PRESENTS
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From Northstar Meetings Group: IMEX America 2024, the events industry’s largest trade show, revealed a strong outlook for 2025 meetings and incentives, with a growing emphasis on inclusion, sustainability, technology, wellness and sports events. Held Oct. 8-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, IMEX America drew a record 15,500 visitors. The event,…
BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) are thrilled to announce the finalists of the 2024 Incredible Impacts Programme: International Hip Preservation Society (ISHA), European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), and World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). The Incredible Impacts Programme celebrates the value of international association meetings by rewarding innovative…
From Skift Meetings: Bring hundreds of people together for days of presentations at a corporate event and hope they get something out of it. That’s a tired playbook for meetings and events. It’s not going to cut it in 2024, according to Nicola Kastner, CEO of Event Leaders Exchange, and Rob Adams, president of Bishop-McCann….
From M&IT: SIC codes and the value of business events were the main discussion topics with MPs at beam’s State of the Nation event at Cliveden House. Senior representatives of the beam agency and venue members, as well as Windsor MP Jack Rankin and shadow business minister Mike Wood, were joined at the invitation-only event…
Skift Meetings has launched a report, in partnership with IMEX, intended to be the ideal entry point for meeting professionals who want to play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s and broader society’s future. It provides an exploration of potential impacts of meetings, practical insights from industry leaders, implementation strategies, and relevant case studies…
By David Edwards, Freelance tourism market intelligence consultant: Once upon a time in a faraway land the Office for National Statistics published provisional monthly estimates for the volume and value of inbound and outbound tourism six weeks after that month had reached its end. Ten weeks after the end of each quarter more granular data…
The BE Sector’s foremost forum for political and policy engagement is the IMEX Policy Forum held annually in Frankfurt, hosted by IMEX Director for Impact & Industry Relations, Natasha Richards. In this video insight from the Forum, Pádraic Gilligan – the CMO of the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and latest recipient of the…
From BestCities: In the dynamic world of international conferences and business events, few organizations have left as indelible a mark as BestCities Global Alliance. By leveraging its network of premier global destinations, BestCities has reshaped the conference industry and established a legacy of profound, lasting impact. From fostering groundbreaking research collaborations to inspiring transformative policy…
The mission of the newly formed Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) is to promote the business events industry and drive member prosperity through industry development, networking, research, and advocacy. In this video report from IMEX 2024, Peter King, the organisation’s inaugural chair, is joined by leading industry faces who share the reaction of both industry…
From AMI: With an expanding economy and a reputation as one of the world’s key financial hubs, Singapore is booming. Nearly half of all regional headquarters in Asia are now based in the city-state, partly fuelled by an exodus from Hong Kong but also prompted by the government’s support for the most future-focused industries and…
PCMA’s flagship event for the EMEA region, Convening EMEA, rolls into Barcelona 30th September – 2nd October with Trust, Strategy, and Future the three key thematic pillars to the event. Jaimé Bennett, PCMA’s charismatic managing director for the 117 countries represented, explains how a Programme Architecture will allow for intentional and personalised experiences in order…
From AMI: In an age of social media, open-source publishing, rising travel costs and heightened concerns around sustainability, it is a brave association that chooses to increase the frequency of its flagship congress. But that’s the decision leaders of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) took in 2019, when they resolved to turn…
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The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) is thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious 2024 GDS-Awards. The ceremony, held at the Bruges Royal Municipal Theatre during the GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference on the evening of 16 October, recognised destinations raising the bar of sustainability, innovation, and long-lasting positive impact in the global tourism…
From Skift Meetings: IMEX America wrapped up its 2024 edition at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas. Record-breaking attendance included 15,500, of which 5,500 were buyers who had 86,000 meetings over three days. The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) shared the same venue with IMEX. It is estimated that more than 25,000 convenience…
From Boardroom: Organised by PCMA EMEA, Convening EMEA 2024 took place from 30 September to 2 October 2024 in Barcelona. This annual gathering of global business events leaders has only grown stronger with each year, creating a platform for exploring new trends, encouraging collaboration, and challenging norms. Under the theme, “Be Present. Be Open. Be…
From Melbourne Convention Bureau: The APAC Wind Energy Summit, the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) flagship conference and exhibition, is set to return to Melbourne in 2025. Previously known as the Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen Summit, this prestigious event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and institutions to develop innovative and collaborative solutions addressing…
From USA TODAY: Tourist taxes are becoming increasingly common worldwide as a means to address over-tourism and fund sustainable tourism practices. While the effectiveness of these taxes in combating climate change is still being debated, their growing popularity reflects a greater awareness of the need for sustainable tourism. Climate change is drastically impacting the world…
From M&IT: London has again been named the top city in EMEA for corporate events in Amex GBT’s Meetings & Events Forecast Top Meetings Destinations study. But while London holds strong as the top destination, the report also reveals significant shifts in the EMEA region, with Madrid leapfrogging Barcelona to secure second place. As businesses…
After a successful beta launch at IMEX Frankfurt, the Sustainability Hub for Events is officially moving to public access. Developed by Gevme in collaboration with the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative and the Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe, the platform is designed to simplify sustainable event planning with actionable, AI-powered insights….
From Meetings International: The Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM) has announced the top five finalists for this year’s GDS-Index, which ranks the sustainability efforts of over 100 destinations worldwide. Gothenburg, ranked number one since 2016, is once again a finalist. The final ranking will be announced on 16 October in Bruges. Peter Grönberg, CEO of…
From UN Tourism: Tourism has committed to embrace its unique role as a pillar of peace and understanding. On World Tourism Day 2024, UN Tourism brought sector leaders from every global region together around a common vision and commitment to building a “peace-sensitive sector”, recognizing its potential to build bridges and foster understanding. The official…
From WiT: The World Tourism Day 2024 theme of “Tourism and Peace” presents a chance to reflect on the transformative role women-led tourism can play in post-conflict recovery. Rwanda offers a powerful example. Tourism has become a pillar of the national economy in the decades following the 1994 genocide, with tourism revenue rising from very…
MCI Group president, Robin Lokerman, and Boldpush founder, Julius Solaris, are among 5 inductees set to join the Events Industry Council (EIC) Hall of Leaders to be celebrated at a Gala evening in Las Vegas, October 7th, following a day of free education at Smart Monday powered by MPI at IMEX America. Fellow inductees include…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), the international body representing the collective voice of the global meetings and events industry, is proud to announce the addition of two new members: the China Business Event Industry Committee (CBEIC) and the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI). These additions further strengthen JMIC’s global network and…
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From ICCA and BestCities: The Hip Preservation Society (ISHA)’s 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting ignited a transformative movement to elevate awareness of hip preservation surgery in Africa, showcasing its profound impact on patient quality of life and socioeconomic benefits. Through meaningful engagement with stakeholders, it tackled the challenges and barriers that hindered adoption. By identifying passionate…
From ICCA and BestCities: The European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD)’s 36th Annual Meeting inspired a vision for a better future for individuals with childhood-onset disabilities. The event celebrated excellence in research and education while raising vital awareness of their needs and rights. Through the impactful EACD+ programme, it expanded access to sports, culture, and…
From ICCA and BestCities: The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)’s 2024 World Congress championed the protection and promotion of journalists’ and publishers’ rights to maintain free, independent, and sustainable media. The event inspired innovation, equipping members to navigate technological advancements and evolving audience behaviors. It boldly tackled news avoidance among young and marginalized demographics,…
From AMI: In July, the Viruses of Microbes Conference (VoM) convened in Cairns, Australia, marking the first time the 14-year-old conference has stepped outside Europe. The International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms (ISVM), which aims to advance the study and application of microorganism viruses, debuted the first VoM conference in Paris back in 2010. Under…
By Alison Shamwana, Association Specialist, ACS Global Management Executive Director, IHPBA Foundation: In May 2024, the IHPBA World Congress was, for the first time, hosted on the African continent. In order to leave a lasting footprint for the congress, our legacy initiative focused on the improvement of management pathways and access to care in sub-Saharan…
From Melbourne Convention Bureau: In 2014 the 20th International AIDS Conference was held in Melbourne, which to this day is still the largest health conference ever held here. Ten-years down the track we are still talking about it. Thinking back to then and the global spotlight on Melbourne with more than 13,000 delegates, visitors and…
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From Conference & Meetings World: 74% of events professionals are optimistic about the health of the industry, according to the American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) Meetings & Events 2025 forecast. To gather results, the report surveyed over 500 meetings and events professionals worldwide. Although the outlook is still positive, 74% optimism actually marks…
From Incentive Travel Index: A joint initiative of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), the Incentive Travel Index (ITI) is the business events industry’s most authoritative study of the global incentive travel market and its impact on corporations, agencies and the supply chain in destinations. The Index is undertaken…
From yahoo!finance: The corporate event market is growing due to the increasing demand for experiential marketing and brand-building activities, driven by companies looking to engage stakeholders and enhance customer experiences. Additionally, advancements in event technology, such as virtual and hybrid formats, are expanding the market’s reach and reducing logistical barriers.
From Northstar Meetings Group: The latest Meetings Industry PULSE Survey, coproduced and sponsored by Cvent, reveals sustained optimism among planners. Just 15 percent of this cycle’s 332 respondents are less bullish now than they were six months ago. In fact, nearly 40 percent will produce more meetings in 2025 than in 2024. Among other noteworthy…
From Conference & Meetings World: Phocuswright, leading travel research firm, reports that the global travel market will grow 6-10% per year through 2026. The industry has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with a total spend in 2023 of $1.5tn. ‘Online travel’ was a recurring trend of the Phocuswright’s Global Travel Market Report 2024. The sector is…
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced today that the U.S. business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry experienced a minor slowdown following a strong first quarter in 2024. Modest performance of the metrics for completed events – especially in exhibition attendance – set back the Q2 2024 Index value to 87.7 after a record 92.3 in…
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From Skift Meetings, by Miguel Neves: The head of the Barcelona Convention Bureau, Christoph Tessmar, was delighted that the city hosted record numbers for PCMA’s Convening EMEA, with 636 in-person attendees. This is a significant increase from last year’s event in Copenhagen, which attracted 550 and almost triple the attendance of the 2019 PCMA European…
From Forbes: Ask Katarina Thorstensson to define sustainability in tourism, and you might think you’re talking to a character in a Star Wars movie. Sustainability surrounds us, and it binds the galaxy together like the Force — at least her galaxy. Thorstensson, a sustainability strategist for Gothenburg, Sweden, says her city has been working on…
Conferli – The conference matchmaking platform’s latest podcast features Beatriz Ibañez, Impact Specialist at #MEET4IMPACT. In this episode, Beatriz unpacks the critical difference between impact and legacy in the events industry, discussing the concept of legacy washing; barriers to creating true, lasting impact; why focusing on long-term change is essential for meaningful progress. Ready to…
From Forbes, by Michael Sheldrick: UN Secretary-General António Guterres framed this week as a pivotal moment to “reboot” multilateralism with the adoption of the Pact for the Future. Described by the UN as “the culmination of a years-long effort to adapt global cooperation to today’s realities,” the Pact’s real-world impact remains uncertain and open to…
From Boardroom, by Remi Deve: Attending an ICCA Central European Chapter Meeting was a first for Boardroom. Expertly organised in Zurich by the Zurich Convention Bureau, it was an insightful experience filled with valuable lessons on the future of events. Here are my key takeaways. 1. The Need for Purpose-Driven & Human-Centric Events: Co-founder and…
From Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance: At last month’s SISO Leadership Conference, CNTV’s Bob Frier sat down with Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s Tommy Goodwin to talk about ECA’s 2024 accomplishments to-date, what to expect between now and the election, and what’s on the horizon for 2025.
From TSNN, by Tommy Goodwin: From bringing back international exhibitors and attendees to attracting and training the next-generation workforce, there is a lot happening in Washington, DC that will impact the future of the trade show industry. While ECA brings industry leaders and advocates to our nation’s capital annually for Legislative Action Day, we know…
From Destinations International, by Jack Johnson: Silos, whether in agriculture or organizations, are not inherently problematic. By focusing on improving the connections between silos, destination organizations can maximize the benefits of specialization while avoiding the pitfalls of fragmentation, ultimately driving innovation, efficiency, and success in promoting their destinations.
From GainingEdge, by Gary Grimmer: If destination marketing organisations (DMO) are to receive funds derived from private sources, there would need to be a mechanism by which the City imposes a levy or tax and then provides the resulting funding to the DMO. That could be through a hotel tax, or a district levy or…
From AMI, by James Lancaster: Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) – the business events industry’s attempt to tackle its carbon emissions – has galvanised companies and associations to act on climate change. But there is a growing sense of disquiet amongst event professionals that the scheme doesn’t go far enough and that its light-touch approach…
Conference & Meetings World (CMW) talks to Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, newly appointed vice-president of Spark and PCMA insights: What excites you most about your new role? After 25+ years leading a DMO and an NTO, I can now leverage my knowledge and expertise with an industry association leader. I have been a PCMA member for a…
From Conference & Meetings World: Mega events such as the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the FIFA World Cup can transform host countries. Savvy MICE professionals should monitor them to predict future hotspots. Mega sports events can have a mega economic impact on a host country, region, or city. How you assess the financial…
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The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. The Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program prepares senior executives to lead…
Attracting, retaining, and growing talent is a global challenge for our industry, not only in Canada but worldwide. One way of addressing this challenge is providing the upcoming leaders of convention centres with unique professional education, focusing on their specific needs. That is why Convention Centres of Canada and AIPC decided to co-create a Canadian…
ICCASkills Certified International Convention Specialist (CICS) Course | Unlock your potential and elevate your career. This course is designed for early and mid-level professionals, or young graduates wanting to gain hands-on knowledge about the industry and become a specialist in the field. No minimum experience required. Gain insights and knowledge on all aspects of the…
Certified International Convention Executive (CICE) Course | Enhance your skills and accelerate your growth. This course is designed for higher-level executives, with 3+ years of management experience or CICS graduates, to learn about new strategies and business models to elevate the level of the industry for meeting suppliers. Instructors: To be announced. Partnered Hotel: to…
This workshop will take a deeper look at ChatGPT and explore the universe of other AI solutions. We’ll explore a range of groundbreaking AI tools that can transform the way associations operate and interact. This highly practical session is perfect for those wanting to maximise the potential of AI in their association. If you are…
Certified International Convention Executive (CICE) Course | Enhance your skills and accelerate your growth. This course is designed for higher-level executives, with 3+ years of management experience or CICS graduates, to learn about new strategies and business models to elevate the level of the industry for meeting suppliers. Instructors: To be announced. Partnered Hotel: Mondorf…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
Earning the Events Industry Council’s Certified Meeting Planner designation showcases your industry expertise to employers and clients and enhances prestige among peers. However, with the last standardized exam in the rearview mirror for many, navigating the CMP-International Standards (CMP-IS) and related study material can be intimidating. This course from the long-time leaders in professional development…
The Northstar Leadership Forum brings together the industry’s thought leaders – planning professionals and suppliers – for three days of education, networking and sharing of best practices. Our forum is unlike any other industry gathering: A unique, high-level experience where business relationships and friendships are forged. Hosted at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble…
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The CityDNA Autumn Conference will provide destination professionals working for Tourist Boards, CVBs & DMOs with a unique occasion to meet and network with colleagues from Europe and beyond, while learning and sharing knowledge and insights on the latest trends and challenges or urban tourism in Europe. The CityDNA conference will showcase a diverse range…
We are pleased to announce that the 63rd ICCA Congress on 20-23 October 2024 will take our members to one the world’s most modern and vibrant capitals, a destination renowned for its hospitality, courtesy, and excellent state-of-the-art facilities: Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Working with ADCEB (Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau), we believe…
Destination East is the premier hosted-buyer event for qualified meetings and incentive professionals sourcing programs in the East. Destination East will include destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other services provided in the Eastern U.S. Learn from, and be inspired by, our guest speakers who will provide targeted education specific to your needs…
Destination organizations have been redesigning themselves to be both visitor and resident facing organizations with community wide social goals alongside of their traditional sales and marketing goals. This means that they are now an essential community asset, responsible for programs that promote their community as an attractive travel destination and enhance its public image as…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this…
The Business Operations Summit is a cross-functional gathering of destination organization professionals in finance, human resources, operations and technology. This year’s summit will provide insight on post-pandemic recovery from an organizational perspective, focusing on new ways to think about how destination organizations are organized, staffed and operated.
The DI Social Inclusion Summit is the first of its kind, dedicated to providing destination organizations and travel industry professionals with ideas and solutions on how to increase economic value by creating spaces that authentically welcome people from all backgrounds and abilities. This interactive summit brings the innovative minds of our industry together to share…
Global Incentive Summit—Northstar’s global hosted-buyer event for the incentive travel industry—brings together the most highly-qualified incentive travel buyers with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from around the world. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this…
The ultimate networking experience for event planners, the M&IT Experience is a supercharged version of the much-loved Agency Challenge. During your time at the event, you’ll experience everything that the host venue has to offer, all whilst taking part in a combination of immersive networking activities and one-to-one meetings – designed to fast track connections…
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Managing Director and owner of SFA Connect (trading name for Sarah Fleming Associates Ltd), Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the Meetings Industry. She was a board director of a leading UK PCO for ten years where she handled numerous large, high-profile events all over the world. Through this work she gained an in-depth…
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Sven joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are…
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Loren Christie brings more than 25 years of experience in Tourism & Hospitality to his role as Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance. He held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17 year career with them including Director of Sales for International Congress, Business Transient and Leisure Sales at the…
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A passionate and dedicated leader, Carina Bauer is the CEO of the IMEX Group – an organisation responsible for organising the leading global trade shows for the international business events industry. Carina is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and…
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Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA, the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. He is a prominent business architect, enabling communities to become…
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Gemmeke has over 15 years of experience in the meetings industry. She advises especially international associations on how to develop positive impact on the longer term with their conferences or events within Flanders (Northern Belgium) and Brussels together with the different stakeholders in the Quadruple Helix. Based in the capital of the European Union, Gemmeke…
Working out of both USA and Netherlands; projects in Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America, with a mix of clients including IMEX, UFI, SITE and other international associations and meetings companies. Expert Advisor to tech start-up Kubify, Strategic Relations Advisor to IASP, the International Association for the Study of Pain, and International Advisor to…
Jane loves life in the Nordics and the spirit of Scotland. Her expertise is based on 20 years of experience across the global meetings industry. Over this time she has been fortunate to have gained wonderful experience and friends from working for some great hotels, a convention centre, a destination marketing organisation, a PCO, and…
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For the last 15 years, Guy has been delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and regenerative practices. Guy’s pioneering work has been recognised with 22 sustainability awards including the Events Industry Council Pacesetter Award, and recognition as a Fellow…
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Marta Gomes has spent nearly 20 years working in the international events and meetings industry. She has collaborated extensively with professors, association executives and destination partners to attract international congresses to Paris, one of the leading global destinations for international events. As Deputy Executive Director Sales, she is charge of sales and business development for…
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Gary has over 30 years’ experience in the convention industry. In 2004 he founded GainingEdge, a global consulting company that offers advisory services in relation to destinations, convention bureaus and convention and exhibition centres. It also provides convention and incentive sales representation services in all of the world’s key markets. The company’s services are end-to-end,…
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As the Founder and CEO of 49travelmice.com, Peng Ee leverage over four decades of expertise in the media, travel and MICE industries to deliver strategic consultancy and tailored solutions for the business events and travel sectors. His passion lies in mentoring high performance teams, and driving growth for clients by providing valuable insights, facilitating industry…
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In 2024, the global visitor economy is set to surge to $11.1 trillion, supporting 348 million jobs—a testament to its resilience and strong recovery. NSW has also rebounded, reaching $51.4 billion in visitor spending by the end of 2023. Yet, the potential to further grow inbound tourism is immense as new international airports cement NSW…
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