BCD Meetings & Events’ Christina Filan dives into why meetings are where ideas actually turn into action, why hallway conversations still out-innovate the conference agenda, and how AI is freeing planners to focus on the human side of the business.
The most consequential moment at a conference rarely happens on stage. It happens in the hallway afterward, when two people from different disciplines compare notes and see a problem in a new light. That’s why Christina Filan, Director of Event Management at BCD Meetings & Events, believes in-person events remain one of the most reliable engines of innovation a business has — and why, even as AI reshapes the planning process behind the scenes, the goal isn’t to automate the moments that matter, but to buy back the time to design more of them.
Prevue recently caught up with Filan to learn more about how meeting design is shifting from agendas to experiences, where AI is already changing the job, and what she thinks the industry still gets wrong about its own impact.
Prevue: Why are in-person events still such powerful environments for innovation, even in a digital-first world?
Filan: I think innovation happens when people can build on each other’s ideas in real time, and that’s still incredibly difficult to recreate virtually. I’ve been in this industry for a long time and some of the best ideas I’ve ever seen didn’t happen in a conference room with a formal agenda. They happened in hallway conversations, over coffee, or because someone from sales and marketing sat next to someone from product development and they started looking at a challenge differently. Technology is an incredible tool, but it doesn’t replace human connection. When people are together, they build trust faster and they’re more willing to challenge ideas, and they collaborate in ways that just feel more natural. That’s why I believe meetings are still such a powerful business investment. They aren’t just about sharing information, they’re about creating an environment where innovation can actually happen.
Prevue: What are the most effective ways organizations are designing meetings to encourage collaboration and idea-sharing?
Filan: I think the biggest shift is that organizations are moving away from designing meetings where people simply sit and listen. They’re designing experiences where people actually participate. The best meetings create opportunities for people to solve problems together, ask questions, challenge ideas and learn from one another. That’s where the value is. From an event strategy perspective, that starts long before anyone walks into the room. We spend time understanding what the business is trying to accomplish and what success looks like for the audience. Then we build the experience around those goals. Whether that’s interactive breakouts, peer-to-peer discussions, workshops, or networking that’s intentionally designed instead of left to chance, the goal is always the same: helping people leave with new ideas, stronger relationships and actions they can actually take back to their organizations.
Prevue: How has AI changed the way companies approach meetings and events, both behind the scenes and during the attendee experience?
Filan: AI has been a game changer because it’s taking time out of the administrative work so our teams can spend more time on strategy, creativity and our clients. We’re already using AI to help with things like proposal comparisons, contract reviews, sourcing analysis, transportation logistics and menu planning. Those tasks used to take hours, and now they happen much faster. I don’t see AI replacing people, I see it making people better. The human side of our business is still where the magic happens. AI gives us more time to focus on designing experiences, solving problems and building stronger relationships with our clients.
Prevue: Have you seen any particularly innovative event formats or engagement strategies emerge in the past year?
Filan: One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen is that companies are asking us to design experiences instead of agendas. They don’t just want people sitting in a ballroom listening to presentations anymore. They want attendees interacting with one another, solving business challenges together, exploring new innovations and tech, and leaving with something they can actually apply. The most successful events today are intentional. Every session, networking opportunity and experience should support a business objective, not just fill time on a schedule.
Prevue: Can you share an example of an event that led to meaningful innovation, product development or organizational change?
Filan: One example that comes to mind is how we’ve started intentionally integrating AI into our event planning process rather than treating it as a separate initiative. In our industry, AI isn’t replacing planners, it’s allowing us to spend more time on strategy, creativity and the attendee experience. We’ve been leveraging AI to accelerate research, compare destinations and venues, analyze sustainability initiatives, build first drafts of agendas and communications, and streamline planning documentation. That gives our teams more time to focus on the high-value work that clients actually see. A great example was our Global Summit. While it was an internal leadership meeting, we intentionally used AI and technology alongside our sustainability strategy to rethink how we planned and executed the event. We evaluated vendors with stronger sustainability commitments, reduced waste through smarter planning, and used technology to make more informed decisions throughout the planning process. It became the most sustainable meeting we’ve hosted to date. What excites me is that this isn’t just something we did for one meeting. It’s becoming part of how we advise clients every day. Whether we’re sourcing hotel partners with strong environmental programs, identifying innovative venue technology, or using AI to help planners make faster, data-informed decisions, we’re helping clients create meetings that are more efficient, more intentional and ultimately more impactful.
Prevue: How are meeting planners creating spaces where attendees move beyond networking to actual problem-solving and collaboration?
Filan: I think networking has become a little bit of a buzzword. People don’t come to events just to collect business cards anymore. They come looking for solutions. So we’re designing experiences where people are collaborating around real business challenges through workshops, facilitated discussions, peer learning and interactive sessions. When attendees leave saying, “I solved a problem,” or “I met someone who changed how I’m approaching my business,” that’s when you know you’ve designed a successful meeting.
Prevue: What role do you think meetings and events will play in accelerating innovation across industries in the future?
Filan: As technology continues to evolve, I actually think face-to-face meetings become even more valuable. Innovation happens when people challenge each other’s thinking, build trust and make decisions together. Technology supports that process, but it doesn’t replace it. The organizations that continue investing in bringing people together intentionally are going to innovate faster because they’re creating environments where ideas can actually turn into action.
Prevue: Which technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on event innovation over the next few years?
Filan: AI is definitely going to be the biggest driver over the next few years. I think we’ll continue to see it automate repetitive work, improve personalization and help us make smarter decisions using data. But I don’t think the goal is to have AI create the experience. The goal is to let AI handle the routine work so our teams can spend more time creating memorable experiences for our clients and attendees.
Prevue: When people think about meetings and events, they often focus on logistics or travel. What’s the bigger story about the industry’s impact on business growth, innovation, communities and global progress that you think deserves more attention?
Filan: I think people underestimate the impact our industry has. We don’t just plan meetings. We create environments where businesses make decisions, partnerships begin, products launch and ideas become reality. I’ve seen a single conversation at an event lead to a new client relationship, a business solution, or a completely different way of thinking about a challenge. That’s the value people don’t always see. Meetings aren’t just about logistics, they’re about creating momentum. When you bring the right people together with the right purpose, incredible things can happen.
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