PRESENTS
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From Skift Meetings: President Trump’s second term began with a series of executive orders that immediately impacted the meetings industry. On Inauguration Day, January 20, Trump signed the Executive Order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” It eliminates federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. All federal DEI staff were also placed…
From City Destinations Alliance: Held from April 9 to 11, 2025, in the heart of Hungary’s vibrant capital, the City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) International Conference & General Assembly brought together over 250 tourism leaders, destination experts and changemakers from across Europe to explore how cities can drive business transformation through the visitor economy. Under the…
ECA and its public policy counsel, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, have prepared the following detailed analysis of recent tariff developments and what they mean for the business and professional events industry. Please bookmark this page for future updates as circumstances warrant. On April 17, the Office of the United States Trade Representative took action…
From Smart Meetings: Four years into an experiment to replace an annual spring event in Washington, D.C., with a collaborative concentration of events organizations all gathering in the same place, Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) has built some popular must-attend features and announced that other pieces will shake off, either going away altogether or moving….
By Kai Hattendorf: 2024 was the best year ever for the trade show industry globally by revenues. 2025 likely won’t be. Uncertainties around an aggressive, tariffs-driven challenge to global trade from the new U.S. administration are shaking markets and economies around the world. If high import tariffs announced by the U.S. administration are here to…
From PCMA: According to a new Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) statement, the latest round of proposed tariffs will “increase costs for business and professional event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees alike.”When Convene spoke in December with Tommy Goodwin, vice president of Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), tariffs imposed on U.S. trading partners didn’t top the…
From BestCities: On 1 April 2025, BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA hosted two insightful sessions to unpack the dynamics of creating lasting impacts through international conferences and celebrating these through the Incredible Impacts Programme. This article captures key takeaways from the collaborative discussions, where industry leaders shared their experiences and offered valuable guidance for prospective…
AIME 2020 pre-empted the pandemic. AIME 2025 pre-empted the unfolding of a global trade and intellectual engagement crisis. As a case study in fortunate timing, the Asia-Pacific’s annual meetings and business events trade show illustrated the harmony of globalisation when in full flow. It’s hard to imagine how the AUS$400m of trade reported from this…
True to form, the BestCities Global Alliance continued to use its annual Forum to pursue association impact by gathering members of its association community for shared learning. The methodology for developing greater impact strategies came in the form of the 2nd edition of the ICCA Association Impact Masterclass following its inauguration by Founding Funders and…
From Skift Meetings: The shifting political landscape in the U.S. is casting a shadow over WorldPride 2025, with sponsors pulling out and international travelers facing growing uncertainty. While organizers remain steadfast in their commitment to hosting the global event, concerns over all Pride events are mounting. WorldPride 2025, a three-week celebration in Washington, D.C., May…
By Pádraic Gilligan, Co-Founder, SoolNua: We now live in a global society where conflict, in all its forms, has become the new normal. Game-changing decisions that impact entire industries are being made—and unmade—within 24 hours. Global trade, poverty alleviation programs, pathways to peace, and even fundamental values like inclusiveness are being actively weaponized in a…
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From Irish Examiner: Academics are cancelling planned conferences and seminars in the US because of the risk of harassment and interrogation by immigration officials. That is the warning from Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. It comes as immunologist Professor Luke O’Neill revealed he had “never been quizzed…
From Travel Weekly: Five members of the Brand USA board were reportedly fired by email on Friday, as the Trump Administration moves to mark its stamp on the US tourism industry. According to the industry title Skift, the decision came from the White House. The five members fired from the board were reportedly chair Elliott…
From ICCA: ICCA and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU), reaffirming their commitment to collaborate and strengthen engagement within the international association meetings sector. Building on a strong foundation of partnership, the two organisations will continue working together to expand opportunities, develop impactful educational resources, and foster…
From Skift Meetings: Tariffs are impacting the live events industry, and the Live Events Coalition and its allies are stepping up pressure on lawmakers to act. AV and production equipment, raw materials, decor, furnishings, food and beverage, and technology will all increase in cost, said Wendy Porter, vice chair of government affairs for the Live…
From Quest Means Business: “We do get the impression that the beef here is really with the Trump administration, not the American people necessarily.” Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit found that many travelers staying away from the U.S. due to Trump are happy to come once his presidency is over…
From Reuters: Candice Li says that after Washington raised tariffs on Chinese goods by 145%, U.S. orders for the medical devices her firm is making have vanished. “It’s a matter of life and death because 60-70% of our business is with American clients,” said Li, marketing manager of Conmo Electronic Co. “Goods cannot be exported…
From Skift Meetings: Meeting professionals have been navigating a landscape where access, funding, and conference attendance are no longer guaranteed, said Pat Schaumann, president of Schaumann Consulting Group. Schaumann is also the director of Meeting Professional International’s Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program. In 2025, the U.S. was expected to host over 1.5 million medical…
From AMI: The UK’s ambition to become a world-leading destination for international business events has been dealt a significant setback following a 41 per cent cut in funding to VisitBritain from the government’s GREAT programme. The announcement, made on 1 April, will see VisitBritain’s ‘GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland’ destination promotion programme budget cut from…
From Skift Meetings: As U.S.-Canada tariffs take hold and cross-border meeting attendance dips, one veteran planner is helping associations rethink US-Canada event strategies. Some associations are moving events from the US to Canada, where favorable exchange rates, easier visa processes, and lower costs make it an appealing alternative. As the US dollar weakens under new…
From Travel Weekly Asia: Singapore is looking confidently into the future with a comprehensive roadmap aimed at transforming the city-state into a world-class, innovation-driven tourism destination by 2040. Following a robust performance in 2024, with international visitor arrivals reaching 16.5 million and tourism receipts climbing to a record S$29.8 billion (US$22.4 billion), the Singapore Tourism…
From AMI: The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) have announced a new three-year Strategic Partnership, with joint research and white paper development at the heart of their collaboration. Under the agreement, both associations will co-author a white paper and share relevant industry research and studies with…
From AMI: In a major win for New Zealand’s rural health community, Wellington has been selected to host the 21st World Rural Health Conference (Rural WONCA) in 2026, bringing international attention to the urgent health needs of non-urban populations and the work being done to address them. Led by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, with…
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From Global Destination Sustainability Movement: If business events’ profits were a country, they’d be in the top 15 in the world. The Events Industry Council notes that “the $1.62 trillion of total GDP supported by global business events would rank the sector as the 13th largest economy globally.” We’ve seen encouraging progress from this vital…
Attracting knowledge, investment, and talent to a destination as the 3 pillars of a Knowledge & Creative Economy requires an ability to attract -and convene – business and professional communities from all over the world. The City of Calgary, famed for its Stampede, has emerged as a round-the-clock meeting space for all manner of sectoral…
Between the 8-11th July last year, 1,100 of the world’s leading developmental neuroscientists convened at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, for the International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS) to exchange research, education, and stories, but also to propagate future research and understanding of a child’s early learning from years 0-3. Immersive…
From Edinburgh International Conference Centre: The EICC was proud to host the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) 36th Conference, a landmark event that brought a global audience together to tackle HPV-related diseases. Through ongoing education and outreach, the committee is dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy on public health. Alongside the conference the Society created a…
A Gathering of Minds to Combat Dementia: Today, over 944,000 individuals in the UK suffer from dementia. By 2040, this number is projected to exceed 1.4 million, according to Dr. Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the foremost charity in the UK dedicated to revolutionising the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of Alzheimer’s…
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From Northstar Meetings Group: The April 2025 Northstar/Cvent Incentive PULSE Survey reveals some major shifts and challenges for incentive travel programs. Optimism levels for incentive travel have dropped dramatically in the past six months. Nearly half of planners say their programs have been negatively affected by recent changes in government, social and economic policies. Business…
From ASAE: ASAE’s latest Insight Update report highlights how shifting federal policies are reshaping association meeting attendance, particularly international participation. Based on survey data from over 200 association CEOs across diverse sectors, the report examines the ripple effects of these changes, and the strategies associations are employing to adapt. This research is part of an…
From Business Traveler: Anxiety is creeping into the corridors of corporate travel. With 2025 well underway, a new survey from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) paints a sobering picture: nearly one-third of global travel managers expect their company’s business travel volume to fall significantly next year, with an average forecasted drop of 21 percent….
From EIC: Today, the Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry, released its quarterly Global Events Barometer for 2024 Q4. The numbers reflect positive momentum for the global business events industry throughout 2024 in almost every region around the world while acknowledging growing concern about the impacts of major policy…
At The Meetings Show APAC 2025, Michael Shoory, Head of APAC Tourism Analysis – Tourism Economics, shared insights on the rebound of MICE activity and business travel globally, and for APAC specifically, and discussed Tourism Economics’ projections for business travel in APAC in coming years, the economic benefits of business and MICE tourism for destinations,…
From Boardroom: For decades, organisations operated on a simple premise: to generate profit. Yet in today’s fragmented world, where societal and environmental concerns weigh heavily on decision-making, financial performance alone no longer suffices. In response, BESydney has emerged as a leader in championing business events that prioritise long-term impact over short-term gain, turning meetings into…
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From Boardroom: New Zealand’s world-class convention centre, Te Pae Christchurch, is proving a focus on sustainability, cultural connection and community engagement is not only good for the environment, but also good for business. Since opening in May 2022, Te Pae Christchurch has played a key role in reinvigorating Christchurch city, while delivering a sizeable boost…
In this episode of Trade Show Talk, host Danica Tormohlen interviews Chris Skeith, CEO and Managing Director of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, who started in this role in January 2025I. Skeith shares insights about his career path, including his tenure at the Association of Event Organizers UK, and discusses his new…
From M&IT: In this latest episode of The Meeting Room, Neil Brownlee, head of Business Events Scotland and the first non-North American chair of US-based meetings association PCMA, gives us his take on Trump’s impact on the international meetings and events sector. He also provides a withering analysis of the main challenges facing those who…
From Global Destination Sustainability Movement, by Guy Bigwood: I am just back from participating at Prolight + Sound – one of the world’s most important entertainment tech shows all about audiovisuals (AV), sounds, lighting, and more. Organised by and at Messe Frankfurt, Mira Wölfel, the Director of Prolight + Sound, kindly invited me to deliver…
From Connection Awaits: In this new video series, we’re dropping golden nuggets we wish we’d known earlier or wish we’d practiced more — and you won’t want to miss what’s coming. We’re joined by none other than Rodney Cox, a true insider with 30 years of experience and insights from the International Association Events industry…
From Boardroom: As climate change climbs the global agenda, academia is being pushed to rethink how it conducts research, collaborates, and shares knowledge. In this timely piece, Mickael Benaim, Associate Director & Head of Research at SFA Connect, explores how CO₂ emission budgets are reshaping academic travel, conference formats, and institutional sustainability strategies…
From Identity, The Human Experience Agency: Events may have a closing date, but their impact shouldn’t. From global agreements to everyday brand moments, this feature explores how to design experiences that leave a lasting legacy, with insights from Identity’s Simon Dunnell and Helen Wright. By their very nature, events feel fleeting. There’s a date, a…
From Skift Meetings, by Andrea Doyle: The Trump administration’s tariff policies are sending ripples through global trade, and in the process, they are impacting the global trade show business, said Kai Hattendorf, CEO of HTF Business Events Expertise, and the former CEO of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. “If permanent, this isn’t…
By Michiel Gen, Partner, Stakeholder Management, Exempla Management & Consulting : The recent Insight Update published by ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership highlights the growing pressures faced by U.S.-based professional societies, particularly in healthcare and education. Reductions in federal grants, changes in tax policy and tightening DEI policies are threatening the financial health and…
From Skift Meetings: Featuring Nicola Kastner, CEO of Event Leaders Exchange (ELX), and Kevin Hinton, managing director, group travel, at U.S. Travel Association, this week’s Skift Meetings webinar had one overriding theme — uncertainty. It took Skift Meetings Executive Editor Andrea Doyle several minutes just to describe the numerous repercussions of Trump administration changes so…
By Colja Dams, CEO & Owner, VOK DAMS: We’re seeing a shift: global events are now moving to Europe and Asia that were once headed to the U.S. World Dealer Conferences, Product Launches, Leadership Meetings – many of these gatherings are being relocated. Bringing together guests from around the world in the U.S.? For now,…
By Jorge Eduardo Q: In today’s 24/7 news cycle and hyper-connected feeds, event leaders are bombarded by headlines, hot takes, and trending crises every minute. Economic shifts, health emergencies, political strife, and algorithmic sensationalism form a loud backdrop that challenges clarity. Within this noise, strategic discernment becomes not just an asset, but a necessity for…
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At IMEX you can enjoy expert education, explore the latest event trends and experience your most productive days of the year. Whether you’re an events newbie or a pro (or anything in between), IMEX is exactly where you need to be. Discover 200 free education sessions at IMEX Frankfurt. More information coming soon in 2025.
The third edition of ETOA and City Destinations Alliance’s B2B workshop, Destinations Exchange Europe, will take place in London on June 2-3, 2025. This B2B event offers a dynamic blend of commercially driven meetings, insightful knowledge sessions, and valuable opportunities to discuss product development and operational challenges. 28 pre-scheduled B2B business meeting slots to meet…
Our lineup is all about igniting ideas, creating breakthroughs, and shaping the future of the meetings, events and incentives world, so come and share your game-changing ideas and insights with our global audience of corporate, agency and association planners. With C-suite executives through to those just beginning their event professional journey, and your expertise will…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
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This interactive session is designed for CVB professionals to exchange ideas, share best practices, and engage in peer-led discussions on key industry topics such as: AI & Innovation; Staffing & Funding Challenges; Sustainability & Risk-Sharing; Destination Legacy & Success; And more, as topics are determined on participants’ suggestions! After the discussions, we’ll continue with a…
IMEX is where every part of the global events industry comes for a high-value, high-return boost of real business, real relationships and insights, all designed to make working life easier and more profitable. Keep up with the latest events industry trends, polish your professional skills and stay ahead. By attending as many of our 150…
ECA’s 2025 Legislative Action Day will bring leaders and advocates from across the business and professional events industry to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet with their elected officials in support of ECA’s top public policy priorities. “From tax reform to workforce development, 2025 is already shaping up to be a pivotal year for…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
The UFI European Events Week is where around 300 exhibition industry leaders from Europe and beyond meet, network and learn together for 5 days every summer. We have evolved the UFI European Conference and associated events to become the UFI European Events Week, including the main European Conference, and additional topical content and networking opportunities.
4 key messages highlight how exhibitions unlock potential for industries, individuals, communities, and companies: Exhibitions drive collaboration and innovation to transform businesses and industries; Exhibitions enable new, emerging and established talent to grow and succeed; Exhibitions power economic development and societal progress for countries and communities; Exhibitions amplify reach, build brands, foster connections and drive…
Our one-and-a-half-day event provides you with a unique opportunity to meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes; to share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of the latest market trends & anticipate customers’ needs; and to grow your business in a sustainable way as well as strengthen your professional expertise. The participants’…
Incentive Live offers a compelling agenda that makes this event a must-attend for industry professionals. In addition to one-on-one appointments with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, merchandise and technology providers, gift cards, and tourism offices, Incentive Live presents leading industry experts providing the latest perspective on industry trends and best practices that…
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A passionate and dedicated leader, Carina Bauer is the CEO of the IMEX Group – an organisation responsible for organising the leading global trade shows for the international business events industry. Carina is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and…
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Chris Skeith has served in the exhibition industry for over 30 years, and is Managing Director & CEO of UFI, The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, which represents over 900 organisations in over 90 countries who build, maintain, and support the world’s market places: trade show organisers, venue owners and operators, service providers, and…
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Amelia is a pioneer of BESarawak with over 21 years of branding, marketing and PR experience whose career in the sector began as a sales coordinator. Within 12 years, she helms the organisation as a CEO. Coming from the indigenous Bidayuh tribe of Sarawak, she is passionate about developing her homeland and providing opportunities for…
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Tommy Goodwin is Vice President for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), a newly-formed association dedicated to the recovery and advancement of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s advocacy and member engagement work on behalf the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the…
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Geneviève is a Canadian industry professional based in Montreal. She has 26 years of experience in congress management and consultancy services for national and international associations and has managed international events in over 20 countries. Geneviève has been active at elevating the industry’s capacity in sustainability and value creation since 2006, when she was an…
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Nigel started his career at the head office of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) in Amsterdam. He was part of the event organizing team of the association and served 7 years organizing a host of events on all continents. During his tenure he gained extensive project management skills and was responsible for implementing…
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Barbara Jamison Heads up the European Business Team at London & Partners (London Convention Bureau), the Mayor’s official promotional agency for London. Barbara’s experience in the industry has covered every aspect of tourism in Global markets… youth and educational tourism, tour operating, Destination and Event Management, Major Events including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic…
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After four years of study at the Ecole Hôtelière (Hotel School) in Lausanne (Switzerland), it was quite natural that his career should be oriented toward this sector. From 1998 to 2009, he worked with Martins Hotels, overseeing the development, management, and acquisition of hotels. His diverse expertise spans business management, hotel development, marketing, and team…
Jane loves life in the Nordics and the spirit of Scotland. Her expertise is based on 20 years of experience across the global meetings industry. Over this time she has been fortunate to have gained wonderful experience and friends from working for some great hotels, a convention centre, a destination marketing organisation, a PCO, and…
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Senthil Gopinath has over 20 years’ experience in the meetings, association and leisure industry. He has held a wide range of positions, including CEO of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, and Vice President of Kuoni. In 2006 Senthil moved to Dubai to work for Congress Solutions International, the Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) arm of Emirates Group….
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Lesley joined BestCities in 2017 as Market Development Director, and was Managing Director from January 2020 to July 2023, 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 to…
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Sven joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are…
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