The brains behind 6 very different events – C2 Montréal, The College of Extraordinary Experiences, CES, Barefoot Business Retreat ON A YACHT!, Fast Company’s Innovation Festival and the Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival – shared their stories this week during Skift Meetings’ Best Business Events of 2024.
C2 Montreal
Leading off was Anick Beaulieu, CEO of C2 Montreal, who spoke about how the event, held May 21-23 at the Grand Quay of the Port Montréal, was a playground for commerce and creativity (the two C’s).
More than 5,000 senior business leaders had the chance to connect with other professionals they might not otherwise have had an opportunity to meet, during moments of what she called ‘orchestrated serendipity.’ These included exploring a ‘black hole,’ hanging 30 feet up in the air, and attending a session called ‘Neurodiverse Lasagna,’ where they made lasagna together as part of learning how to be more inclusive.
The College of Extraordinary Experiences attracted 108 experience designers from some of the world’s top brands to its annual 5-day event, held September 23-27 at Kliczkow Castle, in Poland.
This is not your typical college, as Director Claus Raasted explained. Participants were required to pass an interview to attend, and the registration fee is based on a sliding scale. In the castle, they donned robes and had free rein of the space, and there was an entire day set aside for them to decide what they would want to discuss. Finally, an offboarding process prepared them to leave the ‘magic circle.’
CES
The 2024 CES, held January 9-12, attracted 138,000 attendees to the Las Vegas Convention Center and sites around Las Vegas to view everything from flying cars to a transparent TV.
Managing a meeting of that size is no easy task, said John T. Kelley, vice president and show director, Consumer Technology Association, the show organizer. That includes planning the continuous transportation moving around the city and curating tours that help attendees focus in on the exhibitors that are their best fit – taking what is a huge show and breaking it down into communities of interest.
Barefoot Business ON A YACHT! was held September 28-October 5 onboard two modern 15-cabin yachts sailing on the Croatian Adriatic.
The concept was the brainchild of Liz Lathan and Nicole Osibodu, the creators of The Community Factory and Club Ichi, as part of a series of Barefoot Business Retreats. Two attendees – Jill Ann Leithner, director, executive event productions at Intel Corporation, and Kafi Joseph, former chief of staff, Metro DC Region, at Accenture – shared how taking themselves out of their day-to-day routines was transformational, created connections and provided learnings that were unique to their situations.
Fast Company Innovation Festival
The 2024 Fast Company Innovation Festival, held September 16-19, unfolded in venues throughout New York City, with 3,000 attendees ranging from students to businesspeople to CEOs. Kristin Mooney, senior vice president at MV Live, shared highlights from this year’s 10th Anniversary event, including talks by ‘The 10 Most Innovative People of the Last 10 Years,’ ranging from Ryan Reynolds to José Andrés.
Other standout features included ‘Fast Tracks,’ urban field trips to some of the most innovative companies in the city; ‘Taste of Innovation’ dinners; and creative activations with a give-back mission, from the Tony’s Chocalonely chocolate bar to Goods Mart, a pop-up bodega.
Future of Everything Festival
Helen Bassett, SVP and head of live journalism & events at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, shared an inside look at the Future of Everything Festival, which attracted 1,200 attendees to New York City May 21-23.
The WSJ’s approach is to let the guests choose their own adventures; there is the festival stage, the future stage and a ‘lab’ featuring innovative products. Speakers this year ranged from John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods, to Paris Hilton. The event extends throughout the city to include evenings at exclusive restaurants and Broadway experiences. A great deal of focus is put on sustainability, sourcing from local suppliers and re-purposing event sets.
All 6 events shared many common themes, from their commitment to inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability; to how they brought attendees together in creative settings where they could meet others who they would not have met otherwise; to their ultimate common goal – creating a transformative experience.
Register here to watch the recording.
