Tom Gavazzi is an accomplished entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Woom AI Marketing Agency, a company specialising in AI-powered conversational marketing solutions. In 2025, Woom became a global partner of Infobip, one of the world’s leading communication platforms. Under Tom’s leadership, Woom has developed innovative AI assistants that enhance engagement and communication on WhatsApp, particularly for events, trade shows, and brand experiences.

With more than 25 years of experience in the event industry, Tom has led and executed over 1,000 business events across the B2B and B2C sectors.

From 2019 to 2023, Tom worked with several AI-driven global startups, where he was responsible for client acquisition and sales across European markets. He played a key role in developing and scaling go-to-market strategies for cutting-edge AI technologies.

Earlier in his career, Tom spent nine years in the financial sector. In the early 1990s, he was part of the founding team that helped establish the Croatian capital market and the Zagreb Stock Exchange and contributed to the development of the national money market. He served nearly a decade as Secretary and President of the Croatian Brokers Association and, for one year, as Secretary-General of the European Brokers Association.

Today, Tom is focused on transforming the way brands and event organisers communicate with their audiences through AI-driven automation, with a strong emphasis on global impact and innovation.

• Tom Gavazzi says that the trade show industry is shifting from one-time booth interactions to long-term, data-driven engagement. So, expos should no longer focus only on footfall or badge scans, but on understanding attendee intent and building personalised communication journeys. A major challenge in the events industry is the gap between engagement and actual conversion.
• AI-powered assistants can help identify attendee needs, segment audiences, and nurture only relevant prospects. According to Tom, the future of trade shows lies in smarter data collection, AI-driven qualification, and customised communication rather than mass lead generation.
• The future of trade shows will be transformed by agentic AI, AI avatars, and intelligent assistants that manage attendee journeys in real time. He predicts AI agents will help to schedule meetings, identify relevant exhibitors, and optimise event experiences. Although human relationships will remain the core value of in-person events, exhibitors will use AI avatars and conversational systems to extend face-to-face interactions into continuous digital engagement.

Run time – 00:47:35 mins.

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Sujoy Cherian is a globally recognized Creative Technologist and CEO of Option 1 Group, leading innovations across immersive tech, AI activations, and digital storytelling. He is ranked among the Most Influential People in Events and Event Technology. His footprint spans the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, France, India, and the Philippines. Sujoy is a sought-after speaker at global forums from Las Vegas to Riyadh, defining the future of experiential tech. Known for his ability to demystify complex innovations and predict trends, his talks inspire industry veterans and nextgen entrepreneurs alike.

• Sujoy Cherian discusses the state of the event industry and expected trajectories. He believes that today’s event industry is being reshaped by AI, mixed media, and immersive technologies because audience attention spans have shrunk dramatically due to constant digital distractions. Exhibitors and organisers can no longer rely on impressive production alone— experiences must be interactive, personalised, and designed to maximise knowledge retention. Hyper-personalisation is the most important requirement for ensuring meaningful engagement and measurable event ROI.
• AI’s greatest value lies in real-time intelligence and personalisation. Rather than viewing AI merely as conversational chatbots, its power lies behind the scenes— from analysing attendee movement, sentiment, and footfall to enabling instant operational decisions that improve crowd flow, security, and sponsor ROI. At the exhibitor level, AI-driven data, NFC/RFID, proximity sensing, and personalised content allow brands to identify high-value prospects, tailor interactions in real time, and replace delayed, generic follow-ups with context-aware engagement that improves conversions and visitor experience.
• Organisations should build long-term AI capabilities while remaining mindful of future risks. Businesses must invest in their own AI-enabled data stacks and agentic systems instead of treating technology as a one-off event expense or relying entirely on third-party platforms. However, growing dependence on AI brings its own challenges— from reduced human skills and critical thinking to cybersecurity threats accelerated by AI and quantum computing.

Run time – 00:55:29 mins.

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Links for Sujoy Cherian:

www.sujoycherian.com

www.option1world.com

www.yourfitness.coach

Technologist Youtube

@sujoycherian Insta

@option1live Insta

@YFC Insta

@sujoycherian Tiktok

John Blaskey has generated hundreds of millions of pounds of new prospective business for his clients through face-to-face marketing. Global multinationals, national trade organizations, not-for-profits, and countless SMEs have benefited from John’s insights.

John’s key theme is persuading his audiences to stop hiding behind their screens – and engage with prospects. Engaging with our fellow human beings has proved to deliver far more long-term business relationships than via on-line methods. John’s content addresses how to identify real prospects, how to evaluate them, how to listen actively to their needs, how to align their messaging consistently, and how to take advantage of our universal connectedness.

From manufacturing display panels for exhibitors 40 years ago to disrupting conventional exhibiting norms, John is certainly unconventional. His calling today is to inspire and persuade any ambitious organization to create sustainable live marketing strategies, to differentiate themselves, and measure every aspect of their performance.

• In his second appearance on the podcast, John Blaskey expounds upon what exhibitors must do to derive maximum benefit from participating in Trade Shows. He explains that trade shows are a part of the larger continuum of marketing and communication, and that what determines the strategy for any event participation is dictated by larger goals of the organization.
• The opportunity cost of such participation is usually extremely high. So strategic planning must aim for collecting real leads rather than a large number of badge scans which have no value. Cautious qualification and targeted discovery can help to filter down the data collected at the end of the event to viable prospects. To achieve this end, John Blaskey has developed a rigorous methodology.
• As a consultant for exhibitors, he has also developed a questionnaire with sixty questions that not only helps him to understand his customers’ objectives but also allows them in turn to refine their goals and strategy. This also helps to objectively evaluate which events they should participate in, and which they should pass over.

Run time – 00:59:52 mins.

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Marco Barozzi is the Founder of Expo Consulting, with experience of over three decades in the exhibitions and events industry. His journey began with key roles in prestigious companies like the Blenheim Group, Miller Freeman, and Reed Exhibitions. Later, he founded Expo Consulting, helping organisations succeed in the complex and dynamic world of trade shows and events.

Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous public institutions, SMEs, and event planners, sharing his expertise in trade show promotion, marketing strategy, project management, and exhibitor training. As the Country Manager of Fira Barcelona for the Italian market until 2022 and a faculty member of ICE/ ITA, he mentored numerous businesses and individuals, helping them navigate the intricacies of the event marketing landscape.

When not immersed in the world of events, Marco enjoys travelling, reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with family and friends. Marco says that these experiences inspire and fuel his curiosity for discovering new ideas and perspectives.

• Marco Barozzi believes that the trade show industry is transforming into a form of “economic infrastructure.” Exhibitions are no longer only about visibility or sales- they are spaces where businesses reduce uncertainty, rebuild trust, and strengthen credibility through face-to-face interactions. Trade shows have become strategic coordination hubs rather than simple marketing events.
• Geopolitical tensions, tariffs, supply-chain shifts, and economic fragmentation are becoming permanent and reshaping the global events landscape. So organisers and exhibitors must adapt by creating niche as well as regionalised events, and planning with uncertainty in mind. Resilience in the trade show industry will be demonstrated through flexibility, strategic repositioning, and the ability to respond quickly to changing global realities.
• AI will deeply influence the events industry, but Marco agrees that there is too much hype surrounding AI. AI can be an accelerator and support system, rather than a replacement for human creativity and relationship-building. Companies still need storytelling, branding, strategy, and authentic in-person engagement to succeed.

Run time – 00:53:11 mins.

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Miguel Neves leads the editorial team at Skift Meetings, where he and his team passionately tell the incredible stories around the business of events. He has worked in and around events for almost 20 years in various roles covering planning, marketing, social media, and editorial. Miguel has been at the forefront of innovation in event technology and AI for more than 15 years and has closely followed the rapid evolution and impact of AI. He is a Portuguese soul who built a career in the UK and is now raising a young family in southern Denmark. His favourite place in the world is a Portuguese beach on a sunny summer day.

• In this conversation, Miguel Neves talks about several topics around the Trade Shows industry, including content creation, media role, AI efficiency and deployment, the JWC segmented report on the industry and designing events for a wide swath of ages and demographics.
• On artificial intelligence, Miguel takes a balanced but sceptical position. He believes that AI is powerful for tasks like creating marketing copy, data analysis, transcription, and content summarisation, but rejects the notion that AI can be used as a fact checker or source of truth. The idea that firing the workforce to replace them with AI will have untoward consequences.
• He believes that Trade shows are a bad investment to collect leads in an age where it can be done practically free of cost using scraping techniques and AI. Trade shows are more middle of the funnel or even bottom of the funnel, and must allow buyers to have conversations with technical people who can answer questions that salespeople can’t.

Run time – 01:02:16

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Kai Hattendorf is one of the most prominent thought leaders in the global business events industry, building on a decades-long legacy of transformation and innovation. He serves as Managing Partner at JWC, the globally leading management consultancy specialising in the exhibition, trade fair, and conference industry.

In his decade at the helm of Paris-based UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, he spearheaded numerous initiatives and projects to develop the sector, drive public awareness, and grow the association’s reach and relevance.

As Chair of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), a global Council of international and global associations serving the Business Events Industry, Kai led advocacy efforts, including the “Global Industry Manifesto,” which created a joint narrative for the entire events sector.

Working with industry associations and global organisations such as UNFCCC, OECD, and ISO, he set up and supports initiatives, including the “Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative”. Kai’s work in the events industry has been recognised through numerous awards and recognitions around the world.

His previous career also includes transformational leadership positions at Messe Frankfurt and in marketing/strategic communications, as well as in strategy and product development in the ITC and Media Industry for the Deutsche Telekom Group, the dpa Group (the German Press Agency), and a fintech start-up.

A journalist by education, Kai has reported internationally, working for broadcasters like WDR and Radio Bremen in Germany, Euronews in France, the BBC in the UK, and the Voice of America in the US. He holds a Master’s degree from American University in Washington, DC, and studied in Dortmund and Edinburgh. Kai currently lives in Oslo, Norway.

• In this episode, Kai discusses the recent report, the Global Industry Performance Review by JWC, on the state of the trade shows and events industry. Amongst many findings covering 33 exhibition markets, it has become clear that now we are past the post-pandemic recovery phase, and the continued growth of the industry will be more uneven.
• Growth in the industry will be driven by value-added services rather than space, although rental costs have gone up. India now stands as the most attractive destination due to a host of factors, including predicted industry growth rates, and this is a new insight for everyone, including India.
• Already last year, their same report was the biggest and boldest to date, covering 3 markets and clocking in at about 400 pages. This year’s effort spans 900 pages. The report is a deep dive into the industry, with multiple segmentations based on a plethora of data collected for analysis.

Run time – 00:46:06

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Links for Kai Hattendorf:

e-mail: khattendorf@jwc.eu.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kaihattendorf

Marlys Arnold brings a unique perspective to trade show exhibiting, with experience as both an exhibitor and a show organiser. For more than two decades, she’s advised thousands of exhibitors through consultations and workshops for events, ranging from local consumer expos to major U.S. trade shows. She has written two books on the subject: the award-winning Build a Better Trade Show Image and Exhibit Design That Works.

A respected voice in the industry, Marlys frequently contributes to top publications and podcasts, in addition to hosting the highly regarded Trade Show Insights blog and podcast. She’s also the creative mastermind behind the Exhibit Marketers Café, an online hub for learning.

• Marlys Arnold discusses the state of the Trade Shows Industry and its evolution with technology changes. She talks about how her podcast also reflects that evolution, while its core focus and identity have remained consistent through industry changes over the years.
• Marlys discusses how the industry failed to sustain virtual elements post-pandemic, losing inclusivity for those unable to attend in person—highlighting a persistent “either-or” mindset instead of embracing hybrid as an enhancement. She also advocates for the availability of event elements through platforms post-event, enabling better access.
• Marlys suggests shifting from transactional exhibiting to experience-driven engagement—encouraging storytelling, real-world demonstrations, and attendee-focused interactions to build long-term relationships, and promoting innovative interactions geared for the new Gen Z attendees, who are much more introverted than the earlier generations.

Run time – 00:46:19

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar

Links for Marlys Arnold:

Award-winning author of:
– Build a Better Trade Show Image – https://www.exhibitmarketerscafe.com/build/

– Exhibit Design That Works – https://www.exhibitmarketerscafe.com/works/

Founder of the Exhibit Marketers Academy
Host of the Trade Show Insights blog/podcast – https://www.tradeshowinsights.com/

Find me on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/imagespecialist

Twitter – http://twitter.com/imagespecialist

LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/marlysarnold

Baptiste Boulard is the CEO and cofounder at Swapcard, which he built after leaving a career as a business lawyer to transform the events industry. He manages the leadership group and leads the go-to-market strategy for the company’s AI-first platform, including Sherlock (AI chat assistant), Launchpad (registration platform), and industry-leading matchmaking technology (Attendees Connect). Baptiste loves working with flagship tradeshows and associations like NAVC, AIAPA, Informa, and Clarion to solve organisers’ biggest challenges—from exhibitor ROI and attendee engagement to digital transformation—through integrated technology solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.

• Baptiste believes that human connection is the core value of events, which is what led him to build Swapcard- a system that enables trade show participants to exchange contact information. Successful trade shows are built on facilitating meaningful networking between attendees and exhibitors, because exhibitors’ ROI—measured through qualified leads and connections—ultimately determines event growth, retention, and long-term industry value.
• Modern event success is driven by data and pre-event planning that can boost engagement. Around 60% of networking and 40% of lead generation occur before events begin. Opening digital engagement platforms in advance enables attendees to plan and schedule interactions.
• In the very near future, AI and data will reshape event technology by automating matchmaking, planning, and operations, moving beyond simple engagement tools. AI assistants will recommend contacts and schedule meetings based on the floor plans of exhibition booths.

Run time – 00:55:45

Links for Subhanjan

subhanjan@pitch.link

https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhanjansarkar