“The CEMA Summit was a fantastic chance to connect with fellow industry professionals, learn and more about best practices in the events industry and share insights. The discussions we had will be key in shaping TPN's strategies to tackle event owner challenges and boost their results."

Allison DeLeone, TPN CEO

From the content and discussions at this year’s CEMA Summit, held in Seattle August 2-4, it’s clear that the event industry is navigating both challenges and opportunities. From budget constraints to measuring ROI, we heard a lot about the evolving dynamics of the industry. Here are three takeaways from our team:

The Struggle with Budgets and ROI: Doing More with Less
We all heard that the prevailing concern in the industry is budgets. Across every session and conversation, the focus on budgets, ROI and the need to do more with less was evident. This issue is particularly pressing as the elements that event stakeholders want to see a return on – brand impact and attendee engagement – are notoriously hard to measure. With the pressure to maximize value without corresponding budget increases, industry partners like TPN need to continue to innovate and deliver excellent experiences within these constraints.

Managing Stakeholders and ROI
In both live and virtual events, successfully managing stakeholders is critical to aligning event goals with expectations, building trust and enhancing perceived value. However, defining ROI remains a complex task, particularly where intangible benefits like brand awareness and actual audience engagement are difficult to quantify. Balancing these challenges is essential for creating events that are both effective and sustainable.

The Importance of Brand Engagement and Networking
The CEMA Summit itself served as a masterclass in integrating networking into every aspect of the event. From session content designed to spark discussions among attendees to structured opportunities to meet new people on every bus ride, networking was seamlessly woven into the fabric of the event. This approach enhanced the overall experience while also underscoring the value of personal connections in building and sustaining brand engagement.

According to TPN CEO Allison DeLeone, “As the industry continues to navigate these complexities, collaboration and adaptability will be key to achieving sustainable success."