EIBTM 2014 will provide meeting professionals with a premier three-day Knowledge Programme, which offers cutting-edge, professional learning opportunities across influential, expert led sessions. This leading education programme offers an ideal platform for those involved in the meetings industry to enhance their professional knowledge and develop their careers.
"This year, we have confirmed over 30 dynamic and innovative sessions dedicated to three industry buyer categories including, association, corporate and agency meeting planners and we expect to create even more," said Erica Keogan, Associations and Education Manager, Meetings & Events Portfolio.
EIBTM’s Knowledge Programme is a major focus and hub of professional education with seminars, workshops and conference sessions that cover all of the topics that face the industry now and in the future. In addition, EIBTM’s partnership with RecertTrack, the world’s first online portal for certification and re-certification, will provide all delegates with a unique opportunity to track their industry related professional development activities, including the credits they obtain by attending the EIBTM knowledge sessions.
The concept of meetings design is to be one of several key themes running through the international education sessions for this year’s EIBTM Knowledge Programme.
"Whilst the subject of meetings design is current, we are bringing the Fresh Conference to the stage at EIBTM with topics covering participant engagement and interaction, exploring meeting formats, meeting design, technology innovation and best practice. The emphasis will be on giving meeting planners ideas, inspiration and the tools to elevate their meetings and keep up with future trends," commented Keogan.
The EIBTM Knowledge Programme’s second theme involves "getting under the skin of the meetings industry from a research perspective", focussing on Trends & Research. This year, EIBTM will bring together research that will give the industry an insight into trends as we head towards 2020. "Rob Davidson’s annual Trend Watch Report will once again be one of the highlights of EIBTM because it really consolidates a year of global insights and looks at the impact of what this year has delivered in terms of trends for the future and specifically 2015," added Keogan.
The exclusive EMEA launch of the American Express Meetings & Events Global Forecast 2015 will also be presented at the show. This leading research will certainly provide some great insights into the current state of play as well as the future of the meetings industry.
The Knowledge Programme will also for the first time include education sessions designed to appeal to exhibitors, as well as our hosted buyers and trade visitors. In "Neuromarketing for the Event Industry", Wenda Kielstra, CEO of Consumatics, will share her experiences and show how neuromarketing and subconscious behaviour can apply to the events and hospitality industry.
Ruud Janssen, international speaker, facilitator and designer of high stakes conferences & events, founder of TNOC | The New Objective Collective and co-founder of Event Model Generation, will lead the corporate session on Event Model Generation, a movement dedicated to creating a common visual language for crafting events worth attending. "We are looking forward to sharing practical case studies of applying the Event Model Canvas to corporate hosted buyers at EIBTM on Wednesday 19 November from 3-4.30pm in a hands-on workshop. It’s very educational to learn and speak with the change makers who are using the Event Model Canvas in their daily practice," commented Janssen.
Developments in technology will also be highlighted during EIBTM 2014, in the daily Tech Hour presentations, with a focus on the latest trends and technologies of the industry, including sessions such as "Planet of the Apps" which will give a fast paced look into the world of what app tools can help make your life easier, "Lights, Camera, Action!" which will focus on the nuts and bolts of technology needed in the production of meetings and "The Wearables Debate!", a big debate on the future implications of wearables in the events industry.
Finally, the Spanish Language Programme, held in partnerships with MPI Spain and the ICCA Iberia Chapter, will provide a huge platform for the Spanish Meetings Industry to meet, debate and learn. One of the sessions being "¿Estamos verdes o qué?" (Are we green or what?), during which attendees will be able to discuss sustainability and CSR and how to follow a consistent line of action with current trends.
For further information on the EIBTM Knowledge Programme sessions, please visit www.eibtm.com/whats-on/knowledge-programme.
EIBTM 2014 will take place from 18-20 November at Fira 2 (Barcelona).
