What if attracting more conferences isn’t the measure of success for a destination? Drawing on Rotterdam’s experience, this article explores why business events should start with a city’s economic and knowledge ambitions. Because the strongest strategy isn’t about doing more, but attracting the right opportunities and creating lasting value. By Mirjam Herpst-van de Kamp…
What happens when democracy, uncertainty and technological change collide with the future of human connection? As the world becomes less predictable, the events industry faces a defining moment. Discover why the future belongs to those who put people, purpose and meaningful connections at the heart of every experience. From Deep DAIV, by Jorge Eduardo Quiroz…
Business events are increasingly recognised as critical platforms for industry-wide advocacy and long-term impact. As government action more frequently intersects with various sectors, organisations must ensure their collective voice is heard. Tommy Goodwin, President & CEO of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), highlights this reality by quoting an old saying in DC: “If you’re…
There is a fundamental difference between standard event management and the highly specialised work of a Professional Congress Organiser. While some may view conferences merely as logistical exercises in booking hotel rooms and transport, the reality of delivering international congresses requires a deep commitment to high standards and long-term legacy. For Bahaa Okasha, Projects Head…
From Boardroom, by Words Sven Bossu: A powerful campaign by Brussels Airport is a reminder that purpose can change how we see even the most familiar infrastructure. For convention centres, the challenge is to tell the stories that demonstrate how international congresses bring communities together and create lasting impact far beyond their walls.
Patient advocates are essential partners in advancing cancer research, yet new restrictions at major European medical congresses are limiting their access to industry discussions and exhibition spaces. WECAN warns that excluding patient representatives risks undermining collaboration, research priorities and patient involvement, calling for consistent regulations that protect meaningful participation. From WECAN Foundation…
What makes an event worthy of being a role model? David Adler reflects on IMEX America and the people behind its success, making the case for a different way to think about events. He introduces the idea of a “Lovemark Event” and explores what the industry can learn from one that gets it right.
From CMW, by Ankur Agarwal: An event going ahead tells us less about a market than we assume. During the 2026 disruption, a smaller gathering could sit alongside a cancelled international programme. Both belonged to the same economy. From my perspective in Dubai, the important question was which demand could still translate into a gathering.
In this four-part series, Boardroom and Kellen China explore how international associations can build lasting influence in China. From rethinking their strategic role to becoming trusted resource connectors, the series examines evolving market dynamics, local partnerships and practical ways to turn global expertise into meaningful value for Chinese enterprises and members.
The Iceberg Curator Martin Sirk is interviewed by Jan Orsic and Gorazd Cad on a range of industry issues, from AI as enabler vs barrier, to why we persist in organising and attending sub-par meetings that fail to extract and utilise even a fraction of the intellectual capital they’ve spent so much effort gathering together.
What happens when an association’s impact continues long after we have stopped watching? Ksenija Polla explores how Women Deliver conferences have helped spark political commitments, mobilise communities and advance the rights and health of women and girls, and considers why the true impact of a meeting often unfolds months or years later.
In this episode of The Meeting Room podcast, host James Lancaster talks with Tamar Beck, CEO of events marketing agency Gleanin, about one of the most pressing privacy and risk-related issues facing our sector, exploring what can be done to ensure attendees feel safe and secure in the age of covert surveillance.
Fáilte Ireland’s Ciara Gallagher explains why focusing on ambassadors, legacy, sustainability and societal impact makes good business sense from a tourism-metrics perspective as well as in terms of inward investment, positive healthcare outcomes, scientific progress and identifying concrete solutions to important societal challenges. From Conference & Meetings World…
Executive Director Dorian Kronenwerth outlines JMIC’s priorities for the years ahead, and argues that the future of business events depends on speaking with one voice. He sets out how JMIC plans to turn stronger advocacy, sustainability and collaboration into practical tools that help the global events industry demonstrate its value. From Headquarters Magazine…
Can an event change the way people think, feel and behave – and, crucially, can we measure it? One UK festival is putting this question to the test, asking attendees whether exposure to different ideas and perspectives has shifted their outlook and behaviour. Paul Harvey, M&IT, asks whether we should all be following their example…
AMI’s James Lancaster poses an existential question for anyone involved in business events advocacy: what if the reality for most business event organisers doesn’t align with the messaging of the industry that supports them? If we place too much emphasis on the society-wide and host destination-specific benefits, are we failing to deliver sufficiently authentic messaging?
BESarawak’s CEO Jason Tan Chin Foo elaborates on the close collaboration required between government, industry, academia and local communities to ensure business events create meaningful and lasting benefits, creating opportunities to improve lives, strengthen communities and influence future services. From M&C Asia…
Crisis and leadership communication expert Marjie Hadad gives an outsider’s perspective and issues a strong wake-up call to the Business Events sector, arguing that we need to craft far more effective messaging, tailored carefully for every key audience and group of stakeholders, with local voices but high-level consistency of our key talking-points. Business Events leaders…
Peng Ee Ooi outlines the unfulfilled needs that led to the creation of Associations Commons as a portal for associations in the Asia-Pacific region to share their perspectives, challenges, and solutions with one another. Western know-how and methodologies are often not easily translatable, for cultural or economic reasons, into Asian scenarios, whereas local associations have…
Y.T. Anderson, of Visit Northern Finland & Oulu Convention Bureau, reflects on City DNA’s 40th Summer School, designed for newcomers to business events. He shares insights into the changing models of destination leadership, the shift from bednight-driven metrics to societal impact, and the growing influence of the new generation of future leaders in our sector.
Destination Canada’s Virginie De Visscher calls for the wider industry to adopt the lessons from the first three years of their unique study into international event impact and legacy. The biggest surprise in the research: the power of inclusion and diversity during planning, creating and delivering events. From Conference & Meetings World…
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