Cvent says Asia-Pacific moves beyond AI debate to daily use at Singapore conference

Cvent brought more than 500 event, marketing and hospitality professionals to its fifth Accelerate Singapore conference, where the company argued that Asia-Pacific has moved past debating AI and into using it in everyday event work. Held at Fairmont Singapore, the gathering focused on how organisers are applying AI to event management, venue sourcing, marketing and measurement, with sessions centred on linking event activity to business results across marketing, sales and customer success. Will Kataria, Country Head and Senior Director for Singapore at Cvent, said the regional market has shifted from testing AI to using it in routine work. "Across every conversation today, one thing was clear: APAC is done asking whether AI belongs in event technology," Kataria said. "The industry is focused on applying such insights in way that connects people, data and outcomes into something measurable and real. Events are becoming one of the most powerful tools organisations have for driving growth, and the professionals here are leading."

From pilot projects to daily workflow

Cvent used the gathering to showcase CventIQ, its AI layer for event management, along with newer product updates. Attendees also joined customer sessions, panel discussions and practical demonstrations designed to show how organisers and venue operators can use data within live events. The company also promoted commissioned research to support its argument that in-person events are becoming more valuable in an AI-saturated world. According to Forrester Consulting research commissioned by Cvent, 70% of business leaders said events matter more in that environment. Separate research conducted by Censuswide found that 68% of respondents said audience trust increased after an in-person experience. Cvent frames that dynamic as the "Presence Premium": physical attendance becomes more valuable when content is personalised by AI. The emphasis on trust and measurable outcomes reflects a broader push across the events sector to prove commercial value rather than treat conferences and meetings as support activities. Discussions at the Singapore event repeatedly returned to the role of events as a business driver, not just brand awareness.

$1 billion investment in AI and product development

Cvent also said it has committed more than $1 billion to research, technology, AI and product development between 2026 and 2029, with Asia-Pacific included in that investment. The initiative comes as software suppliers to the events and hospitality industries compete to build AI tools into event management, attendee engagement, venue discovery and post-event analysis. The goal is to help organisers show what an event delivered, whom it influenced and how it affected revenue or retention. Sessions that drew strong interest included discussions on business-to-business event trends in the AI era and the future of event technology. For hospitality attendees, a demo area focused on the value of a direct booking engine and venue discovery. The Singapore edition was the fifth chapter of Accelerate to take place under Cvent's new brand identity. The company linked that rebranding to its goal of making events a core driver of growth rather than a support function. Cvent's platform is used by more than 500,000 users across more than 30,000 organisations, and its marketplace sources more than $20 billion in group business annually.

Why this matters for hospitality and events professionals

The message from the Singapore gathering was less about whether to adopt AI and more about the speed at which it is being integrated into everyday operations. For event organisers, that means AI tools are becoming part of standard workflow, from venue sourcing to post-event reporting. Professionals who want to keep pace can find practical guidance on AI for Hospitality & Events. For hospitality teams, the focus on direct booking engines and venue discovery signals where commercial pressure sits. The shift also touches daily operations, from scheduling and room blocks to attendee communication, which is why AI for Operations has become a relevant area of training for venue and events staff. The companies that can show measurable outcomes - who attended, what they did, what revenue resulted - will have the advantage.