C&IT International Forum Agenda


Day One - 26th April


10:50 - 14:15

Flights Heathrow -> Madrid

Get excited the journey starts here – embark on the 2.5 hour flight to Madrid

15:15

Transfer from airport to Barcelo Torre de Madrid

Touchdown in Madrid – a city that is fascinating and vibrant, fast becoming one of Western Europe’s most respected tourist destinations.

15:50

Registration, welcome drinks and lunch

Arrive at 'Barceló Torre de Madrid the ideal accommodation for discovering Madrid in complete comfort. Register for the event and enjoy your welcome drinks while you catch up with peers old and new 

17:00

Walking tour

Get sight seeing ready and start exploring this amazing Spanish city... more information to come

19:30

Drinks Reception, Dinner, Entertainment at Terrace RIU Plaza de España

The Skybar – enjoy exclusive access to the Sky Bar, located on the 26th floor of the Hotel RIU Plaza Espana. This trendy spot will surprise you with an exquisite range of cocktails and drinks, whilst you enjoy 360 degree views of Madrid

22:00

Back to Barcelo de Tourre

Unwind and relax after a day of travelling, exploring and networking back at the 5-star 'Barceló Torre de Madrid.

Day Two - 27 April


07:00

Breakfast

Start your day right – fuel yourself with a great breakfast at the Barceló Torre de Madrid

09:00

Registration

The Barceló Torre de Madrid will also be playing host to the content sessions 

09:15

Opening remarks

09:25

Panel Session: How to WOW your event attendees

Attracting event attendees is more difficult than ever: what do they really want, and how can you give it to them?


Attend this discussion and hear from a panel of industry experts about the new attendee behaviours and consumer trends - like experiential, personalisation, social media and event tech - we should be aware of when planning our future events.

10:10

1-2-1 meetings

Meet with suppliers matched pre-matched to cater to your business needs

11:10

Networking and refreshment break

11:30

1-2-1 meetings

Meet with suppliers matched pre-matched to cater to your business needs

12:30

Networking lunch

13:30

Keynote 1: Reducing the stigma of mental health

Brodie Thompson will take to the stage to share how to reduce the stigma of mental health and make event planning a less stressful job for individuals, teams and entire companies.

14:00

1-2-1 meetings

Meet with suppliers matched pre-matched to cater to your business needs

15:20

Panel 2: Navigating the chaos: The changing landscape of event planning

From the rise of virtual and hybrid events to the increased focus on sustainability, event planners must navigate new challenges and opportunities alongside their suppliers.

In this session, our panel of agencies and suppliers will share their thoughts on some of the most common challenges: lead times, venue sourcing, sustainability and more.

16:20

Closing remarks

16:25

Downtime

Relax and unwind after a day of learning and networking. Why not check out the hotel features including a stylish bar, meeting rooms for all types of events, restaurants which serve exquisite dishes, and a Wellness area with a fitness studio. 

19:15

Drinks & Gala Dinner at Flamenco de Leones, Rameses

Experience Spanish culture and history in Madrid and attend a flamenco show at Flamenco de Leones. Enjoy a show by top-level artists, and opt to include a delicious cocktail and some Spanish tapas.

22:00

Transfers back to Barcelo de Tourre

Unwind after day 2 back at the 5-star 'Barceló Torre de Madrid.

Day Three - 28th April


07:00

Breakfast

Start your day right – fuel yourself with a great breakfast at the Barceló Torre de Madrid

10:15

Registration

The Barceló Torre de Madrid will also be playing host to the content sessions 

10:30

Opening remarks

10:40

Keynote 2: Building a culture of creativity

Creativity and CSR values are key to attracting new talent in today’s competitive job market, especially when attracting the next wave of creative events professionals. Gen Z especially values transparency in leadership and spaces to express their personality and identity.


Anne-Marie, Cheerful Twentyfirst’s first-ever apprentice grown into Senior Project Coordinator, will share her experiences and reveal the techniques they’ve used to grow a global culture, retain new talent and secure them the C&IT Best Place to Work Award 2022.

11:20

1-2-1 meetings

Meet with suppliers matched pre-matched to cater to your business needs

12:10

Panel 3: Pitch Perfect: A battle of the brief

What makes a perfect pitch? 


Find out in this interactive session where we break down a brief and three agencies each provide their own responses to the challenges put in front of them. 

12:50

Chair's closing remarks

That's a wrap – hear some last words as we close for the day

13:00

Networking lunch

14:10

Transfers to airport

14:50

Arrival at airport

16:50 - 18:15

Flights Madrid -> Heathrow