Cvent hosted its annual meetings, events and hospitality technology conference – Cvent CONNECT Europe, that brought together thousands of industry professionals both in-person in London, 5-7 November, and online for three days of networking, education and hands-on technology training.
Cvent CEO and Founder, Reggie Aggarwal (pictured above), opened his keynote address on Cvent’s 25-year anniversary and explained what the milestone meant for its fast-growing European customer base and the industry’s digital transformation over the last quarter century.
He recalled how the company started as a simple online event registration tool, well before ‘SaaS’ (software-as-a-service) was a technology standard, and going on to become, “a global marketplace where the entire meetings and events ecosystem comes together.”
Aggarwal highlighted Cvent’s growing momentum through new AI-powered product launches and strategic acquisitions over the past nine months, aimed at expanding platform capabilities in trade show management, lead generation and event marketing.
Key additions include Jifflenow for meeting automation, iCapture for lead capture, Reposite for AI-powered vendor sourcing, and most recently, Splash — an event marketing platform used by hundreds of leading global organisations for smaller, field marketing events.
Aggarwal expressed his optimism about the industry, highlighting an era of rapid technological transformation and the continued prioritisation of in-person experiences. “The events industry isn’t just bouncing back — it’s evolving, reshaping how we work, connect and engage,” he remarked, signalling a future driven by innovation, resilience and human connection.
The keynote concluded with Aggarwal sharing insights into three trends and market dynamics driving industry growth. He highlighted these trends as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Cvent is investing heavily in the AI space, with 200 technology experts working on AI developments and more than 20 AI-related product initiatives in production. “We’re doing the heavy lifting with AI so our customers don’t have to. We believe planners, marketers and hoteliers should be able to leverage AI so that they focus on what matters most: creating impactful moments,” said Aggarwal.
- Prioritisation of value and impact: Amid economic pressures, organisations are increasingly prioritising spending with clear, measurable ROI. Aggarwal stated: “Nothing consistently delivers direct business impact better than events,” adding: “Effective events deliver value not just on event days but throughout the entire customer journey.”
- Resurgence of the experience economy: As hybrid work changes how and why people attend events and travel, demand for meaningful in-person experiences is surging, both professionally and personally. “The experience economy is here to stay,” said Aggarwal. “In-person events are vital for building connections and community.”
