EDGE Venues brought together buyers, venues, destinations and technology leaders at The Haycock Manor Hotel in Wansford, Cambridgeshire last week for its annual Tech Summit, Summer Conference and Party.
The two-day event, held on 9–10 July, ran under the theme “Future Vision – Turning Industry Change into Opportunity”. Speakers focused on the pressures that are facing the meetings and events sector – including rising costs, changing client expectations and the unprecedented impact of AI transformation.
The sessions were facilitated by Felix Rundel, CEO of the Centre for Convening Minds. Rundel drew on global data and research to frame discussions around how the industry can actively shape its future rather than react to change. The programme included panels where buyers and agency discussed their respective sides of the story, and also featured exclusive data insights from the EDGE platform.
What’s more, there was a presentation on AI and digital transformation from Tom Ormsby of Raiven which focused on the practical side of what teams can actually do to stay ahead of the curve, a dedicated session on destination marketing, and a look at the EDGE technology roadmap for the future.
A recurring theme across both days was the need to strike a balance between technology and human expertise. The various acknowledged that while automation can support operations, personalisation and delivery remain distinctly human and must remain so for the continued success of the industry.
Jacqui Kavanagh, CEO of EDGE Venues, said in the follow-up to the event: “Every brief is different, every client is different and that human layer is what defines our industry. But without modern, effective technology underpinning it, we simply won’t be taken seriously. Getting that balance right is no longer optional, it’s essential.”
The event also covered government announcements around business tourism funding and recent commercial shifts that will affect distribution models in the sector.
