Chennai: The Indian Exhibitions, Conferences & Events Services Association (IESA) – Tamil Nadu Chapter successfully hosted the 2nd Edition of the Events Today Conclave 2026 on 26th and 27th June 2026 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Mahabalipuram Resort & Convention Centre, Chennai. Held under the theme “Reliable Today, Ready for Tomorrow,” the two-day conclave brought together 228 delegates and 20 exhibition stalls, making it one of the most significant gatherings for the events, exhibitions, MICE, and experiential industry in South India.
The conclave was inaugurated by Mr. Dhayalan K., IEDS, Joint Director & Head of Office, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, he emphasized the importance of the MSME sector in strengthening India’s events ecosystem and encouraged the industry to leverage government initiatives to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business growth.
The event was further honoured by the presence of Mr. Phani Raj N., Head – Trade Fairs, AIEMA–ACMEE, Chennai, as the Guest of Honour. He highlighted the growing role of trade fairs and exhibitions in fostering industrial development, business networking, and global market opportunities, while appreciating IESA Tamil Nadu Chapter for creating a platform that brings together industry leaders under one roof.
The conclave featured an exceptional lineup of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts who shared their knowledge through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. The distinguished speakers and panelists included:
- Amelia Betsi C., ISS, Deputy Director, MSME, Government of India
- Dr. Ilankumaran Kalaiamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals
- Sagar Pingali, Executive Vice President, EEMA & Managing Director, Catpro Events
- Uma Menon, Director, Rudra Communication
- Vinod Janardhan, Managing Director, TEAM RUSTIC Pvt. Ltd.
- Raju Venkatraman, CEO, Medall Health Care Pvt. Ltd.
- Arun Samuel, Chairman & Managing Director, Wings Group of Companies
- Kamlesh Jhabakk, CEO, Beep Experience
- Avishkar Tendla, Founder Director, NATURA
- Rajan N., Chairman, Raj Melodies
- Vaibhav Kapoor, Director, Third Wave Services
- Umesh J. Kumar, Art Director & Founder, Golden Hammer
- Akshay, Commercial Director & Co-Founder, Giant Truss
- VJ KayCee, Visual Artist, PIXADOO
- Mahesh, Director, LaserTech Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
- Dr. Deepak Swaminathan, Founder, Media Point & PEPIUP Technologies
The sessions were ably moderated by Maryann Manassesh, Varinder Singh, D. V. Vinod Gopal (Founder Partner, Red Chariots), and Raghav Khosla (Exhibition Showcase), who facilitated engaging discussions on health and wellness, financial planning, safety standards, compliance, technology adoption, digital transformation, and the future of the events industry.
A major attraction of the conclave was the 20-stall exhibition, where leading companies showcased cutting-edge event technologies, infrastructure, creative solutions, and services, creating valuable business opportunities and collaborations.
The celebrations culminated in a spectacular Gala Dinner and Fellowship Evening, complemented by live entertainment, a MI bands performance, team recognition ceremony, and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award, offering delegates an unforgettable networking and celebration experience.
The conclave was successfully organized under the visionary leadership of Mr. Santtosh NM, Vice President – South, IESA, who served as the Organising Chairman. His strategic vision, meticulous planning, and relentless commitment were instrumental in making the conclave a benchmark event for the industry.
The event was further strengthened by the leadership of Mr. Punithan, President, IESA Tamil Nadu Chapter, along with the dedicated support of the Chapter Office Bearers, Organising Committee, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, and every member of the Tamil Nadu Chapter, whose collective efforts ensured the flawless execution of the two-day event.
Expressing his gratitude, Santtosh NM said:
“The phenomenal response to the 2nd Edition of the Events Today Conclave reflects the strength and unity of our industry. My heartfelt thanks to our Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, distinguished speakers, delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, partners, and every member of the IESA Tamil Nadu Chapter whose unwavering support made this conclave a grand success. Together, we have created a platform that will continue to inspire innovation, collaboration, and excellence in the events industry.”
The overwhelming success of the 2nd Edition of the Events Today Conclave 2026 reinforces the IESA Tamil Nadu Chapter’s commitment to creating world-class platforms that promote innovation, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and sustainable growth for India’s events, exhibitions, and experiential industry. Building on this remarkable success, the Chapter looks forward to delivering an even bigger and more impactful third edition.