ICCA
Toward association events by AI design
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ICCA CEO SENTHIL GOPINATH EXAMINES HOW AI CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE OF EVENT DESIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
A t ICCA, we are committed
to advancing the goals of the meetings and events industry – both for our members and the community as a whole. As AI technology continues to change and develop, its impact on how associations in Europe and around the world create, produce, and deliver events is coming to the forefront. AI is more than a just a passing trend. It has real staying power, and has evolved into a tool that lets associations design meeting and event experiences that are not only much more technologically advanced, but are highly personalised, inclusive, and secure. ICCA views AI as a key element in the toolkit for shaping the future of business events – today and in the future.
Creating more tailored events for attendees of every type It’ s crucial that events remain open and accessible to everyone. AI has the ability to personalise event experiences on an individual level, ensuring all delegates can participate and learn. ICCA has developed workshops centred around this concept, focussing on how AI and DEI intersect, and how the technology can be utilised to create more fair and inclusive events. The methodology behind more inclusive event design involves analysing attendee behaviour data, including their preferences, demographics, and feedback. This empowers event organisers to deliver more targeted content and accommodations for participants.
AI also offers powerful tools to let event designers create meetings that are accessible to all, including live translation and captioning to help overcome language barriers. The technology also helps meetings professionals find areas where inclusivity might fall short by looking at feedback from under-represented groups, allowing stakeholders to make improvements to address issues.
Above: Senthil Gopinath
“ With smart insights, AI programming allows associations to tailor schedules, menus, and interactions to best suit the preferences of attendees.”
The experience of neurodiverse participants can also be addressed. From registration flows to quiet zones to flexible schedules, AI tools can help reduce anxiety and enhance event experiences.
With smart insights, AI programming allows associations to tailor schedules, menus, and interactions to best suit the preferences of attendees. This not only improves engagement, but also strengthens loyalty and satisfaction, which ICCA sees as crucial for long-term success.
Rethinking venues and event security through the lens of AI Venue design also stands to improve with the addition of AI-led changes. Using collected data to inform venue selection and usage lets meetings professionals make better, more informed choices with regard to size, layout, and accessibility. These are all innovations that help enhance safety and comfort, and can even boost sustainability by making better predictions for energy usage.
Security is always a top priority – for both associations and venues. AI can provide layers of protection by implementing facial recognition programmes, behavioural analytics, and surveillance. These systems can detect potential issues before they escalate and enable better responses from stakeholders. AI programmes can also be used to predict crowd sizes, which lets event organisers enforce preventive safety measures.
It ' s clear that AI is a powerful tool that enables meetings and events professionals to create more accessible and secure events. As associations begin utilising the possibilities of AI, ICCA is poised to support the use of this groundbreaking technology. Embracing AI and utilising it to boost members of our community is part of ICCA’ s vision to empower members to adapt to change and move forward toward a more inclusive, safer, and successful outcome for all. n
ISSUE 136 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 9