The U.S. Travel Association warns that international visitor spending will fall by nearly $11 billion in 2026, despite record domestic travel. Rising costs and declining global competitiveness threaten jobs and local economies. The association is urging Congress to improve travel infrastructure, ease entry barriers and strengthen international tourism to restore America’s appeal.
BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA are marking 10 years of the Incredible Impacts Programme with a new report celebrating a decade of success stories and exploring how international meetings can deliver greater impact. New research highlights a gap between legacy ambitions and action, with only 14% systematically measuring legacy outcomes.
When students envision a career in event management, their minds often gravitate toward music festivals and high-end weddings, yet the true engine of the industry—business and professional events—is where the most profound economic and societal transformations occur. Mike Duignan, Editor of the Event Management journal and Founder of the Centre for Events & Festivals, invites…
When the global business events community gathered in Lisbon for PCMA Convening EMEA in September 2026, the overarching message was clear: the world has fundamentally shifted, and leadership must evolve alongside it. Welcoming attendees back, Jaime Bennett, Managing Director, EMEA at PCMA, set a profound tone for the event. She noted that as our businesses…
Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement at Destinations International, hosted the organisation’s fifth European workshop at PCMA Convening EMEA in Lisbon this September. The interactive session centred on “Innovation and Storytelling”—one of the five strategic content themes guiding Destinations International through 2026 and 2027. Drawing on insights from the latest DNext Future Study, which revealed…
A seemingly prestigious biotech conference in Boston promised Nobel Prize-winning scientists, major sponsors and leading researchers, but the event was entirely fabricated. The sophisticated scam exposes how criminals exploit professional credibility to deceive attendees, highlighting growing security risks and the importance of verifying conferences before booking, sponsoring or participating in events. From Skift Meetings…
Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative conference, due to start next week, has been postponed until next year, according to a statement on the official website, in a decision said to come from a deep commitment to our partners, members, speakers and delegates”, as deadly strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis against the kingdom continue. From Aljazeera…
Violent protests across France, driven by economic hardship and public discontent, have escalated into arson, looting and thousands of arrests, raising serious destination security concerns. With businesses and tourist facilities targeted, event planners are urged to monitor threats, review insurance, follow official advice and prepare contingency plans, as delegate safety remains paramount. From CMW…
Launched at 2026 IMEX America alongside innovation partners Business Events Montreal and the IMEX Group, the AI-powered platform and extensive toolkit help event organisations and destinations to prove the wider societal value their events create, build stakeholder support, and make better decisions. ImpactAIQ enables organisations to evaluate social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes, but even…
Developed by the IAPCO Sustainability Committee, with the support of Business Events Australia and the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development, the handbook provides IAPCO members with guidance, frameworks and examples to help them improve sustainability across two interconnected areas: their own businesses and the events they deliver on behalf of their clients. From CMW…
As Canada’s capital celebrates winning URSI GASS 2032 (the 38th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science), Ottawa Tourism has reported, during IMEX America, a 50% increase in international association enquiries over the past year, highlighting the success of its long-term bidding strategy. From CMW…
Written by Alistair Turner, Managing Director of Eight PR & Marketing, with input from Megan Henshall of Google XI, the IBTM World Trends Report 2027 argues that human cognition, meaningful relationships and the ability to rethink established narratives will become increasingly valuable as artificial intelligence reshapes the business events industry. From HQ Magazine…
ESAE has introduced Advocacy Campaigns as the fifth European Association Award category, recognising associations that influence policy, shape public debate, build impactful coalitions or deliver innovative advocacy programmes. Applications open on 23 October 2026, celebrating initiatives that drive positive societal change. Previous winners ENoLL and ECTAA will present their projects in Brussels.
In Boardroom, Christoph Tessmar shares how the Barcelona Convention Bureau has built dedicated community legacy projects around six congresses, testing how far its Legacy Playbook can stretch across entirely different fields of science. The initiative explores how congresses can create meaningful, lasting benefits for local communities, extending their impact far beyond the event itself.
Informa was already the world’s largest exhibition organizer. Its nearly $3 billion acquisition of Clarion Events raises a bigger question: What happens when one company controls roughly 1,000 B2B brands and gains even greater leverage with the destinations, venues, suppliers, and exhibitors it does business with? From Skift Meetings…
Powered by 
