The AgencyEA activation for Clif Bar. "It’s no surprise that 'data' is the buzzword of 2017, but it’s what differentiates event and experiential marketers from their competition," management says.

Hampton event from AgencyEA. "In an overcrowded market, it’s more important than ever to deliver measurable experiences that truly resonate and connect with target audiences. Through analysis of past events and audience observation, event marketers can leverage these insights to drive brand connection and action. Ultimately, good data provides the ‘why’ behind all event strategy and execution.”

Intuit event from AgencyEA.

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago event by AgencyEA.

Hilton Worldwide Tru event by AgencyEA.

An event from Cerbelli Creative brings Brooklyn to the party.

A fabulous fountain from Cerbelli Creative.

Stunning entertainment from Cerbelli Creative.

E=MC2 Events shows off its content creation prowess.

A dramatic creative concept from E=MC2 Events.

Technology mapping from E=MC2 Events.

A creative rendition from E=MC2 Events.

The theme "Solo Yet Together" from E=MC2 Events.

A customer event from Extraordinary Events. "We pride ourselves in maintaining relationships with longtime clients," management says, which includes shareholder meetings for CEMEX, events for Mary Kay, SteelHouse and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a Costa Rica incentive for Mueller Corp., as well as a series of press launches for BMW.

"Speakers are being replaced by influencers, and their 'talk' is limited. TED has come home to the corporate market," management says.

Event pros face challenges: "In our world, the trend of 'we do it all in-house' is disturbing as it is taking away from the expertise of true event planners. The RFP process is equally stressful, as 'cut and paste' or incomplete information makes responses inadequate," management says.