Discover how Founders Forum uses event badges for location tracking, and more, in our latest report.
The latest event industry updates
Step into the July edition of our newsletter for helpful tips and the freshest trends shaping events now. See what’s new and grab ideas to boost your next event.
🧠 Understanding the trade show floor: A deep dive into psychology
By: Exhibition news
In a nutshell:
Discover how the strategic design and layout of a tradeshow venue can profoundly influence attendee experience and business outcomes. Learn how successful events leverage psychological principles to guide visitor navigation, interaction, and overall engagement within the space.
Highlights:
Floorplan flow with logical, wide, and curved layouts encourages longer exploration.
Natural light reduces fatigue and enhances mood, increasing dwell time.
Strategic "pause points" like rest areas and cafes allow delegates to reset and encourage deeper engagement.
The article emphasizes that the venue acts as a partner in experience design, deeply intertwining with the event's success.
⚡️ Solve your event design challenges LIVE: An interactive Grip webinar
By: Grip
In a nutshell:
We’re hosting a unique, interactive webinar designed to help event professionals solve their experience design challenges live on air. Featuring renowned creative director Robert Dunsmore, this session moves beyond typical presentations to offer real-time problem-solving and creative inspiration.
Highlights:
Live problem-solving by top creative director Robert Dunsmore for submitted challenges.
Scheduled for Thursday, July 24th, at 4 pm UK / 11 am ET / 8 am PT.
Expect a refreshingly "messy-thinking-out-loud" session, moving beyond a typical presentation format.
This is a must-attend for B2B event directors, marketers, content strategists, and operations leaders seeking innovative solutions.
✨ The space race: transforming venues into tech-enhanced experiences
By: James Connell, Production Director at Event Concept
In a nutshell:
Explore how event spaces can be reimagined as unforgettable, tech-enhanced experiences that deeply resonate with attendees. Envision each venue as a blank canvas, where innovative technologies such as AI and projection mapping layers to tell a story and set an emotional tone.
Highlights:
69% of US professionals want better integration of AI and emerging technology in events.
Technology like projection mapping, intelligent lighting, and generative AI are key in creating immersive environments.
The approach prioritizes "story first, tech second" ensuring technology supports the narrative without overshadowing it.
The ultimate goal is for guests to remember how the space made them feel, creating long-term value.
🪪 The future of event badges: smart, sustainable, and seamless
By: Grip
In a nutshell:
Discover how event badges are evolving from simple entry passes to powerful tools for networking, data capture, and enhanced attendee experiences. This report explores the latest innovations, from sustainable materials to integrated tech, and how they’re shaping the future of event interactions. Featuring insights from industry experts at companies like Betterup, Founders Forum, Xtag, and more!
Highlights:
Smart badges with NFC or RFID technology are enabling faster check-ins and seamless lead retrieval.
Focus on sustainable materials and designs on how to reduce environmental impact.
Integrated analytics from badge usage provides valuable insights on attendee flow and engagement.
How personalized and interactive badges are enhancing the attendee journey and facilitating meaningful connections.
By: Stephan Forseilles, CTO at Easyfairs and Chair of the UFI Digital Innovation Working Group
In a nutshell:
AI is evolving beyond Large Language Models (LLMs) to powerful "agents" - autonomous, goal-driven systems that can perform complex actions. These agents are poised to revolutionize productivity by independently completing tasks for users.
Highlights:
AI agents differ from LLMs by their ability to perform meaningful actions (e.g., booking hotels, event registration), not just generate content.
They possess superior reasoning, contextual understanding, and creativity, allowing for more sophisticated interactions than traditional chatbots.
Examples include Custom GPTs for specialized tasks and using agents like DoBrowser for web interactions.
No-code platforms (Zapier, Make) are making it easier to build simple agents for workflow automation, promising significant time savings.
Event Tech World (ETW) is hosting its next "Insider Exchange," an exclusive event designed for event professionals to confidently navigate event technology decisions. This small, informal gathering fosters open peer-to-peer discussions, providing practical knowledge without the pressure of sales pitches. Tim Groot, Grip’s Founder and CEO will be there, come and say hi!
Highlights:
Scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM in London.
Focuses on open conversations and discussions between event tech buyers and users, not sales.
Key topics include event measurement, tech budgeting, modern sponsorships, and tech stack integration.
Offers a unique opportunity for rapid knowledge building among senior-level attendees, concluding with structured networking.
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