Tokyo Updates MICE Technology Guidelines for 2026

There is no doubt about it: #AI is becoming a core part of the operating model in the event sector. Today, it’s transforming the entire event journey for planners and attendees alike. Platforms like Swapcard, Grip, and Brella use AI to recommend high-value networking opportunities, personalize event agendas, and connect attendees based on shared interests and business goals. AI-powered assistants are also becoming a standard feature in event apps, answering questions instantly and helping visitors navigate venues in real time. China, for example, is pushing the experience even further with AI-powered digital hosts, facial-recognition check-ins, multilingual AI assistants, and smart exhibition venues that are redefining visitor interactions. Its event management software market is projected to grow at an 11.5% CAGR through 2033, reflecting sustained investment in event technology (Grand View Horizon, China Event Management Software Market Size & Outlook). This is part of a broader global shift in how AI is reshaping the industry. I believe AI should remove friction, not replace connection. It should automate logistics and provide actionable insights, allowing event professionals to focus on what technology still can't replicate, the meaningful moments that bring people together. #EventManagement #Innovation #NextLevel

If you plan and organize events and trade shows, you may enjoy reading this article from Meetings & Incentive Travel. It discusses how AI will shape future events because "As information becomes easier to generate, the competitive advantage of live events may increasingly lie in creating environments where meaningful conversations can flourish." https://lnkd.in/gnjtPwDP

【Meet Our Guest of Honour & Keynote Speakers — 𝐇𝐊𝐓 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔】 𝐇𝐊𝐓 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 opens on 17 July 2026 (Friday). We are pleased to introduce this year's 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 — leaders from government, industry, and the global technology sector. They will share the latest #AI insights and explore how AI is creating value for enterprises, helping Hong Kong accelerate its #DigitalTransformation. Guest of Honour & Keynote Speakers: • 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐠 — 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, 𝐇𝐊𝐓 • 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠 — 𝐉𝐏, 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲, 𝐇𝐊𝐒𝐀𝐑 • 𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐧 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 — 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐌𝐚𝐱 Event Highlights:  • 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨: Explore 20+ exhibition booths and discover AI applications from HKT and our partners • 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Connect with local industry leaders, innovators, and technology experts in a relaxed setting • 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Hear leading local industry figures share their experiences with AI business use cases Kick-Off Day: 📅 Date: 17 July 2026 (Friday), 1PM – 8PM 📍 Venue: 6F, The St. Regis Hong Kong Contact your HKT Account Manager to register, and follow HKT Enterprise Solutions for more speaker announcements and updates! #HKT #HKTEnterpriseSolutions #HKTEnterpriseSolutionsTechWeek2026 #TechWeek #HKTPoweredAI #ArtificialIntelligence

🚀 AI FOR GOOD GLOBAL SUMMIT 2026: A BREAKTHROUGH FOR HUMAN CONNECTION! What an incredible experience at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026. Over the course of the event, hundreds of participants experienced the Ufotech UFO Robotic Speed Networking System, designed to remove the psychological barriers that often prevent valuable human connections from happening. The results exceeded our expectations. ✅ Users overwhelmingly praised the experience ✅ Most recommendation scores were between 8 and 10 out of 10 ✅ Participants consistently highlighted the system's ability to help them meet people they would otherwise never have approached ✅ Networking, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and community building emerged as the most frequently cited benefits One message came through loud and clear: People don't just need help finding the right contacts. They need help actually meeting them. By creating structured, fair, and engaging face-to-face interactions, the UFO system helps overcome common networking barriers such as fear of rejection, status intimidation, social anxiety, and uncertainty about how to start or end a conversation. We are deeply grateful to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the AI for Good team, especially Fred Werner, Jennifer Chalk, and Julien Smith, whose vision, enthusiasm, and support helped make this opportunity possible. A special thank you also to our volunteers and team members who contributed their energy and passion throughout the event. The feedback reinforced our belief that innovative applications of AI and automation can do more than increase efficiency. They can help bring people together, create opportunities, and unlock connections that might otherwise never happen. This is only the beginning. 🌍 We look forward to working with partners, event organizers, corporations, educational institutions, and hospitality venues to reimagine networking and human engagement for the AI era. #AIforGood #Networking #Innovation #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanConnection #ITU #AI #FutureOfWork #Collaboration #Ufotech #RoboticNetworking #TechForGood

🏆 What does the future of meetings and events look like? According to Grace Louisy, it's smarter, more personalised and powered by AI. Following her Tech Innovator Individual Award win at the ITM 2026 Achievement Awards, Grace shares how innovation is helping travel managers gain greater visibility, reduce manual processes and transform meetings and events programmes. From AI-powered venue sourcing to personalised event experiences, discover why Grace believes the possibilities for our industry are only just beginning. #ITMAwards #VoicesOfExcellence #BusinessTravel #MeetingsAndEvents #ArtificialIntelligence

Canapii is an AI powered event technology platform helping event planners and organisations worldwide deliver better events. But ask some of our team to finish that sentence and you get something far more interesting. Canapii is... The best way to understand what a company really is? Ask the people inside it. Watch the clip below and tell us how you would finish it. #InsideCanapii #Canapii #EventTech #AIinEvents #TeamCulture

Will AI Replace the Event Industry? My Answer is – No. Every few days, we hear predictions that Artificial Intelligence will replace industries and redefine jobs. While AI will undoubtedly transform the way we work, I believe the Event Industry will always remain a people-first business. Here’s why: 🤝 1. Human Emotions Can’t Be Automated AI can generate ideas, analyze data, draft emails, and optimize schedules. But it cannot recreate the excitement of a marathon finish line, the warmth of a handshake, the emotion of a standing ovation, or the relationships built through face-to-face networking. Events are about creating memories, not just managing processes. ⚡ 2. Every Live Event Demands Human Judgment No matter how advanced technology becomes, live events are unpredictable. Weather changes, technical glitches, VIP schedule shifts, crowd management, and hundreds of on-ground decisions require experience, leadership, creativity, and calm under pressure—qualities that only people bring to the table. 🎯 3. Experiences Matter More Than Ever In a world flooded with digital content, people are craving authentic, real-life experiences. Whether it’s a marathon, corporate summit, concert, exhibition, or community gathering, the value of being physically present continues to grow. 💡 AI is Our Co-Pilot, Not Our Replacement The future of the event industry isn’t AI vs Humans—it’s AI with Humans. AI will help us plan better, communicate faster, personalize experiences, and improve efficiency. But the heart of every successful event will always be human creativity, passion, relationships, and execution. As someone who has spent decades building large-scale events and communities, I see AI as an opportunity to create even more meaningful experiences—not as a threat to our profession. What do you think? Will AI ever replace the magic of a live event, or will it simply make event professionals even more powerful? #ArtificialIntelligence #EventIndustry #EventManagement #Leadership #Innovation #ExperienceEconomy #Networking #Marathon #SportsEvents #IIEMR #JaipurMarathon #JaipurRunnersClub

Event tech is evolving — and Eventstrat is leading the shift. As the world’s first AI-powered, end-to-end event management platform, Eventstrat is built on a powerful idea: no one understands an event better than the organiser. From planning to execution, their intelligent ecosystem simplifies complexity, enhances decision-making, and gives organisers complete visibility and control at every stage. We’re proud to have them as our partner at the EEMA Spotlight Awards 2026. Thank you, Eventstrat, for partnering with us and powering the future of events. #EEMA #SpotlightAwards #Eventstrat #EventTech #AI #EventInnovation #EventsIndia

Delivering flagship event experiences requires intelligent tech infrastructure. We are proud to partner with EEMA Event Entertainment Managemet Association to power the Spotlight Awards 2026. #Eventstrat #EventTech #EventInfrastructure #AgenticAI #SpotlightAwards2026 #EEMA

Technology should give us more time to be human. That's the thinking behind our latest On Point article, featured in the latest edition of The PCO by IAPCO In "The Real Competitive Advantage Isn't AI - If technology gives us back time, what do we do with it?", we explore how the greatest value of AI isn't automation itself, but what it enables us to do with the time it gives back - building stronger partnerships, being more creative, making better decisions and delivering more meaningful event experiences. The article also highlights insights from our collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and why innovation works best when it's guided by people, purpose and partnership. Thank you to IAPCO for featuring our article - we're proud to be part of the conversation. https://lnkd.in/etU922re