DAY 1 ✦ Monday, March 23Monday, 23 March 2026 - ET (Eastern Time, GMT-05:00)

This isn't your typical keynote—it's an experience, a dynamic (and entertaining) conversation between human expertise and artificial intelligence. Join us as AI becomes our Keynotes live co-presenter tackling real challenges in a highly interactive session demonstrating how meeting professionals can amplify their human potential through strategic AI collaboration. From spontaneous problem-solving with audience participation, you'll witness the future of amplified meeting planning unfold. Key Learnings and Objectives:

• How to leverage AI as a strategic partner, not replacement
• The human advantage in an AI-augmented world
• Voice interaction techniques and tech recommendations
• How to remove friction from your work everday
• Live AI conversations with audience participation addressing real life science meeting professional challenges

Step into the next era of healthcare events with a high-impact exploration of the global forces reshaping our industry. This session dives deep into the powerful intersections of politics, technology, and economics, including the ripple effects of tariffs, on how we plan, execute, and safeguard meetings.

From shifting regulatory landscapes and evolving safety protocols to the transformation of international travel and workforce dynamics, we’ll unpack the critical trends driving change. Discover how healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations must adapt to stay ahead in an industry being redefined by disruption, innovation, and strategic reinvention.

The medical meetings landscape continues to evolve, this session dives deep into the latest data driving change across the industry, offering a comprehensive, evidence-based look at how trends in meetings and events are shifting.

• Compare updated meal cap averages and compliance trends with previous years to understand shifting regulatory expectations.

• Explore how patient experience is being integrated into meetings more consistently, backed by engagement and satisfaction data.

• Unpack the lasting impact of virtual and hybrid formats on in-person engagement using attendance and interaction metrics.

• Discover strategies for boosting HCP engagement across formats and geographies, informed by participation data and feedback loops.

No two congresses are alike—and neither should your approach. This session dives into the nuances of building a tailored congress strategy, from identifying the right team to managing ancillary meetings and ensuring full coverage. Whether you're navigating mega-congresses or niche offshoots, this session will help you sharpen your planning and execution.

• Learn how to identify the right internal and external stakeholders for each congress
• Understand the structure and role of in-house congress teams and their collaboration on ancillary meetings
• Explore strategies for adapting to the unique needs and formats of different congresses
• Gain clarity on what it truly means to be a congress planner—and how to excel in the role

Securing prime ancillary meeting space at major congresses demands early planning, smart budgeting, and creative solutions. This session shares proven strategies to enhance your company’s presence while optimizing costs.

• Discover how early meeting list development and timely submissions can secure top locations, and when partnering with DMCs offers strategic advantages.

• Learn how targeted investments in ancillary space yield strong ROI through internal use.

• Gain practical insights into blackout date enforcement, flexible scheduling approaches, and innovative space acquisition tactics for growing companies.

AI is transforming the event planning industry in real time. From streamlining operations to reshaping client expectations, artificial intelligence is changing how planners work and how value is delivered. This high-energy session brings together visionary leaders to explore how AI is evolving, what it’s already changing, and where it’s headed next. Expect bold insights, practical takeaways, and a logical roadmap for navigating the future.

• See how AI is being used today to transform planning workflows and decision-making

• Examine its real-world effects on roles, relationships, and revenue models

• Get a clear view of compliant data when working with AI