As we kick off the new year, the events industry is buzzing with exciting new trends that will redefine how we plan experiences.

In this episode, hosts Alyssa Peltier, Rachel Andrews, Felicia Asiedu, and Camille Arnold discuss the top five trends shaping the future of event marketing. They explore how these shifts will impact the way we engage audiences, leverage technology, and create lasting connections. You’ll hear actionable insights to help you design events that will deliver measurable results in 2026.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How events are getting smarter: Why structure, technology, and intent are becoming essential to modern event programs.
• The role of AI, personalization, and attendee expectations: How these forces are changing the way experiences are planned and delivered.
• What changing expectations mean for event strategy: How teams can adapt planning as behavior and technology evolve.



Things to listen for:

(00:00) Hot trends in event marketing for 2026

(01:40) Intentional adoption of AI

(08:12) Trust is best built through in-person events

(11:36) More emotion and storytelling in B2B 

(15:01) Personalization becomes attendee-led

(19:40) The rise of curated experiences

(23:19) Building community beyond the event

2025 was a big year for events. Elections reshaped the global landscape. AI became more disruptive and unavoidable. And teams were stretched thinner than ever.

In this episode, Felicia Asiedu, Alyssa Peltier, and Rachel Andrews gather to reflect on the year that was. They also introduce the newest host joining the podcast, Camille Arnold. Together, they reflect on the trends they predicted, the ones that surprised them, and why so much of 2025 felt messy, exhausting, and foundational all at once.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What changed in the events industry this year: A recap of how AI, data expectations, and global shifts influenced event programs.
• Why data became impossible to ignore: Learn how AI accelerated the need for cleaner, more standardized event data.
• What to carry into the next year: Practical perspectives on what to keep, what to let go of, and how to head into the upcoming year with more clarity and intention.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing the new host of Great Events

(05:41) 2025 was a foundational year of learning

(10:11) Admitting no one has AI figured out yet

(16:23) Global shifts that changed event planning

(19:31) How events are being integrated across organizations

(26:04) Treating attendees like humans, not headcount

(27:35) Protecting time and making moments matter

Events bring your brand to life like no other medium can. But creating an unforgettable experience requires a perfect blend of creativity and technology.

At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Jennifer Perry, Senior Director of Brand Storytelling, and Mark Correira, Director of Go-to-Market Technology at Workhuman. Together, they reveal the secret to successful collaboration between creative, tech, and marketing teams. By grounding big ideas in data, they turn those ideas into experiences that drive results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Designing events that feel simple and human: Make the complex parts of your event feel frictionless for attendees.
• How to collaborate across teams: Discover how teams can work together to create memorable events.
• Building data-driven experiences: Learn how to use data to guide decisions, from event planning to post-event analysis.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Jennifer Perry and Mark Correira

(02:38) Events are expressions of your brand 

(04:04) Why creative and tech teams must collaborate

(07:22) Turning activations into business outcomes

(11:48) Using data to design better events

(17:42) Stop overcomplicating events

All it takes is one great event to prove the value — and before you know it, it’s evolved into a full event ecosystem.

At Cvent CONNECT 2025, guest host Matt Heinz sits down with Andrew DePaul, Director of Digital Marketing at CAIS, to share how his team built a data-driven event strategy that drives measurable business growth. Andrew explains how he turned one successful event into a scalable program that connects marketing, sales, and partners through technology and data. He shares how his team aligns across departments, proves ROI, and keeps events at the center of the company’s growth strategy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a data-driven event strategy looks like: See how tech and analytics can simplify planning and prove impact across the business.
• Why integration matters more than ever: Aligning teams, tools, and data creates a seamless ecosystem that allows for continuous improvement.
• Tangible ways to prove ROI: Learn how to track key metrics and demonstrate value in every event.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Andrew DePaul from CAIS

(02:50) From one internal offsite to a full event ecosystem

(07:24) Integrating sales, marketing, and technology

(11:27) Partner collaboration and sponsor success

(14:02) Early mistakes that influenced strategy

When done right, event-led growth can deliver up to 7x ROI. But most teams are stuck running ad hoc, one-off events without a clear path to get there.

In this episode, Camille Arnold, Director of Experiential Marketing at Splash (now part of Cvent), joins hosts Felicia Asiedu, Rachel Andrews, and Alyssa Peltier to map out a five-stage event-led growth (ELG) maturity model. Together, they unpack how events can become a true growth engine when they’re tied to the right goals, tech, and internal alignment. 



You’ll learn the four non-negotiable prerequisites for ELG, how to build an intentional event portfolio, and ways to use data and AI to scale impact without burning out your team.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The ELG maturity stages: Find out how targeting, engagement, tech, and attribution evolve as your program matures.
• How to pick metrics for different event types: Not every event should be judged on MQLs; choose KPIs that match the real goal of the program.
• How to turn internal stakeholders into champions: Get sales, customer success, and marketing aligned so events are seen as a growth lever, not just logistics.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Camille Arnold

(03:05) Are events and marketing still disconnected today?

(06:13) The four prerequisites for an event-led growth strategy

(09:06) What audiences need in an AI-heavy world

(11:41) Moving from one-off events to intentional strategy

(20:02) The stages of event-led growth maturity

(27:11) Why alignment gets harder as teams grow

(29:15) Defining success for each type of event

(36:04) The future of event-led growth 

(41:04) How to assess your own event-led growth maturity

Assess your event strategy:  https://www.cvent.com/en/resource/event/event-led-growth-maturity-model

Think about the energy at a concert, the excitement of a live sports match, or the buzz at a festival. There’s something magnetic about in-person events that no other marketing channel can replicate.

At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Alyssa Peltier and Kate Hammitt from Cvent to talk about the power of Event-Led Growth (ELG). Events are powerful catalysts that create lasting engagement that extends well beyond the experience itself. They discuss how to design events with clear outcomes, how to capture valuable attendee insights, and how to use those learnings to fuel smarter marketing strategies. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to sustain momentum beyond events: Learn strategies to keep attendees engaged after the event ends.
• The impact of  Event-Led Growth (ELG):  Learn how events can become a central growth strategy for pipeline, retention, and conversion.
• Why in-person experiences matter: Events are important if you want to form bonds with your customers.



Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Alyssa Peltier and Kate Hammitt

(03:44) The power of shared experiences

(05:41) Designing great events for your audience

(10:18) Capturing and activating post-event insights

(14:57) Real connections at in-person events

The problem with event marketing? It’s gotten too predictable. Jay Schwedelson, founder of SubjectLine.com and GURU Media Hub, says the only way to stand out is to stop playing it safe.

In this episode, Rachel Andrews chats with Jay about how to plan events that people actually enjoy and remember. From hot wing challenges to earned on-demand content, Jay shares what’s working right now and why some of the best event ideas come from simply asking, “Does this suck?”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why safe events fall flat: Repeating old formats can make your event forgettable before it even begins.
• Audience-first subject lines: A small change in your email approach can lead to a big jump in engagement.
• How to work with AI: You can get value from AI tools without needing to be an expert.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Jay Schwedelson

(04:09) How to brainstorm and encourage bold ideas 

(05:32) Building the confidence to try new things

(08:36) Authentic connections during networking

(09:55) No one is an AI expert

(12:56) Jay’s dream event if he had an unlimited budget

(17:22) Boost your open rate with this subject line tip

When sales, marketing, and events operate in silos, leads fall through the cracks and event ROI takes a hit.



At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz and Ajith Krishnankutty, VP of Experiential Marketing at Capital Group, discuss the importance of collaboration between these teams and its impact on event success. From planning to post-event follow-up, Ajith shares strategies for getting sales and marketing on the same page. When teams align, events become a powerful go-to-market tool that drives measurable results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Stronger sales and marketing partnerships: See how collaboration improves event outcomes.
2. Data-backed event strategy: Discover how using data-driven insights can refine your event strategy.
3. Post-event momentum: Learn how to turn leads into long-term relationships.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Ajith Krishnankutty

(02:05) Breaking down silos between sales and marketing

(08:47) Joint planning for better alignment

(11:10) Post-event strategies that turn leads into pipeline

(15:36) Creating memorable experiences beyond the trade booth

AI is everywhere these days, and it’s hard to ignore the buzz. But beyond the hype, there’s real value in how it’s reshaping event planning.

At Cvent CONNECT 2025, guest host Brittany Fisher is joined by Marco Ogsimer and Kevin Cobb from Augeo Marketing. They discuss how AI is helping event professionals save time, enhance team collaboration, and simplify the planning process. Plus, they’ll explore how AI tools are taking event personalization to the next level, driving better engagement for attendees.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How AI creates more time: Free up hours for creativity by automating repetitive tasks.
2. Personalization strategies: Use AI insights to design attendee experiences that feel more meaningful.
3. Curiosity and empathy as skills: Learn why these traits are more valuable than ever as we integrate AI into event planning.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Marco Ogsimer and Kevin Cobb

(02:48) How AI creates more time for planners

(06:07) Personalizing attendee experiences with AI insights

(09:29) Skills event teams need in the era of AI 

(13:08) Practical steps to start learning AI tools

Are your events earning the spotlight, or are they getting budget cuts from the C-suite?

At Cvent CONNECT 2025, Matt Heinz sits down with Amanda Young, Senior Director of Global Events at ConnectWise, to talk about proving ROI and scaling event programs. Amanda shares how she manages pressure from leadership, keeps sales and marketing aligned, and uses data to run high-performing events.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Scaling events with focus: Ways to grow programs while staying efficient and avoiding wasted effort.
• Getting sales and marketing on the same page: Practical steps to align event goals with revenue goals.
• Building scorecards that matter: What to track and report so leadership pays attention.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Amanda Young

(03:13) Balancing costs and creative strategy

(07:06) Alignment around event outcomes

(13:25) Event metrics that prove ROI

(14:41) The future of large-scale events