The Event Industry Clipboard #1
What’s Really Driving the Event Industry in 2025
FROM ROMANCE TO RAGE: Conference Chemistry, AI Honors, Speaker Mutiny, The End of Small Talk, and Billion-Dollar M&A Whispers
Welcome to the first edition of The Event Industry Clipboard.
The Gathering Point exists to celebrate the event industry as the powerful force it truly is—an engine of commerce, culture, and connection.
We are the wholesalers of influence. Events shape how people think, buy, believe, and belong. And yet, most of us rarely get to see how others pull it off.
That’s where The Clipboard comes in. It’s our metaphor for the real stuff: The fixes scribbled in the margins. The plans that shift mid-show. The magic that happens when logistics meet instinct. It’s where we give you a peek behind the curtain—so we can raise the bar together.
We’ll share sharp takes and deeper dives. Short gossip and long reads, tools, tips, complaints, and applause.
We’re here to elevate the voices across the industry, not compete with them. We want to lift the self-esteem of our workforce, recognize the hours and stress that go into this work, and start caring more intentionally about the mental health and motivation of our teams. And yes—we want our jobs to be fun again.
Let’s bring back the energy, the pride, the excitement in what we do.
Got something to share? Email me at david@gatheringpoint.news or just reply to this post. Let’s make The Clipboard a place where the industry sees itself clearly—and walks away inspired.
— David Adler
Love in the Time of Conferences: The Return of IRL Chemistry
Scott Galloway recently noted on the Pivot podcast that romantic relationships, once commonly initiated in traditional office settings, are suffering because of remote work. We are hearing that now new beginnings are starting at conferences. With remote work reducing daily in-person interactions, he observed, “Conferences are the new office.”
This shift isn’t just anecdotal. Across industries, professionals are recognizing that events are becoming fertile ground for connections that extend beyond business cards and LinkedIn adds. We might be witnessing the resurgence of TSRs—Trade Show Romances.
After years of pandemic-induced isolation and the fatigue of virtual meetings, in-person gatherings have reemerged as powerful social accelerators. Networking events, hallway conversations, and post-session mixers are not only facilitating professional opportunities but also igniting genuine romantic sparks.
The data supports this trend:
Stanford sociologist Michael Rosenfeld reported a 28% decline in casual hookups among 18–25-year-olds from 2007 to 2017, attributing this to increased screen time and solitary entertainment habits. However, post-COVID, there’s a noticeable reversal, particularly at industry events.
Why now?
Remote work has limited daily face-to-face interactions, making conferences prime venues for meeting peers.
Dating apps have become oversaturated, leading many to seek more organic connections.
Attendees are increasingly open about seeking meaningful connections, both professional and personal.
An event planner from a major tech company shared:
“We see it happening all the time. People are flying in solo and leaving with someone’s number—and sometimes, a future Zoom date. Our after-hours events are low-key matchmakers.”
Adding a layer of complexity, recent political conventions have highlighted this phenomenon. During the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, reports surfaced of a significant increase in activity on the gay dating app Grindr. One local user noted a surge in anonymous profiles, stating, “On a normal day, you’d encounter maybe 10 users with no profile photo, but during the convention, I stopped counting at 50 blank profile photos.”
While some of these claims were later clarified or debunked, the incident underscores how large-scale events, even those with formal agendas, can become unexpected hubs for personal connections.
Bottom line:
As the boundaries between personal and professional life continue to blur in our hybrid world, conferences are evolving into spaces where meaningful connections—romantic or otherwise—are not just possible but increasingly common. So, when planning your next event, consider that you’re not just facilitating networking opportunities; you might be setting the stage for the next great love story.
Eventapalooza is Back —But is Everyone Broke and Exhausted?
Face-to-face is back, baby—and everyone’s exhausted. IMEX Frankfurt pulled over 12,000 bodies through badge scanners. Cvent CONNECT is about to take over San Antonio with close to 6,000 professional while 2,000 people are expected for bourbon bonding at MPI’s big event in Louisville.
But behind the scenes sponsors are frustrated while still reaching qualified audiences? Booth fees are through the roof (some say up 30%), staffers are living out of roller bags, and brands are quietly skipping shows they can’t afford. One weary vet told us,-“I’ve hit 19 shows since January. My liver and my budget are both maxed out.”
The Death of Small Talk (And What’s Replacing It)
The new generation of eventgoers isn’t here for small talk. From the brain-dating crowd to rising Gen Z professionals, there’s a growing intolerance for superficial chatter and performative networking.
Blame Zoom fatigue. Blame burnout. Or just blame better self-awareness. Whatever the reason, substance is in—banter is out.
One expert from the Brain Dating company said it bluntly:
“The old-fashioned sales pitch is dead. So is self-promotion. People don’t want to be pitched. They want to feel heard—and discover what matters, not just what sells.”
Neuroscience backs it up: Shallow conversation requires more social effort and yields lower emotional ROI. In contrast, deeper interaction triggers dopamine and oxytocin, reinforcing memory, bonding, and decision-making.
That’s why AI-assisted connection tools like NotebookLM and curated discussion formats are gaining traction: They let people skip the surface and go straight to why you’re really here.
The new icebreakers?
What’s something surprising you’ve learned this year?
What idea are you currently obsessed with?
What problem are you trying to solve right now?
Bottom line: Small talk isn’t dead everywhere. But at top-tier gatherings, the shallow end of the pool is emptying fast. Replace filler with curiosity—and your guests will thank you.
Coming Next Week: Introducing the AI Honors Gala
Washington, D.C. is about to host the most concentrated collision of AI power the industry has seen yet. Major gatherings converge this week, and insiders are calling it “AI’s coming-out party in the capital.”
At the center: the AI Honors Gala, happening Tuesday, June 3 at the Waldorf Astoria. Dubbed the Oscars of AI, this black-tie evening—produced by Tammy Haddad’s Washington AI Network and The Dufour Collective—will spotlight innovators across government, tech, and business. Think velvet ropes, bold speeches, and plenty of off-the-record buzz about who’s building what—and with whose backing.
The timing couldn’t be sharper.
AI is advancing much faster than the internet-in-the-’90s velocity, and while the tools are multiplying, it’s the events that are helping humans make sense of it all. In an era of rapid-fire breakthroughs, gatherings with recognition are how we map the terrain—and signal trust.
Neuroscience backs it up: recognition activates dopamine and oxytocin, reinforcing motivation, memory, and meaning. In fast-moving markets, awards and honors don’t just validate—they orient. They tell the room (and the rest of us) what to watch, what to value, and who’s shaping the future.
Meanwhile, just down the block, the AI+ Expo (June 2–4) will bring 15,000+ attendees to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, exploring everything from compute and biotech to defense systems and global AI policy.
The future isn’t just being built. It’s being staged. And this week, D.C. is the stage.
D.C. Lobby Watch: Event Pros Make Their Move
This Thursday, the event industry makes its boldest move yet on Capitol Hill. In a record-breaking effort, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance is sending 170 industry leaders from 28 states to D.C.—the largest coordinated Hill visit in industry history. The goal? To make sure lawmakers finally understand the full scope of the $426 billion events economy before they regulate it into a corner.
Led by EVP Tommy Goodwin, the delegation isn’t just showing up—they’re speaking in a language politicians understand: events. Fundraisers, rallies, town halls—Congress runs on convening. The Alliance is connecting the dots and making the case that the people who power events are essential infrastructure.
**The Big Three: Taxes, Talent, Tariffs**
- **Taxes:** Protect small business deductions and tax-exempt association status. With 99% of event companies classified as small businesses, the wrong tax policy could shrink the industry overnight.
- **Talent:** Push for expanded Pell Grants and allow 529 plans to cover certifications. Event organizers are still struggling to hire AV techs, producers, and logistics talent at scale.
- **Tariffs:** Stop the bleeding on inflated import costs. Higher tariffs on materials, displays, and gear mean pricier shows, fewer exhibitors, and lower ROI for everyone.
Insiders are “cautiously optimistic”—but they know the clock is ticking.
If you’re wondering who speaks for events in Washington, this week, it’s them.
Put This on Your Clipboard:
The Pop-Up Gets a Glow-Up
Forget tents. Forget shipping containers. The next wave of brand activations might just look like a sci-fi film set.
Meet **Viewbox**—a modular, glass-walled structure that assembles in 1–2 days and makes last-minute event execution look effortless (and expensive—in a good way).
Born from the chaos of rushed timelines and perfectionist clients, Viewbox delivers ultra-slick, climate-controlled spaces that stack, combine, and customize to your wildest pop-up dreams.
The real flex? **One truck can transport up to eight flat-packed Viewboxes**—compared to the usual one or two standard containers. That means fewer headaches, faster delivery, and a visual that screams 2025.
From branded lounges to immersive installations, it’s a mobile experience environment that’s finally caught up with the times.
Add custom interiors, full branding, and 24/7 support, and you’ve got a turnkey playground for marketers, event producers, and brands chasing cultural relevance.
**Why it’s on your clipboard:**
It’s smart. It’s stackable. It’s a new visual language for activations—and you’ll wish you thought of it first.
The Espresso Martini: Events’ Ultimate Power Drink
Move over, Red Bull and vodka—there's a new networking fuel in town, and it's dressed to impress.
The **Espresso Martini** has officially become America's event cocktail of choice, with **116% growth year-over-year in 2024**. What started as a late-80s creation has become what industry insiders call *“the Millennial Red Bull and vodka”*—a more sophisticated way to stay caffeinated while schmoozing.
The numbers don’t lie:
- Orders nearly doubled by mid-2023
- Now a top 10 most popular cocktail nationwide
- At **$715 average outlet value velocity**, it's the **4th most lucrative** cocktail for venues—just behind the Margarita
Event planners have caught on.
Corporate cocktail hours and networking events are ditching basic vodka-sodas for the Instagram-ready coffee cocktail that keeps guests both buzzed and alert.
“Compared to other coffee cocktails, the Espresso Martini just appears more elegant because it's in a martini glass.”
—Beverage industry expert
The perfect storm? It combines **America's two favorite legal stimulants—caffeine and alcohol**—in one sleek, high-energy glass. Plus, unlike brunch-y coffee drinks, this one screams *serious business networking.*
**Bottom line:**
If your corporate event isn’t serving Espresso Martinis, you’re missing the drink that literally keeps the conversation flowing.
Silent Sessions: Speakers Hate Them—But Budgets Love Them
“I might as well be talking to mannequins.”
That’s how one speaker described the rise of silent sessions—where attendees wear wireless headsets instead of hearing audio from traditional AV.
No sound bleed. No hardwalls. No clapping, laughing, or feedback.
For organizers, it’s a dream setup:
Enclosed stages can cost $10,000–$30,000 each.
Silent format? Same space, five sessions at once, no sound clash. Massive savings.
For speakers? A vibe killer.
“There’s no rhythm. No energy. It’s like delivering a keynote to ghosts,” one veteran told us.
And they’re not wrong, eye contact disappears, group dynamics fade.
It’s hard to read the room when the room is wearing headphones.
Organizers love the flexibility. Speakers say it flattens the experience.
The audience is present—but the connection isn’t.
Silent sessions might be the future of multi-track events—but they’ll need a rethink if they want speakers to bring their A-game.
Kai Hattendorf’s “The State of Our Industry” – IMEX Edition
Kai Hattendorf—the globetrotting trained journalist and former CEO of UFI—is quickly becoming one of the most essential voices in the events industry.
With his deep global perspective and sharp weekly newsletter, he’s helping all of us make sense of where the business of gathering is headed next.
This week, reporting from IMEX Frankfurt, Kai recaps a high-powered session he led with Reggie Aggarwal, Carina Bauer, and Karen Bolinger. The conversation tackled the state of our industry—and what they uncovered was revealing, urgent, and, in many ways, just the beginning:
AI is quietly streamlining logistics behind the scenes, freeing us to focus on human connection
Content is no longer the magnet—contact is
Human-centered design has officially eclipsed high-tech gimmicks
The smartest organizers are building for reinvention, not comfort or stability
Why it belongs on your clipboard:
Because Kai isn’t just attending the big events—he’s translating them into the takeaways that matter. Every Wednesday, his newsletter delivers the global pulse of an industry in flux. Click link to subscribe.
From the Complaint Bureau Files
Every edition of The Clipboard closes with one real gripe from deep inside event operations—and a fix worth stealing.
Got a complaint to file or fix to share?
Send it me: david@gatheringpoint.news