Client objectives & challenges
Swift’s ambition was for Sibos to feel like one connected experience, rather than a series of individual spaces. The challenge was to bring conference, exhibition, hospitality, sponsorship, registration, networking and celebration together seamlessly across a complex, multi-level venue. Alongside this, the team needed to navigate Miami-specific costs, labour, access and supplier challenges, while protecting value for sponsors and exhibitors and creating a clear, intuitive delegate journey for a global audience.
Client Objectives
Create an environment where the global financial community could learn, meet and do business.
Strengthen the Swift and Sibos brands, increase sponsor value and create memorable moments throughout the delegate journey.
Challenges
Connect distinct environments and delivery partners across a large, complex venue. Balance experience, commercial return, operational requirements, sustainability and evolving needs, while maintaining quality against fixed deadlines
Success Criteria
A seamless attendee journey, strong engagement across programmed and social spaces, high-performing exhibition and hospitality environments, sponsor confidence, safe delivery and an experience with a distinctive sense of Miami.
One experience, everywhere
Rapiergroup worked alongside Swift and its wider delivery partners to help create a connected experience across Sibos, bringing together creative thinking, spatial design, exhibitor and sponsor management, catering, venue branding and onsite operations. We considered every touchpoint within our remit as part of the wider delegate journey, helping create a consistent experience from arrival through to the closing celebration.
What we delivered
Experience strategy
We turned Swift’s objectives into a clear experience framework that linked the practical and emotional journey. Delegate flow, visibility, dwell time, networking and operational needs shaped decisions across registration, exhibition, stages, hospitality and social moments. This created a clear direction for teams and suppliers, while allowing each area to serve its audience and purpose.
Creative environments
We used Miami’s colour, rhythm, planting and Art Deco influences with restraint to create a clear sense of place. The Swift stand, Discover and Innotribe, Food hall, Sibos restaurant, feature areas and closing event each had their own identity, while a warm, human and hospitality-led design language created a sense of connection throughout.
Exhibition management
Rapiergroup managed the exhibition from planning to live delivery. This covered exhibitor guidance, technical coordination, approvals, show documents, signage, floor management and supplier liaison. The team supported around 180+ exhibitors, complex feature areas including a 64-stand Discover area while maintaining the standards, deadlines and safety controls required for a global event.
Commercial activation
We managed advertising and sponsorship across digital, print, content, stages, meeting spaces, hospitality, social events and physical activations. Sponsor opportunities were integrated into the attendee experience rather than treated as standalone elements, giving partners relevant ways to connect while maintaining the clarity of the Sibos environment.
Hospitality at scale
We treated food and drink as part of the experience, not simply a service. The Miami-inspired Food hall, Sibos restaurant, hosted tables, refreshment points and branded activations supported everything from quick breaks to planned client meetings. More than half of the menu was plant-based, with local sourcing used where practical.
Live operations
Our onsite team connected show management, production, creative, catering, sponsor fulfilment, registration, security, floor management and client liaison. Clear escalation routes, daily coordination and responsive supplier management enabled the event to adapt in real time, resolving issues quickly and protecting the delegate experience across four live days.
Opportunities & value added
Connected the journey
We planned arrival, navigation, content, exhibition, hospitality and celebration as one connected experience. This helped create a more seamless journey across traditionally separate event workstreams. Delegates could move naturally between business, learning and social moments while still feeling part of one event
Made Miami meaningful
Miami shaped more than the look of the event. Local culture influenced the atmosphere, food, planting, colour, entertainment and activations. This gave Sibos a distinctive identity without overpowering its global brand
Designed for conversation
We planned meeting rooms, hosted tables, cafés, lounges, stages and informal seating as complementary settings. Attendees and partners could choose the right space for confidential discussions, planned meetings, spontaneous networking or shared moments.
Integrated sponsor value
We connected commercial opportunities across physical, digital and content channels. Sponsors gained relevant ways to build their presence, while Swift maintained a consistent event environment and a clear booking and fulfilment process.
Protected delivery quality
Rapiergroup combined its knowledge of Sibos with local supplier expertise and strong venue relationships. This helped the team challenge costs, resolve issues and make informed trade-offs quickly, protecting quality and value in a complex US delivery environment.
Created future learning
Operational data, debriefs and supplier reviews captured practical lessons on catering, wayfinding, hospitality, content deadlines, access and technical delivery. These insights created a stronger baseline for future Sibos events.
Sustainability
Lower-impact design
We prioritised rental, modular and reusable systems where practical. This reduced one-off construction while maintaining quality and flexibility across the event.
Responsible hospitality
More than half of the menu was plant-based, with local produce used where practical. We also encouraged reusable water bottles and provided hydration points throughout the venue.
Smarter material choices
We encouraged exhibitors to source locally, reduce freight and reconsider disposable giveaways. Event guidance promoted useful, sustainable and ethically produced alternatives.
Measure, learn, improve
Delivery teams gathered information on suppliers, logistics, catering and waste for the post-event review. This evidence will inform future specifications, purchasing and experience decisions.
Sibos
Outcome
Sibos 2026 turned the Miami Beach Convention Center into one connected environment for global finance. Rapiergroup brought together strategy, creative, commercial management and operations across our areas of delivery. The result was a clear, hospitality-led experience that supported learning, business, sponsor value and human connection at scale.
Sector
Financial ServicesServices Involved
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