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June 26th 2026

Harnessing AI for Event Success: Insights from the BestCities Community Cafe

More BestCities in your Google News Feed? Click here.A green and silver compass labelled with "Plan," "Engage," "Measure," and "Amplify" is surrounded by event-related icons and charts against a backdrop of a city and a conference.

The latest BestCities Global Alliance Community Cafe brought together industry leaders and innovative thinkers to discuss cutting-edge developments in event technology. With a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance association events, the session offered valuable insights into the potential of AI tools to revolutionise the meetings industry. The event was hosted by Gevme, with speakers Jonathan Easton and Keerat Singh leading an engaging discussion on AI’s impact on event planning and execution.

View the recording of the session.

Introduction to AI in Event Management

Loren Christie, Managing Director at BestCities, welcomed participants to this edition of the Community Cafe, emphasising the importance of sharing knowledge on impact, legacy, sustainability, and innovation. The session centered around a practical guide to AI for association events, aptly addressing a fast-evolving landscape where AI is pivotal.

Understanding AI Tools: The Practical Guide

Gevme introduced their “event intelligence ecosystem,” a suite of applications designed to streamline event management. This ecosystem aids organisations in both operational logistics and commercial hosting while proving the value of their events. Key stakeholders, such as organisers, destinations, and sponsors, can benefit from these tools by efficiently planning and executing impactful meetings.

Keerat  highlighted Spark, an AI tool developed in collaboration with PCMA. This tool is tailored for the events industry, offering functionalities that enhance productivity, automate speaker bio creation from LinkedIn, and transform session recordings into marketing materials. Moreover, Spark facilitates the creation of detailed event budgets and the segmentation of registration data for deeper insights and more tailored marketing strategies.

Amplifying Event Content with Snapsight

The session also showcased Snapsight, a tool that captures live event content and transforms it into various formats, such as key takeaways, summaries, and event reports. This innovation allows for the monetisation of content, providing associations with additional revenue streams and thought leadership opportunities while maintaining accessibility across diverse languages and learning needs.

The Third Pillar: Proving Event Impact with ImpactAIQ

Jonathan introduced ImpactAIQ, a collaboration with #Meet4Impact, which measures and proves the intangible benefits of events, such as community development and knowledge transfer. This tool streamlines the complex process of impact measurement, ensuring that both quantitative and qualitative impacts are captured and reported effectively. The AI capabilities in ImpactAIQ make it possible to generate customized reports for various stakeholders, turning data into compelling narratives.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The BestCities Community Cafe emphasized the crucial role of AI in the meetings industry, presenting innovative solutions that simplify event management and amplify impact. Participants were encouraged to explore the potential of AI tools like Spark, Snapsight, and ImpactAIQ to optimize their events and enhance value creation.

As the industry continues to evolve, embracing technological advancements like AI will be paramount in crafting successful, sustainable events. 

Questions?

Have any questions with regards to the tools discussed in this session or any other tech/AI related topics, please get in touch with Keerat or Jonathan.

Related BestCities Content

Explore our other AI related content:

  • Community Cafe: Practical Productivity with AI, click here
  • Article: The Productivity Revolution – Clear your Inbox before Breakfast, click here
  • Community Cafe: Beyond ChatGPT, click here

About the author

Nigel

Nigel began his career at ICCA’s head office in Amsterdam, organising international events across five continents and introducing new technologies to improve event delivery. He later joined Singex Exhibition Ventures in Singapore, gaining hands-on experience with trade shows and conferences. His combined exposure to both client and supplier perspectives gives him a well-rounded view of the events industry.