As every year, BOE INTERNATIONAL will be kicking 2024 off by presenting all aspects of live communications and experiential marketing on 17 and 18 January 2024. During the stage programme, show-goers will benefit from superb knowledge transfer, and from opportunities to engage face-to-face with prominent experts and make new business contacts. In addition to the key topics of sustainability and artificial intelligence, the exhibition highlight of the event industry year will also focus on future challenges and the future of the event industry.

Dortmund 17 January 2024 – At BOE INTERNATIONAL on 17 and 18 January 2024, visitors will experience a compact line-up of exhibitors ranging from market leaders to niche providers helping organisers equip and stage all kinds of events. In addition, the live communications and event technology show will also address burning issues within the industry including how the event industry can achieve sustainable transformation and how it must position itself to be fit for the future. The show will also shed light on the potential benefits and risks associated with artificial intelligence. How is AI set to influence and change the industry? These and other topics will be covered in the extensive stage programme offering a series of informative talks, panel discussions and interviews as well as fascinating performances on a total of four stages plus a host of side events.

Special guests on this year's list of speakers are Tijen Onaran, entrepreneur, investor, best-selling author and one of the best-known voices on the subject of diversity, and Georg Listing, entrepreneur and bassist with world-famous band Tokio Hotel.

Supplier focus at BOE INTERNATIONAL 2024

Leading equipment and full-service providers – such as Neumann & Müller, satis&fy, EPSON Germany, NORDLITE Event Solutions, Aventem, Leyendecker, Beuchel Veranstaltungstechnik, Bocatec and Kuchem Konferenz Technik – are set to impress with their high levels of expertise and innovative technical products and applications in the professional event technology segment. The latest trends and possibilities in the lighting, sound, video and rigging segments will also be covered comprehensively. The show will also provide specialist input on the integration of virtual and augmented-reality components, 3D projections and network and monitoring structures for events.

BOE INTERNATIONAL will also focus on exhibition and stand construction, featuring the latest developments in resource-saving and net-zero exhibition presences. The line-up will range from modular and conventional designs to stand solutions in all sizes with made-to-measure superstructures and other elements. Well-known modern exhibition and stand constructors will include THE INSIDE, beMatrix, OCTANORM, CORNECT Exhibition, Speed DIMENSION, ABC Display Industry, M. A. Systems, Von Hagen Design, Aluvision, Media Spectrum, fair4you Gesellschaft für Messemanagement, muna, STOFFDACH and Ache | Stallmeier. With their range of services geared to sustainability, the exhibition and stand constructors at BOE will not only offer innovative approaches and new systems, they will also be documenting their clear commitment to sustainability.

Taking a stand together for sustainability

And it is precisely this topic that is set to challenge the entire event industry now and into the future. For the first time, BOE is therefore organising a speciality zone entitled 'Sustainable Stand – Best Practice Area' As part of the Sustainability Experience, it will take visitors on an inspiring journey into the Future of Sustainability, providing inspiration for ecological and economic transformation in the event industry. BOE's stand concept will demonstrate impressively that sustainability can be both affordable and aesthetically pleasing.

The unique concept has been designed and implemented in conjunction with capable partners, with thought-provoking ideas from Holtmann Plus, the German National Event Industry Association (fwd:) and the International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES). The speciality zone is largely supported by product and service partners Octanorm, MossInc, Event Rent, FastLane, Malkus Veranstaltungstechnik, Montecolino, Lemonpie Eventcatering and Papstar.

Inspiring talks and informative presentations on sustainability will also be held on the LET'S TALK STAGE (Hall 4) and the fwd: stage (Hall 5) covering the latest trends and developments. Interested visitors will also be able to join a special GUIDED TOUR to discover more about suppliers addressing ecological innovations, sustainable measures and strategies.

Live on stage – the high-content stage programme (selected items):       

LET'S TALK STAGE (Hall 4)

Insights, information and plenty of inspiration with big-name panellists

Day 1 will focus on sustainability in the event industry. A presentation by consulting agency 2bdifferent will present aspects such as the circular economy as well as examples of best practice associated with ISO 20121 certification. This will be followed by a panel discussion on 'Economic and ecological transformation in the event industry' featuring various representatives of the event industry (organisers, event managers and service providers). Another panel, organised by the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), will focus on How to deal with highly divisive and extreme event content. Those taking part will be Stephan Lemke, a member of the EVVC executive committee and Managing Director of convention centre operator Stadthalle Braunschweig Betriebsgesellschaft mbH, and lawyer Thomas Rüsche from the law firm Loehr.

On Day 2 of the show, starting at 10:30 hrs, Maarten Schram, founder and Managing Director of LIVECOM ALLIANCE, will give a presentation on the study entitled 'The pan-European industry perspective – LiveCom Alliance European Industry Survey 2023: results, trends & developments'. The results of the fwd: HR study will then be explained by Prof Dr Cornelia Zanger from Chemnitz University of Applied Sciences. The Forum Veranstaltungswirtschaft industry dialogue : the future's bright for everyone featuring prominent panellists should also be of great interest, with representatives of the Event Industry Forum informing and discussing selected current topics of interest in the industry live at BOE from 14:00 hrs onwards. In addition to the panel discussion, the audience will also be invited to join in the debate by contributing practical examples from everyday working life as well as specific requests, suggestions and ideas.

Talk involving special guests:

Diversity expert Tijen Onaran will be speaking on 'No diversity? Count me out! How diversity benefits business and society' from 14:30 hrs on 17 January addressing the issues of visibility, diversity and networking. A graduate in political science, she is founder and CEO of Global Digital Women, a leading international diversity consultancy. The entrepreneur began bringing women in the digital sector together to form the largest women's digitalisation network back in 2017.

Georg Listing, bass player with world-famous band Tokio Hotel, will be giving insights into his varied career on 18 January. In addition to his remarkable musical career, he is also a brand ambassador and co-founder of Treehouse Ticketing and THE HAUS Apparel. His recipe for success in business combining music, creativity and a large network promises to be an inspiring on-stage session starting at 12:40 hrs.

DIGITAL & EVENTS STAGE (Hall 7)

Exciting topics ranging from social media and digital marketing to high-tech input on artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), chatbots and ethics on the Internet are on the agenda on Day 1 – organised in partnership with IST University of Applied Sciences. On 18 January, the DIGITAL & EVENTS STAGE will home in on the topic of events, dealing in particular with people, engagement, business events and employee branding.

On 17 January, Roger Basler de Roca, digital architect and an expert on artificial intelligence, will be on stage delivering a talk entitled 'What is real, and what is AI? And how can we tell the (minor) difference?'. In his presentation 'VOK DAMS Trend Radar 2024', Colja Dams, Managing Partner of the VOK DAMS Agency for Events and Live-Marketing, will present interesting facts on the latest developments in the event world. Thomas Szabo, Managing Director of act & react and founder of d*excellence, will speak on 'Digital Ethics, addressing ethical standards and values in digital processes and the use of artificial intelligence.

In his talk on 18 January entitled 'Keynote speakers: curse or blessing?', Ralf Schmitt, Vice President of the German Speaker Association (GSA) and Managing Director of the Impulspiloten agency, will explain the pros and cons of keynote speakers at events. Stijn Oude Vrielink, Managing Director of the Venue Marketing agency, will share his expertise on 'Social selling at event locations and hotels'. Sascha Poddey will also provide interesting insights on 'Inspiration! The Director Experiment'. The managing partner of music-4friends entertainment explains why he made his trainees into company directors for two months. Also, Prof Lothar Winnen, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at degefest, will discuss the importance of employee events for motivation and retention in a presentation entitled 'Recruiting and retaining staff in the event industry'. Also eagerly awaited is a live talk focussing on 'Events under pressure: the future of the visitor experience' featuring prominent experts from the event industry.

SAFETY & SECURITY STAGE (Hall 4 4.E18)

BOE will also feature discussion panels and valuable talks covering a wide range of topics related to event security. As last year, the informative stage programme content is supported by the German Event Safety & Security Association (bvvs) and the Media & Event Technology Association (VPLT) and will focus on all relevant issues associated with safety at events. Visitors can also look forward to insights into the entire VPLT training offering and the VPLT remuneration study. A new workshop on 17 January from 11:00 to 13:45 hrs will address 'Responsibility in occupational health and safety for contracts for finished works, service contracts and temporary employment in the event industry', with Laura van Haperen (VPLT) and Rüdiger Hitzemann (VBG) discussing key issues relating to occupational health and safety in the Brügge (Bruges) conference room.

These topics are also in the programme: 'What happens when a loss occurs? The weirdest claims and the right insurance' with Marco Pompili, Key Account Manager at insurance broker erpam. His presentation will illustrate what to watch out for in the event of a claims situation. The panel on 'Current challenges in event security' will also be offering valuable insights from speakers Dennis Eichenbrenner, Senior Chief Executive, Sven Hansen, Deputy Chief Executive and Stephan Trogus, Board Member of the bvvs. 'Successful ITTs for event security and safety: a best-practice guide for organisers and authorities' is the topic addressed by Sven Hansen, Managing Director of Event Safety Consult (ESC) and Senior Deputy Chief Executive of the bvvs. He will present best-practice examples of well thought-out, specification-compliant invitations to tender (ITTs), key elements and processes, and options for minimising risk. Day 2 of the show will also be exciting, including the presentation on 'Occupational safety in the event industry: special requirements and solutions' by Dominic Blechert, Managing Director of EventMind UG, who will illustrate the necessary establishment of occupational health and safety in business operations, the special challenges present in the event industry and a range of tried-and-trusted solutions.

ACTS ON STAGE (Hall 6, 6.B20 and 6.A14)

Four thrilling live shows featuring a diverse mix of fast-paced artistry, magic, music and varied rhythms 'powered by memo-media' will once again be presented on both days of the show. In the Comedy Box, visitors will also be able to enjoy poetry slams, which have now also found their way onto the big stages. Numerous artists and actors – from fields including animation, business theatre, entertainment, magic, costumes and make-up – will also be convening in the Artiste Village. The exhibition centre's inner courtyard will feature mahoin, a cheeky maritime-style music theatre variety show.

Attractive side events:

'FEMALE BUSINESS NETWORKING' début (Networking Area, North Entrance complex)

This new networking event starting at 15:00 hrs on 17 January 2024 will give women already working in the event industry, newcomers and interested parties an opportunity to meet for relaxed, inspiring discussions and conversations. Various women's networks are also invited, such as She Means Community, WOMEN IN EVENTS, WOMEN IN EXHIBITIONS and WOMEN IN CONGRESS & EVENTS. Fine Calm Music by the band SSHHEE will provide the musical accompaniment. Tijen Onaran will also be present for a meet-and-greet session from around 15:00 hrs.

2024 BRANDEX AWARDS

The BrandEx Awards will be held for the sixth time at Messe Dortmund on 17 and 18 January 2024. They not only honour the outstanding projects of the year in the fields of live marketing and brand architecture, but also bring together the industry's creative minds at BOE INTERNATIONAL. Achievements will be honoured in the main 'Event' and 'Architecture' categories – and also in the young talent competition 'Fresh' which is the second young talent promotion format that Messe Dortmund supports alongside FORUM EVENT.

For the first time in the history of BrandEx, adjudication will take place in three stages using a points-based system, which is why there will be no gold, silver or bronze trophies in certain categories. The best submissions will be judged in a live adjudication session open to the public from around 11:00 until 16:00 hrs immediately before the awards ceremony on 17 January 2024. It will see the final decision being taken on who will take to the winner's podium at the festive ceremony on the first evening of the show. In addition, the best project and the best entrant will be honoured exclusively with two further awards. The BrandEx Deep Dives will then take place on 18 January 2024 from around 11:00 to 15:30 hrs.

New duo: BOE Night and the BrandEx Award ceremony

The party feeling that arises when the industry re-convenes all in one spot is set to be the order of the day once again at this year's BOE Night. For the first time in the history of this annual evening event, what is always a popular networking event will be further enriched by the prestigious BrandEx Award ceremony as BOE invites participants and award candidates to Hall 5 from 18:00 hrs onwards on the evening of the first day of the show for an evening of networking, celebration and partying, a short journey of culinary delights and, of course, atmospheric live music.

FORUM EVENT 2024 (convention rooms in the North Entrance complex)

For the seventh time at BOE, the IST University of Applied Sciences' skills training convention for young professionals on 18 January 2024 will be bringing vocational students, career changers and those with an interest in live communications into contact with experts in the industry. Under the slogan “It's a match”, top speakers and industry experts will scrutinise current developments in the event industry in live presentations, best-practice examples, discussion panels and Q&A sessions.

Tickets

CAREER HUB (Hall 5, Stand 5.A30)

The presentations, talks and panel discussions on man and machine working together organised by the Institute of Communication Studies will take place on 17 January. Aspects addressed will include AI tools – trends, platforms and practical tips or questions such as GEN Z and the AI boom – are digital natives overtaking the older generation? The programme will also feature a discussion on 'AI tools in agencies: possible applications and limits' plus an AI workshop.

CULINARY HUB (Hall 4)

Once again, Ulf Tassilo Münch from the Culinary Delight Connection and his team will be celebrating food and tastes. The CULINARY HUB, which covers all facets of event catering, will also include a host of talks by the leading chef and his guests. Topics will include street food, vegan cuisine, the latest catering trends (international and everything bread-related) as well as drinks and patisserie highlights. Anyone who can't get enough of culinary tips and ideas will be in good hands in the various exclusive master-classes on offer.

GUIDED TOURS

BOE has a sheer wealth of highlights. To avoid missing any of them, you can also join one of the free guided tours on a variety of topics this year. At selected exhibition stands, the points of contact there will provide information on the respective company, answer questions and explain products and services. The following themed tours will be available: Exploring BOE – an overview; Event Technology, Innovation & AI – because tomorrow is today; Sustainability: Best Cases Tour and Let us Entertain You – Artistes & Festival Tour.

Overview of the entire supporting programme

The diverse world of associations

As up-to-date market forums for the specific technical challenges facing the industry, trade associations conduct important public relations work in the worlds of business and political decision-making. At this year's BOE, the following industry representatives will be on hand to provide visitors with information: fwd: the German Concert and Event Industry Association, EVVC – the European Association of Event Centres, degefest – the Congress and Seminar Industry Association, VPLT – the Media & Event Technology Association, bvvs – the German Event Safety & Security Association, and AUMA – the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry.