Programmes

The CEO of AEO will go through some housekeeping, set the tone for the day and introduce the stream chairs.

Everyone can make content. Everyone has an opinion. Every brand is competing for attention. Consumers are overwhelmed. Channels keep changing. Search is changing. Expectations are rising.

So what is actually working outside events that we should be paying attention to?

The CEO of AEO will go through some housekeeping, set the tone for the day and introduce the stream chairs.

What makes an event memorable?

Explore how the design and layout of an exhibition floor influence attendee behaviour and experience. Using examples from standout exhibitions and feature spaces, this session looks at flow, visual impact, space, wayfinding and creating environments that people remember.

Moving beyond AI experimentation

A practical look at how exhibition operations teams are using AI to solve genuine operational challenges - from reducing admin and improving processes to working with data and making better decisions.

No prompting 101. No generic AI overview. Instead, real workflows and examples that are already making a difference.

A hands-on workshop for real-world event scenarios.

An interactive session where attendees work through realistic operational challenges and compare how different teams would approach them.

Your questions. Their experience.

A fast-paced final Q&A where attendees can put their remaining operational questions to a small group of experienced professionals.

Identifying your emotions. Boosting confidence and strengthening work relationships. Successfully handle high-stakes scenarios. Active listening at work. Expressing boundaries in the workplace. Managing workload and avoiding burnout.

Real stories. Honest lessons.

Things go wrong at every event. This session gives experienced operations professionals the opportunity to share the challenges they've faced, how they responded and what they learned.

Attendees can submit questions or scenarios in advance, making the conversation relevant to the issues they're actually dealing with.

Inspiration from beyond the exhibition industry

What can exhibitions learn from some of the world's most innovative events?

Hear from event professionals working across B2B and B2C environments about ideas that are transforming visitor experience, event design and delivery - and, crucially, how these ideas could be adapted for exhibitions.

The CEO of AEO will go through some housekeeping, set the tone for the day and introduce the stream chairs.

How to structure your day, manage priorities and build the consistency, confidence and discipline needed for effective sales, including getting back on the phone and making the most of your time.

Develop a more consultative approach to sales by asking better questions, uncovering real customer challenges and understanding what is actually driving the buying decision.

Practical ways to use AI across the sales process, from prospect research and lead generation to proposals and productivity including where AI can go wrong and how to keep your approach authentic.

Learn how to build and manage a healthy pipeline, qualify opportunities, prioritise your time and create momentum rather than relying on a pipeline full of opportunities that aren't progressing.

Bringing the sales process together, creating proposals that demonstrate value, navigating the decision-making unit, handling objections and confidently securing clear next steps and the close.

Move beyond selling products, packages or stand space to understanding and communicating the commercial value, ROI and outcomes you can deliver for customers.