By Tom Pick
Here are even more of the best conferences and expositions worldwide focused on education, networking, technology, awards, and career development for event professionals. Catch up, and read Part One here!
Events in the UK and Ireland
February
Event Buyers Live
@EventBuyersLive
Heythrop Park
Event Buyers Live is a two-day event that facilitates prearranged one-on-one meetings between organisers and suppliers. Event organisers can “shop” through pre-qualified meetings with top event suppliers, network with their peers, and take advantage of an educational programme that promotes information sharing and opportunities to exchange best practices.
Event Production Show
@EventProdShow
London
The Event Production Show is one of the leading events for the UK’s live event sector. It brings together event infrastructure suppliers with the industry’s leading agency and corporate event organisers for two days of education, interactive brand experiences, new technology, and networking.
International Confex
@IntlConfex
London
Confex has evolved over more than three decades from a pure venue-finding forum to a showcase of all the elements that make events great: new technology, feature builders, standout destinations, wow-factor venues, and unique team building activities, at the largest single gathering of UK event organisers in one room.
March
M&IT Awards
@EventsEducation
London
Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the M&IT Awards are the largest event industry awards programme in the UK, attracting more than 1,000 industry professionals to this evening awards ceremony. This event brings together all sectors of the business to reward excellence of services and products, and raise funds for charity.
AIPCO Business Tourism Conference
Killarney, Ireland
AIPCO is a key business exchange for all Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) related businesses and enterprises in Ireland. The event brings together Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs), Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and specialist event companies to connect with hotels, transport companies, restaurants, AV companies, event tech suppliers, exhibition specialists, team building companies, special venues and hosts.
EventIT
@Eventit_show
Glasgow, Scotland
EventIT is the annual showcase for the business events, meetings, incentives, hospitality and festivals industry professionals in Scotland. Bringing together exhibitors and buyers from across the UK and beyond, EventIt offers education, the latest in event tech and services, and networking.
June
AEO Excellence Awards
London
The AEO Excellence Awards seek to recognise the best the events industry has to offer and showcase noteworthy achievements within the industry. This evening awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of even organizers, excellence in venues, and service quality by suppliers and contractors.
The Meetings Show
@MeetingsShow
London
The Meetings Show is a two-day event connecting meeting and event planners with destinations, hotels, venues, conference centres, DMCs and technology providers. The exhibition is attended by event, meeting, conference and incentive planners from the UK and Europe.
September
C&IT Awards
@CITawards
London
A one-night annual awards ceremony recognizing the best in B2B events. Nearly two dozen awards are presented in categories ranging from conference of the year and automotive event of the year to best venue, best use of technology, and best brand amplification.
October
Event Organisers Summit
@EventOrgSummit
London
The Event Organisers Summit brings together meetings and event professionals with industry solution providers for two days of one-to-one business meetings, interactive seminars, and networking. Attendees have one fully day of pre-arranged 25-minute meetings with solution providers of their choice; attendance is complementary but limited.
November
Event Tech Live
@eventtechlive
London
Hosted by Event Industry News, Event Tech Live is Europe’s only free-to-attend show dedicated to event technology. The two-day conference and exhibition gives event professionals access to over 50 educational sessions, 100 exhibitors, and networking opportunities with more than 1700 event professionals from government agencies, associations, consumer brands, and B2B companies.
Event Technology Awards
@EventTechAwards
London
Held in conjunction with Event Tech Live, the Event Technology Awards are an evening awards ceremony recognising the achievements of companies delivering digital and technological solutions to the events industry.
Events in Europe
February
CONFEC
@CONFECEvents
Côte d’Azur, France
CONFEC is a complementary hosted-buyer event bringing together qualified event planners and professionals with a range of suppliers including DMCs, convention bureaux, hotels, congress & exhibition centers, tourist boards, and airlines for one-to-one meetings, education, and networking.
IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly
@IAPCO2019
Basel, Switzerland
The IAPCO Annual Meeting attracts professional congress organisers for four days of training and discussion about maintaining high professional standards in the organisation and administration of congresses, conferences and other international and national meetings or special events.
November
IBTM World
Barcelona, Spain
A leading global event for the meetings and events industry, IBTM World connects meetings and events professionals with educational sessions, networking, and a wide range of industry vendor exhibitors offering everything from catering services and venues to entertainment, event services, A/V, travel, and event technology.
Events in Canada
March
CSE Live
Toronto
Canadian Special Events (CSE) Live brings together event planners of all stripes — coordinators, producers, designers, marketing and brand managers — who organise events ranging from fundraisers and academic events to large corporate events, sales meetings, and international conferences. CSE Live offers four days of networking, education, new product and service ideas, and experiential learning.
May
C2 Montreal
@C2Montreal
Montreal
Not strictly speaking an event only for event professionals, and not a trade show (there’s no exhibit floor), C2 draws senior business leaders from around the globe for three days of perspective on future trends, innovation, and finding creative solutions to business problems.
June
MPI World Education Congress (WEC)
Toronto
MPI’s World Education Congress delivers education, networking and business opportunities for meeting and event professionals. The event features networking opportunities and educational sessions with scientists, artists, and business leaders to help planners design unique experiences. Qualified planners can attend the event plus have one-to-one meetings with select vendors, at no cost.
August
IncentiveWorks
Toronto
IncentiveWorks is an event for the MICE industry, providing tools to plan and execute better meetings, conferences and events, along with opportunities to network with top planners and suppliers. The training at this two-day conference builds your skills, advance your knowledge, and can earn CE credits.
Events in Mexico
May
IBTM Americas is an international tradeshow connecting the meetings and events industry across North, Central, and South America, South America. It helps event planners deliver exceptional experiences through educational sessions, networking, and connections with innovative event industry suppliers.
November
MPI Thought Leaders Summit
Quintana Roo
This by-invitation-only event provides senior event and meeting professionals with access to unreleased research and curriculum, up to 10 hours of EIC compliant education, and networking in a resort atmosphere.
Events in Australia
February
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME)
@AIME2019
Melbourne
The Asia Pacific Incentives Meetings Event (AIME) is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region. It brings together industry decision makers from across the region for three days of learning, networking, and evaluating the latest offerings from event industry suppliers.
Tom Pick is a digital marketing consultant who works with event management platform developer G2Planet to share the company’s insights and knowledge with corporate event marketing professionals.
