These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday. BasicNet has inked a deal to acquire Woolrich from L-Gam, the Luxembourg-based fund established in 2013 with the support of the royal family of Liechtenstein and families from Europe, Asia and the United States. The enterprise …
Continue reading
Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, honoured the finalists and winners of the 2025 annual Cvent Excellence Awards during its annual customer and industry conference, Cvent CONNECT Europe. The annual awards programme celebrates hotels, destinations, event professionals, and marketers from leading organisations that use Cvent technology to boost efficiency and maximise ROI across their event programmes and MICE initiatives. Britain’s Got Talent star, Joseph Charm, honoured finalists and winners during a live ceremony event held both in-person at the InterContinental London – The O2 and online. Their accomplishments will be featured throughout the year in case studies, webinars, and other thought leadership content.
With hundreds of nominations across diverse categories, the selection process involved a rigorous evaluation of candidates based on their innovative application of technology to improve collaboration, programme efficiency, and overall organisational success.
“These awards serve as a powerful testament to what can be achieved when dedicated professionals harness the power of cutting-edge technology,” said Andreas Heckmann, Chief Customer Officer at Cvent. “This year’s winners and finalists are not merely embracing innovation, they are redefining the standards of success in the meetings, events, and hospitality sector. We are privileged to be their partner in creating remarkable experiences and delivering measurable outcomes.”
The 2025 winners are:
Event Professional Winners
Hospitality Professional Winners
Reggie Aggarwal, CEO and Founder of Cvent, opened Cvent CONNECT Europe, the company’s annual user and industry conference, with a forward-looking keynote outlining three key priorities shaping the future of the meetings and events industry: navigating uncertainty amid global economic pressures, the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, and unlocking the full value of event-led growth to drive measurable business outcomes. Highlighting the enduring value of face-to-face experiences, Aggarwal emphasised that events are where relationships are forged, communities are strengthened, and brands come to life. “In a digital-first world, human connection isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s our industry’s greatest advantage.”
In his address, Aggarwal also reflected on Cvent’s continued global growth, which now includes more than 5,000 employees and 25,000 customers worldwide. He highlighted the importance of celebrating milestones, both professional and personal, sharing a candid story about his oldest daughter’s acceptance into her top choice university. Drawing a connection between life’s memorable moments and those created through events, he said: “Seeing my daughter achieve her dream was a powerful reminder that effort, resilience, and support make all the difference. Success comes from persistence, innovation, and the communities we build at events like this.”
Aggarwal concluded his introduction by reaffirming Cvent’s commitment to empowering event professionals through innovation, education, and connection. “The future may be digital-first,” he said, “but it will always be human-led.”
Reggie’s Three Key Industry Priorities
Aggarwal acknowledged that inflation, shifting tariffs and geopolitical conflicts have created a complex environment for planners and hospitality professionals. Despite these challenges, optimism in the industry is at a five-year high, with in-person events continuing to deliver measurable ROI and human connection remaining central to business success. “Our industry has proven to be incredibly resilient,” said Aggarwal. “Real progress comes from looking beyond the headlines and focusing on what truly matters: building relationships, creating impact and maintaining a long-term vision.”
A central focus of Aggarwal’s keynote was the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, which he described as “a monumental shift on a scale unlike anything we’ve seen before.” Leveraging its global scale and continued investment in cutting-edge technologies, Cvent is accelerating its AI journey to shape the future of events and deliver even greater value to its customers. He introduced CventIQ™, a collection of powerful intelligence capabilities embedded across the Cvent platform. CventIQ goes beyond AI, incorporating Cvent’s robust industry expertise, proprietary insights & analytics, smart platform and intelligent infrastructure to deliver practical, easy-to-use AI-powered solutions.
Aggarwal highlighted several new tools including:
“AI is about redefining productivity, not replacing creativity,” Aggarwal emphasised. “It is a force multiplier, helping deliver exponential outcomes while enabling industry professionals to focus on the critical strategic and human-led aspects of their work.”
Aggarwal concluded by highlighting the rise of Event-Led Growth (ELG), a go-to-market strategy positioning events as a central driver of customer engagement, acquisition, retention and revenue.
To support this, Cvent developed Cvent Essentials, a streamlined solution enabling teams to manage small, repeatable events such as VIP dinners, executive roundtables and regional networking sessions at scale. With minimal training, teams can set up events in minutes, turning in-person gatherings into measurable growth engines.
In addition, Cvent continues to enhance its webinar platform, empowering marketers to engage video-first audiences, such as Gen Z and Millennials, in a more impactful way. These solutions, together with recent acquisitions and product innovations, give marketing teams the tools to run integrated, omnichannel event programmes that deliver measurable results.
Register
Industry professionals can still register to attend Cvent CONNECT Europe virtually, which offers conference content both live and on-demand 30-days post-event, including Aggarwal’s opening keynote. To register, please visit the Cvent CONNECT Europe website.
London has become the destination of choice in Europe for the US convention and congress sector according to new data released by Excel London.
Announced during the opening day of IMEX America in Las Vegas – the leading event for the MICE industry – events booked by US companies now account for more than half (60%) of all conventions and congresses, with that trend expected to continue over the coming years.
Global US brands including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and Gartner are just some of the firms favouring London for their landmark European conferences, drawn by the city’s culture, connectivity and universal appeal. That’s in addition to major association congresses, with US based organisers such as the Linux Foundation (KubeCon) and the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® also opting for London.
In addition, Excel’s newly opened $340m state-of-the-art expansion, adding a further 270,000 sqft (25,000 sqm), has been a key factor to London’s draw and aligns with the city’s wider 10-year growth plan to further solidify it as a world-leading destination.
Dubbed London’s new ‘crown jewel’, the expansion now sees Excel total 1.3 million sqft (125,000 sqm) making it the largest fully integrated convention and exhibition venue in Europe and amongst the top 10 largest venues in America.
James Rees, Executive Director at Excel London, commented: “London is a world-class, tierone city with a magnetic pull as an event destination. The city’s appeal has further intensified over the past few years demonstrating market confidence and resulting in record bookings here at Excel, in particular from the US.
“In addition, next year we are hosting 10 major international association congresses – the highest ever in a single year – generating upwards of $333m for London’s business economy. It is this demand that has led to us expanding the venue, as part of a wider $500m investment which also includes enhancements across our F&B offerings, 5G and Wi-Fi infrastructure and even a new waterfront entertainment district to further benefit delegate experience.”
He added: “London was recently voted Cvent’s Top Meeting Destination and now, thanks to our expansion, we like to think Excel is on its way to becoming the best event destination in the world.”
Tracy Halliwell MBE, Director of Tourism, Conventions & Major Events at London & Partners, added: “London’s inbound business tourism is booming with visitors from the US once again leading the rankings at 3.7 million last year. We’re also seeing business visitors staying longer, spending more and often including a plus one. The city’s universal appeal is translating into one of the busiest pipelines for business we’ve seen, and the events sector and venues like Excel London are crucial to our overall economic strategy.”
Built to leading sustainability standards, Excel’s new expansion features delegate experience at its heart, boasting stunning waterfront reception areas, natural daylight throughout and picturesque views across London’s skyline.
As with the entirety of Excel, its new expansion also focuses on sustainability and uses 100% renewable energy, low-carbon materials, solar panels, and features new landscaped public realms.
For more information on Excel London and its expansion visit www.excel.london/crown-jewel
Tame Impala takes another bite from Deadbeat, by unleashing “Dracula”.
Kevin Parker’s psychedelic rock project channels the Prince of Darkness on this funky, electro-pop nugget, the third, wide release from their forthcoming fifth studio album after the epic “End of Summer” and “Loser.”
Another cut, understood to be “Ethereal Connection,” was gifted to the world as an untitled b-side for the 12-inch of “End of Summer”, which was sold on the Aussie artist’s website with a limited number of copies.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Parker actually gave us a dose of “Dracula” earlier this month, using a snippet as the soundbed for a social post revealing the Deadbeat tracklist.
Deadbeat is slated for a global release Oct. 17th, Tame Impala’s first through the Sony Music machine, by way of a new deal with Columbia Records, ending a career-long relationship with Modular Recordings and Universal Music.
Parker will assemble his touring band for a raft of newly-announced pan-European and U.K. concerts next year, starting April 4 at Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal and wrapping up May 13 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The Deadbeat Tour starts in North America, opening with a show Oct. 27, 2025 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
As previously reported, Deadbeat is inspired by the “bush doof” culture of Parker’s native Western Australia rave scene.
A message on the pre-order page for the Deadbeat vinyl reckons “Parker sculpts a collection of wickedly potent club-psych explorations as a vehicle for some of his most direct, brain-wormy songwriting to date, recasting Tame Impala as a kind of future primitive rave act in the process.”
Deadbeat will arrive more than half a decade after The Slow Rush, from February 2020, a record that went to No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA Chart, and earned career peak positions on the Billboard 200 and Official U.K. Albums Chart UK, both at No. 3. Its predecessor, 2015’s Currents, topped the Australian chart and crashed the top 5 in the U.S. (at No. 4) and in the U.K. (No. 3), where Parker and his Tame Impala bandmates collected the Brit Award for best international group.
Stream “Dracula” below.
RAYE is back with new music – check out her latest single ‘Where Is My Husband!’ below.
Today (September 19), the South London musican and BRIT Awards record-breaker shared ‘Where Is My Husband!’ as the first preview of her eagerly awaited sophomore album. While that album has yet to be announced in full detail, a press release confirms that it will be released sometime in 2026 – you can pre-order the record, currently dubbed ‘Album 2’, here.
‘Where Is My Husband!’ was debuted as the opening number to RAYE’s celebrated Glastonbury 2025 performance, which saw fans hailing her as a future headliner at the Worthy Farm festival.
The new tune – accompanied by a glamorous music video – is a brassy number that sees RAYE searching for her life partner. Check it out below.
The new track is a positive update for fans, who began to worry when RAYE admitted in late 2024 that her sophomore album wouldn’t be arriving anytime soon, as the books she had written new material in were stolen out of her car.
Additionally, RAYE has announced an extensive 2026 tour, dubbed ‘This Tour May Contain New Music’. It will see her perform across Europe, the UK and North America between January and May.
Her dates in the UK include massive shows in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and two dates in London. Among her dates in Europe are shows in Amsterdam, Dublin, Paris and Stockholm.
The North American trek will see her perform in the likes of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and more. She will be supported by her sisters Absolutely and Amma across all dates on the expansive tour.
Pre-sale registrations for tickets are now open, with tickets for most European dates going on sale at 10am local time on September 23. Pre-sale tickets in the UK, France and Germany will be available from 10am local time for fans who pre-order her upcoming second album before then.
General tickets will go on sale at 10am local time on September 25 – you can get them here. Tickets for her North American shows can be purchased here from September 25 at 10am local time onwards.
JANUARY
22 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
24 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
25 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
27 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
30 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
FEBRUARY
01 – Antwerp, Belgium – AFAS Dome
03 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
05 – Oslo, Norway – Unity Arena
07 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
10 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
11 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
13 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Saint Jordi
15 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
17 – Manchester, UK – Co-Op Live
20 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
23 – Birmingham, UK – bp pulse LIVE
26 – London, UK – The O2
27 – London, UK – The O2
MARCH
04 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
31 – Sacramento, CA, USA – Channel 24
APRIL
02 – Vancouver, BC, CAN – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Center
03 – Seattle, WA, USA – WAMU Theater @ Lumen Field
06 – Denver, CO, USA – Fillmore Auditorium
08 – Minneapolis, MN, USA – State Theatre
10 – Chicago, IL, USA – Auditorium Theatre
12 – Montreal, QC, CAN – Place Bell
13 – Toronto, ON, CAN – Coca Cola Coliseum
15 – New York, NY, USA – Radio City Music Hall
19 – Philadelphia, PA, USA – The Met Presented by Highmark
20 – Boston, MA, USA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
26 – Washington, DC, USA – The Anthem
28 – Atlanta, GA, USA – Coca Cola Roxy
29 – Nashville, TN, USA – Ryman Auditorium
MAY
01 – Houston, TX, USA – 713 Music Hall
03 – Dallas, TX, USA – South Side Ballroom
04 – Austin, TX, USA – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
07 – Phoenix, AZ, USA – Arizona Financial Theatre
08 – Las Vegas, NV, USA – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
10 – San Francisco, CA, USA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12 – Los Angeles, CA, USA – Greek Theatre
RAYE’s 2023 debut ‘My 21st Century Blues’ scored a four-star review from NME: “RAYE recently said such bold and brave declarations wouldn’t have been released had she still been signed to a major label. Granted her creative independence, though, the hard-fought ‘My 21st Century Blues’ is unequivocally RAYE from start to finish.”
It’s almost time for Cvent CONNECT Europe! Our conference returns this October, bringing together marketers, event professionals, and hospitality professionals for two days of knowledge-sharing, insights, and networking.
And that’s not all that’s returning. After a two-year absence, we’re back at the InterContinental London – The O2 a venue that has hosted some of ourz most memorable CONNECT moments over the years.
Plus, we’re welcoming back TV host Dermot O’Leary as our celebrity conference MC. So come to make connections, learn best practices, and see if Dermot O’Leary knows more industry acronyms than last year:
It all happens from 15-16 October 2025. Until then, read on for what to expect at Cvent CONNECT Europe 2025.
Inspiring keynotes and must-see sessions
This year’s CONNECT Europe conference once again kicks off with Reggie Aggarwal, Cvent’s founder and CEO, sharing his vision for the future of events and hospitality.
Reggie’s keynote is the big-picture moment that sets the tone for everything that follows, charting where the industry is heading and how professionals across marketing, events, and hospitality can stay ahead.
💡 79% of attendees say they get new ideas for event-led growth at Cvent CONNECT Europe
The keynote on the second day offers an extra spark of inspiration from television personality, Davina McCall. From her MTV beginnings to her role as the UK host of Big Brother, Davina has built a career defined by reinvention and resilience. She’ll share the moments that have shaped her journey and what it takes to keep showing up and evolving. Davina’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation isn’t just possible, it’s essential.
Returning session favourites include the always-anticipated Cvent Product Roadmaps (Wednesday, 15 October: 10:15-11:15).
Divided into Event Marketing & Management and the Hospitality Cloud, these two roadmap sessions offer a first look at Cvent’s technological innovations shaping the tools you use every day. Think of it as your ‘fast pass’ to the features that will help you deliver smarter, more impactful experiences.
For a dose of creative inspiration, don’t miss ‘Making Every Event as Memorable as Your Favourite TV Channel’ (Wednesday, 15 October: 16:15-17:15). This session will feature music, games, playful competition, and surprising moments as it explores what events can learn from the world of entertainment, helping you to design unforgettable experiences.
You’ll also be treated to a fascinating look at why culture isn’t about perks or ping-pong tables but purpose, connection, and daily experience, with the session ‘The Overlooked Audience: How Internal Culture Drives External Success,’ featuring Verity Dack (UK Vibe Lead, Canva) and Lily Jones (Director, Strive Events Agency) (Wednesday, 15 October: 11:30-12:00).
💡 72% of attendees come to Cvent CONNECT Europe to learn how to use event technology better
What’s in store for marketers?
We have a great set of sessions for helping marketers learn best practices and upcoming trends. Three handpicked highlights include:
How to Launch an Event-led Growth Strategy
Wednesday, 15 October: 11:30-12:00
Join this session to learn what Event-Led Growth (ELG) looks like in practice. You’ll discover how to benchmark your current approach, map your next steps, and build towards a more measurable, integrated event programme.
Mastering Micro Events: What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Wednesday, 15 October: 12:00-12:30
Attend this session to learn the secrets of how smaller, high-touch experiences (VIP dinners, roundtables, curated meet-ups, etc.) can push leads and prospects through your sales funnel and become your most powerful marketing channel.
Driving Revenue: Rethinking How We Measure Marketing
Wednesday, 15 October: 15:15-15:45
If you feel under pressure to prove you’re driving revenue, not just leads, this is the session for you. You’ll dig into what it takes to move beyond surface-level metrics, how to win internal buy-in, and where brand investment, including events, fits into a broader revenue-driven strategy.
What’s in store for event professionals?
We offer a fantastic range of sessions to help event professionals tackle key challenges, such as managing budgets, maximising impact, and maintaining high engagement levels. Plus, we have the following two sessions focused on sustainable event planning and improving accessibility as part of event design.
Inclusive Events: Ensuring Accessibility from Start to Finish
Thursday, 16 October: 13:15-13:45
Join this session for actionable tips on ensuring accessibility for all attendees. You’ll learn more about the new European Accessibility Act and discover why making your events more accessible is not only a moral and legal obligation, but it will also improve your bottom line.
How to Make the Case for Sustainable Events
Thursday, 16 October: 14:30-15:15
Find out how you can stop sustainability getting brushed off as “too expensive”, “too complicated”, or “not a priority”. You’ll learn how to work with internal teams, clients, and suppliers to make sustainability a priority, build support, and overcome common objections.
💡 74% of attendees agree that the education and networking opportunities at Cvent CONNECT Europe will advance their career.
What’s in store for hospitality professionals?
We’ve also curated sessions to help hospitality professionals discover the latest trends, embrace technology and AI, and collaborate better with planners. Three handpicked highlights include:
Roadmap Extended: Collaborative Solutions for Maximising Efficiencies
Wednesday, 15 October: 11:30-12:00
Attend this session and you’ll be the first to know more details of the exciting roadmap for Cvent solutions, such as Cvent Passkey, Cvent Supplier Network, and Cvent Event Diagramming. These innovations and more will help your hotel win more meetings and events.
Synergy in Venue Sourcing: A Collaborative Panel and Interactive Workshop
Wednesday, 15 October: 12:00-12:45
This is your opportunity to hear from planners about their respective priorities in the RFP process. You’ll also participate in a workshop with planners at your table, allowing you to ask questions and share best practices.
Mastering European Hospitality Trends with STR
Wednesday, 15 October: 13:45-14:30
Joining this session will help you anticipate future performance trends and learn about key metrics such as occupancy rates, average daily rates, and revenue per available room. You’ll also gain insights into catering to planners’ specific needs and preferences, allowing you to tailor your offerings to increase appeal.
“The highlight of Cvent CONNECT Europe is the Innovation Pavilion. I enjoy connecting with hotels we’ve worked with. It’s valuable to connect with existing professional relationships and create new ones as well.”
– Kate Ashby, International Fertiliser Association
Celebrating success with the Cvent Excellence Awards
This year, the Cvent Excellence Awards (Wednesday, 15 October) is opening its doors to all Cvent CONNECT Europe attendees. It promises to be an evening of great entertainment, so come along, meet the finalists and celebrate their success. Tickets are just £30, with 50% of the proceeds going to our charity partner,Meeting Needs.
“I always like to see what’s new with Cvent. I enjoy the exhibition area, looking at different integrations and exploring offerings we don’t already have. The networking is fantastic—seeing old faces, meeting new ones—and the Excellence Awards are always a highlight.”
– Lucy Francis,Director, Lemon Lane
Get hands-on with a host of activities
Cvent CONNECT Europe’s interactive elements are designed to take you beyond the breakout room.
Tech Tours let you experience Cvent tech in action, and Lunch Roundtables offer an excellent opportunity for in-depth conversations.
At the same time, Roadmap Talks and Feature Flashes provide quick product updates and insider tips in the Innovation Pavilion. And of course, it wouldn’t be CONNECT without plenty of opportunities to network, from casual morning runs to lively evening socials.
Can’t attend in person? We’ve got you covered with our virtual offer and CONNECT TV
If you’re joining us virtually, you’ll be able to watch these programme highlights:
Wednesday, 15 October:
Thursday, 16 October:
CONNECT TV is where our virtual attendees can enjoy more of the magic of Cvent CONNECT Europe. You’ll access exclusive interviews with speakers and customers, behind-the-scenes footage, and expert analysis.
Our celebrity MC, Dermot O’Leary, will take the mic to host some episodes, and the best part? The content is free to access and on demand, so you won’t miss out.
Pre-conference day
Tuesday, 14 October
Are you one of the select group of attendees taking part in the Cvent Academy Training Camp, Partner Summit or our exclusive Leadership Summit the day before the main conference officially begins?
These invite-only, free-to-attend sessions will set the stage for an impactful week and provide deep-dive learnings and strategy that will set you up for success.
Don’t miss out on Cvent CONNECT Europe 2025
Cvent CONNECT Europe is the go-to event for marketing teams, event professionals, and hospitality professionals—so you won’t want to miss this years’ experience. For more of what you can expect from Cvent CONNECT Europe, relive the buzz of last year’s event with our highlight reel:
Once you’re registered, watch out for the soon-to-be-available event app and start adding sessions to your agenda through the Attendee Hub so that you make the most of your CONNECT Europe experience.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Cvent CONNECT Europe 2025 takes place from 15-16 October at the InterContinental London – The O2.
For full programme details and how to register, check out our event website.
Sponsored Content