January 2018. Very busy.
What a busy two weeks The Iceberg has had since Business Events World issue 25.
Convening Leaders united the global meetings industry to great success in Nashville – even if Music City didn’t get to see the largest ever human guitar – and the SITE + MPI Global Forum did much the same in the Eternal City of Rome. Two of those events’ organisers saw changes of leadership: from Deborah Sexton to Sheriff Karamat at the PCMA, and from Kevin Hinton to Didier Scaillet at SITE.
CES in Las Vegas had a blackout and a robot that only blinked during its big unveiling. The US meetings industry generates $330 billion a year according to an imminent study, and in London Informa wants to buy UBM for £4 billion.
The Iceberg’s favourite word – legacy – is to be the talking point at IMEX events through 2018. And the entire sector stopped to acknowledge the extraordinary personal and professional legacies of the late IMEX MD Paul Flackett, whose iconic career was celebrated in words and song at a memorial event in London.
In News (click right) and Opinions (the same) there’s coverage of all of these plus… medical meetings, the Dubai Association Conference and the BestCities Global Forum. There’s an interview with Deborah Sexton, thoughts on the UK’s ministerial reshuffle, two pieces on competition between Australian destinations, and some wise words on video from my own colleague James Latham. Click on View all News through to The Iceberg, and you’ll find more about Sarawak, Vancouver and Bristol.
In Research, you’ll find Skift’s “How UK Cities Excel at Hosting Conferences in Advanced and Creative Industries”.
And in Features (click right), the third in our video series on ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance’s “Incredible Impacts” grants covers the World Parkinson Coalition. There is also video of Pádraic Gilligan’s amazing musical tribute to Paul Flackett, performed at the memorial with Paul Miller and James Rees.
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Friends, family, and colleagues of the late Paul Flackett joined in celebration of the IMEX and business events industry icon at a memorial event generously hosted by London’s Queen Elizabeth II Centre. Comic, emotional, and musical farewells from all corners of the world were delivered in fond remembrance of “the boy from Birmingham”. These included…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Last month the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. According to Czech Statistical Office data, Prague welcomed a total of 4,426 conferences in…
With ICC Wales opening in 2019, and with key strengths in the automotive, aerospace, and marine renewable energy sectors – not to mention life sciences, cyber security and compound semiconductors – how does the land of rugby and song marshall and present its knowledge economy to attract prospective international meetings? From Intellectual Capitals…
The question is often asked: what are the benefits of holding conferences? Often the real answers to the question only emerge years after an event has taken place, when the ideas presented or connections made have become breakthroughs that save lives, change society or redefine best practice and policy. Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and the…
The city of Mainz in western Germany has just played host to the Third International Cancer lmmunotherapy Conference 2017. It was selected for the 1,500-delegate event not just as a cost-effective destination, but also as a knowledge hub in the sector and home to one of Europe’s leading cancer immunology research centres. From tw tagungswirtschaft…
Once the meetings industry was viewed only in terms of spend during an event: flying in, commuting by taxi, renting venue space, booking accommodation and eating at restaurants. Those days are over. Daniel Waigl, executive director of the Radiological Society of Europe, explains how healthcare association meetings deliver legacies of improved treatment and awareness. From Boardroom…
The Iceberg has always tried to shine a light on the benefits of business and professional events that lie hidden beneath the surface and get ignored alongside the visible tip of travel and hospitality spend. Now the Joint Meetings Industry Council is renewing its call for quality storytelling of the legacies the sector delivers.
The annual showcase event for the Asia Pacific meeting and business events sector, IT&CMA, revealed that the region’s destination marketing organisations (DMOs) are adopting the lead set by Australia and Singapore. ‘Clustering’ or focussing efforts on bidding for events from within industry sectors identified in the development frameworks of government is now the priority of…
The International AIDS Society (IAS) organizes the world’s two most prestigious HIV conferences, each convened biennially in alternating years. The next International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) will be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands (23-27 July 2018). Meanwhile, the IAS Conference on HIV Science features the latest HIV science, including basic, clinical and prevention research. It brings…
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The reopening of major facilities in Sydney has made New South Wales once again most popular Australian destination for professional association conferences, according to Conference Monitor. 389 such events were held there in 2017, up 38 percent on 2016. 325 were held in Victoria and 302 in Queensland, the most popular in 2016. From CIM News Magazine…
Informa, the events and business information group, is to pay a huge £4.5 billion for rival exhibitions organiser UBM. The amount, that will include debt, has divided investors who have questioned the decision to pay what amounts to the full price. Informa CEO Stephen Carter claimed there would be “significant” synergies to justify the deal. From Meetpie.com…
The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia has joined a global call for the industry’s rising stars to apply for a Next Generation Leadership Grant from UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association. The NGL Grant is an opportunity for up to five recipients to enjoy executive-level mentoring, networking and career advancement. From CIM News Magazine…
Friends and family of Paul Flackett gathered at London’s Queen Elizabeth II Centre to bid farewell to the former MD of IMEX. Colleagues shared memories of the 69 year-old, who died in November, and SoolNua’s Padraic Gilligan even wrote a song for the occasion, performing it with Spectra’s Paul Miller and ExCeL’s James Rees. From Meetpie.com…
The recent BestCities Global Forum in Tokyo has once more won unanimous approval from its attendees. One hundred percent of delegates said that they would recommend participating in the destinations conference to other international associations. 95 percent felt it met or exceeded expectations. 92 percent would now consider Tokyo for a future international meeting. From CIM News Magazine…
Australia’s Northern Territory has launched a scheme called the Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund. Event organisers can apply for financial assistance of AU$100 per delegate up to a maximum of AU$50,000, with priority given to meetings that align with key knowledge sectors and whose participants are mostly from out of state. From CIM News Magazine…
Following a pre-event row about the lack of keynotes from women, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas then had to enact an emergency evacuation after a power cut in its central hall. CES 2018 drew more than 175,000 attendees and over 3,900 exhibitors. This show filled 2.75 million square feet of space. From Meetings & Conventions…
Legacy will be the talking point of the IMEX Group’s 2018 events, according to CEO Carina Bauer. IMEX will be addressing political legacy, knowledge legacy and social impact, CSR, environmental and personal legacy. Two research reports, case studies and education sessions at both IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America will explore the topics. From Meetings & Conventions…
Didier Scaillet has been appointed CEO (Chief Excellence Officer) of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence. The Belgian has a background in Association Management and previous worked for Meeting Professionals International. Scaillet replaces outgoing CEO Kevin Hinton, who announced his retirement in October having led the Chicago-based organisation since 2013. From Association Meetings International…
While an attempt to to form the largest ever human guitar didn’t quite break the world record, the Professional Convention Management Association did announce strong financial growth and record revenue at its annual Convening Leaders event. Membership globally now totals 7,000, with more than half attending in Nashville. From Association Meetings International…
Janet Tan-Collis, President of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers, has picked up the Professional Convention Management Association’s 2017 Chairman’s Award at the latter’s Convening Leaders event in Nashville. The prize recognises individuals or organisations for their unique achievements in and contributions to the business events industry over the previous year. From Association Meetings International…
The United States meetings industry generates a massive $330 billion annually, according to the Events Industry Council’s latest Meetings Significance Survey. This is a $50 billion rise since 2014’s first report. In 2016, 1.9 million US meetings took place. The study canvassed 1,300 planners, 9,000 domestic business travellers and 50,000 international travellers. From Meetings & Conventions…
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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…
Growing its business events sector is part of Malaysia’s strategy to achieve status as a developed nation by 2020. This case study presents the contribution made by the 55th ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress towards developing the business events sector in the country. ICCA’s event engaged political leaders and the local community to raise awareness of the needs…
The Geneva Convention Bureau has adopted a policy of promoting Geneva not only as a destination but also as a center of economic, knowledge and innovation excellence. It does this by marketing meetings and events in relation to local key clusters of industry. As a result, a dynamic and virtuous feedback loop is established between Geneva’s economic or knowledge…
This research by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) demonstrates that business events offer delegates unrestricted exposure to innovative ideas and opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills. Part of the Beyond Tourism Benefits series, the new study by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Conferences: Catalysts for Thriving Economies – provides further evidence showing that…
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The United Kingdom is a preferred host for international meetings, conferences and events because of its economic, academic and industry sector strengths. That applies equally to the major gateway cities and the many regional cities spread across every corner of the UK, each with extensive clusters of expertise in advanced and creative industries. This sector…
Positive Impact has marked the end of its campaign during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism with the launch of a report at IBTM World “Telling the Story of the Power of Events”. The report which has had input from five academics and had a three month period of accepting contributions from across the global…
UFI’s World Map of Exhibition Venues (November 2017) reveals that the total venue space available for exhibitions has grown 7.4 percent in the last six years, from 32,500,000 to 34,900,000 square metres (gross indoor exhibition space, venues over 5,000 square metres). The fastest growth is in venues offering more than 100,000 square metres, a rise of…
This report gives an overview of the experience and intentions of exhibitors at trade shows across the world. It aims to give event organisers a deeper understanding of the patterns and trends that drive positive and negative exhibitor experiences and the objectives and behaviours that underlie them. This report has been created in two stages….
With the majority of all U.S. businesses (84%) now using non-cash awards and the majority of top performing businesses (those with the highest revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction) saying their executives support their non-cash recognition and reward programs as a competitive advantage, the eminent need to understand how to create effective programs becomes…
Attendees are consumers: discerning travelers who may choose to attend conventions & exhibitions… or not. That’s why the mutual goal of both meeting / exhibition professionals and CVBs is generating positive word-of-mouth from attendees, resulting in repeat bookings and increased attendance. This report provides insight from the second Decision to Attend survey conducted in 2017, with…
Drawing on official data from 14 national trade fair bodies who guarantee the quality of the statistics they have provided, UFI’s latest report compiles statistics on 2,590 exhibitions covering a total of 27.4 million square metres of registered rented space in 2016. The report shows a notable increase of 7% in terms of the total…
In today’s highly competitive economy, it is not surprising that businesses are seeking trusted new ways to differentiate themselves and sustain success. As major thought leaders and consultancies point repeatedly to human capital as the prime modern differentiator (even outstripping financial capital), it raises the question: what are truly successful companies now doing differently regarding…
For the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, compliance and regulation are a way of life. In this already complex environment, the ever-changing regulatory landscape has increased the pressure over recent years. These dynamics are having a profound effect on healthcare congresses, which represent the largest segment of educational meetings. The future of these events depends on…
The DestinationNEXT Futures Study identifies the trends and opportunities that will shape the future of destination marketing and management. This Futures Study update, conducted in 2017, is intended to build on the learnings from the 2014 Futures Study, and to determine updated trends and strategies that will keep the thousands of destination organizations around the…
A skills survey of the business events sector, coordinated by Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) in partnership with the Australian Association of Convention Bureaux and the Exhibition & Events Association of Australasia (EEAA), has found that critical skills gaps are considerably impacting the business events industry. With a significant survey response rate of 39 per…
This study is based on a global survey concluded in July 2017. It represents up to date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 14 specific countries and zones. Global Exhibition Barometer 19th Edition (July 2017)
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Two past Opinions (“Westminster Bubbles”) have reported the UK meetings industry’s bridge-building with government. Now Prime Minister Theresa May’s January reshuffle has moved tourism minister John Glen (pictured) over to another post. So the industry will therefore have to start the conversation all over again with his successor. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The Iceberg’s very own James Latham presented a session at Convening Leaders 2018 in Nashville called “The Rise of Intellectual Capitalism: The Role of Meetings”. Destinations and conferences which align themselves to knowledge clusters like biotech, fintech or healthcare reap benefits on all sides, he said. Latham was also interviewed by Amanda Marijanovic. From PCMA Convene…
Meetings are always about human contact and interaction, but delegates should also find time to enjoy their destination. At the recent SITE + MPI Global Forum 2018 in Rome, attendees were spoiled by the city’s classical and Renaissance heritage, and also by the facilities and venues hosting the event. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Hot air ballooning preceded powered flight by over a century. At a session on trends and innovation in event technology at the recent SITE + MPI Global Forum 2018 in Rome, it was not a high but low-tech solution that had participants puffing with excitement: inflatable room dividers that create temporary spaces. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
So what is the future of event technology? In the Future of Face2Face open space learning area at Nashville’s Music City Center during Convening Leaders 2018, fifteen participants gave their views on the way things are heading. A low-tech approach of having them fill out index cards was employed for the purpose. From PCMA Convene…
Meet LG robot Cloi, a media sensation after repeatedly failing to respond to instructions and merely blinking during its unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The failure is both a horror story of what can go wrong during a presentation, but also a reaffirmation of humanity. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
Convening Leaders 2018 in Nashville was a valedictory event for Deborah Sexton, who is stepping down as CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association after thirteen years. So here are Deborah’s revealing answers to thirteen questions, including her country music ambitions, ad libbing after Matthew McConaughey, and surviving a plane hijacking. From PCMA Convene…
The Eternal City recently became the Eventprofs City for a weekend as the SITE + MPI Global Forum 2018 hit Rome. The first time the two had joined forces, the benefits of co-location were immediately obvious both in the sheer range of speakers and sessions, and in the value consequently delivered. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Convening Leaders 2018 saw a massive gathering in Nashville of industry expertise. Here are eighteen thought-provoking quotes from the show: from diversity to sustainability, and from entering the Chinese market to getting attendees out of their hotel rooms. “We don’t make changes because we see the light. It’s because we feel the heat.”. From PCMA Convene…
The first-ever Dubai Association Conference, held last month at the Dubai World Trade Centre, reinforced the role associations are playing in the emirate’s economic development and transition to a knowledge economy. The event brought together association executives, government representatives and university faculties, as well as professionals from around the world interested in forming associations. From Boardroom…
Made up of twelve convention bureaux partnering to help associations achieve success through their events, the BestCities Global Alliance has just run its second BestCities Global Forum in Tokyo. The conference’s four day programme included much talk of the beyond tourism benefits of meetings, including the “Incredible Impacts” grants BestCities has just co-presented. From Boardroom…
Artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, wearables, telemedicine: the convergence of healthcare and technology is reaching an inflection point at a time when other pressures are putting the squeeze on medical meetings. How can they stay relevant if the entire structure of healthcare is about to fundamentally change? From PCMA Convene…
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The AIPC Academy is the only comprehensive professional development program specifically serving the needs of international convention centre managers! Designed to address the critical need for centres to maintain fully qualified staff in a highly competitive industry, the AIPC Academy provides a targeted, cost effective form of training and development along with the means to…
The combination of the great recession and the Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) initiative have increased senior management’s expectations for improved planner productivity, meeting value and ROI. Although SMM delivers an umbrella of measurable benefits, cost savings remains a high priority for corporate and association planning teams. In the meeting budget and cost savings strategies webinar,…
Clear answers to IT security and practical solutions to comply with the new data protection law will be provided in the compact seminar without in-depth legal and difficult-to-understand IT terminology. As a leader, be familiar with the new IT legal situation in digital event management. With this interactive management seminar, you can find out how to make your…
Food and wellness-based meetings trends are transitory by nature; however, over the past several decades, we have seen an unprecedented increase in health-orientated foods that are driving consumer spend and cross-sector operations. Discover the trends that are shaping conference food and beverage from a comprehensive survey of IACC conference venues, meeting planners and culinary experts…
Organised by visit.brussels, this annual peer-to-peer education and networking forum has become an unmissable opportunity to share information and knowledge, and network with other international associations. The Summit features educational content delivered by association experts and professionals from various fields. Focusing on practical cases ranging from local issues, governance, member relations or communications and new technologies,…
Evolve from ideation to implementation with the help of association leaders at the 2018 Great Ideas Conference. You’ll get inspiration by sharing with others, attending forward-thinking idea labs, and leaving your comfort zone. Bring your ideas to the table March 11–13, 2018.
Maritz Global Events’ resource library gives industry professionals the latest insights about solving their greatest challenges; experts share their insights on the value of face-to-face meetings and events, the journey to take your event global, and the power of experience design thinking.
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CONVENE is an annual business to business two-day event for the meetings industry for the countries of the Baltic. It is an international show case for the regional meetings industry which accelerates the interest in, and demand for, holding meetings, incentives and conferences in the region.
AIME – Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo – is the leading exhibition for the meetings, incentives and events industry. As the largest international event of its kind in Australia, each year the exhibition unites a community of over 4,000 suppliers and meetings and events planners under one roof in Melbourne. With an exceptional Hosted Buyer® program, AIME welcomes valuable association…
European Cities Marketing will present a toploaded program for the ECM Spring meeting where Europe’s city marketers and tourism professionals meet industry thought leaders to debate and strategise the new normal in urban travel and tourism.
Meetings Africa showcases Africa’s diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals can partner to help transform our continent. Meet 400 highly qualified hosted buyers; Face-to-face meetings with key decision-makers; Targeted business matchmaking (online diary system); Network with industry colleagues across multiple sectors; Launch new product and service offerings;…
FRESH is the first annual conference, focused exclusively on meeting design. FRESH is a platform for innovation, debate, interaction, experimentation and co-creation around meeting design formats, techniques, tools and technology. FRESH helps meeting planners, designers and producers make meetings and events more effective and productive.
Over the past 13 editions, this conference has been the most important gathering of Asian exhibition industry leaders. This fast-paced, two day event is geared towards providing industry updates and insights from across the region, combined with quality networking and unique cultural experiences.
Organised for European destination marketing members who are looking to attract small conferences to their destination, the participating clients get the opportunity to meet people from other bureaux. They make initial contact with the sales team as well as learn the suitability of the destinations. Bureaux and clients are given a de-briefing session to get valuable…
Apply today for the 2nd annual Incentive Live! Recently expanded to include brand name merchandise and gift cards, as well as incentive travel, Incentive Live is your one-stop event to meet with all of the top suppliers throughout the incentive industry. In addition to one-on-one business appointments, you will also experience curated educational sessions from the editorial team at…
World Meetings Forum is a dedicated space open for discussion and analysis of global trends, statics and the path for the Global MICE Industry including business exchange and networking moments. WMF puts all the effort to bring events that helps our industry to educate on all levels.
America’s longest-running series of educational and networking events for meeting planners. Experience innovation that works at Meetings Quest: Appointment-based trade show; Well-established event with an innovative approach; Great mix of destinations, venues and suppliers; Compact format: 1-1/2 day agenda; Experiential activities that allow business networking in a fun and informative environment
ibtm africa is where meetings, events and incentives industry decision makers meet for business adventures across Africa. If you do business in Africa, join us in Cape Town on the 19th – 20th April 2018 at the CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre) where elite meeting planners and buyers will join exhibitors for an exclusive opportunity access quality education and networking events….
ICCA venues each invite a client to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. No other event offers the same opportunity for client and supplier to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made Workshop environment. Participating clients get the opportunity to meet people from other venues. They make initial contact with the sales team…
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