This press release from The Hague & Partners is included under “Case Studies” because it is an excellent example of how to communicate the “below the waterline” impacts of international meetings (as opposed to focusing on direct delegate and organiser expenditure), and how these impacts align with a destination’s intellectual capital strengths and economic development…
The latest report includes data from 11 trade fair bodies in 16 European countries and covers 2,240 exhibitions, totalling 23.1 million m² of net space rented in 2024. The number of events covered by the ‘Euro Fair Statistics’ report has continued to grow in recent years. UFI estimates that this year’s data represents almost 55%…
City Destinations Alliance has launched a Call for Speakers for the International Conference & General Assembly in Helsinki, on April 22-24, 2026. Under the theme “The Human Pulse of Place and Purpose: Beyond the numbers, exploring the strategic forces shaping cities,” you are invited to help shape a programme that turns insight into action for…
This unique business partnership case study from the world of exhibitions has a wide range of potential lessons for all sectors of the business events industry, not just for other trade show organisers. “What got us here will not get us there” has become an MBA cliche, but in this case Messe München and the…
This excellent overview of the conference discussions and presentations by Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa highlights key concerns and opportunities facing organisers of medical meetings, and points the way towards the sector’s future evolution, where patients may have just as much of a voice as researchers and practitioners, and impact and outcomes are the most important metrics.
In August 2024, Dublin became the global capital of geography. The 35th International Geographical Congress (IGC 2024) brought 2,654 delegates from 74 countries and five continents to Dublin City University (DCU) for a week-long celebration of research, collaboration, and connection under the theme “Celebrating a World of Difference.” The conference was supported by Fáilte Ireland,…
Gothenburg used the city’s progressive social objectives and programmes, its membership of WHO’s Age Friendly Cities & Communities network, and the city’s 400th anniversary to successfully bid to host the 2024 World Masters Athletics Championship. The result: inspiration for local citizens to live healthier lives, lifelong friendships forged amongst the over 8,000 athletes in categories…
Through workshops built around Political, Economic, Social, and Technological dimensions, attendees at CityDNA Autumn Conference identified priorities for Europe’s cities: stronger advocacy at EU level, sustainable funding models, inclusivity, AI integration, and data ethics. Using conferences as a platform for strategic realignment is a powerful way to ensure engagement and alignment to vision and goals.
On 15–16 October 2025, the counter-disinformation community will reunite at Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to continue exchanging ideas, learning, and collaborating. The importance of face-to-face conferences as a counterweight to disinformation has never been more essential. Check out their conference programme to understand some of the key issues. From EU DisinfoLab…
Proudly hosted by four IAPCO PCO members — AFEA, CONVIN, ERA, and ERASMUS — together with IAPCO destination partner This is Athens–Convention & Visitors Bureau, this landmark gathering will bring the IAPCO community together in the birthplace of the first symposia, united in purpose to keep #UnlockingExcellence.
EIA (the Event Industry Alliance) and UFI have collaborated with Oxford Economics to assess the economic impact of exhibitions in the UK for the year 2024. The report highlights the exhibition industry’s contributions to the UK’s economy, including output, GDP, and job creation, driven by participant expenditures. View / download the report here…
From Boardroom: The Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow hosted the IEEE CleanTech Summit 2025 last week, launching a milestone series of IEEE conferences set to take place at the venue through 2027. The inaugural CleanTech Summit convened international leaders in engineering, science, and technology to address critical sustainability challenges — from renewable energy integration and…
This one-and-a-half-day event provides attendees with a unique opportunity to meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes, to share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of the latest market trends & anticipate customers’ needs, helping participants to grow their business in a sustainable way as well as strengthening their professional expertise.
CityDNA International Conference is the premier platform for destination marketing and management professionals to push beyond traditional boundaries and embrace a future built on sustainability, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration. With a diverse range of expert-led sessions, this conference offers the opportunity to learn from the best and network with like-minded professionals.
Join peer CEOs to discuss and strategize about the future of your organisation, share best practices in innovation, change management. From budget constraints and political changes, digital transformation in the visitor experience, sustainability and shifting visitor behaviours, we will explore key challenges faced by our DMOs’ leadership and explore key paths for success and transformation.
The CVB Expert Meeting (open to all CVBs) is a compact 1.5-day format combining focused discussions, informal networking and shared moments around the table. Whether you are leading a bureau, managing operations or driving strategy, this meeting is built to offer both practical value and meaningful connections in a relaxed and open environment.
The Visitor Experience Expert Meeting (formerly TIC Expert Meeting) offers a mix of incentive and exchange opportunities for all attendees. This event is for managers and TIC front office professionals coming from small and large cities and working for either public or private tourist information organisations – whether they are CityDNA members or not.
This interactive session is designed for CVB professionals to exchange ideas, share best practices, and engage in peer-led discussions on key industry topics. After the discussions, we’ll continue with a networking reception, providing the perfect opportunity to connect with industry peers before IBTM World begins.
Participants gain insights into current issues, industry trends, and key customer perspectives, setting the stage for intense competition on the IMEX show floor. The Summit creates a global forum to assess key market challenges and develop innovative strategies, bringing together over 50 senior-level convention centre executives, client representatives, and marketing specialists.
Having advised civic leaders in over 300 cities worldwide, Prof Greg Clark is ideally placed to interview City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) leaders on the role of business and professional events in shaping the evolution and competitive positioning of European destinations, showcasing intellectual capital, attracting talent, start-ups and inward investment, whilst safeguarding local citizens’ interests.
From Meetings International: The German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO have announced the launch of their new Research Centre for Future Meeting Studies (RCFMS). The Research Centre builds on and continues the work of the “Future Meeting Space” innovation network, which was initiated by the two organisations back in…
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