Brand Royalty, the brainchild of Brink Events founder Aidan Henry, is not your typical expo. Forget rows of sterile booths, garish lighting, and pushy salespeople – This is an immersive experience designed to connect affluent clientele with high-end brands in an elegant atmosphere. May 24, 2025, will see the second annual Brand Royalty Expo take place at the Victoria Conference Centre on Vancouver Island. Being the first event of its kind in B.C. – It was a risk (and a sweat) to pull off – But it was clearly worth it, with this year’s even set to bigger, better, and more beautiful.
Like Victoria, the Brand Royalty Expo’s draw is being a memorable destination and experience itself – On top of an event to personally connect with luxury brands and insiders.
-Aidan Henry
With Brand Royalty having a discerning, niche audience, Henry is putting all his focus into the experience itself, not seeing any need for mass promotion. But he kindly made time to chat about it with us. Note he’s saving details and highlights which will only be revealed on event day. And with all with our online world filled with spoilers these days, we appreciate a lil’ mystery and excitement – Especially when it involves the effort of attending an IRL event.
“2025 is not going to be your standard industry expo with ‘people doing laps around a circuit of booths’,” Henry explained on our call, “You won’t be blinded by fluorescent overhead lighting and bored by typical ‘banjo cloth’-backed booths.”
This focus on creating an immersive, engaging environment is central to Henry’s vision for Brand Royalty. He understands that today’s luxury customer craves more than just access to products; they want an experience that resonates with their lifestyle and aspirations. With this ethos in mind, he’s assembling a confluence of luxury brands and businesses from across B.C. and Canada.
After reminding us why most business expos could have been an emailed PDF instead of an actual weekend of our time, he went into some hints of what we can expect at Brand Royalty: “The floor and vendors will be free flowing, with your experience the priority. I’m discouraging chairs and pushing for cocktail tables – I want people up on their feet, greeting each other and having fun. Think sampling trays of drinks and canapés while soaking in some art or checking out a luxury vehicle. Maybe you’ll pause for a few photo ops while a DJ plays lounge music in the background.”
This attention to detail extends to every aspect of the event, from the layout and décor to the carefully curated selection of vendors. But Brand Royalty is more than just a visual feast. Henry is equally focused on showcasing innovation and exclusivity. Attendees can expect to discover new products and services making their debut, adding another layer of intrigue to the experience.
“We’ll be introducing two sparkling tea brands, which is quite interesting,” Henry shared, “[Sparkling tea] has really blown up in Europe, tastes great and their bottles are beautiful. And it’s obviously a non-alcoholic option, not a de-alcoholized option like a non-alcoholic wine or gin. But it is still a premium option worthy of a cocktail party… And don’t worry we’ll have alcoholic options from wineries and distilleries.”
Of course, no luxury event would be complete without an exclusive VIP reception. Henry is still finalizing the details, but he envisions a tight gathering that allows attendees to mingle with vendors and other guests in a more intimate setting. “There’ll be a reception on the Friday night,” he confirmed. “The location is TBD but will be very close to the expo location.”
After multiple contacts shared interest, Henry is also exploring the possibility of hosting smaller, more intimate gatherings throughout the year to maintain momentum and foster a sense of community among Brand Royalty attendees and vendors.
Henry’s vision extends far beyond Victoria. He sees Brand Royalty as a concept with the potential to redefine luxury events across the country. He envisions a future where Brand Royalty becomes synonymous with exclusivity, not just in Victoria but in major cities across Canada – Starting with Vancouver in 2026.
This ambitious goal speaks to Henry’s understanding of the evolving luxury landscape. It’s no longer enough to simply offer high-quality products and services; discerning consumers are seeking experiences that are both exclusive and meaningful.
Brand Royalty, with its emphasis on immersion, innovation, and community, is already setting a standard for luxury expos in Canada. By carefully curating not only the vendors but also the attendees, we see Henry in a unique position as a quasi-matchmaker for the Canadian luxury market. If you think your brand or business is a match for Brand Royalty and are interested in the 2025 Victoria expo or 2026’s Victoria or Vancouver expo, get in touch at brandroyaltyexpo.com.
Connect with Aidan Henry on LinkedIn and follow @brandroyaltyexpo on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
