Cvent, a provider of event, marketing and hospitality technology solutions, brought together 400 event, marketing and hospitality professionals for the fourth edition of Cvent Accelerate Dubai 2026, held at InterContinental Dubai Festival City.

The event explored how the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector is evolving, with discussions highlighting the growing role of events as a strategic driver of business growth rather than a supporting function.

Keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions and technology demonstrations examined how artificial intelligence (AI) and connected data can help organisations link audience engagement to business outcomes across marketing, sales and customer success.

“Events can be one of the MICE industry’s strongest engines for growth, but only when professionals can connect experience to outcomes. AI and connected data give planners, marketers, and hospitality teams new ways to understand engagement, make more informed decisions, and demonstrate event-led growth. Events like Cvent Accelerate bring these professionals together to learn from one another and turn that potential into practical action. By sharing ideas and applying technology with purpose, the industry can strengthen its impact while keeping human connection at the heart of every event”, said Gokul Bajaj, Country Head, UAE, Cvent.

CventIQ™, the AI engine powering the Cvent platform, featured prominently throughout the programme. Discussions and demonstrations examined how AI can support event planning, venue sourcing, audience engagement and performance measurement, while retaining human expertise in decision-making.

Three themes shaped the agenda: AI-powered event-led growth, human connection and experience design, and the commercial evolution of the MICE sector.

Sessions explored predictive AI strategies, event technology, the design of memorable audience journeys, and how hotels can use data and operational improvements to enhance commercial performance.

The fourth edition also marked the first Cvent Accelerate Dubai event under the company’s new brand identity, introduced at Cvent CONNECT US 2026.

The rebrand centres on Cvent’s Presence Premium concept, which positions in-person experiences as increasingly valuable in an AI-driven world.

Research commissioned by Cvent and conducted by Forrester Consulting found that 70% of business leaders believe events are more important in an AI-saturated environment.

Separate Cvent research conducted by Censuswide found that 81% of respondents reported increased audience trust following an in-person experience.

To support this direction, Cvent has committed to investing more than $1 billion in technology, AI and product innovation between 2026 and 2029.

The investment aims to strengthen the platform and tools available to event professionals as the industry increasingly focuses on measurable results, audience engagement and meaningful human connections. -TradeArabia News Service