PRESENTS
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Melbourne’s AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event), with its more than 2,500 visitors and 300 exhibitors on the showroom floor, was one of the last significant industry gatherings successfully delivered in February before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown large meetings across the globe. The Iceberg partner’s buyers and exhibitors connected to conduct business at more…
Linda Pereira is CEO of the L&I Communications Group. A professional congress organiser firmly based in Portugal but with huge international experience, the “Destination Diva”‘s smile is a familiar sight right across the global meetings industry community. In this Iceberg exclusive video, however, Pereira’s assessment of the damage COVID-19 has now caused the sector is sobering to…
The President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, has addressed on video the disruption of meetings, events and exhibitions worldwide caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Kai Hattendorf called upon all industry members to actively support measures to help restore and build confidence in event participation including: Making sure policies and procedures…
The torrent of business event cancellations precipitated by the coronavirus crisis has seen planners all over the world examining the small print of their insurance contracts. Indeed many have had to reassess their entire approach to purchasing coverage. Terry Waller is Managing Director of event insurance specialist Arc International. In this Iceberg exclusive video, Waller…
Associations sit right at the heart of the legacy debate in business events. During the recent Dubai Association Conference, sessions focused on both the societal legacies they can leave and the strategies necessary to leave them. The emirate itself is a major hub for the sector, having set up the Dubai Association Centre in 2014….
With social impact moving ever higher up the business events agenda, ICC Sydney’s Legacy Program has set out to inspire conference organisers to make wider a contribution in the Australian host destination and beyond. Five streams of legacy creation guide associations and event planners towards the best fit for their own organisation. From Boardroom…
The Iceberg is now identifying and celebrating the greater mass of hard-to-see business events legacies that lie hidden beneath the surface in a new podcast “Below the Waterline”. In the fifth of a series featuring significant meetings industry players, Iceberg founder James Latham catches up with Talley Management Group President and CEO Gregg Talley. Gregg…
Meetings Africa 2020 is currently preparing to open up shop at the Sandton Convention Centre. The show is celebrating fifteen years as the continent’s premier industry event. The Iceberg has been hearing about South Africa’s own approach to its meetings business from the Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Sisa Ntshona. As a young democracy…
Laboratory medicine in the Middle East is now experiencing healthy growth. The trend helped Medlab Middle East 2019, the region’s largest sector exhibition and congress, to generate over $152 million of business, with $329 million more in deals twelve months after the show. The 2020 edition has just wrapped up. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Copenhagen’s strong life sciences sector has proved to be fertile ground for researchers in reproduction, with the city winning the 36th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. The event is expected to attract 10,000 experts on infertility and reproduction to the Bella Center this July. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Who helps an association to decide which destination should host its next conference? Who better to provide the personal element than the city’s own thought leaders? Prague’s Ambassador Program started back in 2008, shortly after the establishment of the Prague Convention Bureau. A collection of academics was assembled with immediate results. From Boardroom…
Japan is hosting a “smart farming” conference this year as its manufacturers use technology to improve yield efficiencies in the sector. The International Conference on Agricultural Internet of Things and Smart Farming is being held this April in Tokyo. It comes as the Osaka-based Kubota Corporation has unveiled a fully autonomous tractor. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
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Expo 2020 Dubai is almost certain to be postponed. Organisers said they wanted to show “solidarity” with the participating countries now fighting coronavirus. The event is likely to be put back a year, but a final decision should be made in June. Expo 2020 was hoping to attract eleven million visitors. From Association Meetings International…
COVID-19 has certainly decimated many meetings industry suppliers. But one Greater Seattle company has followed the lead of many big convention venues in repackaging its product to serve medical need. Alexander Party Rentals was hiring out large tents for conventions and special events. Now the business is in disaster response. From PCMA…
A major meeting of blood doctors will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 crisis. The 28th Congress of ISTH (the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) was scheduled to take place in Milan this July. The USA-based association’s event typically draws over 3,000 delegates to the meeting. From Association Meetings International…
ExCeL London has become an emergency hospital, called NHS Nightingale, with the conference and exhibition centre being put into service to treat the expected surge in coronavirus patients. Other UK venues are also being prepared as ancillary hospitals: Birmingham’s NEC, Manchester Central and Glasgow’s SEC Centre. From Association Meetings International…
After the cancellation of the major industry meeting IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer has been reassuring the sector that her company is “full steam ahead” for IMEX America in September. The Iceberg partner also discussed how staff are working remotely, and what is being learnt in that process. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The German government has run a hackathon to brainstorm solutions to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. 42,869 took part online in #WirVsVirus (“us versus the virus”). The result was more than 800 ideas on topics like shopping, childcare and symptom monitoring. Some of them have now been selected for funding. From Euractiv…
Under Australian restrictions on big gatherings during the coronavirus crisis, the organisers of technology conference QODE Brisbane chose to partner with YouTube and stream their event live around the world. In what is believed to be an Australian first, attendees were also able to visit exhibitor booths using virtual reality. From Boardroom…
German trade fairs have already been hit hard by COVID-19 crisis cancellations and postponements. Organisers and service providers are already suffering significant financial losses. AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, has now forecast a total loss to the German economy of around three billion euros. From UFI…
No kind of event is immune from the devastation coronavirus is causing. After weeks of speculation and amid mounting criticism, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President of the IOC Thomas Bach both agreed to reschedule the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021, the first break in four-year cycle since World War II. From Reuters…
Emergency hospital beds to serve a total of 1,200 patients have now all been installed in New York City at the Javits Convention Center. The units built across the main exhibition floor were constructed to relieve the pressure on New York City hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. Venues elsewhere are also being readied. From PCMA…
Coronavirus event cancellations are wiping AU$2.5bn off the Australian economy every month. So say new figures from a major industry body. Shutting down large gatherings has effectively shut down the country’s meetings sector, with devastating results, according to the Business Events Council of Australia. From Association Meetings International…
Iceberg partner UFI has updated its earlier economic impact assessment of international exhibitions and trade shows due to the coronavirus crisis. At least €134 billion ($145 billion) of contracts have not concluded with shows not taking place as planned through Q2. The industry economic output in total is down €81.6 billion ($88.2 billion). From UFI…
Showing Featured JMIC Case Studies
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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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There is a rising tide in the use of, and engagement with, incentive programs, particularly among top performing companies. The IRF’s signature The 2020 Top Performer Study shows that the most successful companies have increased their support for incentive programs on numerous levels since the previous study was conducted approximately a year ago. While companies…
A joint initiative of Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), the Incentive Travel Industry Index (ITII) consolidates previous research undertaken by each association into a single pan-industry study. The study is at once an historical snapshot of where the industry has come from and…
A resource from Iceberg partners AIPC (the International Association of Convention Centres) and UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) for venues addressing the challenges related to COVID-19. The guide focusses on updated health and safety policies, plans and procedures. It includes both strategic and practical guidance in form of advice, suggestions and best…
The purpose of this document is to outline key planning considerations for organisers of mass gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. It should be read in conjunction with the World Health Organization’s Public Health for Mass Gatherings: Key Considerations, which provides general advice on the public health aspects of mass gathering events. It…
Wellness continues to be a topic highlighted in both professional circles as well as in our personal lives. For this 2020 study, the Incentive Research Foundation explored how wellness is specifically represented in incentive travel programmes as well as in general meeting types. Of the individuals surveyed for this report, 68 percent noted that wellness…
You are what you eat! But food isn’t just about physical health, it’s about mental health as well. So, in an industry where mental health is increasingly being scrutinised, how can food control mood? Beyond Food: Food and Mental Health (Lime Venue Portfolio website) Top Five Tips to Munch Your Way to Good Mental Health…
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International travel is now all but shut down and meetings are either cancelled, postponed or online. It’s hard to think about rebuilding while still in the eye of the storm, but it’s nevertheless vital. Rod Cameron, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, talks sector recovery. From JMIC…
There has never been a more vital time for the services and value that associations provide, at precisely the moment traditional business models are falling apart. With a strong focus on societal mission, and by making urgent challenges the top priority, associations now have a unique opportunity to make difference. From Martin Sirk via Boardroom…
Most ambitious destinations market meetings by targeting key economic growth sectors and by making good use of knowledge economy assets. GAHP, the Global Association Hubs Partnership, links up four such cities with strong association ecosystems and support. GAHP is also a partner of The Iceberg. From Association Meetings International…
In the wake of so many meetings cancelling due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the resultant economic losses, the Founder of The Iceberg James Latham has been discussing how event organisers are reacting, and why the sector could be leading the charge when business does start to return to normal. From Duetto…
The Australian Federal Government shut down all non-essential indoor events for over one hundred people on March 18th (then for more than two people on March 29th). Event venues like ICC Sydney no longer are able to deliver events. This is an unprecedented situation, says CEO Geoff Donaghy. From Boardroom…
The Iceberg exists to celebrate the legacies of business events. Sadly, sometimes the chance to create social legacies is strikingly missed. It’s a salutary lesson to look back at a TED talk from 2015 given on the subject of pandemic preparedness by philanthropist and Founder of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates. From Boardroom…
Meetings Africa 2020 already seems so long ago. As the world struggles to tackle COVID-19, not only have major conferences and exhibitions in Asia, Europe and America been cancelled, but Africa is also feeling the crisis. Interviews include Gregg Talley, President and CEO of Iceberg partner Talley Management Group. From the Event…
As more events pivot to virtual, it’s crucial to be giving staff, attendees, speakers and exhibitors the help and training they need to be confident in the space. Here are some pointers to assist all four groups in getting comfortable with new technology and learning to engage effectively within a virtual environment. From Associations Now…
The coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge ever faced by the events industry. Get ready for business as extremely unusual. In an editorial posted before the United Kingdom locked down, one Iceberg partner promised the UK meetings industry “to amplify its voice at every turn”. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Meeting planners should be working with hospitality partners to donate leftover food from events cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis or for any other reason. The non-profit Food Rescue US works in seventeen of the fifty United States, facilitating the logistics of meetings donating their excess food. From PCMA…
The associations sector is vast and diverse, but one community dealing with particular challenges is that of the medical associations. Significant demographic changes are changing how healthcare professionals work and meet together. Ben Hainsworth, Managing Director at EASL (home of hepatology) explains what these are. From Boardroom…
Iceberg partner IMEX has just taken the “devastating decision” to cancel IMEX Frankfurt. Citing the danger of the German health ministry forcing a last minute shutdown very close to the trade show’s opening this May, the meetings industry stalwart has just given the sector a textbook lesson in how to make a difficult call. From PCMA…
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Technology is transforming the way business is done. This course collection will help you explore the basics of emerging technologies, so you can see how to implement them for a competitive edge. The following courses, across 4 main categories, are included in this collection: Digital Automation; Digital Transformation Strategy; Disruptive Technologies; Infrastructure and Architecture.
Explore what you need to know to successfully lead your association. Keep up with the times and develop skills to work through the challenges facing associations today. Learn how to promote and support a successful culture. Online course collections give you the flexibility to work through a curated group of courses on the go, at…
This webinar covers everything US associations need to know regarding the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. Once a launchpad for access to the largest single trading bloc in the world, the UK left the EU on January 31, 2020. What impact does the United Kingdom’s withdrawal have for US-based associations? The UK’s fundamental relationship with the…
Do your members feel like more than a number? Member retention can be increased using this simple idea – that people are more likely to join, renew, and be your organisation’s advocate if they feel a personal connection and can see a unique path to their success laid out for them. So how do you accomplish…
Associations play a crucial role in our world today. Professionals interested in a specific topic, industry, or cause can find a way to come together, elevate their knowledge, strengthen their voices, and find community. This online course collection, curated by Lowell Aplebaum, CPF, CAE, CEO and strategy catalyst at Vista Cova, LLC, describes the fundamentals that…
Are you implementing best practices in your eLearning programs? Or are you still in the early stages of trying to get a more robust program off the ground? No matter what stage you’re at in the process, this online course collection—which will cover tools as well as strategies you should be considering—will arm you with…
This ASAE Learning Online Collection, featuring more than a dozen courses, is designed to help managers at any level sharpen their thinking, improve their interaction with staff, build stronger teams, and strengthen their ability to handle performance problems. Engage in discussion with other attendees and subject-matter experts to hear what challenges others are facing and…
FIRST, A PROPOSITION FOR YOU: Perhaps it is time we, as destinations, stop referring to certain groups of tourists as the cultural tourists as opposed to other groups of tourists. Maybe it is time to stop talking of culture as the fun side-event, as the offering outside meeting rooms or even as something that should…
The projects and programs that your organization offers are at the core of your value proposition. Do you have the skills you need to implement those initiatives successfully? This online course collection will help you unlock your project management capabilities and get the job done more effectively than ever. Online course collections give you the…
The International Summer University is aimed at professionals working within the trade fair industry and provides an interactive educational platform for the exchange of strategic and operational knowledge. Industry professionals from around the world form a learning community to discuss themes that are critical to the success of the industry.
Accompanying clients should be decision makers/influencers of a European conference with more than 500 delegates. More information will be available in December 2019 and registration will open January 2020.
Targeting exhibition venue managers in Asia, this English language version of the programme follows the 2017 launch of the very popular Mandarin-language version in Shanghai. The content of the 2020 English language version will be based on the Mandarin language edition, which covers a wide range of capabilities, including leadership skills, strategic planning, marketing, people…
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This forum is targeted towards HR professionals who wish to gain insight into how companies that successfully incorporate a strong corporate culture can gain competitive advantage. Corporate culture is rooted within an organization’s strategy, goals, structure and its approaches to employees, customers and the wider community. In the face of today’s uncertain business environment and…
The conference is the most international gathering of 200+ European exhibition industry leaders, and it is also attended by colleagues from Asia and the Americas. This event is geared towards providing industry updates and insights from across the region, combined with quality networking and unique cultural experiences.
City Fair is the event for European cities, destinations and suppliers to showcase all of their tourism products to the international travel trade in a productive business environment. Join over 150 European cities, destinations and their partners, showcasing their tourism offering to over 100 city break product developers & buyers from international markets.
IBTM Americas brings together the who’s who of the events industry to meet in Mexico City for two days of inspiration, networking and education. All under one roof! Don’t miss your chance to be part of IBTM Americas and connect.
Brought to you by the most experienced name in MICE exhibitions, IBTM provides a gateway to the Chinese and Asia Pacific meetings, events and incentives market with IBTM China. Our aim is to immerse you in a community that, through networking, education and career development, will leave you inspired to create better events for better business.
Learn, network, connect with the global meetings industry. Inspirational exhibitors, fresh ideas from experts and innovators, countless networking opportunities—this is where you need to be. If you’re a meeting and events professional, you’ll find all the suppliers you need for your events—from new venues in major cities across the world to the latest event tech providers.
The 59th ICCA Congress will be held in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei from 31 October – 4 November 2020. More information will be available at a later stage.
Open to UFI members only, UFI’s annual Global Congress is known as the “must attend” event for all industry professionals and is the exhibition industry’s largest global meeting of the year, combining international networking with unique content. It is an ideal opportunity for members to gain insight into topics of strategic interest, on the current…
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…
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event – AIME is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region. AIME is when industry decision makers connect, create and do business across the whole Asia Pacific region.
IMEX takes place at Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s largest, most modern and connected venues, in the heart of Europe. Home to 250-plus events each year, with 11,500 hotel rooms within walking distance – and just 20 minutes from Frankfurt airport by car or public transport, Messe Frankfurt is a world-class venue for a…
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A specialized journalist in the association management field, Remi has been active in the meetings industry for more than 10 years. Together with Cecile Koch, he launched Boardroom in 2017, a niche publication specialized in association management and events. Boardroom covers a wide spectrum of issues of interest to associations based globally and is specifically targeting association…
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Heike Mahmoud, born in 1964, became Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CCH – Congress Center Hamburg, a business unit of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, on March 1st, 2018. As fully authorized officer, the business administration professional is also a member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. Heike Mahmoud has been…
Martin Lewis is Senior Advisor and former Managing Editor at CAT Media, specialising in magazines, web sites and events for the conference and incentive travel markets. Martin gained his experience as a journalist in reporting and editing roles after starting his career as a sports reporter on a newspaper in the UK. With Richard Corser…
After 10 years as Director of Public Programmes with Management Centre Europe (MCE), the European headquarters of the American Management Association (AMA), Hervé founded Bosquet & Associates in 1987. The Brussels-based consultancy practice specializes in whole-systems change interventions. Hervé collaborates with a worldwide network of associates who use systemic thinking and approaches to bringing about…
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With a multi-cultural background, born and raised in three different continents, Peruvian-Austrian Claudia is a global earth citizen, a communicator, connector and bridge builder. With over 22 years multi-disciplinary and cross functional business experience in industries including eleven years in the private sector (global Fortune 500 IT software company), in the meetings and events industry,…
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James Lancaster is the editor of AMI Magazine, amimagazine.global and Intellectual Capitals, part of the CAT Media portfolio owned by Northstar Travel Group. James gained his experience as a journalist in various reporting and editing roles on business magazines after starting his career as reporter on a newspaper in the UK. He joined CAT Media…
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Born in Toronto, Canada, Greg has divided his life between living in Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa. With now more than 20 years in the hospitality industry Greg has spent time in Management of a high end independent mountain resort property (The Rimrock Resort), Hyatt Hotels and the Intercontinental group before moving over to convention centers….
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Elling Hamso is Managing Partner of Event ROI Institute and a leading expert on how to measure results from meetings and events. He spends most of his time as a trainer and consultant to event agencies, associations and corporate event planners across Europe. He is currently a member of the jury of European Best Event…
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Robin has over 25 years’ experience of the events industry with the last 20 focussed on the convention sector. His career in business events has led him from the SECC in Glasgow to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), where he has spent the last seven years diversifying and growing the venue’s conference and…
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Gillian Taylor has over 25 years experience in the meetings industry spanning from Australia to the Arabian Gulf. Currently, Gillian is Director of Business Development at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman. A new hub for Business Events, and with the Oman Convention Bureau…
Anja was born in Germany and spent her childhood in Africa, returning to Germany to complete her formal education. In 1978, she joined her then hotel manager husband, travelling and supporting him in several countries in the Middle East, Australia, Tahiti and Asia. During the past 20 years, she has held several senior management and…
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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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