AGS MAGAZINE: Rome is only the beginning

A message from Sabrina Magri, Managing Director of AGS

The affiliate industry has outgrown the boundaries that once defined it. The question is no longer which vertical you operate in, but how far your partnerships, technology and ambitions can take you. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the people and businesses driving this industry forward. 

One thing has become increasingly clear to me: the most valuable opportunities often emerge when we move beyond familiar markets, established networks and traditional industry boundaries. That belief has been central to how we’ve approached the development of Affiliate Grand Slam (AGS).

AGS already had a strong history, but returning with the same format wouldn’t have made sense. So we rebuilt the summit around how partnerships are formed and how business gets done, with the goal of developing a platform that reflects where the global performance marketing industry is heading. Affiliates, advertisers, agencies, networks and technology providers need a chance to sit down together, have productive conversations and see how they might work together.

Rome gives us the setting to do that at scale. It’s an international city, easy to reach from many of the markets we want to bring together, and Fiera Roma gives us the space to produce our biggest edition so far.

That space is shared with SiGMA World, but AGS has its own programme, audience and dedicated exhibition hall. Delegates can also access SiGMA, AIBC and FX.World with the same ticket. Many arrive in Rome with a clear list of affiliate contacts to meet, then find a payment provider, a technology company or a new commercial partner in another hall. That kind of crossover is hard to plan, and it’s often where the best opportunities start. Our aim goes beyond bringing companies together for a few days. We want to create an environment where industries intersect, new markets become accessible and meaningful commercial relationships are built across borders.

We’ve also been careful to give AGS a clear identity. The AGS exhibition hall is strictly non-gambling and focused on mainstream affiliate and performance marketing, while the wider event offers access to businesses across multiple verticals. That focus also shapes how we build the audience. Affiliates can apply for a complimentary ticket, but every application is verified to confirm that they are active in the industry. Companies are investing their time and resources to meet them, so the right people must be in the room. 

For me, the true measure of success isn’t simply how many people attend or how many deals are signed during the event. From the stage, it’s the delegates who are engaged and asking practical questions. On the exhibition floor, it’s the meetings that continue after the event rather than ending with an exchange of business cards. Ultimately, it’s the partnerships that continue to grow, the businesses that open up new territories and the conversations that turn into opportunities long after everyone has left Rome.

This article was originally published in AGS Magazine. Explore the latest issue for more in-depth interviews, straightforward analysis and informed perspectives from across the affiliate and performance marketing industry.