New Agency Blends AI and Strategy to Redefine Corporate Events

NEW YORK, NY – April 22, 2026 – A new corporate events agency, ENGAGE Business Events, announced its official launch today, entering a competitive industry with a bold mission: to transform corporate gatherings from logistical expenditures into strategic, high-impact investments powered by technology.

Founded by a trio of executives with diverse backgrounds in event management, hospitality, and artificial intelligence, the New York-based firm aims to challenge the traditional event planning model. The company, which is proudly LGBTQ-owned, combines strategic event design, global production services, and emerging AI tools to deliver what it describes as measurable business outcomes for its clients.

From Line Item to Strategic Investment

For decades, the success of corporate events—from large-scale conferences to exclusive executive retreats—was often measured by logistical smoothness and attendee satisfaction scores. ENGAGE Business Events argues this approach is outdated and misses the larger point. The agency's core philosophy is built on repositioning events as a powerful tool for driving business growth, a shift they believe is long overdue.

"Business events are one of the most powerful tools a company has, but too often they're treated as a line item instead of a strategic investment," said Travis Pham, Co-Founder, in the company's launch announcement. "We started ENGAGE to change that. Every program we produce is designed to move the business forward, not just fill a room."

This philosophy taps into a growing demand within the corporate world for demonstrable return on investment (ROI) across all departments. As budgets tighten and scrutiny increases, executives are no longer content with events that are merely well-attended; they want to see a clear link to sales goals, employee retention, brand loyalty, or market penetration. ENGAGE's model proposes to start with these goals, designing every aspect of an event—from creative concepts and destination selection to content programming and attendee journey—to directly support them. The firm's services cover a wide spectrum, including conferences, incentive travel programs, brand activations, and executive meetings.

Technology as a Catalyst for Change

A key pillar of the agency's strategy is its commitment to technology, an area where the events industry has often lagged. While other sectors have been revolutionized by digital tools and data analytics, many event planning processes remain heavily manual and reliant on disparate systems. ENGAGE aims to close this gap not only by leveraging existing technologies but by building its own.

The company announced it is currently developing Happy Sites, a proprietary AI-enabled platform designed to streamline one of the most time-consuming tasks for planners: hotel site inspections. The tool aims to use artificial intelligence to simplify venue sourcing and will feature a peer-to-peer network where professional planners can share authentic, real-world reviews and insights about venues.

"Technology has transformed nearly every industry, but meetings and events has been slow to catch up," stated Keith Green, the Co-Founder leading the firm's technology and digital product initiatives. "We're not waiting for the industry to evolve — we're building the tools to drive that evolution."

This initiative places ENGAGE in the midst of a broader industry trend toward "event tech," where established giants like Cvent and a host of startups are racing to integrate AI for everything from personalized attendee schedules to predictive analytics on event success. By creating a community-driven review platform, Happy Sites could carve out a unique niche focused on transparency and peer validation, addressing a common pain point for planners navigating a sea of marketing materials to find the right location.

A Confluence of Diverse Expertise

The agency's ambitious vision is backed by the varied experiences of its founding team. This blend of perspectives is what the founders believe gives them a unique 360-degree view of the industry. "We've all sat on different sides of this industry — as hoteliers, as planners, as technology builders," added Co-Founder Javier Valdez. "That perspective shapes everything about how we work with clients."

Co-founder Travis Pham is a recognized figure in the events world, having been named to BizBash's "40 Under 40" list in 2019. His extensive background includes leadership roles at major event management companies like 360 Destination Group and global sales for luxury brands such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. His deep industry involvement, including service on boards for MPI and SITE, substantiates the "industry veteran" credential and provides the new agency with a foundation of established expertise and network connections.

This deep-rooted event experience is complemented by the technological focus brought by Keith Green and the holistic industry view from Javier Valdez, creating a leadership structure designed to bridge the common divides between strategy, logistics, and digital innovation.

Diversity as a Core Business Value

In addition to its strategic and technological differentiators, ENGAGE Business Events is launching with a distinct identity as one of the few LGBTQ-owned corporate events agencies in the United States. The founders emphasize this is not just a demographic detail but a core component of their business ethos and a strategic advantage.

In today's corporate climate, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have become central pillars of corporate social responsibility. Many Fortune 500 companies and large organizations have robust supplier diversity programs, actively seeking to partner with businesses owned by underrepresented groups. By being certified as an LGBTQ-owned enterprise, ENGAGE is well-positioned to tap into these procurement channels, gaining access to opportunities that might be unavailable to other new agencies.

Beyond a pathway to new business, the founders see their ownership status as a reflection of the inclusive culture they intend to build, both within their agency and for the events they produce. For clients looking to align their brand values with their partners, working with a diverse-owned firm like ENGAGE offers a way to ensure their event spend supports a more equitable business ecosystem. This commitment to inclusion can also translate into more thoughtful and representative event design, ensuring that gatherings are welcoming and engaging for all attendees. As companies worldwide continue to prioritize diversity, the agency's identity could prove to be one of its most compelling assets.