Kait Shea

The explosion of immersive entertainment experiences just might be the hottest industry topic of 2025—look no further than our fall cover story. And in November, right on cue, author and brand marketing veteran Charles Melcher published “The Future of Storytelling: How Immersive Experiences Are Transforming Our World” (Artisan Books). Over the span of 320 pages, […]

Physically, much of the country is battling winter weather, but mentally, Barbie superfans are already in sunny Florida basking in the glow of the first-ever Barbie Dream Fest. Indeed, the countdown is on for the Fort Lauderdale-based event, to be hosted March 27-29 at the Broward County Convention Center. The festival, billed as the “ultimate” […]

When it comes to engaging entertainment buffs, incorporating experiential easter eggs into fan activations has become non-negotiable. Not every attendee will notice or understand a brand’s subtle references to its IP, but the superfans most certainly will—and they’re actively seeking them out. Following are seven ideas for playing hide and seek.   1. HOTLINES For […]

Headline-making activations don't appear out of thin air. Event marketers leverage a host of tactics and fan traditions to ensure their entertainment experiences slice through an oversaturated landscape.

Between budget restraints, tariffs, shifting trade policies and AI everything, it’s been one hell of a trip around the sun for b-to-b event marketers. But this industry always rises to the occasion, and the meetings, conferences and exhibits delivered in 2025 were no exception. With 2026 just around the corner, we rounded up some of […]