IBTM World is launching a new format for its Tech Watch Awards.

The new concept, TechWatch Live, will debut at the 2020 edition of the show, which is taking place December 1-3, 2020 at Fira Barcelona. It will feature a new judging panel chair, Dahlia El Gazzar and a new format.

El Gazzar, the founder of the DAHLIA+Agency, has more than a decade’s worth of experience in the meetings and events industry. She succeeds event industry expert Corbin Ball, who remains on the judging panel.

The new format will offer five technology business owners the opportunity to take to the stage and pitch their company and product or service to the judging panel and live audience of events professionals, to potentially gain future financial and/or mentorship at the discretion of a judging panel.

“Now more than ever, we are being asked to be innovative. And that can’t be done without ‘innovatively’ implementing technology solutions that are essential to the intentional experience design we seek for our stakeholders,” says El Gazzar. “TechWatch Live is created to provide a stage for tech companies that enable event professionals to deliver exceptional experiences. And with everything going on, we want to properly celebrate those tech companies that have gone above and beyond to help event profs in this time of need.”

Entries for the Tech Watch Awards are open until September 30, 2020. The judges are looking for the very best cutting-edge events technology inspiring the industry and revolutionizing events. Entries should demonstrate innovation, a sound concept/business model and value to the MICE industry.  All five of the finalists will receive flights and accommodation for up to two people to travel to Barcelona.  To enter please see: https://www.ibtmworld.com/whats-on/ibtm-accelerate/techwatch-live/?utm_source=&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=techwatchlive

New this year and also led by Dahlia is the Technology Advisory Group, which supports IBTM World and has been influential in the development of IBTM Accelerate. Members of the group include founder and CEO of EventFX, Dave Lorenzini; Anh Nguyen, founder and principal of award-winning event management firm Spark Event Management; Keith Johnston, managing partner of i3 Events and publisher of event industry blog Plannerwire; and award-winning entrepreneur, podcaster and bestselling author Jason Allan Scott.

“There are myriad opportunities for event planners to integrate technology and digital into their events in order to create smarter and more engaging experiences, and we want to reflect this by making TechWatch Live a central feature of IBTM World,” says David Thompson, event director, IBTM World. “Our new format awards will bring the best event technology companies in front of a motivated global audience of events professionals to inspire them with the latest exciting technologies that could really make a difference to their business.”