1. AI is Revolutionising Events – But Humans Still Lead the Way

Artificial Intelligence has moved from futuristic concept to essential tool, with practical applications across every aspect of event planning:

✅ Content Creation & Curation – AI now generates invitations, summarises sessions, and personalise follow-ups in seconds (IBM’s content tool saved 90% of manual work).
✅ Operational Efficiency – Automating speaker bios, Q&A generation, and even venue selection (free from human bias, per Saxton Speakers’ CEO Anne Jamieson).
✅ Hyper-Personalisation – Tailoring marketing, networking, and session recommendations to individual attendees.

But the #1 skill for event pros? Prompt engineering—the art of effectively directing AI. As Miki Luong of IBM put it:

"Everyone in this room has the natural competency to be a great prompt engineer."

Key Takeaway: AI won’t replace event professionals—but those who master it will replace those who don’t.

2. Sustainability is Now a Business Imperative (Not Just a Trend)

The conversation has shifted from "Why should we be sustainable?" to "How can we be regenerative?"

🔋 Regenerative Tourism – Giving back more than you take (e.g., Queenstown’s Mat Woods: "Sustainability isn’t good enough—we must be better.")
🌱 Indigenous-Led Solutions – Nadine ToeToe transformed her lodge into a youth training facility, running 312 courses for indigenous youth.
💰 Economic Viability – Sustainable practices often cut costs (e.g., waste reduction, local sourcing).

Key Takeaway: Attendees (especially Gen Z and Alpha) demand sustainability—event organizers must deliver measurable impact, not just lip service.

3. The Best Events Prioritize Connection Over Content

With attention spans shrinking, successful events are ditching passive lectures for:

🎭 Immersive Experiences – AR, AI-generated art, and sensory-rich environments.
🎵 Personalization – Spotify playlists tailored to attendee preferences, hyper-relevant networking.
🤝 Brave Conversations – Sheila Vijeyarasa’s "Small Steps, Big Impact" session highlighted the power of difficult but necessary discussions.

As Ian Whitworth (Scene Change) declared:

"It’s about connections, not content."

Key Takeaway: If your event feels transactional, you’ve already lost. Design for meaningful engagement.

4. The Talent Crunch Demands a New Approach

With 76% burnout rates in events (vs. 38% globally), retaining talent requires:

🧠 Power Skills > Soft Skills – Emotional intelligence, communication, and adaptability are now non-negotiable (85% of business success comes from EQ).
🧘 Wellbeing as Performance Strategy – Dr. Kristy Goodwin’s "Non-Sleep Deep Rest" (NSDR) boosts dopamine by 30% in 10 minutes.
🔄 Multi-Generational Workforces – Adapt communication styles ("Beep vs. Gobble", per Michelle Pascoe).

Key Takeaway: Happy teams = better events. Invest in culture, not just logistics.

Key Takeaway: The events industry is resilient—but proactive adaptation is non-negotiable.

Final Thought: The Future Belongs to the Agile

As Gus Balbontin (ex-Lonely Planet) urged:

"Don’t wait for change—be the change."

From AI to sustainability to human-centric design, AIME 2025 proved one thing: The events of tomorrow will be built by those who embrace disruption today.

For more insights, download the full AIME 2025 Strategic Report
Download the Strategic Insights Report

Created in partnership with technology partners Snapsight, curators BEAMexperience and Spice, as well as our Speaker Bureau Partners ICMI and Ovations! A big thanks to our association partners for their help with the educational sessions at AIME 2025: ABEA, AuSAE, IACC, MEA, IAPCO, ICCA, PCMA, and site ANZ.