Nominations are now open for the 12th Annual EEAs!

It's time to make your mark. Nominations are now open for the 12th Annual Event Experience Awards!

The 15 Most Innovative Meetings 2013

The conferences, conventions, trade shows, and meetings in North America that are successfully experimenting with new models and formats.

Mitra SorrellsMartha C. White

September 9, 2013

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Photos: Courtesy of IMTS (bike), Oscar Einzig (show floor), Tom Rostowski (compost bins), Courtesy of SAP, Steve Maller Photography (computer kiosks)

The strategy and design of conferences and conventions continues to evolve as hosts embrace new models for engagement, social media integration, pricing, and sustainability. Our list includes those from a broad range of sectors, but all share a common goal: to create an experience that provides value for attendees by addressing their needs and interests. Here’s how they are doing it.

1. McDonald's Worldwide Convention

2. TED Conference

4. SAP's Sapphire Now

5. H.I.M.S.S. Conference

6. Further With Ford

7. Oracle OpenWorld

8. Educause Annual Conference

10. National Automobile Dealers Association's Convention & Expo

11. International Manufacturing Technology Show

12. Hallmark Gold Crown Retail Summit

13. Dad 2.0 Summit

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The week culminated in performances from the likes of Shania Twain, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and Pitbull.

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'The real star of the event was the VIP area,' said JJLA's Jared Sampson. 'It granted prime access to main stage viewing and the comfort of lounge seating and charging areas, and provided convenience from dedicated bars and restrooms.'

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Conferences That Captivate: Walmart Associates Week 2023

The 15,000-attendee celebration mixed key messaging with moments of team unity and headline-grabbing entertainment—including a surprise message from Tom Cruise.

The week culminated in performances from the likes of Shania Twain, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and Pitbull.

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Conferences That Captivate: The Wall Street Journal's Future of Everything Festival

Fun fact: The stage backdrop from the festival now provides shade at a community garden in Brooklyn. Here’s how else the team leaned into upcycling and sustainability-focused volunteerism at the annual event.

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Conferences That Captivate: SWAN Pacific Bitcoin Conference

The inaugural event adopted a festival-like atmosphere, with two stages catering to diverse audience preferences and learning styles.

'The real star of the event was the VIP area,' said JJLA's Jared Sampson. 'It granted prime access to main stage viewing and the comfort of lounge seating and charging areas, and provided convenience from dedicated bars and restrooms.'

Meetings & Conferences

Conferences That Captivate: Psychedelic Science 2023

The largest psychedelic conference in history featured important conversations on the power and promise of psychedelics—along with some surreal art exhibits and tech-forward sponsor activations.

A gold Burning Man dragon installation was a focal point in the roomy 'Deep Space' exhibition. Speakers, performers, and artists utilized the surrounding space for engaging conversations.

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Conferences That Captivate: NAMICon 2023

The National Alliance on Mental Illness' annual convention featured thoughtful, inclusive programming and unique experiential touches.

New this year, the show floor featured therapy horses from Acres for Life to show attendees how animals can help with mental health.

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Conferences That Captivate: ManpowerGroup's Circle of Stars 'The Art of Success'

The annual business event celebrated success and reinforced company values through an over-the-top experience featuring a custom drone show, a "Summit of Success" on an actual pyramid, and more.

ManpowerGroup's annual Circle of Stars business event was designed and produced by Events of a Lifetime Productions.

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Conferences That Captivate: IDEOlogy Health's 2023 Texas Lung Cancer Conference

The inaugural conference flipped the stale continuing medical education format with a unique venue, music-infused programming, and a boxing-style debate between two physicians. (Yes, you read that right.)

Inspired by the conference's music venue setting, the team collaborated with Musicians on Call—a local nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to patients' bedsides—for daily opening live music performances. 'Whether through live performances or in videos, the carefully curated music played a pivotal role in striking the right balance of excitement and storytelling,' said Wilson Dow Group's Nikki Padavano. 'Music brought an emotional depth and energy to the space.'

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Conferences That Captivate: Horizon 2023 National Sales Meeting

An immersive stage design and emphasis on storytelling kept employees focused and inspired during a time of change.

The 1,200-attendee meeting's panoramic main stage was created with 980 LED panels spanning five screens, complemented by 225 tailor-made kinetic LED lights that shifted and synchronized with the content. 'By incorporating the overhead kinetic LED lights, we extended the stage above the audience and enhanced the sensory experience of the content by bringing it closer—as close as four feet above attendees' heads,' said Wilson Dow Group's Gino Pennacchio.

Meetings & Conferences

Conferences That Captivate: Google Cloud Accelerate23

Google Cloud's largest-ever metaverse-based experience engaged its 17,600 attendees with gamification elements, a unique tour guide, and more.

A professional actor served as an event guide throughout the space. 'We scripted a character that is friendly and helpful but also funny and a little irreverent,' said Opus Agency's Jason Curtis. 'We worked with a casting agent, and after 85 auditions and two callbacks, we found Brittney. Smart, hilarious, and friendly, she creates a connection with the audience that feels genuinely playful and aligned with Google's culture.'

Meetings & Conferences

Conferences That Captivate: C2 Montréal 2023

Whether they were unexpectedly crashing a "wedding" or helping program an AI-generated prime minister, guests at 2023's C2MTL business conference quickly learned to expect the unexpected.

Blending theatrical performances with unique brainstorming sessions has long been a cornerstone of C2MTL, which was born from a partnership with Cirque du Soleil.

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Call for Nominations: The Year's Most Cutting-Edge Meetings, Conferences, and Trade Shows

BizBash is rounding up the most creative business gatherings that have taken place since September 2022. What should be on the list?

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