PRESENTS
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Last September, the “Incredible Impacts” programme run collaboratively by Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance selected three winning associations for the meeting legacy projects they submitted. Each of the three had shown a dedication to creating legacies that went far beyond the conference walls. The three winners were: Ecocity Builders and the BCIT Ecocity…
The Japan Convention Bureau, working under the umbrella of the Japan National Tourism Organisation, went all-online for its annual event targeted at event planners, Meet Japan. The educational familiarisation trip showcased the 2017 18th World Congress on Lung Cancer in Yokohama, plus a virtual tour of Osaka, set to host Expo 2025. From Boardroom…
Confidence about recovery is revealed in Iceberg partner UFI’s latest Global Exhibition Barometer (see News and Research). But should rebuilding rely solely on rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, or also on advocacy that events can run safely and on “testing over quarantine”. UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf has been planning the months ahead. From Event MB…
This autumn the Global Forum of Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance returns in Madrid. Other major congresses are also heading to the Spanish capital, including World Blindness Summit, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and the Spanish Society of Stomatological Prosthesis. All are committed to leaving legacies. From BestCities Global Alliance…
The recent 59th Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association saw the creation via crowdsourcing of a framework document designed to let the international meetings industry thrive now and into the future. Named after the event’s host destination, the Kaohsiung Protocol is the Iceberg partner event’s major legacy outcome. A large number of attendees at…
A partnership between the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and local scientific and industry leaders has secured 127 conferences for the city over ten years. BCEC’s conference ambassadors are recruited to win important meetings for the Queensland capital, including immunologist Professor Ian Frazer, who offers thoughts on COVID-19 vaccines. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
The congresses of the future need to have a positive, long-lasting impact at heart, not solely as a justification to travel and meet, but also to augment their contribution to stimulating and driving social and economic change. In order to achieve this, associations and destinations need concrete tools that can help them work strategically with…
It is time once again to grab your own little piece of The Iceberg! The call has just been issued for partners and ambassadors through 2021 and 2022. Iceberg Founder and Producer and James Latham believes sharing storytelling and advocacy is the best possible route to wider appreciation of the sector and its vital role in…
The 59th ICCA Congress in Kaohsiung is to showcase a unique and hybrid hub-and-spoke model, with regional events across the globe coinciding with the main congress and sharing the experience for those unable to attend it. The locations include the main host destination, along with Kuching, Cape Town, Luxembourg, Malaga and Riyadh. An all-virtual option is…
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…
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The European Society of Cardiology has said that its ESC Congress, the world’s largest gathering of heart specialists, will be back at ExCeL London in 2024. The society ran its 2015 event at the venue, bringing in more than 32,700 participants from 140 countries, and leaving a legacy of public involvement. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Three event industry associations, AIPC, UFI and ICCA, have published a guide on how event venues can successfully operate as temporary vaccination centres. The Iceberg partners’ new “Good Practice Guide: Convention and Exhibition Centres as Temporary Vaccination Centres” contains good practice examples from February and March. From Conference News…
State officials in Nevada have relaxed restrictions while raising the capacity limits for large gatherings. The news means that major events can run on the Las Vegas strip at fifty percent capacity, up to 250 people, as long as organisers get approval for their plans and have a COVID mitigation strategy. From Conference News…
Rarely have signs of demand been more welcome than the announcing of the first exhibitors at November’s IMEX America, which will open in its new Las Vegas home, Mandalay Bay. Those already confirmed span all sectors of the industry. The Iceberg partner event will soon be posting safety guidelines. From Meetings International…
The GSM Association intends to welcome 50,000 attendees on site to Barcelona during Mobile World Congress at the end of June, plus many more digitally for the entirely hybrid event. The show welcomed over 100,000 visitors in 2019. Every physical attendee will need to give a negative COVID-19 test every three days. From Conference News…
The key role that conference ambassadors can play in a city’s fortunes has been highlighted by Dubai Business Events securing several international association events last year. The World Marinas Conference 2021, World Congress of Direct Selling 2023 and World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems 2024 were all secured by ambassadors. From Association Meetings International…
The World Congress on Railway Research will be taking place at ICC Birmingham, following a global bid process. On behalf of the UK’s rail industry, the RSSB and the University of Birmingham will jointly stage the meeting in June 2022. Birmingham is a key hub across both current and forthcoming railway networks. From Conference News…
Glasgow says it has secured 28 new conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are expected to bring in around 36,000 delegates. The events, all won since last April, could be worth £84 million to the city. Glasgow Convention Bureau worked jointly on the bids with the destination’s academic conference ambassadors. From Association Meetings International…
A new report names London the “intellectual capital” of the world. The study ranks destinations by the number of international association board members living in them. But the UK capital could attract more meetings by better “harnessing” its potential conference ambassadors. The report is from Iceberg partner GainingEdge. From Association Meetings International…
After eighteen months of research, the Future Meeting Space innovation network of the German Convention Bureau and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO has presented its latest study project. The main findings of the research highlight the relevance of events in organisations’ communications mix. From GCB…
Almost all restrictions on events in England could be lifted by June 21st, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. Some may be permitted to go ahead with restricted capacities of up to 1,000 people or 50 percent attendance from May 17th. More pilot events will run with testing. From Conference News…
The Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium has marked the first return to live trade shows since the fourth wave of COVID-19 shut down operations there back in November 2020. The meeting was attended by 3,000 delegates over three days, and held with distanced seating, face masks and temperature checks. 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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In March 2020, the Iceberg partners AIPC and UFI released good practice guidance to help members manage the unfolding crisis, and in April 2020, further guidance on repurposing a convention or exhibition centre to serve as a temporary emergency facility. It is a role that many centres embraced to serve their community in a time…
During the past twelve months, marketing activities have been severely curtailed. This global report looks at both what channels destinations have been using to remain engaged with audiences and what is being planned for the future. PR agency Davies Tanner has now launched the second stage of research to ensure continued up-to-date intelligence for the…
The “Future Meeting Space” (FMS) innovation network was launched by the GCB (German Convention Bureau) in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. This research project focuses on trends, innovations and social developments, identifying their possible influence on the event industry. In this context, research questions focus on how future events should be…
A growing number of convention and exhibition sites across the world have started operating as temporary COVID-19 vaccination centres, getting anywhere from 500 to over 6,000 people vaccinated every day at each location. At the same time, an increasing number of markets around the globe have begun to reopen business events with varying COVID-19 protocols…
A slightly higher percentage of planners and suppliers described feeling exhausted and burned out in the February Dashboard survey than in January’s survey, but that can probably be chalked up to yet another month of enduring the COVID crisis. It’s coming up on a year now since the lockdowns began. Some especially harsh winter weather…
Global convention sector consulting firm GainingEdge has launched the first annual report on leveraging the intellectual capital of convention destinations, based on an analysis of international association leadership. The research underpinning the Iceberg partner’s report identifies the relative strengths of 350 destinations via the presence of their local intellectual leaders in the governing bodies of international associations…
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Since the start of the crisis, like many other venues around the world, the Scottish Event Campus has been supporting health services in the battle against COVID-19. The SEC’s Director of Operations Mark Laidlaw describes the collaboration involved in operating as a field hospital as the venue now looks to its future. From Boardroom…
Following on from the publication of two very different views on business events recovery, Juliano Lissoni, the Managing Director of MCI Group in Canada, makes a further and more academic argument for face-to-face meetings. The Iceberg partner chief makes his case around an in depth analysis of our innate “need to meet”. From PCMA…
As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere, there is a growing sense of hope. Some destination marketing organisations (DMOs) have been able to continue their association conference business through the pandemic. But others have faced severe budget cuts, as Sarah Fleming, the owner of Sarah Fleming Associates, explains. From Association Meetings International…
The UK government has announced a timeline for reopening business events, with all sizes of meetings able to run from June 21st. But according to Meetings Industry Association Chief Executive Jane Longhurst, UK event professionals need to manage their expectations around the certainty of the date and the necessary conditions for it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Almost three quarters of scientists want virtual meetings to continue, according to a new poll conducted by the magazine Nature. But survey respondents also gave compelling reasons for a balance of virtual and in person formats, thus combining the best of both worlds to maximise the benefits of each approach. From Associations Now…
The impact of the pandemic on Australia’s business events is well documented. The Business Council of Australia has reported a loss of AU$35 billion in direct expenditure for Australia’s economy and over 230,000 jobs affected. But what about the country’s knowledge economy, asks ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy? From Meetings International…
CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre) has been both serving the people of the Western Cape and adapting to the changing business landscape of the pandemic. The venue’s annual general meeting was the occasion to look back on a year that brought a massive share of challenges and opportunities. From Boardroom…
In Barcelona, organisers of Mobile World Congress are counting on a comeback, and have booked their event to resume in late June. The industry association behind MWC, the GSMA, thinks it will draw less than half of its usual turnout, but the Barcelona Convention Bureau says the numbers aren’t important. From the Washington Post…
Proclaiming the industry is sick of virtual events, Group Chairman and Founder of Iceberg partner IMEX Ray Bloom has reaffirmed the signature trade show IMEX America will take place as scheduled this November. His confidence in the event makes welcome reading for all industry professionals eager to speed up recovery after COVID-19. From TSNN…
As well as about 3,000 delegates taking part for PCMA Convening Leaders 2021 virtually, 300 more joined in person on site at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Organisers worked closely with the venue and also the Singapore Tourism Board, making sure the event was safe with protocols in place like rapid antigen testing. From PCMA…
No one would downplay the impact of COVID-19 on the events industry. But historically there has often been a brighter side to massive disruption, including industry regeneration and rapid growth. Iceberg partner Maritz Global Events recently held its NEXT conference, a one-session-per-day live and on-demand offering. From PCMA…
The trends expert and conference speaker Daniel Levine sees the near future of live events as “nothing less than spectacular”. For special events company owner Kevin Molesworth the picture is not quite so rosy and the sector has to be more realistic. The two have unique and rather different perspectives. From PCMA…
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For over 30 years, UFI has been organizing numerous educational conferences on various topics related to exhibition industry issues. As the global association of the exhibition industry, UFI is always working on sharing trends and developments. The UFI European Conference is a must-attend event for exhibition industry professionals who work internationally.
This year’s AIPC Annual Conference will have a theme “ELEVATION”, reflecting the ambition of the AIPC Community to re-open for business and to bring organized events to the next level. It will be a hybrid conference, with 3 stand-alone programmes, ensuring that participants across the globe can actively participate. This year’s conference will indeed be a…
The AIPC Academy is a week-long, in-depth educational immersion that covers all key areas of centre management and operations, providing participants with an exemplary one-stop professional development experience unparalleled anywhere in our industry. The 2021 program will feature topic areas including alternative management models, new approaches to performance measurement and evolving sustainability expectations, along with the…
As vaccines for Covid-19 are rolled out, international associations are tentatively planning their next in-person events. But when will it be logistically possible to convene international delegations? And when will delegates feel comfortable attending business events overseas? In this webinar, we’ll explore a realistic timeframe back to physical events, what those events might look like,…
Join the acting editor of M&IT Paul Harvey and his panel of experts as he discusses the incentive travel during a pandemic in his live talk. For many corporate professionals the I in MICE is one of the most exciting aspects of their job. Incentives can range from a dinner-for-two voucher to an all-expenses-paid trip….
ICCA is proud to be launching this certification programme for its membership and the industry to meet the challenges of the need for new business models, enhanced professionalism and standards in the industry. With courses beginning in the third quarter of 2021, ICCA will grant recognition to an industry professional who has met certain predetermined…
The current raging of the COVID-19 virus across the globe has already had enormous consequences for the Meetings Industry. It poses however, a whole different challenge for newly-appointed professionals in our industry whether working in CVBs, hotels, venues, PCOs all over Europe. Indeed, they are currently missing out on being at these central platforms, which are…
Enhance your career with short, industry courses or build organizational capabilities with relevant company learning for immediate impact. Our extensive on-site training and coaching programmes are now online to make them more easily accessible for business event professionals anywhere. The content has been specifically designed for convention bureaus, convention centres and any suppliers to the…
We have created a library of resources to not only help you through COVID-19 but also to ensure that you’re ready to get back to face-to-face business on the other side. Because there will be another side. You’ll find webinars and videos from key industry professionals, providing you with the great insights you need to keep…
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.
ECM wants to continue to empower the conversation during this unprecedented situation with a new initiative, “A New Tomorrow”. The purpose is to share ideas and challenges, find inspiration in new practice and different approaches, and envision together with all of our members, a new future of destinations rebuilt and conventions reimagined to meet new…
Access our free library of industry-leading templates and checklists to guide you through every stage of your international conference planning. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events, straight from some of the world’s foremost experts. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events,…
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The Asia/Pacific Conference gathers leading industry players of the region. This event provides industry updates and insights from across the region.
The Middle-East Conference gathers leading industry players of the region. This event provides industry updates and insights from across the region.
EPS will now take place outdoors with marquees at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. EPS is the longest-running event designed for all event professionals involved in running outdoor events; including festivals, sporting events, corporate and brand experiences, local authority events and stadium/arena tours. The Event Production Show was created to support the live events community…
Global Exhibitions Day (GED) recognises the important role that trade exhibitions play in driving economies throughout the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has had significantly detrimental, and potentially lasting, effects on the global economy, across nearly all business sectors and regions. Exhibitions have traditionally played a role in bolstering and growing economic sectors, but this year…
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. An…
The UFI European Conference is a must-attend event for exhibition industry professionals who work internationally. This two-day event provides industry updates and insights from across the region.
Come and join us for the best attended and most loved events industry showcase! It’s a tough time for our industry and we will certainly have some mountains to climb post COVID-19, it will be more important than ever that we unite for 2 days of knowledge sharing, networking and inspiration. Discover over 300 event,…
The modern PA, VA and EA are at the epicentre of the companies and industries they serve. Long gone are the days of limited power and influence, the modern assistant carries strong responsibilities and has a powerful place as the backbone of their company. The PA Show exists to support an incredible number of talented…
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…
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. Participating associations will return home with a tangible tool to use in the formation of future strategies for their associations. The tool can after Global…
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…
The Meetings Show is the best platform in the UK for the events, meetings and incentives industry to come together to source, learn and network. Launched in 2013, the show welcomes exhibitors from the UK and around the world including hotels, luxury hotels, destinations, destination management companies, conference centres, venues and technology suppliers. In 2019 we saw…
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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…
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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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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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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….
A Scot based in Sweden who loves life in the Nordics. Her expertise is based on 20 years of experience across the 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 before spending…
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As Senior Advocacy & Industry Relations Manager, Natasha oversees all industry partnerships and association education at both IMEX shows. In 2016, in addition to her existing responsibilities she took the helm of the IMEX Policy Forum and assumed her current advocacy role. In this role she works closely with the UNWTO (the United Nations World…
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Geoff Donaghy is CEO of Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, ICC Sydney, which since its opening has been successfully attracting local, national and international visitors with its focus on high quality events, local produce and commitment to service excellence. He is also the Director of Convention Centres for leading venue management specialists, AEG…
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Based in The Netherlands, Ben Goedegebuure serves as global general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Maritz Global Events. In his role, Ben provides counsel and supports global strategic solutions for clients, and contributes to the company’s business development, industry presence and thought leadership efforts. In addition, he oversees the Maritz Global…
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Gillian Taylor has over 25 years-experience in the meetings industry spanning from Australia to the Arabian Gulf. Recently returned to Australia, Gillian is now Head of Business Development and Marketing at Arinex, Architects of Inspiring Experiences, one of Australia’s leading Professional Conference Organisers, and the 2020 winner of the Meetings Events Australia Awards for National PCO…
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Jane Vong Holmes is Senior Manager – Asia of GainingEdge, GainingEdge, a consultancy specialising in the business events industry since 2004, and a proud Partner of The Iceberg. Jane has been part of the consulting team on several GainingEdge projects in Asia, working with bureaus, tourism offices and convention centres in Hangzhou, Japan, Malaysia, South…
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With 32 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Schirmacher leads Experient’s strategic plan development and implementation, as well as industry presence for Maritz Global Events. He was awarded the company’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award, in 2005, and was inducted into the Colorado Meetings Hall of Fame in 2011 with the Lifetime Achievement Award….
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