Webinar

The new meeting revolution: Why meetings are becoming the #1 growth lever for events

19th Feb 2026 | 4pm UK | 11am ET | 8am PT
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Today, content is no longer the primary reason people attend events, connection is. Event organizers are moving away from "hope-based networking" toward data-driven, "intentional networking". These organizer arranged meetings have emerged as the single most powerful tool for driving new revenue streams, retention and exhibitor ROI.

Join Sophie Wawro (Founder of For Real Events and ex-Global President of Shoptalk) and Nadira Ramatally (Marketing Director at Clarion Events) as they reveal how the world’s most successful event organizers are transitioning to become expert matchmakers, and why scheduled meetings are the key to unlocking new sources of growth.
 

🔍 What we’ll cover:

  • From serendipity to strategy: How to move beyond the "coffee shop" networking model to high-margin, scheduled meeting programs that deliver guaranteed value.

  • The Shoptalk blueprint: Sophie Wawro shares insights from scaling the industry-leading "Retail Meetup" and how meetings became the engine of Shoptalk’s global success.

  • The Marketing Director’s playbook: How Nadira Ramatally uses meeting programs at Clarion to drive audience engagement, exhibitor satisfaction and year-on-year retention.

  • Unlocking the meetings-first model: Why you don’t need a massive budget to launch a "hosted buyer" or "meetings-first" strategy.

  • Measuring success: The specific KPIs that prove the commercial impact of your meeting programs to stakeholders and the C-suite.

  • Q&A: Ask our experts your toughest questions about scaling connection-led events.


🎯 Why this matters:

  • "Content-led" is a format under pressure. With travel budgets tightening, "watching an in-person talk you could've seen on YouTube" is being challenged. To keep sponsors and attendees, you need to provide a hard ROI that only pre-scheduled, high-intent meetings can offer.

  • Retention is the new growth. The easiest way to rebook an exhibitor is to show them a list of the 15 qualified buyers they met face-to-face. Meetings turn "marketing spend" into "pipeline generation."

  • The "Chief Matchmaker" era. As commercial event organizers, your role is evolving. Understanding how to architect connections is how you earn a seat at the strategic table and stay ahead of the competition.

 
🧭 Who should join:

This session is designed for:

  • Event Directors & Portfolio Leads looking for new revenue streams.

  • Marketing Directors focused on audience acquisition and attendee value.

  • Ops Managers responsible for the delivery of meeting programs and event technology.

  • Commercial Directors seeking to increase exhibitor and sponsor retention through proven ROI.

Register now
🎤 Panelists include:
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Sophie Wawro, CEO & Founder, For Real Events

Sophie is a powerhouse in the event industry, best known for her tenure as Global President of Shoptalk, where she was instrumental in scaling the "Retail Meetup" - widely regarded as the gold standard for meeting programs in the B2B space. Now, as the founder of For Real Events, Sophie consults with global brands to design transformational event experiences that prioritize human connection and commercial impact.

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Nadira Ramatally, Marketing Director, Clarion Events

Nadira is a strategic marketing leader at Clarion Events, one of the world’s largest and most successful exhibition organizers. With a deep focus on audience growth and commercial strategy, Nadira understands how to scale complex portfolios and leverage technology to ensure that every attendee and exhibitor finds the ROI they need to return year after year.

 

Hosted by:
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Hew Leith, SVP of Marketing, Grip

Hew heads up marketing at Grip and has over 20 years’ experience in planning and running B2B events. He previously founded an event tech startup and is passionate about bringing people together in-person.