PRESENTS
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Seoul cautiously resumed business events in June, starting with exhibitions and congresses. Dental meeting SIDEX was the first large-scale example with 4,860 attendees over two days. After their firm focus on sanitation protocols, organisers confirmed two weeks later that no COVID-19 cases had arisen after it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, has released a manifesto that sets out arguments as to why business events can and should be utilised to drive economic recovery and renewal in the post-COVID-19 era. The document was assembled with the advice and input of a broad range of industry leaders. This was…
Iceberg partners ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) and BestCities Global Alliance have announced that their “Incredible Impacts” grants, which awards associations leaving lasting legacies, are to return for their fourth year in a row, with the partnership also renewed for a further three years. Incredible Impacts is now open for submissions, and presents an opportunity…
During 2018 MeetDenmark, with consultancy and Iceberg partner GainingEdge, began a major project on legacy. The study involved desk research on fifty international associations and fifty destinations as well as interviews with twenty from each of the two groups. Some of the findings on the current global landscape were published last year in the MeetDenmark…
Wedged in amongst some of Norway’s most impressive fjords, Stavanger boasts a range of water-based and engineering industries, like shipbuilding and the building of rigs, platforms and subsea installations. But energy is the key sector, and “Europe’s energy capital” has a committed convention bureau keen to attract association meetings. From Boardroom…
The legacies of business events should start early on in life. July 2019 saw a new era begin for Malaysia’s youngest children on the back of the 2nd Sarawak Conference on Inclusive Early Childhood Education. Organised by Fu Yuan Kindergarten, the three-day meeting brought together more than 800 people from over 20 countries. From Boardroom…
Toulouse recently joined Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index, which measures and benchmarks cities’ green strategy and performance. The opening of the new LEED certified MEETT Convention Centre, scheduled for the end of 2020, shows the environmental commitment of the city’s partners. From Boardroom…
As the world’s population grows, the percentage of people living in cities is rising steadily. The future success of humanity is therefore more and more tied to, and even defined by, the future success of the city as a model. In that, of course, business events have a critical role to play. Professor Greg Clark has…
Australia’s business events landscape is surveyed here in a rich collection of articles. BESydney’s Lyn Lewis-Smith, ICC Sydney’s Geoff Donaghy, ACC’s Simon Burgess, MCEC’s Peter King, Brisbane Marketing’s Juliet Alabaster, plus the team behind JMIC’s (the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s) case studies, all offer up viewpoints. From Meetings International…
When President Nelson Mandela opened the Durban ICC in 1997, it was South Africa’s first international convention centre. It has since then been voted “Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre” by the World Travel Awards no fewer than seventeen times. But some of the venue’s greatest legacies lie in environmental sustainability. From Boardroom…
The recent staging of Iceberg partner AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) was not only a platform to showcase the strength and resilience of the region’s events industry, but also as always of destination Melbourne itself. Last October Melbourne Convention Bureau posted record results for the financial year 2018 – 2019, with over…
Luxembourg has a new convention bureau aiming to punch above its weight in business events. The CVB is prioritising green meetings, so wants to register with Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index. As not only a city, Luxembourg will be registered as a country, the first to be benchmarked in the index. From Boardroom…
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Iceberg partner IBTM Events has said that IBTM World 2020, due to have taken place in Barcelona, will pivot to a fully virtual event now between December 8th and 10th. The move is a result of the unpredictable travel restrictions that still persist because of the ongoing pandemic crisis From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Manchester’s EventCity conference and exhibition venue has announced its closure and pulled the plans for its new centre. The UK venue had been planning to close and relocate to a new site (pictured). Owners Peel Group however now say EventCity will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. From Exhibition World…
The Indian Exhibitions Industry Association has urged the Indian government to allow exhibitions to be staged once again, to “ensure the survival of the industry and revival of the Indian economy”. India’s events industry has also asked government to organise an economic support package for the sector. From Exhibition World…
BECA (the Business Events Council of Australia) has welcomed AU$50 million funding announced by the Australian government to support the restart of the country’s business events industry. Targeted support is designed to drive confidence and to create momentum, positioning the industry to rebound as the market conditions improve. From Exhibition World…
Collaboration and unity were shining through as 1,419 event professionals, including 305 on site across twelve venues, attended UKickstart. Started by etc.venues and with support from twelve sector associations, the new event for many was a first meeting face-to-face since the crisis began. Photo: Hosted by NML, via Twiitter. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The October 1st reopening date for UK business events is to be reviewed following a spike in the pandemic’s infection rate, the Prime Minister has announced. Boris Johnson also said social gatherings with more than six people will be made illegal and are punishable by dispersal, fines and arrest. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The limit on public gatherings in Copenhagen and Denmark’s third largest city Odense has lowered to 50 people after a recent increase in COVID-19 infections. The limit had been raised to 100 in July with the hope of rising to 200 in August. A cap for meetings and conferences remains at 500. From Association Meetings International…
The Singapore Tourism Board will accept applications from organisers for events of up to 250 people from October 1st, up from today’s limit of 50 attendees. Planners piloting such events must demonstrate ability to implement new Safe Management Measures and to meet health and safety metrics. From Association Meetings International…
Olympia London is set to reopen in October, beginning with a series of hybrid events including industry fixture The Meetings Show. After working with organisers and other industry bodies, the facility has set out a robust plan of procedures in alignment with the new All Secure Standard endorsed by Government. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Meetings and events leaders in the Czech Republic have pleaded for government support and say that without it up to 114,000 jobs are at risk. An alliance of industry bodies has warned impact on conferences, trade fairs and cultural events from the COVID-19 pandemic will be “enormous”. From Association Meetings International…
Hong Kong-based destination and event management company Pacific World has announced it is to stop all meeting and event operations as of November after four decades in the sector. PW parent company TUI Destination Experiences said the decision was made as a result of impact COVID-19 is having. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Iceberg partner IMEX Group has donated $250,000 to MPI to help members facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The MPI Foundation will receive most of the money, to direct funds to distressed members, with the balance going to eleven European chapters to assist the events industry to recover. From Association Meetings International…
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This project collected, analysed and synthesised the findings of all prior Joint Meetings Industry Council Case Studies to deliver a verdict on the broader contributions that conferences, congresses, trade shows, convention centres and bureaux deliver to destinations, communities, industries and economies. The cases were drawn from four continents: Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. The…
The China-LAC Summit is an annual meeting organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It is a key entrepreneurial event for companies from China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries. The Punta del Este Convention and Exhibition Center in Uruguay hosted the 11th edition of the…
The EuroHeartCare conference is one of the most important platforms for driving research publications, exchanging ideas, and forming and deepening collaborations within the field of cardiovascular nursing in Europe. It aims to support healthcare professionals in delivering the best care possible to patients with cardiovascular disease. The 2017 edition was hosted by Jönköping University in…
The study explores the benefits and barriers for individual researchers and universities when hosting research conferences. The study has been commissioned by the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy – an advisory body to the Danish Minister of Higher Education and Science. Thereby the study situates the hosting of research conferences as a potential…
London Tech Week is a festival of live events taking place once a year across the United Kingdom capital. Having been held now for four years, it has become a key gathering for the ICT industry in London. It connects the entire tech ecosystem both within the city and beyond, shapes the future of the…
Many international convention centres use sophisticated methods to measure the economic impact of business events in their host cities. Others recognise the importance of food in customer experience and promote programs like paddock to plate or food miles. ICC Sydney marries these two concepts together and takes them to a new level by measuring the…
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As authorities around the world are increasingly clearing business events to run again, organisers of conventions and exhibitions, as well as venue and centre operators need to put respective measures in place that create safe environments for participants. A new guide on the matter identifies and promotes globally emerging standards, protocols and good practices. Good…
The latest UFI / Business Strategies Group report on the trade fair industry in Asia has now been published complete with the latest updated statistical information from 2019, as well as detailed commentary on the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaflet here… The Trade Fair Industry in Asia – 16th Edition (August 2020) –…
After reader input, latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey has changed the wording “cannibalise face-to-face attendance” to “impact face-to-face attendance” in the survey questions. Both planners and suppliers expect digital tech will have a greater impact throughout the rest of this year: an average of 57 percent in August versus an average of 47 percent in…
This white paper from Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events has been written to engage with CEOs, corporate heads of sustainability, global government staff, United Nations event organisers, association CEOs and corporate heads of events, plus any others in action innovating around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It explains why the event industry is best-placed to…
While some associations are adapting quicker than others, there remains a general misconception on what is a virtual event. Is it anything as simple as a giant Zoom call, or does it entail more than that? Can simply renting a platform solve everything? What is the role now of event planners? Creating a virtual congress is as…
Earlier this year, the Incentive Research Foundation published the results of a pulse survey fielded between April 2nd and April 16th COVID-19’s Impact on the Incentive Travel Industry (April 2020). Given the continued challenges for the industry related to the pandemic, IRF fielded a study between July 1st and July 15th, 2020 to understand the…
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The hybrid multi-site event BOCOM saw players from across Germany’s meetings industry demonstrating readiness for future event formats. Several hundred participants met on-site at the central conference venue in Berlin and at the hubs in Amsterdam, Essen and Vienna, as well as virtually from all continents. From GCB…
Consumer electronics show IFA has run at Messe Berlin, as German trade shows and exhibitions restarted this September. In line with local COVID regulations, attendance was limited: just 750 attendees allowed at each show segment, so invitation only for industry experts and sector media. From UFI…
When the time comes for in person events to start up again, convention centres across the US will be ready to deliver an experience prioritising health and safety. Much of that will be the result of new technologies, new cleaning protocols, and new staff positions that venues have in place. From Associations Now…
When the SBFA (Serbian Federation of Beekeeping Association) entered the “Incredible Impacts” grants run by the Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance this year, its bidding stage legacy story wasn’t eligible. Even so, SBFA’s efforts are discussed by the association and Serbia Convention Bureau. From BestCities Global Alliance…
As the industry continues to press pause on larger in person events, venues and suppliers have moved resources to serve those in need. The San Diego Convention Center has since April delivered 500,000 meals to those in need through its scheme Operation Shelter to Home, 3,500 meals a day at peak. From PCMA…
In mid-June the Netherlands started to welcome international travellers back to its borders. There is no limit for maximum attendees at meetings and events, but associations even so are wary, and with countries like the US, India and Australia still unable to travel, planners are considering best strategy for the coming autumn. From Boardroom…
The pandemic is forcing so many sectors to rethink how they operate, including business events. So PCMA, the 7,000-member association for the industry, collaborated with the National Speakers Association and also the International Association of Speakers Bureaus on a virtual event addressing new business models. From Forbes…
2020’s RNC (Republican National Convention) offered event industry strategists another opportunity to see how organisers of a high-stakes, big-budget meeting can answer the challenges of capturing audience attention and engagement during the pandemic, still getting criticism over their choice of venues and lack of social distancing. From PCMA…
How do you make sure your event adheres to US Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines? A new tool let the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association meet safely but in person through the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting this July in Colorado. NCBA worked with 42Chat to launch a symptom screening tool. From PCMA…
When Marco Oelschlegel became head of Berlin’s Convention Bureau in January 2020, neither he nor the rest of the world knew how difficult and strange the coming few months would be. So just how has the start of his new role ended up being, and what is Berlin’s “new normal” like? From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Bulb, a UK-based sustainable event consultancy, has released a guide to help meeting organisers to navigate the “new normal” and make sure the progress made in creating a sustainable industry is not lost. The increase in need for PPE (personal protective equipment) has seen a rise in plastic pollution. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
2020’s DNC (Democratic National Convention) made history for being the first time a US national political convention was held online. For any professional working in the events industry, it was an historic chance to watch and learn from a high-profile, all-or-nothing experiment in how to capture audience attention and engagement. From PCMA…
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Expert content leaders share their knowledge and facilitate live online conversations in convenient, one-hour sessions. You can register for the full series or choose one or more individual sessions, letting you select the content that best meets your needs and fits your schedule: Dealing With Problematic Board Members | Determining Board Member Competencies and Identifying…
The UFI Exhibition Management School is a continuum of the Exhibition Management Degree that UFI initiated and has been organizing since 2007. UFI and MBB-Consulting Group are working to provide this new industry education programme for exhibition organisers. In the years to come, this collaboration will respond to a clear demand for high-level, focused quality…
A minimum of 10 and maximum 15 ICCA Destination Marketing members each invite an accompanying association executive to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. Association executives must conform to strict selection criteria, so ensuring that participating Destination Marketing members can promote their company and services to senior decision-makers who are actively looking for…
The first step to becoming a more effective leader is to improve yourself from within, which can mean developing your emotional intelligence, improving your ethical foundations, and becoming more mindful, among other valuable internal qualities. Enroll in this collection to explore several aspects of leadership and learn how you can be a better leader. Lessons…
Accompanying association representatives should be decision makers/influencers of an International conference with more than 500 delegates and must use a local PCO (not a Core PCO). Find an accompanying guest now! No other event offers the same opportunity for association executives and ICCA’s meeting management members to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made…
The FYP brings together 35 young industry professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds. Over 3 days, the selected applicants are given networking opportunities, educational sessions, social activities and guidance worth their weights in gold from some of the most influential meetings industry figures. Participants will complete the FYP with a wealth of knowledge, a…
Immerse yourself in new, interactive opportunities designed to help move your organization forward at this year’s revitalized Technology Exploration Conference. Get real-world experience in our new, hands-on tech training seminar and attend a series of learning sessions and demos from the best in the industry. Discover how the latest technology can drive your organization to…
Clients must be decision makers or influencers of an International Meeting which rotates world-wide. The conference should have between 800-3000 delegates, take place at least once every 4 years (but preferably every 2 years) and last at least 3 days. The association or the representative must not have attended a Workshop within the last two years (the…
Welcome to our all-inclusive video hub for associations. Learn anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Our video minicourses, all given by specialised experts, have been structured into easily managed content which will help you overcome any challenge you might have. New courses will be added every month.
UFI connects is a way to stay connected, to get through this pandemic, and to be ready for the time afterwards. It is a programme of regular talks, panels, and webinar sessions – organized by the UFI team for you. Recordings of previous sessions are available to view.
In a focused session, our ECM partners shared some of their newest insights and data to help face the reputation issue the tourism industry might face because of the Coronavirus crisis and provide us with some tools to work around it. Free to view recording, with guest speaker Olivier Henry-Biabaud, Founder and CEO at TCI Research…
JMIC, together with AIME, IBTM, IMEX and Meetings Africa, have released a 2-part webinar showcasing the industry speaking with one voice. All the major trade shows for our industry, leaders of associations and leading experts in our sector haved united to put together a joint message – to governments, decision makers, stakeholders – about the…
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An invaluable feature of AIPC is the sense of community which in turn is part of a global meetings industry ecosystem. Now more than ever, this sense of community is needed to jointly address the challenges we are facing, as a result of Covid-19. The 2020 AIPC Annual Conference will be the perfect place to…
The TIC Expert Meeting offers a mix of incentive and exchange opportunities. This is why the diversity of participants is of great importance. This event is for managers and TIC front office professionals coming from small and large cities and working for either public or private tourist information organisations – whether they are ECM members…
“The EN Awards is always a fantastic night and a chance to celebrate our outstanding industry, but this year it will mean so much more to us, our guests and the events industry as a whole. Being one of the first events back, and certainly the first for the events industry, allows us to put…
A minimum of 10 and maximum 15 ICCA Destination Marketing members each invite an accompanying association executive to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. Association executives must conform to strict selection criteria, so ensuring that participating Destination Marketing members can promote their company and services to senior decision-makers who are actively looking for…
This event is open to ECM members only, specifically to tourism professionals working on city cards schemes (Product Managers, Project Leaders, Marketing Manager) who are looking to improve – but also share – their knowledge with other participants. Meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes, share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of…
The congress has a hybrid format and is themed: “Transforming Global Events Together”. The event will allow ICCA’s global community to connect with each other and explore new ideas, formats and technologies. ICCA’s global community of member-suppliers and associations can experience the future of global events live in Kaohsiung, at a regional hub or virtually….
UFI’s annual Global Congress is known as the “must attend” event for all industry professionals. With travel restrictions expected to continue over the coming months, instead of holding the event in one place, we will adopt a ‘glocalised’ approach – Dubai, UAE 15-16/11/20 | Basel, Switzerland 18-20/11/20 | Hong Kong (dates tbc) | Online 15-20/11/20
Accompanying association representatives should be decision makers/influencers of an International conference with more than 500 delegates and must use a local PCO (not a Core PCO). Find an accompanying guest now! No other event offers the same opportunity for association executives and ICCA’s meeting management members to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made…
Open to senior international association executives (or AMC on behalf of the associations), the Global Forum is the ideal opportunity for decision-makers considering hosting an event in a BestCities’ destination, to meet all the partner cities and meeting planners in one stunning location.
IBTM World is the leading global event for the meetings and events industry and we have one goal; we want to inspire the events world to deliver exceptional experiences. For 32 years, IBTM World has been providing the global community with the inspiration, business connections and content you need to create world-class events for your customers. Make a year’s worth of…
Immerse yourself in new, interactive opportunities designed to help move your organization forward at this year’s revitalized Technology Exploration Conference (TEC). Get real-world experience in our new hands-on tech training seminars and attend a series of learning sessions and demos from the best in the industry—all under one roof. Discover how the latest technology can…
This event will see ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter – the largest Chapter in ICCA’s global membership with nearly 300 members coming in full force, enabling Xiamen to showcase its local expertise to international attendees to encourage collaboration, innovation and business exchange. In turn, Asia Pacific delegates will be provided with opportunities to advance their knowledge…
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A founding member of ICC Sydney’s leadership team, Sam developed the communications and marketing strategies that have resulted in establishing one of the business events industry’s strongest brands. Story-telling, building emotional connection and strong stakeholder engagement have been core to ICC Sydney’s successful brand development throughout its pre-opening, launch and operational phases. Sam steered the…
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At MCEC, we’re passionate about creating inspirational environments. We do this by delivering a personalised service and partnering with our customers to offer ideas, insights and imaginative solutions. We tailor every experience because we realise it’s the little details that make all the difference. Our people are at the heart of who we are and…
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I just celebrated my 25th anniversary here at Maritz Global Events. During this quarter of a century time frame I saw people come and go but I chose to stay because I consider working at MGE a career development journey not a job. I believe strongly what my mentor Professor Saar who used to teach…
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Kai Hattendorf is Managing Director / CEO of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. As such, he is responsible for UFI activities and events globally, as well as the operation of its offices and presences in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, and Bogota. Currently, Kai also serves as Honorary President of the Joint…
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Lesley joined BestCities in 2017 as Market Development Director and took up the position of Managing Director in January 2020 following the decision of BestCities to award extending the management contract to GainingEdge. Lesley is a strong supporter and advocate of the beyond tourism impacts of meetings. In 2017 BestCities formed a collaboration with ICCA…
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Shane has more than 15 years’ experience of working in the global travel industry. After a period in financial conference sales straight after university, Shane joined the international sales team at Reed Exhibitions, where he worked across multiple events and industries. In 2006, he got his first taste of the meetings industry when he moved…
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Carina entered the meetings industry in 2002 as Marketing and Operations Director for IMEX in Frankfurt and part of the original launch team for the exhibition. Following the expansion of the IMEX brand into America in 2009, Carina was appointed CEO of the IMEX Group. In this role, Carina is responsible for all aspects of the business. Throughout…
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…
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Eduardo Chaillo as the main operator of GMTS has great experience in multicultural business environments which will allow him to connect in a better way on one side North American demand for Meetings and Conventions, and in the other, suppliers from all over Latin America. GMTS focuses in consultancy, assessment and strategy development services to…
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Flavie Baudot has more than 15 years’ experience in the Tourism and Meetings Industry. She began her career with diverse experiences in customer relations in the insurance and hospitality sectors and then decided to specialise in tourism, mixing her avid passion for international relations, people and cultures. Having graduated in Tourism Management and Culture in…
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Director of Tourism, Conventions and Major Events, Tracy Halliwell joined London & Partners from Visit London, the capital’s global marketing organisation. At London & Partners, Tracy heads up London’s Tourism division, managing the event solutions team and a proactive global sales team focused on attracting discretionary business, cultural & sporting events to the capital. At…
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Ajay, who is from Indian origin has been residing in the Middle East for over 20 years and been involved in organizing meetings in emerging markets for the past 15+ years as well as working with associations in defining and implementing strategies in global expansion. With an MBA in marketing, a degree in software engineering…
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