
Convene Talk: Rethinking the Trade Show Experience: Data, Design, and Human Connection
04/25/25 • 23 min
Are trade shows still relevant in the digital age? In this episode of the Convene Podcast, the team explores how trade shows are evolving beyond transactional exchanges to deliver meaningful, data-informed, and emotionally engaging experiences. From AI-powered matchmaking to facial recognition technology and immersive booth design, learn how organizers and exhibitors are redefining ROI—return on investment and emotion.
Links:
· https://www.convene-digital.org/convene/library/item/april_2025/4264229/
· https://www.pcma.org/using-emotional-ai/
· https://www.eventmarketer.com/article/things-never-seen-trade-shows-shoptalk-2025/
Get News Junkie: https://www.pcma.org/campaign/news-junkie/
Meet the Convene Editors: https://www.pcma.org/contact/
· Michelle Russell, Editor in Chief
· Barbara Palmer, Deputy Editor
· Jennifer N. Dienst, Senior Editor
· Magdalina Atanassova, Digital Media Editor
Follow Convene:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene
Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine
Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.
Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/
Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra
Are trade shows still relevant in the digital age? In this episode of the Convene Podcast, the team explores how trade shows are evolving beyond transactional exchanges to deliver meaningful, data-informed, and emotionally engaging experiences. From AI-powered matchmaking to facial recognition technology and immersive booth design, learn how organizers and exhibitors are redefining ROI—return on investment and emotion.
Links:
· https://www.convene-digital.org/convene/library/item/april_2025/4264229/
· https://www.pcma.org/using-emotional-ai/
· https://www.eventmarketer.com/article/things-never-seen-trade-shows-shoptalk-2025/
Get News Junkie: https://www.pcma.org/campaign/news-junkie/
Meet the Convene Editors: https://www.pcma.org/contact/
· Michelle Russell, Editor in Chief
· Barbara Palmer, Deputy Editor
· Jennifer N. Dienst, Senior Editor
· Magdalina Atanassova, Digital Media Editor
Follow Convene:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene
Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine
Contact Information: For any questions, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.
Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000 qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/
Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra
Previous Episode

Convene Article: Unlocking the Event Housing Block Dilemma
This episode has been kindly sponsored by Louisville Tourism. Learn more at GoToLouisville.com/meeting-planners/.
Over this past year, representatives from major hotel brands and housing services providers met for three PCMA roundtable conversations to discuss housing booking challenges — and potential solutions.
Written and read by Michelle Russell, editor in chief at Convene.
Read the Article:
Unlocking the Event Housing Block Dilemma: https://www.pcma.org/unlocking-event-housing-block-dilemma/
Follow Convene:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene
Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine
Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails
Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.
Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/
Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra
Next Episode

Convene Article: Addressing ‘Prolifically Problematic’ Food Waste at Meetings
The most commonly wasted foods are bread, pastries, and fruit — a great place for planners to begin developing food-waste prevention practices.
Written and read by Barbara Palmer, deputy editor at Convene.
Read the Article:
Addressing ‘Prolifically Problematic’ Food Waste at Meetings: https://www.pcma.org/prolific-food-waste-at-meetings/
Follow Convene:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pcma-convene/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcmaconvene/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@pcmaconvene
Medium: https://medium.com/@convenemagazine
Subscribe to our newsletters: pcma.org/subscribe-to-pcma-emails
Contact Information: For anything podcast-related, reach out to Magdalina Atanassova, matanassova(at)pcma(dot)org.
Sponsorships and Partnerships: Reach 36,000+ qualified meeting organizers with Convene, the multi-award-winning magazine for the business events industry. Contact our sales team: https://www.pcma.org/advertise-sponsorship/
Music: Inspirational Cinematic Piano with Orchestra
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