Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
CXFS Connect 2026 is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering where senior financial services leaders build powerful connections and gain insights needed to drive innovation. The event focuses on transforming customer experiences in the financial sector, featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities tailored for high-level executives.
CXFS Connect takes place in Hilton Head Island, United States. Venue: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: CXFS Connect 2026 takes place on December 1-2, 2026, at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, FL.
- 2Scale and Focus: This exclusive, invitation-only event gathers senior financial services leaders to discuss customer experience innovations.
- 3Organiser: The event is organized by WBR, known for hosting high-level industry gatherings.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include C-level executives and decision-makers from banks, credit unions, and financial institutions.
- 5Entry: Attendance is by invitation only; interested parties can request an invitation through the event website.
Why visit
Attendees will benefit from engaging with industry leaders and peers, gaining insights into the latest customer experience strategies and innovations in financial services. Attendees include C-level executives and decision-makers from banks, credit unions, and financial institutions. Attendance is by invitation only; interested.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors will have the chance to showcase their solutions to a targeted audience of decision-makers in the financial services sector. This exclusive, invitation-only event gathers senior financial services leaders to discuss customer experience innovations. Attendees include C-level executives and decision-makers from banks, credit unions, and financial institutions.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Chief customer experience officers and heads of CX at retail banks, commercial banks and credit unions
Contact center, service operations and workforce planning leaders running voice, chat and messaging channels
Digital and mobile banking product owners responsible for onboarding, servicing and dispute journeys
Customer insights and voice-of-customer leaders running NPS, speech analytics and closed-loop feedback programs
Data, analytics and AI leaders deploying agent-assist, knowledge search and conversational assistants inside regulated service teams
Complaints handling, conduct risk and compliance leads overseeing customer communications and fair-treatment obligations
Wealth management, private banking and insurance distribution leaders modernizing advisor and policyholder journeys
Marketing and lifecycle leaders aligning acquisition messaging with servicing experience across financial products
Fintech, platform and integration partners evaluating how banks and insurers buy service technology
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Contact center as a service (CCaaS) and agent desktop vendors serving regulated financial institutions
Conversational AI and virtual assistant providers building customer-facing and agent-facing assistants for banking and insurance
Speech, text and interaction analytics firms selling voice-of-customer and quality assurance tooling
Journey orchestration, personalization and decisioning platforms used across digital banking and servicing channels
Knowledge management and agent-assist providers reducing handle time and onboarding ramp for service teams
Identity, authentication and fraud-prevention vendors supporting secure digital servicing and account recovery
CRM, data platform and integration providers with financial services reference deployments
Systems integrators and consultancies that implement CX transformation and channel migration programs for banks and insurers
Workforce engagement management (WFM, quality, coaching) and training specialists for financial service operations
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Contact center platforms and CCaaS migrations for banks and insurers
Conversational AI, chatbots and voice assistants tuned for regulated financial conversations
Agent assist, knowledge search and real-time guidance tools
Voice-of-customer, speech analytics, QA scoring and closed-loop feedback platforms
Customer journey orchestration and personalization engines for digital banking and mobile apps
Identity verification, authentication and account-recovery tooling for digital servicing
CRM, customer data platforms and master data tooling for financial institutions
Workforce engagement management: forecasting, scheduling, quality and coaching
Complaints management, case handling and regulatory communications workflow tools
Wealth and insurance advisor desktop and policyholder self-service portals
Measurement and analytics for NPS, CSAT, first contact resolution and cost-to-serve
Advisory, systems integration and managed service offerings for CX transformation programs
Location & Facilities
Venue
Halls & areas
2Palmetto RoomBasshead Oceanfront Deck
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Hilton Head Island, United States
Facilities
Parking
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Hilton Head Island typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Hilton Head Island typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Hilton Head Island, United States
Why it matters
On 2026-12-01 to 2026-12-02, CXFS Connect in Hilton Head Island covering Customer experience management solutions, Data analytics and insights tools, Digital banking platforms, Marketing automa gives energy buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Orlando
Primary international gateway serving Hilton Head Island.
to venue
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa
Venue host / upscale
On the host resort property, oceanfrontUSD 175–260 / night
Host property with conference space and on-site parking; the shortest walk to sessions. Nightly band is an approximate December estimate - confirm the event room block and resort fee with the organiser or hotel.
sourceHilton Beachfront Resort and Spa Hilton Head Island
4-star
Beachfront, a short walk from the Marriott host propertyUSD 170–240 / night
Captured listing: 4-star, guest score 4.0, breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking, pool, spa and fitness center. Approximate December band, not an event rate.
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island
4-star
About 2 km from the Marriott host propertyUSD 165–235 / night
Captured listing: 4-star, guest score 4.3, outdoor pool, hot tub, spa, pet-friendly; Wi-Fi and parking charged. Approximate December band; budget a car or rideshare to the venue.
Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
4-star
About 700 m from the Marriott host propertyUSD 170–245 / night
Captured listing: 4-star, guest score 4.4, outdoor pool, hot tub, spa, pet-friendly; free Wi-Fi and parking, breakfast charged. Approximate December band.
Beach House Hilton Head Island
4-star
Island beachfrontUSD 155–215 / night
Captured listing: 4-star, guest score 4.0, free Wi-Fi, breakfast charged. Lower-cost island option on an approximate December band; confirm transfer to the venue.
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Upscale resort
Port Royal area, short drive to the host propertyUSD 180–270 / night
Directional comparison only, no confirmed event block. Confirm availability, resort fee and parking charges directly with the property.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
trolley
Estimated costFree, no fare (confirm seasonal December operating calendar)
Best forThe Breeze Trolley - free public trolley serving Hilton Head Island
Town-run island trolley, useful for short hops between resort and island districts. Service is seasonal, so do not assume December departures without checking the town schedule.
rideshare
Estimated costUSD 35–75 taxi or rideshare to the venue district
Best forOn-island rideshare between resort hotels and the venue district
Uber and Lyft coverage exists on the island but is thinner late at night and during holiday weeks. Pre-book where possible and keep a local taxi number as backup.
car
Estimated costApprox. USD 10-25 per day resort self-parking; public island lots free to about USD 9 per day (estimate; confirm rates)
Best forSelf-drive on island with parking at the resort or venue
Hilton Head is car-oriented and resorts are spread out, so a rental car is practical. Parking is charged at most resort properties; public beach and district lots set their own rates.
bike / walking
Estimated costApprox. USD 20-40 per day bike rental (estimate; confirm rates)
Best forResort paths and island bike trails between adjacent properties
Paved multi-use paths connect many island districts and beaches. Reasonable for short daytime hops in mild December weather, not for evening transfers.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from MCO to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forOrlando (MCO) to JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Primary international gateway serving Hilton Head Island.
Weather
Early December on Hilton Head Island is mild but changeable. Typical daytime highs sit around 17-19 C (62-67 F) with overnight lows near 7-10 C (45-50 F), so mornings and evening receptions feel noticeably cooler than midday sessions. Rain falls in passing frontal bands rather than all-day downpours. Treat these as climatological bands for planning only and check a short-range forecast in the week before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Wi-Fi is standard in resort rooms, meeting space and lobbies, but connection quality in large meeting rooms varies under load; use your own mobile hotspot as backup for demos or video calls. Mobile coverage on the island is generally good; international visitors should confirm roaming or an eSIM data plan for the United States before arrival. Power is 120 V at 60 Hz with Type A/B plugs, so visitors from Europe or Asia need a plug adapter, and laptops rated only for 220-240 V need a converter.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Dress and setting
This is a resort-hosted executive event, so business casual is the norm: jacket or blazer with open-collar shirts, or smart separates. Meeting rooms are cooled aggressively while outdoor receptions are on the coast, so bring a layer.
Meeting etiquette
Sessions favor moderated conversation over formal lecterns. Expect to be asked for your view, and come with one concrete data point from your own servicing operation rather than a general opinion.
Tipping
US tipping norms apply: 18-20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at the bar, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters. Card payment is accepted almost everywhere on the island.
Local food and drink
Lowcountry cuisine features shrimp, oysters, grits and she-crab soup. Resort restaurants and island seafood houses fill up in December, so reserve ahead for dinner during the event evenings.
Getting around socially
Evening venues are spread across the island and not walkable from every hotel. Agree meeting points in advance and share rides, since late-night rideshare supply is limited outside the resort cluster.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: MCO
Book into Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) for the widest choice of airlines and the most predictable connections, then plan on roughly an hour by road to the island. Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) is closer but has limited scheduled service, so check current routes before relying on it. December dates sit close to holiday travel peaks, so book early, allow a connection buffer if you fly via Atlanta or Charlotte, and avoid tight same-day connections if you are speaking or hosting meetings on day one. International travelers should confirm ESTA or visa status before purchasing non-refundable tickets.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Orlando (MCO): Primary international gateway serving Hilton Head Island.. Allow road or rail time to JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa: On the host resort property, oceanfront: Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa; Beachfront, a short walk from the Marriott host property: Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa Hilton Head Island; About 2 km from the Marriott host property: Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.
Ride-hail: Uber and Lyft both operate on Hilton Head Island, with the densest supply around the resort and beach districts. Fares for typical on-island trips are roughly USD 12-25, and airport runs differ by distance; confirm live pricing in the app. Availability drops late at night and during holiday travel weeks, so pre-schedule rides to and from evening receptions and keep a local taxi company number as a backup.
Public transit: Public options are limited but useful: The Breeze Trolley is a fare-free town trolley connecting island districts, though its operating calendar is seasonal, so check whether it runs during the December event dates. Regional bus service in Beaufort County exists but is oriented to commuter routes and is not a practical venue transfer for most attendees. In practice, plan on rideshare, a rental car or a pre-booked hotel shuttle.
Parking: The host resort provides on-site parking, usually charged per day and sometimes bundled into a resort fee; confirm the current rate when booking. Island public lots range from free to roughly USD 9 per day depending on the district and season. Arrive early on day one because the closest spaces near meeting space fill quickly, and use valet only if you need to leave immediately after the closing session.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: December 2026 (event dates 1-2 December)
Temperature: Approx. 7-10 C (45-50 F) overnight to 17-19 C (62-67 F) daytime; coastal wind makes evenings feel cooler. Treat as a climatological band, not a forecast.
Seasonality: Early December is mild and comparatively dry by regional standards, but passing frontal rain is normal and can arrive with little notice. There is no hurricane-season risk of note by December; the bigger planning factor is cool, damp evenings and shorter daylight hours.
Packing: Pack business casual layers: blazer or knitwear over shirts, a light rain shell, closed shoes for paved resort paths, and one warmer layer for outdoor evening receptions. Add a plug adapter for non-US devices, a portable charger for long session days, and a compact umbrella.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at CXFS Connect usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
T-14
Confirm your CXFS Connect registration status and pass category on cxfsconnect.wbresearch.com, and check whether the organiser requires proof of role or institution.
T-14
Book the Hilton Head Island hotel room and confirm the cancellation window, since December resort inventory tightens around holiday travel.
T-12
Lock flights into Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) or Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) and reserve a rental car or private transfer if you land after dark.
T-12
Check your passport validity and ESTA or B-1 visa status if travelling from outside the United States, and print or store the confirmation.
T-10
Review the published agenda and shortlist the sessions covering contact center, conversational AI and journey orchestration that match your 2027 roadmap.
T-10
Request internal sign-off for any vendor meetings you plan to take on site, and note the procurement or compliance questions you need answered.
T-7
Draft two or three specific problems from your own servicing operation to raise in closed-door discussions, for example handle time, authentication friction or complaints volumes.
T-7
Confirm ground transport: rideshare coverage on the island, trolley seasonality, and parking at the host property.
T-5
Pack business casual layers, a rain jacket and comfortable shoes for walking between meeting rooms and outdoor receptions.
T-5
Download the organiser app or agenda PDF and note registration desk hours for day one badge pickup.
T-3
Share your arrival and departure times with colleagues covering your team while you travel, and set an out-of-office covering the two event days.
T-2
Check the weather forecast for Hilton Head Island and adjust outerwear; coastal evenings are noticeably cooler than midday.
T-1
Charge devices, load boarding passes and hotel confirmations, and confirm the first morning session start time so you arrive before the room fills.
Day 1
Collect your badge early, attend the opening session and use the first networking break to schedule follow-ups with two or three peers in similar bank or insurer roles.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2CXFS Connect registration concourse
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$230.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$380.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether CXFS Connect fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For CXFS Connect, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Customer experience management solutions and Data analytics and insights tools solutions and benchmarking suppliers at CXFS Connect in Hilton Head Island.
Min. budget
$690.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Customer experience management solutions and Data analytics and insights tools products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$3,105.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Hilton Head Island show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
Photos
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
What is CXFS Connect?
CXFS Connect is a WBR (Worldwide Business Research) executive event focused on customer experience in financial services. The program is built for CX, service operations, digital, data and marketing leaders at banks, insurers, credit unions and wealth firms, plus the technology and advisory partners that serve them.
When and where is the December 2026 edition?
The listed dates are 1-2 December 2026 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States. The host property referenced in venue materials is the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa; confirm the final venue and room block on the organiser site before booking travel.
Who attends CXFS Connect?
Expect senior customer experience, contact center, digital channel, insights and analytics practitioners from financial institutions, alongside solution providers in conversational AI, analytics, journey orchestration and service platforms. The format favors director-level and above buyers who own service and journey budgets.
Is CXFS Connect trade-only or can vendors attend?
It is an executive, business-to-business event rather than a consumer show. Solution providers attend as sponsors or partners, and practitioner attendance is managed by the organiser. Check the registration page for current qualification rules and pass categories.
How do I register and what does it cost?
Registration is handled on the organiser domain, cxfsconnect.wbresearch.com. Pass categories, current rates and any qualification requirements are published there; pricing is not fixed in this listing because organiser rates change by date and audience type.
Which airport should I fly into?
Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) is closest to the island resorts but has limited scheduled service. Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) is the usual commercial gateway, roughly an hour by road, and Charleston International (CHS) is a longer drive of about two hours. Confirm current routes and rental car availability before booking.
Do I need a car on Hilton Head Island?
The island is car-oriented and resort properties sit away from each other, so many attendees rent a car or use rideshare. The Breeze Trolley is a free island trolley, but its operating calendar is seasonal, so check December service before relying on it.
What is the dress code and format?
Business casual is appropriate for a resort-hosted executive event. Sessions typically mix keynote conversations, panel discussions and smaller closed-door exchanges, with structured networking between them; bring layers because meeting rooms are air conditioned while outdoor receptions are on the coast.
Can I combine the trip with a team offsite?
Many attendees do, given the resort setting. Book meeting space and the hotel block directly with the host property and confirm it does not conflict with the CXFS Connect program schedule published on the organiser site.
Will sessions be recorded or available afterwards?
Recording and materials policy is set by the organiser and usually communicated to registered attendees. Do not assume sessions are published publicly; ask the organiser if you need access for colleagues who cannot travel.
What should international attendees prepare?
Visa-waiver travelers from eligible countries normally use ESTA, while others typically need a B-1 visitor visa for business meetings. Carry a passport valid beyond your stay, an onward ticket and proof of the event or hotel booking, and allow extra time at US border control.
What is the weather like in early December?
Early December on Hilton Head Island is mild and changeable: daytime highs often around 17-19 C (62-67 F) with cooler evenings near 7-10 C (45-50 F), and passing rain is possible. Pack a light jacket or sweater, a rain layer and shoes suitable for paved resort paths and the beach.
Glossary
- CX (customer experience)
- The end-to-end experience a financial institution delivers across branch, contact center, mobile app, web and advisor channels. At CXFS Connect the term is used specifically for banking, insurance and wealth servicing journeys rather than retail or e-commerce CX.
- CXFS
- Customer experience for financial services, the focus of this WBR executive event: the operating model, technology and measurement used by banks, insurers and wealth managers to run customer journeys.
- VoC (voice of the customer)
- Structured collection of customer feedback through surveys, call transcripts, app reviews and complaint text, then routed into decision-making. Financial services VoC programs typically sit alongside regulatory complaint handling.
- Journey orchestration
- Coordinating touchpoints, data and decisions across channels so a customer moving from mobile app to contact center to branch does not have to restart the interaction.
- Agent assist
- Real-time tooling that surfaces knowledge, next-best actions, compliance prompts or suggested responses to a service agent during a live customer contact.
- Conversational AI in a regulated context
- Virtual assistants and chatbots that must handle authentication, disclosure, suitability and record-keeping obligations, not just answer FAQs. Sessions at this event tend to focus on guardrails, escalation and audit trails.
- FCR (first contact resolution)
- Share of customer contacts resolved without a follow-up or transfer. A core service metric in banking contact centers, often paired with cost-to-serve and repeat-contact analysis.
- NPS (Net Promoter Score)
- A loyalty metric derived from likelihood-to-recommend ratings. In financial services it is usually segmented by product, channel and relationship depth rather than reported as a single bank-wide number.
- Hyper-personalization
- Using customer data, product holdings and behavior signals to tailor offers, guidance and servicing messages, subject to consent and fair-treatment rules.
- Member experience
- The credit union and member-based equivalent of CX, covering onboarding, lending, card servicing and digital support for member-owners.
- Cost-to-serve
- The fully loaded cost of handling a customer interaction or relationship by channel, used to justify digital deflection and self-service investment.
- Regulated conversation design
- Design of customer-facing scripts, disclosures and assistant flows that satisfy conduct, complaints and recordkeeping requirements while staying usable.
- Executive connect format
- A WBR-style event format built around moderated discussions, closed-door exchanges and structured networking rather than a large open exhibition floor, which shapes how suppliers and buyers meet.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- CXFS Connect 2026
- CXFS Connect Hilton Head Island 2026
- CXFS 2026
- CXFS Hilton Head Island 2026
- Hilton Head Island United States
- Trade show Hilton Head Island 2026
- Customer experience management solutions
- Data analytics and insights tools
- Digital banking platforms
- Marketing automation technologies
3 more alternate names hidden
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.