Event Experience

Victoria Rasmussen, marketing director at BW Events Tech, joins Rachel Moore to talk about what actually drives event sponsorship ROI. Her team sponsors around 19 events a year, and she explains why prioritizing long-term partnerships over one-off transactional deals leads to better outcomes for both sides. Victoria gets specific on sponsor reporting: why the data problem starts before registration even launches, and why she considers full attendee lead lists largely overrated unless a sponsor had major visibility. She also shares what makes a sponsor experience feel like a true partnership rather than a checkbook exercise, plus her predictions for more personalized, tactile swag heading into 2027. If you manage sponsor relationships or event ROI reporting, this episode offers a candid, sponsor's-eye view worth building into your strategy. For transcripts and more episodes, visit: https://www.bizzabo.com/podcast

Curated event design beats scale, says Dominique Farrar, founder of the Paris-based wellness community Well in France. Before starting her own community, Farrar spent 15+ years building B2B communities at Yelp, Spendesk, and Quantive, scaling a CFO network from 2,000 to 10,000 members at Spendesk. In this episode, Farrar joins host Rachel Moore to explain why curating who's in the room matters as much as curating the content, how she niched Well in France into a community for international women in Paris, where AI helps event planning and where it flattens creativity, and why word of mouth beats paid acquisition even though it's harder to measure. A useful listen for anyone rethinking scale versus relevance in their event strategy. For transcripts, quotes, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/dominique-farrar-curated-event-design

Richard Foltys, founder of DMA Events, has produced more than 1,500 brand activations for companies like Red Bull, Disney, Barbie, and FIFA. In this episode of Event Experience Podcast, he joins host Rachel Moore to break down which AI-powered trade show activations are working right now, from personalized trading cards to AI-generated photo experiences, and why booth staffing and signage often decide whether an activation draws a crowd or gets crickets. Foltys also unpacks the 18 month novelty window he sees with robotics, how QR code based activations scale lead capture without extra booth space, and his prediction that augmented reality glasses will reshape how attendees interact with a booth. A practical listen for anyone planning next year's trade show presence. For transcripts, mentions, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/rich-foltis-dmaevents-ai-trade-show-activations

Nonprofit event storytelling runs on a different clock than corporate keynotes, and Ron Rausch has spent 25 years working out where the two meet. Ron, owner of Wired Production Group and The Ark Collaborative, joins host Rachel Moore to explain why the traditional gala format built around back-to-back leadership speeches is losing its grip on donor audiences, and why editing a story down to three to five minutes beats giving the president the whole room. Ron shares real campaign work from Wheaton College, the University of Memphis, and the University of Arizona, and gets candid about where AI actually helps event production and where it can't replace human connection. A must-listen for event professionals building the case for donor and employee engagement. Subscribe for new episodes of Event Experience every week, and find full transcripts and takeaways at www.bizzabo.com/podcast

E-commerce events give online brands something no ad campaign can: the chance to put a product directly into a customer's hands. In this episode, host Rachel Moore talks with Katie Kung, founder of Talking Purpose, who previously led social entrepreneurship at Shopify. Katie explains how in-person events take an e-commerce brand from 2D to 3D, why event ROI extends far beyond on-site sales, and how influencer invitations turn a single pop-up into weeks of free content. You'll also learn the two biggest post-event funnel leaks, skipping follow-up and sending excited attendees to a website that undercuts the event experience, plus where founders should focus first for growth in 30 days. Find transcripts and key takeaways at www.bizzabo.com/podcast/ecommerce-events-sales-funnel-katie-kung  

Only 15% of event organizers say networking is effective in 2026, down from nearly 50% the year prior, according to Bizzabo's 2026 Benchmarks Report. Bethany Murphy, Senior Director of Global Strategic Events at SentinelOne, returns to Event Experience to explain why — and what to do about it. With 20+ years in the tech sector, Bethany covers how to design networking that actually works, why high-performing teams treat their events calendar as a portfolio, where AI creates real operational value, and how to manage budget ROI when show services costs are rising 10 to 15% year over year. For transcripts, quotes, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/sentinelone-event-networking-budget-roi-ai

Sean Saadeh, Chief Programming Officer at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, shares how he transformed the Prudential Center from 22 concerts a year to 65-plus, and what it takes to build a multi-venue entertainment strategy that actually scales. You'll hear how Sean repositioned Prudential Center as a New Jersey destination rather than a New York competitor, why programming diversification tied to real market demographics is the foundation of sustainable growth, and how HBSE's growing portfolio of venues (from a 45,000-seat stadium to a 4,000-seat theater) functions as an interconnected ecosystem rather than a collection of separate businesses.  In this episode: Repositioning a venue in a saturated market (the New York DMA) How Latin music, K-pop, country, and comedy drove 3x concert growth Building agent and promoter relationships that compound across venues Northwest Stadium's record-breaking summer series: +20% attendance, +12% ticket sales Why meaningful venue transformation takes a minimum of four years  Creating an artist development pathway through tiered venue capacity Whether you work in venue management, event programming, or live entertainment strategy, this conversation offers a practical framework grounded in nearly 30 years of experience.  For transcripts, mentions, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/sean-saadeh-hbse-multi-venue-entertainment-strategy   Enjoyed this content? Subscribe to our newsletter and get insights like these delivered straight to your inbox.

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore speaks with Nika Brunet, founder of Calm Nest Collective, about designing sensory-friendly, inclusive event spaces. Nika shares how her background in social work and IT led her to address the lack of wellbeing and neurodiversity support in the events industry. She explains how sensory rooms and quiet spaces help attendees and event professionals regulate, recharge, and stay engaged. The conversation also covers practical ways event organizers can incorporate inclusive design; from creating calm environments to offering thoughtful alternatives like non-alcoholic options. Nika emphasizes the importance of listening to attendee needs, collaborating with communities, and starting small. By prioritizing wellbeing and accessibility, event professionals can improve engagement, retention, and the overall event experience. What you'll learn Why sensory-friendly event spaces support both attendees and event professionals How quiet rooms and refuge spaces improve engagement and wellbeing Practical ways to design inclusive events that support neurodiversity Why listening to your audience leads to more effective event experiences For transcripts, mentions, and more, visit: www.bizzabo.com/podcast/calm-nest-collective-sensory-friendly-events  

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Mark Mallchok, event experience strategist and co-founder of Brella. With over 30 years in the industry, Mark shares how events have evolved from traditional in-person formats to what he calls the "Virtual 2.0" era, where engagement, production quality, and accessibility take center stage. He challenges common assumptions, including the belief that in-person events are always more effective and that virtual events inevitably lead to Zoom fatigue. Instead, Mark explains how virtual experiences have expanded access, enabling participation across geographies and budgets in ways that weren't previously possible. The conversation explores how event planners can create more compelling digital experiences by prioritizing audience engagement over content volume. Mark encourages planners to think like broadcasters, focusing on storytelling, pacing, and production value, while also drawing inspiration from creators outside the events industry. He also addresses the role of AI in event production, noting that while technology can enhance execution, human connection and storytelling remain at the core of memorable experiences. This episode is packed with practical insights for planners looking to adapt, experiment, and elevate their virtual events in a rapidly changing landscape. What you'll learn:  Why virtual events can be more inclusive and scalable than in-person experiences How to design engaging virtual sessions that avoid fatigue and hold attention Why treating virtual events like broadcast productions leads to better results For transcripts, mentions, and more, visit: https://www.bizzabo.com/brella-virtual-event-strategy

In this episode of Event Experience by Bizzabo, host Rachel Moore sits down with Jen Santos, Founder of Smart Event Academy, to unpack what truly drives successful events beyond just technology. Drawing on her background in IT consulting and event tech, Jen explains why operational readiness is the foundation of every high-performing event. From detailed planning and documentation to pre- and post-event analysis, she shares how structured processes create the stability teams need to stay agile onsite. The conversation also highlights the importance of building a collaborative culture across teams and vendors. Jen emphasizes that alignment, open communication, and shared goals are what prevent silos and keep events running smoothly, especially when challenges arise. Importantly, Jen reframes how event professionals should think about ROI. Rather than focusing solely on financial outcomes, she encourages a broader view that includes time, energy, and attendee experience, ensuring every investment contributes to meaningful impact. She also challenges common misconceptions about event technology, noting that most issues stem from people and processes, not the tools themselves. By adopting a mindset of curiosity and leveraging frameworks like Smart Event 360, event professionals can continuously improve and elevate their approach. This episode is packed with practical strategies to help you strengthen operations, foster collaboration, and measure success in more meaningful ways. For transcriptions, mentions, and more, visit:  www.bizzabo.com/podcast/event-readiness-smart-event-academy