This event is already a fixed date and tradition in the Swiss entertainment industry: ESB Marketing Netzwerk AG and Ticketcorner AG invited guests to the 360° Entertainment Forum in Interlaken for the third time. With 290 guests, even more industry representatives attended than in the previous year.

We were fully booked this year. We even had to turn down some interested parties. "I thought it was great how enthusiastic the speakers and partners were. It was a bit like a festival," said Hans-Willy Brockes, CEO of ESB Marketing Netzwerk AG.

The conclusion of the compact and varied programme: the entertainment industry is also facing some fundamental changes, primarily as a result of digitalization and changes in consumer behaviour and demands. It was clear from all the speeches, presentations and panel discussions that the future will bring many challenges and risks as well as opportunities and new business areas.

The focus was on added value for customers and event organizers, such as that offered by Raiffeisen with its "MemberPlus" customer loyalty program. The innovative strategy of the Arosa Humorfestival was presented as another shining example.

Insights into other successful event concepts and new ways of communication were presented, such as the entertaining campaign of the Gampel Open Air, in which Campino also proved his acting talent - he mimed his filthy doppelganger Helmut for the Valaisans.

Live marketing was one of the central topics - such as the use of social media, customer interactions and revealing possibilities for measurability. In the area of analysis and strategy, the focus was on new digital trends and opportunities for the entertainment world, such as virtual and augmented reality, which are no longer science fiction.

Exchange and networking at the Event Night

The breaks and the Event Night on the evening of the first day were used intensively to exchange ideas between business partners and make new contacts.

"The strength of the event is the participants," says Andreas Angehrn, CEO of Ticketcorner AG. "We had the most important decision-makers in the entertainment industry on site. They use the opportunity to exchange ideas - that's the heart of the matter. As the name suggests, it's 360-degree entertainment: we have sponsors, event organizers, venue representatives and service providers here."

Tips, talks and the blockchain for breakfast

The Breakfast Session on Thursday offered no less interesting insights - starting with valuable suggestions and rules on sales and marketing from Martin Limbeck as well as insights into the world of Fantasy Basel. Blockchain technology, explained by Swisscom expert Daniel Haudenschild, is evolutionary but already a reality.

The discussion between journalist Matthias Ackeret and Blick editor-in-chief Christian Dorer and the concluding talk by presenter Sven Epiney with cabaret artist Viktor Giacobbo, who as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Casinotheater Winterthur also knows the worries and hardships of the business from the perspective of the organizers, also met with great interest.

Andreas Angehrn sums up the event enthusiastically: "What pleases me most is that many of the participants are now attending for the third time - and have already fixed the date for next year. "More information atwww.entertainment-forum.com