full flight. From New York to Singapore, Oslo to Osaka, the energy is real, the conversations are bold, and the innovations? Borderline sci-fi. In this month’s edition, I’ve pulled together a curated roundup of the biggest shifts, stories, and signals that crossed my radar, filtered through my lens as an event industry observer, curious critic, and ever-hopeful optimist.
Let’s get into it.
If April taught us anything, it’s that the US events landscape is hitting its stride with swagger. It’s not just about recovery anymore—it’s about reinvention. And frankly, they’re doing a fine job of it.
Let’s talk event production mergers. When High Output, L!VE, and Sardis decided to join forces, what emerged was more than just another big fish. This merger signals a new playbook: scale with soul. These firms aren’t just aggregating services; they’re consolidating experience, legacy, and vision—120+ years of it. As we continue to move toward integrated experiences, this move feels less like consolidation and more like curation.
Meanwhile, AI in event planning is no longer a fringe idea. Shift+Alt Events launched a platform projected to save planners 20–30 hours per event by automating communications and personalisation. Freeman unveiled a session summariser powered by AI that captures and shares live event insights in real time—brilliant for attendees and proof that event tech innovation in the USA is driving change.
But beyond the tech, Global Meetings Industry Day reminded us what’s at stake. As US landmarks lit blue and planners lit up LinkedIn, the message was clear: #MeetingsMatter. Not just in GDP terms—$126B in travel spend and 620,000 jobs—but in their ability to drive dialogue and transformation.
Key takeaway: The US is not just scaling events. It’s redesigning them with heart, AI, and impact.
EMEA continues to be the soul of global event strategy—where sustainability and innovation walk hand-in-hand.
Green meetings are leading the charge, with isla launching “Made Possible”, a sustainability summit inviting planners to interrogate their own impact and co-create solutions. It’s not about guilt—it’s about action. Sustainable events in Europe are going deeper.
Meanwhile, AV innovation in Frankfurt took the spotlight at Prolight + Sound, where themes like “ProGreen” and “MultiTech” redefined immersive design. From mood-responsive lighting to XR staging, the future of experience delivery is experiential to the core.
Then came Kru Live’s acquisition by the Brand Partnership Group—a major signal that event staffing trends are shifting. Precision and quality in experiential delivery are no longer negotiable.
Policy also had its moment: the APPG for Events expanded its advocacy efforts in the UK, reminding us that legislation and live events are not separate conversations.
Key takeaway: EMEA is leading on sustainability, elevating tech, and forging the future of experiential teams.
The APAC MICE market is setting pace for the global industry—rapid, ambitious, and strategically sound.
Hong Kong unveiled a blockbuster calendar of 93 mega-events this spring, highlighting government-backed confidence in live experiences to reboot tourism and culture.
In Japan, Expo 2025 Osaka officially opened with 160+ countries participating and ambitious, future-focused content under the theme “Designing Future Society.” Despite early controversy around cost and timelines, it’s quickly become a symbol of optimism, featuring innovations in sustainability, accessibility, and the world’s largest wooden dome.
Meanwhile, Singapore cemented its reputation as a thought leader by hosting both PCMA’s Business of Events and the Meetings Show Asia Pacific. These gatherings addressed the big issues: engaging Millennials and Gen Z in events, designing wellness-first experiences, and embracing hybrid flexibility.
Key takeaway: Asia isn’t catching up. It’s innovating through infrastructure, creativity, and next-gen thinking.
All eyes now turn to IMEX Frankfurt 2025, the pinnacle of global MICE events, set for 20–22 May. And by all accounts, it’s shaping up to be record-breaking.
With more than 4,200 global meeting planners and over 3,100 suppliers from 150+ countries, IMEX Frankfurt will host the biggest MICE community gathering since 2019. The theme? Global reconnection, sustainable destinations, and forward-thinking event tech.
The education programme has been entirely reimagined. Nine content tracks—including two newcomers, “Design Matters” and “Leadership & Culture”—will cover everything from neuro-inclusive design and DEI strategy to budgeting, contracting, and operational resilience.
Expect spotlights on:
As the world’s top destinations—from South Africa to Spain—present their latest venue developments and incentives, the event doubles as a global barometer for post-pandemic meetings industry recovery.
Key takeaway: IMEX 2025 is the global stage for what’s next in event planning, technology, and human connection.
Across regions, several macro themes echo loudly:
Key takeaway: The conversations shaping events are becoming deeper, broader, and more cross-sector than ever.
So where does this all leave us?
We’re not going back. The nostalgia for pre-2020 norms is over. What lies ahead is an industry that is:
April 2025 has proven we have the tools, the talent, and the tenacity. The real question is whether we have the will to turn insight into action.
My challenge to you: be the voice that nudges your team forward. Ask the inconvenient questions. Run the pilot. Cancel the panel no one wants to attend and host a walking conversation instead.
Because the future of events isn’t written in PowerPoints. It’s written in experience.
Until next month,
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