Buyers will be able to discover brands, plan routes and build personalised show itineraries using new AI technology
Autumn Fair, Glee and Spring Fair are partnering with Accio Work to introduce an AI-powered event assistant in order to help buyers navigate the shows and discover relevant products and suppliers.
The technology will launch at Autumn Fair and Glee this September, before being rolled out at Spring Fair in 2027. Free for visitors and exhibitors, the platform uses AI to provide personalised recommendations based on buyers’ individual business needs.
Rather than simply searching an exhibitor directory, visitors can ask questions in natural language – for example, looking for sustainable products within a particular price range or new children’s gift brands – and receive tailored recommendations.
Buyers can also upload images of their shop, display or window and ask the AI assistant to suggest exhibitors and products that fit their retail style, customer base or visual merchandising approach.
The platform can then turn those recommendations into personalised walking routes, helping buyers visit relevant exhibitors efficiently. Visitors can also save seminars and create individual itineraries ahead of and during the shows.
For exhibitors, the technology provides another way to reach relevant buyers, with brands recommended when their products match specific searches. No additional content or profiles are required, as the assistant draws on information already available through the shows’ exhibitor directories and online resources.
Large interactive touchscreens will also be installed at the entrances to Autumn Fair, Glee and Spring Fair in 2027, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the technology and download the app.
Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director at Spring & Autumn Fair, said the partnership would help make the buying experience “smarter, more efficient and even more valuable” for visitors and exhibitors.
Michalle Lau, Managing Director France at Accio Work, said: “Trade shows remain one of the most important places for buyers and suppliers to connect, but navigating thousands of products and hundreds of exhibitors can be overwhelming.”
We’re making AI practical and accessible, helping visitors discover the right brands faster, plan their visit more effectively and ultimately create better business opportunities for everyone attending.
Michalle Lau, Managing Director France at Accio Work
The AI assistant will be free for buyers and exhibitors to use, with visitors able to download the app before attending or access it via the interactive touchscreens at Autumn Fair and Glee.
