Jon Martel on Stagedge at 50: Innovation, Sustainability, and the Future of Experiential Events

 

It plays a huge role. We are constantly pushing the boundaries on innovation. It really is the driving force behind everything we do. Our teams research, test, train and integrate the latest cutting-edge technologies to help our clients deliver seamless and wow-worthy experiences – both online and in person.

 
2. With employee retention cited as a strength, what organizational practices have proven most effective in retaining creative and technical talent in the events industry?  

Employee retention and employee longevity are two of our biggest strengths. Some of our people have been with the company for decades, which is kind of unheard of in today’s day and age. This is a true testament to our leadership team, who are fully invested in and believe in their employees. They are genuinely interested in our success and give us all the tools and resources needed to be successful. Furthermore, they do a great job acknowledging and recognizing their employees’ strengths and dedication through/with “service” and “core value” awards.

 
3. What long-term strategies are being developed to ensure your company's growth remains aligned with both environmental responsibility and digital scalability?

The push for sustainability and digital scalability touches every aspect of corporate life with companies demonstrating their commitment throughout all layers of their business. And the events industry is no different. Stagedge strives to support our clients’ corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives holistically and integrate them throughout our work. We hold a Silver rating from EcoVadis and have joined the Science Based Targets initiative. With decades of low-carbon experience, we can align your event with our sustainability values ensuring that they are not just impactful, but also eco-friendly.

 

4. How are client expectations around event personalization, interactivity, and ROI shifting, and how is your team adapting its service model to meet these changing demands? 

 

Client expectations around event personalization and interactivity couldn’t be higher. That’s what it is all about. Tailoring event experiences and communication to understand and meet the exact, unique needs and preferences of audiences is what you need to do to create an engaging, memorable and relevant event experience. This is done throughout our clear-cut process from concept to completion and everything in between encompassing the entire event lifecycle.

 

As far as a shift in ROI, we feel that ROI is not the only way to effectively measure the success of any event and/or determine whether client expectations have been met. There are a lot more ways to determine whether an event can be “deemed” a success such as looking at the at ROO (Return on Objectives) and ROE (Return on Emotions). It’s more than just the bottom line $$$ that should be taken into consideration.

 

5. In what ways do you balance honoring historical legacy with the imperative to continuously innovate and stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry? 

 

As you know, 2025 is the 50-year anniversary of Stagedge. It’s quite a momentous and somewhat unprecedented occasion given today’s ever evolving and changing corporate/industry landscape. I don’t know if I would consider it a balance to honor our legacy with innovation but more about our ability to pivot and change course when needed. Obviously, when any company has been successful for an extended period of time, adaptability is key. Since our inception we’ve navigated many changes, refined our processes numerous times and consistently pushed the boundaries of technological innovation and advances while staying true to our core values.

 

6. As you look ahead, how changing market dynamics will shape the next chapter of growth for your organization and the event production industry? 

 

I don’t know how changing market dynamics will affect the event production industry as a hole. Obviously, the rise of AI, the need to inspire the Gen Z workforce, plus the political and economic uneasiness are key players in market dynamics and adaptability, but like anything else, I feel like history always repeats itself and, in some shape, or form we have been down this road before. As for Stagedge, earlier this year, we put out a press release discussing how we will be transitioning towards the future with the announcement of key promotions and a detailed roadmap towards sustainability and growth. We will continue to evolve, embrace new technologies, and pursue bold goals with the same drive and spirit that launched us 50 years ago and have been with us every step of the way.

 

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