International Confex
Ready for takeoff
Confex also played host to Event
Launchpad, a workshop for young
event organisers looking to launch
their first shows. It was run by FM
Future, a consultancy run by
exhibition organising and sales
professionals Frazer Chesterman and
Marcus Timpson. Chesterman and
Timpson acknowledged that
launching a new event was a tough
undertaking and that a strong fear of
failure was natural. “Our aim is to
help organisers manage this fear,
while minimising risk and igniting
growth through innovation,” was
their message.
Alongside the educational content,
visitors had the chance to meet a huge
variety of exhibitors, offering
everything from mind-controlled beer
taps to colourful furniture for events.
Bongo’s Bingo, a self-styled “bingo
rave phenomenon”, ran a taster session
featuring live dancing and a
cardboard cut-out of UK broadcaster
and climate advocate David
Attenborough. Event Trees showed
off its colourful tree installations, and
GES caught the eye with its
tailor-themed networking bar.
Service Robots UK also exhibited
its four roaming robotic assistants.
The robots can give attendees
surveys, provide customer service and
take selfies for social promotion.
Event Director Duncan Custerson
commented: “This year we wanted to
deliver a slick, professional and
creative looking exhibition fitting of
our new home at London ExCel. The
enthusiasm from our partners was
clearly translated into the look and
feel of the show, from individual stand
builds with genuine wow factor,
speaker sessions that packed a punch,
and partner marketing that extended
our reach. We considered the details
more than ever before.”
International Confex will be
returning to ExCeL London next
year.
ISSUE 105
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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