Published on
November 19, 2025
The 2025 edition of IBTM World officially kicked off today in Barcelona, with an inaugural ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Claudia Hall, the Exhibition Director, and attended by various event partners. The opening marked the continuation of the longstanding tradition of hosting this prestigious event in the vibrant city.
The event commenced with an insightful keynote by Nathalie Nahai, a renowned behavioural science advisor and polymath. Her presentation, titled The Power of Human Connection & Empathy in the Age of AI, delved into the evolving role of human connections in a rapidly advancing technological landscape, emphasising the importance of empathy in navigating the age of artificial intelligence.
Reflecting on her session, she said: “I was talking about empathy, connection, belonging, self-determination, and how that can inform the ways we use our AI with criticality and discernment. AI as a category covers a broad suite of different types of tools, if we’re going to benefit from them, they have to be in service to a deeper set of values that support our potential for belonging, for connection, for creativity, for mastery, for dignified lives.
“The takeaway question is: how can we use, develop and deploy AI and other forms of technology to support the flourishing of life to support human wellbeing and to regenerate the planet we live on?”
As part of a show-wide focus on the future of events, a landmark session on the newly launched Future Stage saw Founder of Boldpush, Julius Solaris, in conversation with ‘Ameca’, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot. When asked the all-important question of ‘is AI ready to take over events?’, Ameca responded “In short, AI is the tool and human creativity is the artist. Together they build events that are smarter, more personal and more human.”
Ahead of the official opening of IBTM World 2025, the Forum for Advocacy, hosted in collaboration with The Business of Events, took place, drawing 42 global leaders and policymakers to discuss the future of the business events sector. The forum provided a platform for insightful discussions on the policies needed to unlock the full potential of the industry on a global scale. Key outcomes from the forum, along with an exploration of the necessary strategies to drive growth, were shared with the audience during a presentation on the IBTM Main Stage on the event’s opening day.
Later in the evening, IBTM World held its exclusive IBTM:Eve event at the Hotel Miramar in Barcelona, setting the stage for a landmark exhibition. The evening served as a celebration, recognising those who have supported and powered the industry, while offering a warm welcome to influential voices in the events sector. The gathering also ignited excitement for the dynamic conference programme awaiting attendees.
As part of the celebrations, several prestigious industry awards were announced. The Iceberg Excellence Award was presented to Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). This award acknowledges leaders who go beyond traditional event planning to make a lasting and purposeful impact on the industry.
The IAPCO Collaboration Award was awarded to MCI Australia, in collaboration with the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA), the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), and the Australian Space Agency (ASA), for their outstanding work in delivering the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025.
Wee Min Ong, Vice President of Sales & MICE at Marina Bay Sands, took home the 2025 ICCA Global Community Impact Award. This accolade recognises individuals and organisations contributing to the future of meetings through sustainability, inclusivity, and community legacy.
The evening concluded with the JMIC Profile + Power Award, which was presented to Ben Goedegebuure, Chief Global Strategy Officer at Maritz. The award, given annually at IBTM World, honours individuals who have made notable contributions to increasing the visibility and influence of the meetings and events industry in their communities.
