Launched at IBTM World 2024, Exceptional Experiences is returning to the 2025 edition of the show with a program featuring industry leaders from WeTransfer, Canva, Shutterstock, Amazon and UTA as well as an opening keynote by B. Joseph Pine II, author of The Experience Economy.

Organized by global events planner RX in partnership with The Thought Partnership, the program is designed to showcase groundbreaking solutions to help in-house event professionals and marketers create event experiences that fuel business growth.

Exceptional Experiences is split over the first two days of the show, which is being held November 18-20 at Fira de Barcelona (Spain). The first day brings together senior executives, VPs and influential leaders– including Motorola, Uber, Smartly and Microsoft – for an exclusive, invitation-only workshop. The second day will see industry trailblazers share their knowledge in the Exceptional Experiences Forum, a series of dedicated education sessions open to all.

Highlights of the program include:

• B. Joseph Pine II’s keynote based on his upcoming book, The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations, which will reveal how event experiences are evolving and equip attendees with the tools they need to design events that deliver greater value in the “transformation economy” era.
• A deep dive into winning the attention and loyalty of the digital-native and social-first Gen Z and Alpha generations by Jimmy Knowles, global  head of Experiential, Canva.
• A session titled “It’s a match! The psychology of meaningful connection,” with Shutterstock’s global head of Communications, Lori Rodney, joining forces with C2’s vice-president for Growth & Partnerships, Jesse Gainer, to give attendees the lowdown on intentional networking.
• A session with senior executives Todd Hansen, executive producer at Web Summit, and Berit Block, global marketing director, B2B at WeTransfer, that will lay bare how events and communities can become powerful platforms for senior executives to build trust and turn company values into lived, shared experiences.
• A session titled, “The most expensive selfie wall you’ll never build again,” delivered by Ella Weston, senior vice-president of Marketing, WPP, which will delve into 10 key B2B marketing trends, providing real-world examples of how leading brands are shifting from awareness-first to growth-driven experiential marketing.
• A closing keynote experience by Hesta Prynn, internationally-acclaimed DJ, radio host and licensed therapist, who will bring her signature “inner mix” experience – a fusion of music, psychology and neuroscience – to the IBTM Main Stage.

Claudia Hall, IBTM World’s exhibition director, said: “At its heart, Exceptional Experiences is about unleashing the collective creativity of our industry. It’s a space for daring ideas, for learning from the brightest minds, and for discovering new ways to design experiences that inspire transformation and growth. Together, we’re building a future where events don’t just deliver impact – they create magic.”

For more information, visit: https://www.ibtmworld.com/en-gb/show-agenda.html?tracks=Exceptional%20Experiences%20Forum#/sessions/day/1.