226 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates travelled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the ECA’s annual Legislative Action Day to meet with members of Congress with a unified message: our industry is a proven engine of economic resilience and growth, that requires a policy environment to match.
The Sustainable Event Goals are 13 interlinked goals designed to minimise negative environmental and social impacts while maximising positive economic outcomes, and translating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into clear, actionable, event-specific guidance for organisers, suppliers, destinations, and partners across the global Business Events ecosystem. From Kenes Group…
The 2026 edition of IMEX Frankfurt closed today, confirming its biggest show floor to date, combined with strong buyer and exhibitor numbers. The show (May 19-21) saw almost 3,000 exhibiting companies, from destinations and venues to tech providers and event agencies, all representing the breadth of a future-focused global industry.
Meetings Capitalized is a fresh approach shaped by research and focus groups, which identifies experiential design as a defining priority for meeting planners. DDC’s updated approach makes it easy for planners to lead with experiences and outcomes, with Washington, DC’s institutions and offerings becoming integral to the meeting experience itself. From Exhibitor…
The 2026 Economic Significance of Business Events study by EIC found that the “invisible industry” — a term coined by Charles Osgood to describe “an industry that no one thinks about, let alone thinks about as an industry” — supports 24.2 million jobs and contributes $3.1 trillion in sales to the global economy. From Skift…
Saudi Arabia has invested billions to become a global meetings hub, but Routes World’s decision to move its flagship event to Frankfurt shows attendee confidence can outweigh even the most ambitious destination strategy. It will now run October 21–23 at Messe Frankfurt, instead of October 27–29 at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. From Skift…
The Academy of Management is pulling its 2027 annual conference out of the U.S. through 2031, relocating meetings to Europe and Canada after members raised alarm over U.S. immigration enforcement and the political environment facing international scholars. The 2026 conference will be the last on U.S. soil for at least five years. From Skift…
Leading associations expert Thomas Reiser has joined business events industry consulting firm GainingEdge. Reiser has more than 25 years’ experience working within international associations, including the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, association management companies and PCOs. His main role will be to focus on expanding GainingEdge’s service portfolio towards international associations. From AMI…
Angola has officially launched the Angola Convention Bureau, marking a key milestone in its ambition to become one of Africa’s emerging destinations for business events. The inauguration on 6 May at the Talatona Convention Centre in Luanda, brought together around 400 delegates from government, tourism, aviation, hospitality and the international events industry. From M&C/ASIA…
Three of the world’s leading events and exhibition associations have joined forces to unite and strengthen their European advocacy work under a single body: the European Events and Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEEIA). The move expands the existing European Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEIA), founded by EMECA and UFI in 2012, to formally incorporate ICCA…
Following the recent deal around UK-based exhibition organiser Closer Still, M&A activity in the business events sector is heating up. Apollo-managed funds agreed to acquire Emerald Holding Inc. and Questex LLC in separate transactions, with plans to combine the two companies into a privately owned North American business-to-business events and media platform. From Eventsful…
Held in the RDS Dublin, 11-13 September 2025, The 14th Autism Europe Congress hosted by Ireland’s national autism charity, AsIAm, delivered on intentional change established well before the functional planning of the congress began. Dr. Noel Mitchell, Chairman & Managing Director of Keynote PCO reflects on how the Conference Ambassador, AsIAm Founder & CEO, Adam…
Singapore is announcing major new long-term-focused infrastructure and investment initiatives on the back of continuing strong growth, whilst preparing for short-term challenges related to the Gulf conflict by expanding funding support for 2026 events. From M&C Asia…
At MICE City Summit, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau united government, academia, and vocational education to tackle Asia-Pacific’s workforce shortages and drive sustainable growth in secondary cities, signing MOUs involving the Ministry of Interior, utilising the business events industry to distribute wealth, empower local entrepreneurs, and elevate local governance. From TTGmice…
The Exhibitions Industry Collective has partnered with CNTV to produce a new workforce development video series highlighting the diverse career opportunities in the exhibitions and events industry. The goal is to showcase the human side of the industry to inspire students and professionals to consider careers in exhibitions and events. From Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance…
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has set out plans for integrating Exhibitor Group following its recent acquisition, including a merger of their flagship events. A new Exhibitor Group division will be established within IAEE, led by general manager Stephanie Gibbs, overseeing EXHIBITOR magazine, EXHIBITORLIVE and the Certified Trade Show Marketer certification programme.
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
As global dynamics shift and power relations are being redefined, which countries are securing the preference of international audiences? Join this webinar on 03 June for a preview of findings from the 2026 RepCore® Nations analysis, exploring how countries are perceived around the world and what this may mean for their competitiveness and international standing.
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