IBTM World announces 2018 Tech Watch Award shortlist

IBTM World has announced a shortlist of nine finalists for its Tech Watch Award. The winner will be announced on 28 November at IBTM World 2018, which takes place at Fira Barcelona from 27-29 November.

People's Choice Award

In addition, this year sees the introduction of the ‘Tech Watch People’s Choice Award’, which gives meeting professionals the opportunity to vote on which event technology they’re excited to see breakthrough into the industry and which new technology they believe would add value for their businesses. The shortlist has been decided by a panel of well-known experts from the events and technology industries and includes an AU event marketing and analytics platform, facial recognition systems and cloud-based event tech products. All finalists are technology companies with new products or services relevant to the meetings, incentive, conference and events industry.

This years finalist

This year’s finalists are: Kubify/The Learning Toolbox, an interactive e-poster system; CadmiumCD, a meeting room scheduling/resource management system and event logistic management platform; Radario, an AI event marketing and analytics platform; Event Tech Tribe, group marketing of cloud-based event tech products, including Hubb, which provides an appointment management system and app, and MeetingSelect, a venue sourcing site*; Zenus, Inc and Fielddrive, facial recognition registration*; Spacebase, which provides direct booking of unique venue meeting space; IVvy, a direct meeting space booking system for hotels; SpiceFactory/Sava Events, a speaker management system and intuitive chatbot; and finally Eventfolio, a multi-event management system.

Judging panel

Entries are being judged by a panel of well-known experts from the events and technology industries. Corbin Ball, a tech industry stalwart, will chair the illustrious judging panel which includes Michelle Bruno, President of Bruno Group Signature Events; Dahlia El Gazzar, Founder of DAHLIA+ Inc; Ruud Janssen, Founder of TNOC.org and co-founder EMG; Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner at SoolNua; James Morgan founder of Event Tech Lab and Michael Shapiro from Northstar Meetings Group. Corbin Ball: “Innovation is alive and well in the events industry as evidenced in this year’s IBTM World Tech Watch Award. A large number of entrants point to several emerging event tech trends including facial recognition, artificial intelligence, advances in analytics, novel e-poster options, creative cloud-based alliances and more. Speaking for the judging committee, I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists on providing important contributions in advancing the MICE industry.”

Voting

Each entry is scored against innovation, concept/business model and value to the MICE industry. From the nine finalists, judges will now vote for a winner in each category, one of which will be named Tech Watch Award 2018 winner on 28 November at IBTM World in Barcelona. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will take place via the IBTM World website and social media channels in the run up to the event.   *Event Tech Tribe, Hubb, and MeetingSelect are being judged as one entry. Zenus, Inc and Fielddrive will also be judged as one entry.