IAES represented at China’s National Event Planning and Creativity Competition

IAES Chair Dr James Kennell delivered a video presentation to the National Event Planning & Creativity Competition, hosted at Alibaba Group’s headquarters in China, in January 2026.

More than 200 teams of students compete each year in the competition, which provides an opportunity to engage the next generation of events professionals.

Participants and organisers at the National Event Planning and Creativity Competition, which attracts more than 200 student teams each year.

Speaking to competition participants, Dr Kennell introduced the International Association for Events Studies and outlined events programmes and research at Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey.

He focused on megatrends shaping the international events industry, noting that its future “isn’t all AI”, and considered how international cooperation and events education can support the industry’s contribution to global development.

The presentation highlighted IAES’s role in connecting researchers, educators, students and practitioners across the international events-studies community.