August 20, 2019
By Hannah Prince

Monday blues? Not at Cvent CONNECT 2019!

After months of planning, Cvent CONNECT 2019 officially kicked off in Las Vegas with attendees and Cventers making new connections and rekindling those from Cvent CONNECTs of years past.

We welcomed more than 2,200 event professionals and more than 750 hospitality professionals who gathered for a day of hands-on training, technology exploration, and certifications – all centered around helping them harness the power of the Cvent platform.

The Leadership Summit

At the Leadership Summit, more than 300 planning and hospitality professionals gathered to share ideas and experiences. Focusing on the theme of Leading, Together, the day revolved around the idea of using both the analytical and the personal to lead effectively. Early sessions concentrated on the analytical, including one from Piyanka Jain, president and CEO of Aryng, a data science consulting firm.

Evolution of Data Cvent CONNECT

 

Later, the floor was open during a roundtable data discussion that covered topics ranging from pain points to the process of creating personalized experiences. The general consensus: Using data requires not only numbers but also a human factor and a clear objective.

SoulCycle Founder: Community Is the Key

To wrap up the Leadership Summit, Ruth Zukerman, co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel, told the group about the fundamentals that led to the success of both companies. Tapping into the human connection was key, she said, particularly factors such as empathy and compassion — traits she learned from being a mother of twin girls. Even those characteristics that are typically considered too soft, “for me and our business, they were assets.”

Ultimately, her time spent building two successful brands unlined “how important it is to connect with people, make people feel good about themselves, and just be kind,” she said.

Before everyone called it a night (or headed out on the town — this is Vegas, after all!), they filtered into happy hour at the Innovation Pavilion, where the technology solutions were swarming and the drinks were flowing. Event planners, hoteliers, destination representatives, speakers, sponsors, and Cventers mingled in the packed ballroom, building those face-to-face relationships that make Cvent CONNECT so special.

What's New for You in 2019?

  • The Expanded Feature Flash Theater: Attendees enjoyed the (hugely) expanded Feature Flash Theater located in the Innovation Pavilion. It was a big hit last year, and the popularity continues!
  • The Community Café: Attendees were eager to pull up a chair in the all-new Community Café, where they can re-charge with a cup of coffee and forge new, lasting connections in this perfect space for networking and meeting face-to-face.
  • The Amazing Innovation Pavilion: This year’s Innovation Pavilion is truly next-level. The layout, the unique spaces, the offerings, and the general innovation (#CventinVR, anyone?) on display means that this space is going to be a major attraction for attendees. We hope you stop by often!

Want to Check Out More of the Action?

Follow every step of Cvent CONNECT on Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr!

Hannah Prince

Hannah Prince

Hannah joined Cvent as the Senior Editor for Hospitality Cloud content after more than a decade in the journalism world. As a passionate editor, she's always willing to discuss the merits of the Oxford comma, the use of who vs. whom, or the definition of a dangling modifier.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, taking her dog to happy hour, and buying even more shoes.

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