Skift Meetings summarises the key findings of JWC’s annual Global Performance Review of the worldwide trade show and exhibition sector, including the consultancy’s first country-level ranking. China and US lead the way, but perhaps surprisingly, France appears at number three ahead of Germany.
From Meeting Newz: Research released at the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre highlights the significant contribution that multi-day conferences and business events make to New Zealand. The report, resulting from a 12-month study in conjunction with Business Events Industry Aotearoa, showed that in 2025, the sector delivered $925M in economic and productivity contributions.
The visitor economy plays a critical role in Canada’s broader economic and trade performance. The Impact of the Visitor Economy on Canadian Exports, commissioned by Destinations International’s Canadian Destination Leadership Council and conducted in partnership with EY-Parthenon, provides new evidence of how inbound travel contributes to export growth and drives Canada’s international competitiveness.
This study is based on a global survey concluded in December 2025. It represents up-to-date information on the status and outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 19 specific markets and regions. The Barometer has a truly global reach, with 378 companies participating in this edition from 57 countries and regions.
PCMA offers a range of newsletters, so you can tailor your subscription(s) to match your interests. Get daily industry headlines with News Junkie; weekly inspiration from Convene magazine via ThisWeek at Convene; and career guidance in The Raise. Stay informed with PCMA Institute updates, or connect regionally through APAC Exchange, EMEA Connect, and LATAM CONECTA.
Updates for meeting planners & MICE professionals: GCB Mailings provide you with everything you need to know about business events in Germany. Whether it’s their monthly newsletter, invitations to GCB events or information on new research projects. You can subscribe and / or access the Newsletter Archive here.
This white paper is a timely contribution to the business events ecosystem. The insight gained from three ebx.lab editions is clear: the challenges facing stakeholders across the business events ecosystem are far more similar than expected, and the most effective solutions emerge where knowledge, data, perspectives, and resources are brought together through genuine collaboration.
Event matchmaking platform Conferli has produced this guide for associations to help them maximise the financial and in-kind support they can obtain from host destinations, with advice built on the results of a collaborative research project with #Meet4Impact and the GDS-Movement into the worldwide subvention environment.
2025 marked a major shift for the events industry, and Freeman’s End-of-Year Trends Recap examines what was most impactful. One of the significant opportunities, and challenges, coming in 2026 is how the industry must prioritise stronger retention strategies. Attendee retirement is outpacing attendee retention, creating a significant workforce challenge over the next three years.
In December 2024, Skift Meetings published its annual Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report, outlining the forces expected to shape business events in the year ahead. One year later, the results are mixed. Several trends materialized decisively. Others showed early promise but stalled amid operational, financial, or regulatory realities. Here’s how each prediction played out…
VOK DAMS, one of Germany’s top (and globally-operating) corporate event organising companies, predicts the biggest trends for the coming year. Events will become even more strategically important in companies’ marketing and communication mixes, as the attention economy and community-building challenges become central concerns of companies both large and small.
Skift’s latest report highlights persistent uncertainty, talent gaps, condensed timeframes and rising costs, along with the impact of AI, political polarisation and the increasing prevalence of “micro events”. Lots of strategic issues are covered in this thought-provoking report, with clear insights on how to deal with the forces defining the year ahead.
Better understand the business of travel through Skift’s wide range of daily and weekly newsletters. From daily travel news to a deep dive into the events industry, you can tailor your subscription to the information relevant to you. Weekly briefings cover topics such as how AI and tech are changing travel…
The German Convention Bureau is looking to recruit 40 “research fellows” to participate in the first study in a series of research projects exploring the future evolution of business events, and is especially interested to hear from international meeting owners and organisers. Deadline for sign up is 28 February 2026. More details here…
The latest survey results show that unanticipated government actions are the biggest threat to meetings. Planner sentiment is trending downward again: Forty-four percent of planners are less optimistic than they were six months ago. Compression has eased and RFP responses have improved, though planner concerns over costs and contract terms have increased.
No-one covers every area of event tech from AI to Zoom like Julius Solaris! Company updates & product reviews; trends & mega-trends; hard-hitting commentary & informative opinions based on hands-on experience. Join the 35,000+ event professionals who receive the free Boldpush Newsletter every Wednesday – popular with Event Marketers, Event Planners, Agencies, and Suppliers.
For an academic perspective on the events sector (as opposed to the usual industry-led approach), make sure you follow the Centre for Events and Festivals. Many of CEF’s professors are attempting to evaluate events with a much more scientific rigour than is the norm. CEF Insights are short, accessible articles written by industry experts.
ICCA and Destination Canada have unveiled The State of Sustainability in Associations Report, revealing that while global associations increasingly value sustainability, many still struggle to turn commitment into measurable action. According to the study, 66% of international associations rate sustainability as very or extremely important, up from 60% in 2023, but consistent implementation remains elusive.
Victorian Convention and Event Trust, operators of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre, released its Annual Report and Impact Report for the 2024-25 financial year. MCEC hosted 714 events, attracting 3.2 million visitors, reflecting its direct economic impact, and the social and environmental contribution of these events.
The Trends Report examines key forces shaping the global business events industry, drawing on data from 140+ sources. It reveals a high level of industry confidence, fuelled by factors such as events’ role as a powerful counterbalance to the digital world, deeper integration of analytics and ROI, and a focus on strategic thinking and innovation.
A report from The Business of Events & ICC Wales uncovers a major disconnect between how accessible venues believe they are and the reality faced by delegates. Based on feedback from 1,000 delegates and more than 100 venues, the research identifies widespread challenges such as inaccessible layouts, untrained staff, overstimulating environments, and limited accessible facilities.
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