The elite event for North American meeting and incentive travel buyers who are focused on placing programs around the world. Attendees will learn from industry experts, make invaluable business connections, and experience unforgettable activities at New York City’s iconic landmarks. This unique event is hosted by Northstar Meetings Group’s leading brands – Successful Meetings, Meetings…
Northstar Meetings Group’s Luxury & Wellness Meetings event connects North American planners seeking luxury or wellness-focused venues for their meetings or incentives. Those selected to attend will participate in: Two productive days of pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with suppliers; Insightful educational presentations from inspiring speakers; Great meals, receptions, and numerous networking opportunities with other elite buyers
IPEC, for independent planners, offers a unique chance to explore new venues and destinations; engage in peer-to-peer learning in a collaborative, non-competitive environment; and gain education tailored to you as a business owner and entrepreneur. All qualified buyers will be fully hosted by Northstar Meetings Group for two productive days of prescheduled meetings with key…
Destination Mexico and Latin America — Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event — brings together the most highly qualified meeting and incentive buyers from North America with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the region. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers…
The SportsTravel Leadership Summit is a new kind of industry gathering—an exclusive event for senior leaders in sports-related travel. Modeled after the world’s most prestigious leadership summits, it is designed to foster unstructured, high-value networking in an environment that inspires connection, trust, and new partnerships. Set against the backdrop of the legendary, newly renovated Hotel…
The Northstar Leadership Forum brings together the industry’s thought leaders – planning professionals and suppliers – for three days of education, networking and sharing of best practices. Our forum is unlike any other industry gathering: A unique, high-level experience where business relationships and friendships are forged. The Leadership Forum has been programmed by the teams…
Join your industry peers for the must attend hosted-buyer event bringing together the most highly-qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, attractions, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the Southwest U.S. Meet buyers who are ready to book business in: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas.
The VISIT USA Act, introduced in Congress today, would restore critical funding to Brand USA—America’s destination marketing organization as the nation prepares to host a decade of global events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Summer Olympics, providing resources to promote the United States abroad, attract international visitors…
The European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) has announced the launch of the European Association Awards 2026, celebrating excellence, creativity, and purpose within Europe’s association sector. Open to all not-for-profit, membership-based associations active in Europe, the awards aim to recognise projects that demonstrate measurable impact and align with an organisation’s broader mission.
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.
A new analytical framework and report breaks down exhibition organizer income into five segments. Former UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf has developed the “5 S Model for Organiser Sales Segmentation,” as a way to address the long‑standing challenge of standardising how the industry measures and ranks the revenue streams of trade show companies and event organisers.
This report launched at this year’s IBTM World sets out in detail the intentional planning and sophisticated business models behind Sarawak’s journey from minor regional conference destination to impact-oriented success story, with lessons for other destinations aiming to unlock the potential of their intellectual capital and to attract events that drive local economic development priorities.
The partnership supports the implementation of IAPCO’s Sustainability Strategy and introduces two cornerstone initiatives: a new Sustainability Award powered by Business Events Australia, and the development of a new IAPCO Sustainability Toolkit designed to equip professional congress organisers (PCOs) with practical tools and insights to drive measurable environmental and social impact.
With an extensive career covering venues, associations, international conferences, and global corporate strategy, Maritz’s Chief Global Strategy Officer Ben Goedegebuure has established himself as one of the industry’s most respected voices. His work reflects a deep commitment to positioning business events as powerful enablers of economic development, knowledge exchange, societal progress, and global collaboration.
GainingEdge has released the third edition of its Leveraging Intellectual Capital Global Report, analysing more than 7,500 international associations. Building upon the foundations of the 2021 report, the new edition introduces a refined methodology that broadens the analysis beyond associations hosting large congresses (over 500 participants) to also include mid-size conferences (200–499 participants).
From Exhibition World: International consultancy for the for the exhibition and conference industry, Germany-based jwc GmbH, has announced a shake up in its management structure that sees former UFI CEO and MD Kai Hattendorf join as managing partner, and founder Jochen Witt transition to executive chairman. The leadership changes include Sebastian Witt also named as…
From AMI: An international association of family doctors whose conference led to a string of initiatives to improve healthcare in rural areas has won $20,000 for its efforts. WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) scooped the 2025 Incredible Impacts Award, run by ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance, presented during the 64th ICCA Congress in Porto,…
From Northstar Meetings Group: Airlines are optimistic they can resume normal operations just a few days after the government lifts its order to cut flights at 40 busy airports, but it’s not clear how soon that will happen even though the federal shutdown is over. The Federal Aviation Administration did announce Wednesday night that airlines…
For perspectives from around the world on destination competitiveness in the business and professional events space, check out the regular thought-pieces from the GainingEdge experts, exploring trends, developments and insights in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and destination-marketing industries, and strategic topics for DMOs, CVBs associations, exhibition & conference venues, and their advisors.
David Adler is consistently one of the most eloquent and far-sighted commentators on how the business and professional events sector is changing, and the mega-trends most likely to shape that evolution. He’s also never afraid of a good controversy! GatheringPoint.news is the insider’s guide to the most powerful industry you don’t hear enough about…
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