From Greasy Vans to Ottolenghi: How Food & Beverage Is Transforming Events

James Dickson talks with Hugo Campbell, co-founder of Togather, about the rise of food and beverage as a central part of events—from festivals to football stadiums. They discuss creative F&B concepts (pop‑up restaurants, local produce areas, secret food zones), how modern stadia like the Hill Dickinson are designed around the fan experience, and why improving F&B boosts both guest satisfaction and event revenue. The episode also covers changing audience tastes, especially among Gen Z, and how organisers can use thoughtful curation and experiential production to turn food into a key driver of attendance and spend. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode, James Dickson speaks with Mia Moles, Business Support Director at Detectnology UK, about modern event security hardware. They cover screening solutions for people, bags and vehicles, the evolution from visible detectors to AI-driven and covert systems, and how technology can both deter and detect threats. Mia also discusses the company’s 36-year history, demo and training practices, GDPR and legal considerations, integration with event operations, and how organisers can balance safety, guest experience and budget when deploying screening technology. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Julia Danmeri, founder and CEO of TranslateAble, about the vital role of language in the events industry. They discuss translation, interpreting (in-person and remote), sign language, captioning, localisation and platform-agnostic tech solutions that make events more accessible. Julia shares practical examples from event operations, explains why human translators remain essential despite AI advances, and offers advice for organisers to integrate language and accessibility early in planning. Learn how TranslateAble supports organisers across pre-event planning and on-site delivery. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

Jeremy Basset, CEO and founder of Super Benji, joins James Dickson to explain how his AI-powered sales tool automates prospecting, personalises outreach, and helps event organisers find sponsors, exhibitors and speakers more efficiently. They discuss real-world results, use cases for big and small shows, and how AI can improve lead quality and reply rates. The episode covers Super Benji’s origins, pricing approach, and quick time-to-results, and highlights practical tips for event teams looking to scale outreach without sacrificing community trust and personalised engagement. EIN listeners can get a month free trial of superbenji.ai using the code EINFREE This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson interviews Rae Malcham and Darcy Gabriele from BW Events Tech about their platform-agnostic consulting, implementation and on-site support for complex events. They discuss the value of expertise across multiple platforms, tech tours that share real deployments, and practical solutions like Wallet Passes and QR integrations. The episode also covers rising attendee expectations, collaboration in the events community, responsible use of AI, and how BW Events Tech helps clients choose or optimise tools to reduce friction and improve quality.   This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson interviews Rob Murdoch, Sales Director at Exposure Analytics, about their Physical Engagement Index - a data-driven report measuring 43.8 million visitors across 3,000 events from 2020–2026. They discuss how anonymised sensor data captures dwell and engagement time, the limits of footfall and badge scans, and why actionable insights matter more than raw visitor counts. The episode highlights key findings (average engaged dwell ~13:50), regional and sector differences, and how organisers and exhibitors can use benchmarks to redesign booths, improve layouts, and prove event ROI. The full report is available now at https://exposureanalytics.com/physical-engagement-index/. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson speaks with Kristina McCoobery, Global President of INVNT, about the agency model of the future. They discuss INVNT's theatrical roots in storytelling, the renewed value of in-person events, and how live experiences drive emotional engagement. Kristina explains how INVNT is adopting AI responsibly - hiring a Chief AI Officer and building Orbby for analytics and on-site insights - while keeping human-led creative strategy at the centre. She also covers global collaboration, cultural nuance, and how new tools speed decision-making and boost efficiency. Overall, the episode highlights the evolving role of agencies in delivering connected global brand stories, blending creativity, data and technology to enhance live events and attendee experiences. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

James Dickson talks with Kieran Garlic of Present Communications about how many people “accidentally” find careers in the events industry, and the challenges of creating formal routes into the sector through apprenticeships, work experience and links with academic institutions. They also discuss the growing role of technology and AI in events, the need for practical on-site training, real-world production anecdotes (including the “Bose Stick” story), and upcoming topics such as freelancer rates and evolving technical skills. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Anita Macdonald (Meet Cambridge) and Andy Williamson (Welcome Brain) about the newly launched Neuro‑Inclusive Networking Guide. They explain why traditional unstructured mingling can exclude neurodivergent attendees, share survey findings, and describe simple, practical changes—like networking buddies, badge icebreakers, and low‑cost tech or formatting options—that make networking easier and more effective for everyone. They also cover the guide’s silver/gold/platinum approach, the value of publicising neuroinclusive practices, and how organisers can access the free guide at welcomebrain.com/neuroinclusive-networking-guide. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.

In this episode James Dickson speaks with Rick Stainton, CEO of The Power of Events, about the organisation’s industry map, the nationwide schools engagement program and the new Experience of Work initiative designed to give young people meaningful work placements. They discuss how the project bridges education and vocational skills, the scale so far (over 142,000 students reached) and plans to deliver 1,500 work experiences in year one with support from industry partners. Find out more and get involved at www.thepowerofevents.org or email [email protected]. This episode of the Event Industry News Podcast is sponsored by Present Communications. Present provides broadcast-quality live, hybrid and virtual event production, trusted by organisations where reliability really matters. From corporate town halls and conferences to high-profile live streams, they design and deliver fully resilient systems that work first time. To keep up to date with all the news, subscribe for free here. If you would like to take part in a podcast, then please complete our submission form.