The Event Debrief

EventsAir

The Event Debrief (by EventsAir) is a podcast community for event planners and event professionals focused on learning, sharing ideas, and growing better events together. Each episode features conversations with event experts and stories from peers about on event strategy, marketing, technology, AI and operations. From emerging trends to case studies, attendee experience to event ROI - join The Event Debrief Community today!

Episodes

  1. AI in Events in 2026: Separating the Hype from Real Value

    FEB 10

    AI in Events in 2026: Separating the Hype from Real Value

    Everyone’s talking about AI in events - but few are talking about what’s actually working.  In this episode, we cut through the hype and get practical about what AI will actually deliver for event professionals by 2026. Joining the discussion are three event tech leaders: Cam MacIntosh (Google Cloud), Mehdi Khalili (EventsAir), and Brandon Wernli (BW Events Tech). We unpack what’s working right now, what’s overhyped, and where AI is making measurable impact across attendee experience, sponsorship ROI, and planner efficiency. If you’re trying to figure out where to invest (and what to ignore), this episode is your shortcut. What we will discuss in this episode: Why so many AI projects still deliver little to no ROI — and what that means for events The current state of AI in events (2025): what teams are actually doing today The biggest misconception about AI in the event industry right now Real AI use cases improving attendee experience (personalisation, matchmaking, content curation) How AI can drive better sponsorship ROI (lead scoring, behavioural insights, smarter reporting) Where AI is already boosting planner efficiency (automation, scheduling, reporting, decision support) What’s still too early, too risky, or simply marketing fluff The human factor: privacy, trust, change resistance, and leadership buy-in What skills event teams should start building to stay relevant through 2026 Practical takeaways: realistic AI actions planners can implement in Q1 2026 For more information on how EventsAir supports better event delivery, visit https://www.eventsair.com/ for more info.

    54 min
  2. How 1% Improvements Can Transform Your Delegate Experience

    FEB 10

    How 1% Improvements Can Transform Your Delegate Experience

    Unforgettable delegate experiences don’t come from blockbuster ideas — they come from small, compounding improvements that add up. In this episode, we break down how marginal gains — tweaks as small as 1% — across the event lifecycle can dramatically boost attendee satisfaction, engagement and ROI. In this episode we walk through practical strategies you can apply at every stage — from pre-event communication and smoother registration, to real-time onsite enhancements and post-event feedback loops. Whether you’re a seasoned planner or scaling your first hybrid event, this episode gives you actionable tips without the overwhelm. What we’ll discuss in this episode Why delegate experience is the thing that separates “fine” events from "unforgettable" ones The “1% improvements” mindset — and why it works so well for event planning How the delegate journey starts before the event even begins Quick wins for better registration, check-in, and attendee onboarding How to use event tech to remove friction (not create it) Onsite improvements that make events feel smoother and more premium Simple ways to increase engagement and participation during sessions How to create better networking moments without forcing awkward icebreakers Using live feedback to improve the experience in real time Post-event follow-up strategies that keep the value going long after the event Listen in and find out how thoughtful, targeted enhancements make events feel effortless and memorable.

    43 min

About

The Event Debrief (by EventsAir) is a podcast community for event planners and event professionals focused on learning, sharing ideas, and growing better events together. Each episode features conversations with event experts and stories from peers about on event strategy, marketing, technology, AI and operations. From emerging trends to case studies, attendee experience to event ROI - join The Event Debrief Community today!