March AirWaves 2026 – Key Takeways 

2026 is already shaping up to be a big year for EventsAir, and our first AirWaves of the year made that crystal clear. Hosted by CMO Kelly Harvey, the session packed in a strong lineup of product updates, a peek at AI innovation in action, a look at how EventsAir is shipping faster than ever, and an exciting AirTime announcement to close things out.  

If you missed the live session, here’s everything you need to know. 

Product in focus – Renee Elliott  

VP of Product Renee Elliott opened with a deep dive into recent feature enhancements, many of which are designed to eliminate repetitive work and streamline event setup. 

Smarter, more dynamic event websites 

One of the standout updates is the continued evolution of the Event Website Builder, now enhanced with dynamic widgets for agendas, speakers, and sponsors. 

These widgets allow planners to pull real-time data directly from EventsAir into their event websites. This removes the need for manual updates and ensures consistency across platforms. 

The added flexibility also enables better sponsor visibility. Planners can highlight top-tier sponsors with greater prominence, while still showcasing supporting partners in a structured way. This makes it easier to deliver measurable sponsor value without additional manual effort. 

“What this really means for planners is no longer having to recreate information across multiple places. You can manage it once in EventsAir and trust that it stays accurate everywhere, including your event website.” 

Faster event setup with comprehensive imports 

Another major time-saver comes in the form of agenda imports via Excel. Planners can now build out full event programs, including sessions, breaks, and activities, in a fraction of the time. 

For teams managing large or complex events, this significantly reduces setup time while also improving accuracy. It removes the need to manually recreate detailed agendas within the platform.  

Looking ahead 

Looking forward, Renee highlighted two significant priorities on the roadmap: 

• Interactive Sites uplift: A visual and functional overhaul of registration sites is well underway. Expect more styling flexibility and a more streamlined registration form experience, all designed to keep attendees moving through to completion. 

• Abstract Management rebuild: EventsAir is undertaking a complete rebuild of its abstract management capabilities. The vision is a unified experience that supports all roles within a single environment, reduces administrative overhead, and improves usability for submitters, reviewers, and organizers alike. 

AI in action – Mehdi Khalili 

AI continues to be one of the most talked-about topics in the event industry. CTO Mehdi Khalili joined the session to share an exciting look at where EventsAir’s AI strategy is headed, spanning two distinct areas of focus. 

Enhancing the attendee experience with AI 

One of the key innovations discussed was Attendee Concierge, a smart, in-app assistant designed to support attendees in real time. 

The goal is simple. Help attendees find what they need, when they need it, without friction. This includes answering common questions, guiding them to relevant sessions, and helping them navigate the event more effectively. 

Mehdi explained the broader impact of this approach: 

“Attendees often have the same questions throughout an event, whether it’s about sessions, locations, or logistics. If we can answer those instantly, we reduce the pressure on planners and create a smoother experience for everyone involved.”  

This shift not only improves accessibility and convenience for attendees, but also allows event teams to focus on higher-value interactions. As shared in the session, the feature has already been trialled with early adopters at live events, with broader availability expected soon. 

Improving planner productivity through AI 

Alongside attendee-facing innovation, EventsAir is continuing to develop Planner Co-Pilot, an embedded assistant designed to support planners directly within the platform. 

This includes simplifying complex workflows, surfacing insights more quickly, and reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks. The intention is to make the platform more intuitive and responsive, especially for teams managing large-scale or high-pressure events. 

Together, these developments point toward a future where AI plays a supporting role across the entire event lifecycle, helping planners work more efficiently while delivering more personalized experiences. 

Shipping faster: A new pace of innovation 

Another key theme of the session was the pace at which EventsAir is now delivering updates. 

The team has significantly increased the frequency of releases, moving toward a model of continuous delivery. This means new features, enhancements, and improvements are reaching customers faster than ever before. 

Strengthening the event tech ecosystem – Jase Hopkins 

Head of Integration Services Jase Hopkins highlighted ongoing efforts to simplify one of the biggest challenges planners face: disconnected systems. 

Expanding and evolving integrations 

Recent and upcoming integrations include tools like Mailchimp, Moodle, HowToo, and new CRM and AMS platforms, with additional Smart Connectors on the way. 

However, the focus is not just on expanding the ecosystem. It is also on continuously improving existing integrations based on real customer feedback. 

Jase explained how this approach is shaping development: 

“We’re now releasing second and third versions of our connectors based on what customers are asking for. That feedback helps us make each iteration more valuable and better aligned to real-world workflows.” 

Supporting more complex tech environments 

To support systems that do not have APIs, EventsAir has also introduced new ways to move data more efficiently between platforms. 

This ensures that even more complex or legacy tech stacks can stay connected, reducing manual work and improving data accuracy across the event ecosystem. 

Industry insights – Paul Trappett 

CEO Paul Trappett closed the session by sharing key insights from EventsAir’s 2026 State of Events industry report, offering a clear snapshot of where the industry is heading. 

Event planners continue to face increasing pressure, from tighter budgets to shorter timelines and growing event complexity. Despite this, the industry is showing strong resilience, with planners leaning on technology to work smarter and deliver high-quality experiences. 

At the same time, two major opportunities are shaping the future. 

AI adoption is accelerating, with more planners using it to streamline delivery and improve efficiency. Alongside this, expectations around personalization are rising, with attendees seeking more tailored experiences across content, networking, and overall event journeys. 

Paul highlighted how these trends are converging: 

“We’re moving toward a world where we can better understand what each attendee wants to get out of an event. That allows us to guide them to the right sessions, the right people, and ultimately deliver a more valuable experience.”  

Underpinning all of this is a growing need to clearly demonstrate ROI. As budgets come under greater scrutiny, planners must be able to measure engagement, track performance, and communicate the value of their events with confidence. 

AirTime 2026: Save the date 

The session closed with an exciting look ahead to AirTime 2026, EventsAir’s flagship customer event designed to bring the community together to connect, learn, and share what’s next. 

Here’s where we’re heading: 

AirTime Sydney: Monday 23 – Tuesday 24 November 

AirTime Berlin: Monday 26 – Tuesday 27 October 

AirTime North America:  Vancouver BC, Dallas TX, Washington DC (Dates TBA) 

Whether you’re looking to connect with peers, explore new ideas, or get a first look at what’s coming next, AirTime continues to be a key moment in the EventsAir calendar. 

Missed the session? 

You can catch up on the full AirWaves webinar to see these updates in action and hear directly from the team. Please reach out to your Account Manager to access the full recording.