Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, has announced that Karamo – daytime talk show host and Queer Eye culture expert – will deliver a keynote speaker address for its customer and industry conference, Cvent CONNECT. The conference will take place from June 10-13, 2024, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas and online. Lauded for his ability to meaningfully connect with his audience, Karamo will leverage his personal stories and cultural expertise to inspire Cvent CONNECT attendees to confront challenges, embrace authenticity and transform their personal or professional trajectories.

In addition to Karamo, other keynote speakers include Blackstone’s Global Head of Portfolio Operations & Former Co-CEO of SAP Jennifer Morgan, who has been named one of the Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes. Reggie Aggarwal, Cvent CEO and Founder, will also deliver his highly anticipated opening keynote address on Tuesday, June 11.

“Every year Cvent CONNECT brings cultural and entrepreneurial luminaries into the spotlight, allowing them to share their unique wisdom and perspective with our attendees,” said Patrick Smith, Cvent SVP and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re thrilled to welcome Karamo to the main stage as he shares his unique expertise and insights which we expect will resonate deeply with our audience."

More About Karamo

Emmy winner Karamo is the host of his own nationally syndicated daytime talk show entitled "Karamo" and distributed by NBC Syndication. He is also the Culture Expert on Netflix's international six-time Emmy-winning series Queer Eye. Karamo is known as a "sympathetic talk therapist wrapped inside a life coach and zipped into a fast fashion bomber jacket..." according to The New Yorker.

Lauded for his ease and natural comfort in relating to different types of people, Karamo is tasked with making-over the hearts and minds of the individuals they help on both of his shows; by helping them to confront and grow beyond internal and external issues.

Karamo draws from his work in social services to show how he both discovered and learned to explore his many different identities. Whether as a black man, openly gay man, a son of immigrant parents, a Christian or a single father; Karamo strategically utilizes the strength of his numerous identities to achieve success – and teaches others to do the same.

In addition to being an Emmy winner, Karamo was the recipient of the 2018 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. Karamo also continues to work directly with President Obama and his My Brother's Keeper Alliance empowering today's youth. He also meets with members of congress on policy and legislation supporting LGBTQ youth and their allies on both sides of the aisle.

Visit the Cvent CONNECT website to view the full agenda and to register for the conference.

About Cvent

Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with 4,800+ employees and ~22,000 customers worldwide as of December 31, 2023. Founded in 1999, the company delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform and offers a global marketplace where event professionals collaborate with venues to create engaging, impactful experiences. Cvent is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., and has additional offices around the world to support its growing global customer base. The comprehensive Cvent event marketing and management platform offers software solutions to event organizers and marketers for online event registration, venue selection, event marketing and management, virtual and onsite solutions, and attendee engagement. Cvent’s suite of products automate and simplify the event management lifecycle and maximize the impact of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Hotels and venues use Cvent’s supplier and venue solutions to win more group and corporate travel business through Cvent’s sourcing platforms. Cvent solutions optimize the event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage millions of meetings and events. For more information, please visit Cvent.com.

Cvent Erica Stoltenberg estoltenberg@cvent.com