PRESENTS
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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…
In January two scientists wrote an article asking why conference design for those involved in scientific research has been slow in evolving. While some science meetings are surely guilty as charged, others do have an appropriately innovative approach. Here are ten that break with tradition to design experiences with big impact. From PCMA…
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…
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The best case scenario recovery will see all European events going ahead from September, according to a new study. Author the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe assesses as much in “The Impact of Coronavirus on Europe’s Convention Sector”. A baseline and worst case are also presented. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Three of the meetings industry’s biggest associations have pooled expertise to produce a guide about making event environments safe to re-open. “Good Practice Guidance: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events” is co-written by Iceberg partners AIPC, ICCA and UFI. From Association Meetings International…
Dozens of new conferences have booked the soon-to-open Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre during the coronavirus lockdown, according to the venue’s General Manager. Ross Steele said 67 new events were a 30 percent increase on bookings at the end of 2019, and would bring over NZ$40 million into the city. From Association Meetings International…
Business travel restrictions and the reduced demand for any in person meetings and events are the biggest concerns for planners in the UK and Europe, according to new Northstar Meetings Group figures. The survey found 90 percent very or somewhat concerned about policy updates restricting business travel. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
EICC, the Edinburgh International Convention Centre, has launched a “hybrid virtual model” in advance of the “phased return to smaller-scale events” anticipated later this year. “Make It Edinburgh Live” will allow planners to run events either entirely online or instead via a combination of both online and onsite. From Association Meetings International…
IFEMA, the consortium behind Spain’s largest exhibition complex Feria de Madrid, wants to reopen in September and host over 60 events in the last four months of the year. After use as an emergency hospital during the crisis peak, the fairground aims to host the events postponed as a result. From Association Meetings International…
Estonia has laid out tentative plans to reopen its meetings sector with a social media campaign showcasing “safe-hosting practices” that allow for indoor meetings of up to 500 delegates. This coincides with the easing of restrictions in the region, where early measures resulted in a relatively low spread of COVID-19. From Association Meetings International…
With coronavirus leading to major trade fair casualties in the German capital, politicians are calling for a new plan for Messe Berlin, including the injection of €80 million of public money into the venue. International travel show ITB at the venue was a notable early victim of the crisis. From Exhibition World…
BECA, the Business Events Council of Australia, has delivered a set of safety and hygiene procedures to the Australian government. These guidelines make the argument that business events are different from other mass gatherings and should open up as soon as possible. They also show how to keep events safe and hygienic. Photo: Thennicke. From Exhibition World…
A measure has been introduced by US Congress Democrats aiming to make associations eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program and also other aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The $3 trillion package expands access to the scheme for such organisations, but faces stiff opposition in the US Senate. Photo: Martin Falbisoner. From Associations Now…
RAI Amsterdam has said it is able to reopen its doors while still closely following all guidelines regarding social distancing. The venue wants to organise trial events during the summer to test various ways visitors and exhibitors can be safely brought together. Everyone will be required to register with RAI in advance. From Meetings International…
South Korea’s largest exhibition and convention centre, KINTEX, has just hosted the 2020 MBC Architecture Expo. The venue’s safety protocols included stringent screening and biosecurity, including disinfection mats, thermal imaging cameras, as well as the compulsory wearing of masks, gloves and in some cases full face shields. From Exhibition World…
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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To quantify the economic significance of exhibitions globally, Oxford Economics has prepared a comprehensive model of global exhibitions activity that references recent studies on their economic significance. The results of this study show the scope of the global exhibition sector in terms of direct spending and jobs, as well as the total impacts of exhibitions…
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…
A few things stood out in the latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey in which 515 business event professionals and 240 suppliers shared how they are envisioning and planning for the future. As the pandemic wears on and no clear plan for reopening the economy materializes, the business events community seems to be bracing for a…
As events begin to open in Asia and Europe, and regulations in Germany make the distinction between mass gatherings and business events, we see a glimpse of a post-COVID-19 future for our industry. Naturally attendees are concerned about health and safety and want assurances that the right measures are taken to maintain personal safety. Freeman’s…
Medical and scientific meetings came to a sudden halt when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the world. Kenes Group kept cancellations to a minimum, postponing most events, but there was one event in particular that took a leap of faith to turn into virtual with less than three weeks’ lead time: the 2nd AAT-AD/PD™ Focus Meeting…
SITE Foundation has produced three long form studies commissioned from data compiled from the Incentive Travel Industry Index (ITII), its joint annual research project with partners Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Financial and Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP). The report is accompanied by a podcast Launch of ITII Report on Incentive Travel – A DMC Analysis with…
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Governments have differing ideas about how meetings should return safely during the pandemic. Industry bodies advocate different plans. But what of the science? Dr. Brian Labus, epidemiologist and health sciences expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, prepares organisers for the months ahead. From Event MB…
Associations have long advocated for their members’ interests before governments and other institutions around the world. Now COVID-19 has completely revolutionised this function. As policymakers react to the crisis in real time, the advocacy associations do on behalf of their members has never been more urgent. From Boardroom…
Prior to the UK outlining plans for lifting lockdown in the hospitality industry, Jennifer Houlihan, Events and Operations Specialist at Dotted Lines, took an in-depth look at how meetings could start to come back and spur post-COVID-19 recovery. She discusses pre-event, onsite and post-event planning issues. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Once in-person meetings are taking place again, health and hygiene are going to be top priority. In “The New Normal: Considerations for Business Events in a Post-COVID-19 World” experts from agency Freeman offer ideas, processes and protocols that guarantee the safety of controlled business events. From Associations Now…
Asia’s business events industry has the potential to rebound faster than that of other continents, but being able to conduct business safely is important. So said the panellists at a Global MICE Situation in the Time of the Pandemic webinar, among them regional managers from the Iceberg partners ICCA and UFI. From Meetings International…
In April the event agency Freeman joined up with eighty other industry leaders to form Go LIVE Together as a response to COVID-19’s impact on live events. One month on Freeman CEO Bob Priest-Heck discusses the importance of advocacy, the status of government funding, and hopes for the future of the industry. From BizBash…
Reykjavik’s Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre says it is ready for the post-COVID-19 era. 2020 had been on track to be a record events year for the venue. May 4th saw Iceland’s lockdown lifted. On May 7th Harpa became one of the first conference halls in Europe to reopen. From Meetings International…
The shape of the “new normal” has become clearer after the first large Asia Pacific trade shows to return: the 2020 Hunan Auto Show run at the Hunan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, and the MBC Architecture Show at the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center in Goyang. From PCMA…
Iceberg partner UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association, staged an UFI Connects webinar on the role of government in exhibition industry recovery in Asia. It produced some great market insights, among them news of trade shows opening up in Shanghai this June, plus an update on the regional subsidies available. From Exhibition World…
Aberdeen Convention and Events Bureau’s Graeme Mackay, Senior Business Development Executive, sees collaboration as the best way to navigate the current pandemic. The Scottish seaport is part of the Energy Cities Alliance (along with Abu Dhabi, Calgary, Lausanne and Stavanger), an example of just such collaboration in action. From Boardroom…
Many of COVID-19’s implications, not least restrictions on travel and social distancing, cut to the heart of what incentive travel is and pose the question: will the pandemic in fact end incentive travel? It will not, and for now here are five avenues for the market to pursue. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
The Iceberg is sorely missing a wide range of cancelled industry events. We’re also sorely missing the cheery Martin Sirk selfie posted from all of them. Fortunately, the International Advisor of our partner the Global Association Hubs Partnership has recorded a podcast. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
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Depending on your association’s business model, membership may be vital to its current and future success. This collection of courses, curated by Curtis Nunley, CAE,director of membership at the American Society of Civil Engineers, is designed for senior professionals primarily responsible for their association’s membership growth and engagement. These courses will help you advance your knowledge…
The world is becoming digital by default, and it’s no longer possible to press pause. Join us for a deep dive into the latest digital frontier; migrating to time-less virtual experiences. By registering to this 1-hour session, get insights, answers and perspectives shared by an international panel.
In this comprehensive collection, learners will explore the topic of innovation in associations. You’ll start by understanding the building blocks of innovation, including how to manage it and an overview of human-centered design methodology and innovation capabilities. In addition, delve into a case study of innovation methodology, examine how to evaluate risk and failure, and…
Whether your program is virtual or in person, preparing and managing speakers can be challenging, but good speaker management is critical to providing a valuable educational experience. When you mentor speakers effectively, you ensure that their themes and presentations match your brand are tailored to your audience’s needs.
Merging a world-class, custom-designed education programme, knowledge and business exchange, networking opportunities with senior meetings industry professionals and association executives from across the globe and all industry sectors, and the sights and sounds of our dynamic host destination, the 9th ICCA Latin America Meeting & 14th Business Workshop is a must-attend event for meetings industry professionals.
We are now fully immersed in creating the most dynamic Virtual Annual Meeting experience for our members possible, virtual attendees can expect the same great content that we were primed to deliver in Las Vegas. We’re going to structure this reimagined experience to fit every member’s schedule and budget and there are going to be…
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…
The ECM Summer School is an unmissable learning opportunity for all professionals working in Convention Bureaux, Tourist Offices, Congress Centres, Airlines, Hotels, DMCs, PCOs & Meeting Planners! The aim is to equip professionals with the latest marketing tools and to help them to develop the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in conference,…
MODUL University Vienna will host two major events regarding tourism on September 10-11, 2020: 16th TourMIS Users’ Workshop and International Seminar. Both events are directed toward managers, academics, as well as consultants and representatives of governments and international organizations dealing with tourism. Participants are invited to register for both days or can choose to participate in…
The small workshop is open to all European members of the destination marketing sector who are interested in attracting smaller conferences to their destination. In order to be fair and give as many European destination marketing sector members as possible the opportunity to attend an ICCA Business Workshop, priority will be given to members who…
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.
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…
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Ideally placed in a vital moment in Europe’s tourism recovery, City Fair is the opportunity to lay the foundations for the return of long-haul clients. The event brings together selected travel buyers and product developers, along with destination managers, in a full day of B2B online meetings dedicated to rethinking tourism strategy and develop new product ideas.
Due to public health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, ASAE has cancelled its in-person 2020 Annual Meeting & Exposition. ASAE is instead working with scheduled speakers, sponsors and industry partners to deliver a reimagined Virtual Annual Meeting & Exposition the week of August 10. Registration information, exact dates and industry partner opportunities for…
* Due to the ongoing effects of Coronavirus, IBTM China will not run in 2020 * 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…
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the travel restrictions that remain in place in most Asian markets, UFI has decided to cancel the 2020 UFI Asia Pacific Conference and the Digital Innovation Forum which were originally scheduled to be held in Macau in March and were subsequently rescheduled in late August. The UFI team…
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and the travel restrictions that remain in place in most Asian markets, UFI has decided to cancel the 2020 UFI Asia Pacific Conference and the Digital Innovation Forum which were originally scheduled to be held in Macau in March and were subsequently rescheduled in late August. The UFI team…
The TIC Expert Meeting offers a mix of incentive and exchange opportunities for all attendees. 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…
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.
IBTM Americas is the international trade show for the meetings and events industry where the decision makers connect and do business across North America, Latin America, Europe and beyond. 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…
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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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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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Aileen has worked in the meetings industry for over 20 years. Initially in venue sales for Glasgow Museums, then in a variety of roles within the Conventions team at the Tourist Board, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and is currently the Head of Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau. Aileen is an English and History graduate from…
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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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