Review
Cvent CONNECT Europe 2025: Innovation and connection
A LOOK BACK AT CVENT’ S ANNUAL INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMER CONFERENCE, HELD IN LONDON
C vent CONNECT Europe
2025 welcomed event, marketing and hospitality professionals from across Europe in mid-October for the company’ s annual user and industry conference, held both in-person at the InterContinental London – The O2 and online.
Over two days, attendees could choose from more than 60 expert-led sessions, visit the Innovation Pavilion to explore Cvent technology and partner solutions, and participate in curated roundtables and hands-on product tours. The event also featured the Cvent Excellence Awards, hosted by Britain’ s Got Talent finalist, comedian Joseph Charm.
Shaping the Future of Events The conference opened with a keynote from Reggie Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Cvent, who outlined three priorities shaping the future of the meetings and events industry: navigating uncertainty amid economic and geopolitical pressures, embracing artificial intelligence, and unlocking the full potential of event-led growth.
Aggarwal emphasised the enduring value of face-to-face events, describing them as spaces where relationships are forged, communities strengthened, and brands brought to life.“ In a digital-first world, human connection isn’ t just a nice-to-have – it’ s our industry’ s greatest advantage,” he said.
A central focus of the keynote was the transformative potential of AI, which Aggarwal described as“ a monumental shift on a scale unlike anything we’ ve seen before.” He introduced CventIQ™, a suite of AI-powered tools embedded across Cvent’ s platform, including Session Snapshots, Session Insights, the AI Response Assistant, and the AI 3D Event Designer. Designed to streamline workflows, increase productivity, and allow event professionals to focus on strategy and creativity, these tools exemplify how technology can enhance the human-led aspects of events.
Engaging Mainstage Moments Dermot O’ Leary, the British television and radio presenter, returned as master of ceremonies for a second year, providing continuity and guiding the mainstage sessions across the conference. A highlight was a candid conversation between O’ Leary and Alison Hammond, a fellow British television presenter. During the session, Hammond shared stories about career progression, resilience, and authenticity, reflecting on the challenges she had faced and the lessons learned along the way. The discussion offered attendees both practical takeaways and light-hearted moments that entertained and resonated with the audience.
Session Highlights The conference programme featured sessions such as Building Smarter Tech Stacks, exploring how to align technology with event outcomes; Driving Revenue: Rethinking How We Measure Marketing, helping teams evaluate event impact; Inclusive Events: Ensuring Accessibility from Start to Finish, offering practical guidance on accessibility; How to Make Every Event as Memorable as Your Marketing, focusing on creative attendee experiences; and Making Every Event as Memorable as Your Favourite TV Channel, which blended creative inspiration with practical design ideas. Product Roadmap sessions provided early looks at upcoming Cvent features. Networking opportunities – from curated roundtables to informal discussions – allowed professionals to share experiences, swap ideas, and build connections.
Education, Support and Community Practical learning and professional development were central to the conference programme. Felicia Asiedu, marketing director for Europe at Cvent, said the aim was for attendees to leave feeling informed and confident.
“ I hoped attendees would leave feeling reassured, informed, empowered and inspired,” she said.“ Yes, the industry is changing, and at a fast pace, but people aren’ t being left behind. This event and our community exist to support that journey.” n
n Cvent CONNECT Europe 2026 is scheduled for 21 – 22 October 2026, returning to the InterContinental London – The O2, with pre-registration already open.
14 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 140