Shaping the future of venue sourcing together
The meetings and events industry has changed profoundly in recent years. While the demand for face-to-face connection has never been stronger, the way we plan,...
AI in event planning, visitor levies, and more
This month’s industry news highlights an industry embracing change with confidence – from AI in event planning driving accessibility to policy discussions and new training initiatives that signal a sector ready for its next phase of growth.
Here’s everything you need to know:
AI reaches tipping point in M&E industry as optimism hits five-year high
Optimism in the meetings & events industry has hit a five-year high, according to the 2026 Global Meetings & Events Forecast from American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT). As reported on Micebook, 85% of respondents say they are optimistic or very optimistic about the year ahead, up from 74% in 2025.
What’s more, 50% are now integrating AI in event planning and delivery for everything from generating creative themes (34%) to tracking attendee engagement (31%).
New AI system addresses live event accessibility for deaf attendees
A new plug-and-play solution developed by Speaksee, Soundshape 1 Pro, aims to provide event organisers and AV professionals with a powerful and cost-effective tool for delivering real-time captioning and multilingual translation at scale. It integrates with existing AV setups to offer live (latency of less than one second) subtitles with over 95% accuracy.
Travel shifts to experience-led tourism, Skyscanner report finds
Travel booking platform Skyscanner has published its 2026 Travel Trends report, highlighting a shift towards experience-led travel driven by personal interests rather than traditional sightseeing. According to a Conference News feature, the report shows that hotels are increasingly becoming destinations in themselves, with 61% of Gen Z respondents choosing travel destinations based solely on accommodation, prioritising design and narrative over proximity to landmarks.
Read more via Conference News.
Events Industry Alliance announces board changes
The Events Industry Alliance (EIA) – the collective associations of AEO, AEV and ESSA – has announced several changes to the board structure as part of the annual association rotation.
Ian Taylor, managing director, NEC and AEV chair, assumes the role as EIA chair for AEV’s term as lead, with Kerry Villa, COO of ACC Liverpool, as AEV vice chair. Jeremy Rees, CEO of Excel London, continues his role as EIA treasurer, as does Dino Gazzi as finance director.
Rachel Swann, COO (energy division) of dmg events, steps down as EIA chair and remains on the board with Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK & Global. Andrew Williams, president of Maritime Group and EVP Informa Markets, joins the board as the final AEO representative.
Read more via Event Industry Alliance.
VisitBritain disappointed with lack of long-term gov funding
International visitors spent an extra £562m due to VisitBritain activity in 2024-25. According to Conference News, the agency ‘warns the UK is losing ground internationally.’ The figures were presented at VisitBritain’s annual review on 21 October with VisitBritain forecasting £34.6bn in international visitor spend in 2025, up 6% on 2024.
The outlook is positive, but the agency says growth is still behind ‘Western Europe and risks widening the gap without policy support’.
Read more via Conference News.
Election for new Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events (APPG) announced that an Extraordinary General Meeting was due to take place in Parliament on 22nd October 2025 to elect a new Chair of the APPG. The election followed the resignation of current Chair, Shaun Davies MP, as a result of his being appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Defence. Parliamentary rules prevent a member of the Government from chairing an APPG.
Read more via Event Industry News.
High Streets UK calls for industry input on visitor levies
According to Conference News, High Streets UK has ‘called for businesses to have a voice in designing overnight visitor levies. The group is warning that failure to consult could harm the tourism sector while it is still recovering from the pandemic. Business leaders set out an eight-point plan for levy design – should charges be introduced, during the High Streets UK’s recent Tourism Forum.
Overnight visitor charges, added to hotel bills, per night, already exist or are planned across parts of the UK. Edinburgh and Aberdeen will introduce the levies. Manchester and Liverpool operate levy-style schemes through accommodation BIDs in which funds are directed by businesses rather than local government.
Read more via Conference News.
EVCOM announces shortlist for 2025 London Live and Film Awards
EVCOM has revealed the shortlist for the EVCOM London Live and Film Awards 2025. Sponsored by IMPACT XM, the awards have had the highest number of entries in nearly a decade.
Winners will be revealed on 27th November 2025 at the event in London, with large-scale production. The evening’s theme, “Growth Powered by Possibility” captures the bold ambition of an industry thriving on creativity and transformation.
Andrew Smith, Chair of EVCOM, says:
“This year’s awards build on EVCOM’s increased relevance to the industry. The standard of work is incredibly high, as is its innovation. Our members have faced challenges with AI disruption and compressed timelines, yet delivered breathtaking work and tangible outcomes that show exceptional value to clients.”
View from the EDGE
EDGE Venues’ Managing Director, Scott Ford, summed up the latest monthly insights:
“October’s news shows an industry that’s both optimistic and evolving fast, with AI becoming embedded in how we plan, deliver and measure events. At the same time, new accessibility tools and training initiatives prove that inclusion and empowerment are vital in our industry’s innovation.
“Amid shifting business travel behaviours and other changes, what stands out most is a sense of progress. The meetings and events community continues to adapt, focused on growth, collaboration, creativity, and real impact.”
Book your next meeting or event venue on EDGEVenues.com
