Innovation Experience

  • Boise, Idaho

  • April 19-21, 2026

  • The Grove Hotel

Smart Meetings Hosted Buyer Experiences are 100% complimentary for qualified meeting planners.

Forge Powerful Connections in Boise, Idaho

Join us in the heart of vibrant downtown Boise for an unparalleled hosted-buyer event designed to cultivate impactful relationships between planners and suppliers. As Smart Meeting’s first three-day experience utilizing multiple venues within a compact convention district, you’ll enjoy an ideal backdrop for meaningful one-to-one meetings that can transform your business.

With accommodations at The Grove Hotel, you will experience beautifully reimagined guest rooms and access to downtown attractions, eclectic dining at Trillium Kitchen + Cocktails, and stunning views of the surrounding foothills. Shift over to bright and modern Boise Centre where you will engage in dynamic discussions that lead to tangible outcomes, from RFP submissions to lucrative partnerships. Each meeting is an opportunity to generate business, maximize your ROI, and foster connections that last well beyond the event.

Together, your hosts for this event – Visit Boise, Grove Hotel, and Boise Centre – invite you to their special city to experience a meetings and convention package that is like no other.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS

Amani Roberts

Amani Roberts is an internationally renowned speaker, award-winning professor, DJ, and USA Today's Best-Selling author who has awakened professionals' dormant creativity for years. As a professional speaker for thousands worldwide, Amani has left an indelible mark on audiences by combining music and nostalgia to reconnect them to their most creative and resilient selves. Throughout his illustrious career in hospitality and music, Amani has collaborated with industry leaders including Marriott, 7-Eleven, Chartmetric, Meeting Professionals International, PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), Calendly, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). His expertise has been featured in Forbes, People Magazine, NBC, and Yahoo! Music. Amani holds a master’s in Music Business from Berklee College of Music (Boston), complemented by his education at Scratch Academy (Los Angeles) and Howard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management. Widely regarded as an authority in his field, Amani Roberts leverages his extensive experience and education to reveal different possibilities that have been hidden in plain sight. His innovative approach and deep industry understanding position him as the go-to expert for unlocking creativity in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Amani Experience

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Henry Coutinho- Mason

“Reluctant futurist” Henry Coutinho-Mason is the author of The Future Normal and Trend-Driven Innovation; he has delivered 200+ keynotes and strategy workshops in 30+ countries – from the SXSW main stage (twice!) to global boardrooms. His latest project is VisuAIse Futures, a ‘multiplayer’ keynote; he is a guest lecturer at HEC business school in Paris, and was Managing Director of TrendWatching for a decade. Henry is also an award-winning social entrepreneur, having cofounded the urban regeneration nonprofit 3Space, which was commended in Fast Company's World Changing Ideas.

Main Keynote: Raising The AI Ambition Level At Events

Every event professional is using AI to be more efficient. But few are using it to fundamentally reimagine their events for this new era. In this fast-paced and uniquely interactive keynote, “reluctant futurist” Henry Coutinho-Mason will share three non-obvious provocations into how AI will transform the attendee experience, as well as turning your events into generators of strategic insight.  

Learning outcomes: 

  •  10+ relevant and inspiring AI case studies from outside the events industry.
  •  A visceral personal experience of AI-amplified and -accelerated innovation.  
  •  Non-obvious insights into how AI will transform organizational strategy and culture.

Education Session: From Inspiration to Impact: Using AI to Make Your Next Event More Memorable

This hands-on session will reframe your AI strategy – showing you how to use AI as a creative co-pilot that helps you design more meaningful connections, surface unexpected insights, and deliver the kind of experiences that people are still talking about six months later.

We’ll explore, experiment, and build – together. No long slide decks. No complex theory. Just you, your AI, and some deeply practical initiatives you can put to work at your next event.

Learning outcomes: 

  •  At least 3 AI-powered exercises you can use immediately — for icebreakers, team sessions, or strategic workshops
  •  A rough prototype of one AI-enhanced moment, designed specifically for your next event.
  •  Confidence to experiment — and insights into how to successfully pitch AI-powered experiences to your leadership teams. 
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Todd Moritz

With a background in broadcast production and pioneering roots in the web, Todd Moritz, Bishop-McCann vice president of technology, brings over three decades of unique experience to help deliver some of the most complex events for the world’s greatest clients.

Return On Joy

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Nick Borelli

Nick Borelli is director of marketing with Zenus. With over two decades in digital marketing and live events, Nick Borelli’s mission is to bring the world together through intentionally designed experiences. He will share tips for uncovering deeper insights on how to optimize your programs.

Next-Level Event Measurement

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Tech for Events Lounge

Dahlia El Gazzar

Dahlia El Gazzar is chief ruckusmaker, event industry leader and AI advisor. She will be moderating a Tech for Events Therapy Lounge. Bring you biggest challenges for some personalized coaching and aha moments.

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Jessica Blunt

Jessica Blunt is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sync Technologies Inc., a second-generation leader passionate about bringing event visions to life through tailored tech solutions. She leads a boutique, hands-on team delivering custom registration, badging, and mobile app experiences for events ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale trade shows.

Problems you solve for planners: We are a family-owned event technology company with one mission: making life easier for planners. Through our Registration and Ticketing Platform, On-Site Badge Printing and Kiosk Kits, Mobile Event App, and Exhibitor Lead Tracking, we mix and match the right tools to fit the specific needs of your event — because no two events are ever the same. We believe small to medium-sized events deserve powerful technology without the complexity or the price tag that usually comes with it.

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Brandt Krueger

Brandt Krueger is Director, Industry Relations and Partnerships at EventMobi and is consistently named one of the Most Influential Event Technology Professionals globally. As an author, educator, and podcast host, he has helped thousands of event professionals improve their attendee experiences, and speaks regularly at major industry conferences worldwide. With over 25 years in the industry, he is passionate about helping event professionals leverage technology to create meaningful experiences.

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Event Experience Schedule

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - All Times Local Standard Time

Monday, April 20, 2026 - All Times Local Standard Time

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - All Times Local Standard Time

The Details

Smart Meetings Hosted Buyer Experiences are 100% complimentary for qualified meeting planners. Hotels and Destination Partners, please contact our sales team at [email protected] for your best available rate.

We use a sophisticated software to custom match our planners with premier properties and destinations that fit your business needs, region, budget and venue preferences. As the event nears, planners and suppliers will have the opportunity to select their appointment preferences to ensure their highest attendee satisfaction.

A qualified Meeting Planner can attend (1) one hosted buyer experience annually based on business needs. Hotels and destination partners may attend unlimited events. Contact our Sales Team for more information at [email protected]

You should fly into Boise Airport (BOI) Airport Transportation will be included for all guests Sunday and Tuesday based on the Smart Meetings Schedule.

AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS

Experience the transformative power of networking and education at Smart Meetings events, where connections flourish and ideas thrive. In this video, attendees share their firsthand experiences about the incredible opportunities available at Smart Meetings hosted-buyer events.

See why so many planners want to attend

Join us for an in-depth look at the unique Smart Meeting experiences that foster genuine connections between planners and suppliers. This video showcases the transformative power of networking within the hospitality industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding both business and the local culture.

See why suppliers keep coming back

In this video, we delve into the transformative power of Smart Meetings events, designed specifically for hospitality professionals. Planner attendees share their experiences, highlighting the incredible opportunities for personal connections, professional growth, and networking with industry leaders, planners, and vendors.

How our events transform your career

Unlock the secrets to successful networking in the events industry with Smart Meetings. This video showcases firsthand experiences from suppliers who have thrived by attending our unique events.

The lasting connections supplier attendees achieve

Embark on a transformative journey in the meetings industry with Smart Meetings. In this engaging video, several newcomers share their firsthand experience of attending Smart Meetings, highlighting the immense value of education, networking, and innovative insights.

What you'll experience as a new planner

DOSM, John Klukan shares firsthand insights about his experience at Smart Meetings Event. Discover how the event facilitated three contract requests out of six initial appointments, emphasizing the importance of tailored connections.

See the value our supplier attendees experience

You Belong Here

PARTNERS

HOST SPONSOR

ANNUAL SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS

Supplier-Partners can learn more here:

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COUNTDOWN