Strategy October 15, 2026
Promo Leaders Set Industry Goals at GXN Conference
Industry leaders from around the world gathered in Kitzbühel, Austria, for the fifth annual GXN Conference, which centered around continued evolution of the industry across eight key areas.
Key Takeaways
• Global promo leaders gathered at the fifth annual GXN Conference in Austria to discuss industry challenges, innovation and collaboration.
• The Kitzbühel Declaration 2030 establishes eight priorities for the industry’s future.
Promo leaders from around the globe gathered in Kitzbühel, Austria, for the fifth annual GXN Conference.
Held from Oct. 6 to 9, the event included keynotes and panel discussions on pertinent topics such as AI usage in business leadership contexts, organizational structuring, strategic decision-making and research-backed market analysis of promo sales in 30 European countries. Those discussions were balanced with opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Tyrolean Alps, where the more than 100 attendees could golf, cycle, hike and become better acquainted with their peers.
Promotional products industry professionals from around the globe gathered in Kitzbühel, Austria, for four days of education, strategy and networking.
The event centered on GXN founder Michael Freter’s One Voice Initiative, which was created to establish greater alignment among industry distributors, suppliers, decorators, service providers and industry associations. On Oct. 9, delegates enacted the Kitzbühel Declaration 2030, which establishes eight guiding principles for the industry:
- Demonstrate measurable ROI.
- Collaborate on global standards.
- Measure sustainability.
- Invest in future talent.
- Eliminate greenwashing.
- Improve supply chain transparency.
- Protect ethical manufacturing.
- Increase exposure within public affairs.
Following a series of discussions, delegates at the event finalized the Kitzbühel Declaration 2030, which outlines eight goals for the global promo industry to continue to focus and improve upon.
The agreement is meant to serve as a road map for the industry through 2030 and encourage ongoing dialogue on all components, rather than perpetuate the belief that these are goals that have already been achieved.
Ashish Mittal, CEO of ASI, a founding member of GXN, was in attendance along with Michele Bell, ASI’s senior vice president of editorial, education and global alliances.
“Attending GXN for the first time, I was impressed by the energy, the caliber of the conversations and the shared commitment to moving our global industry forward,” Mittal said. “Joining fellow industry leaders reinforced how much we have in common, regardless of where we do business. We’re facing many of the same challenges and there’s tremendous potential to learn from each other, collaborate and drive innovation across borders.”
Next year’s GXN Conference is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, in the fall, though no date has been announced.