City Destinations Alliance has concluded the 40th edition of its CityDNA Summer School in Dijon. Taking place in August, the milestone edition welcomed 49 students from 16 countries across Europe. Since 1987, more than 2,200 business events professionals have taken part in the programme, building knowledge, confidence and connections at the start of their careers.
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.
A highlight of PTCOG 64 was the tour of CYCLHAD and the Caen Cancer Center, providing attendees with an opportunity to visit one of Europe’s most innovative particle therapy and research facilities and observe cutting-edge technologies, demonstrating that often the most important elements of international conferences take place outside the main venue. From Kenes Group…
The value of a congress is increasingly assessed beyond attendance figures or immediate economic return – its significance lies in its capacity to reshape ecosystems, accelerate knowledge circulation, and anchor territories within global networks of influence. The SRS Annual Meeting 2025, hosted in Strasbourg, offers a particularly instructive example of this shift.
The Paris je t’aime Convention Bureau and Choose Paris Region recently jointly launched the Guichet Unique Grands Événements, a one-stop portal for major events. One team, one contact, one voice for events of 500 participants or more – across association congresses, corporate events and agency-led programmes.
The Summer School provides great insights into the structure and functioning of the Meetings Industry. It is perfect for those just starting out in the Meetings Industry who want to get up to speed quickly, and for those who are exploring its potential as a commercial and economic development tool.
Tourism faces constant challenges, but political instability has emerged as a critical disruptor. How do political shifts affect travellers and how can destinations stay resilient? TOPOSOPHY’s research, based on a 6-country survey and case studies, explores traveller perceptions and offers smart strategies for destinations to build trust and adapt, whether facing a crisis or preparing…
From Boardroom: For the first time, ESAE hosted a dedicated session in Paris focused on how associations can maximize the long-term impact of their conferences. Sponsored by Singapore Tourism Board, the discussion took place on Wednesday 19 March at M Social Hotel and brought together associations who shared insights on legacy-building, advocacy, and engaging future…
From Skift Meetings | Panos Tzivanidis, Director of Corporate Events and Services for the International Olympic Committee shares lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Games: Skift Meetings had the opportunity to chat with Panos Tzivanidis, the Director of Corporate Events and Services for IOC, the International Olympic Committee. Tzivanidis and his team are responsible for…
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has selected Chris Skeith, OBE, as the organisation’s next Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Kai Hattendorf on the 1st of January 2025. Skeith will join UFI from the AEO (Association of Event Organisers), the leading association for organisers of events in the UK and internationally, where…
From M&IT: And so, it’s over. The Paris Olympics drew to a close on Sunday (11 August) after two weeks of thrills, spills and bellyaches with a closing ceremony with a lot riding on it. After the mixed reception to the rain-drenched river-centric opening ceremony, organisers knew they had to pull out all the stops…
The Paris Olympic Games are approaching the finish line, and I had the opportunity to get a close and personal look at the games from many perspectives: as a (part-time) resident, a visitor, an event professional, and a spectator. Here are some observations. As a destination… Paris blends the Olympic venues into the city with…
From The Guardian, by Barney Ronay: Avant: le deluge. There was a moment, about an hour into Paris 2024’s Grand Opening Spectacular, as the rain soaked through shoes, trousers, socks and eventually skin, hair and bone; as yet more boats of waving people chugged down the Seine, like watching an endless series of weirdly nationalistic…
From Forbes: Craig King has heard a lot about the sustainability of the upcoming Paris Olympics — its historic commitment to green energy, recycling and mass transit. But that’s not why he’s going to the games. King will be in Paris with his wife to cheer on their son, Matt, who is on the US…
From Travel Tomorrow: Eurostar has announced its intention to run all trains on renewable energy only by 2030. The target was set in the rail company’s first sustainability report, released on 1 May 2024. Travelling by rail instead of air is already a massive carbon emissions saver, slashing a passenger’s footprint between Paris and London…
From M&IT: A revised version of the international standard for sustainable event management has been published, with a stronger emphasis on legacy, human rights, and compliance. Pioneered by the organising committee for the Olympic Games London 2012, ISO 20121 has become a lodestar for organisations, big or small, wanting to produce sustainable events. The standard…
From PCMA: The Olympic Games, the largest sporting event in the world, is aiming to make next year’s edition in Paris its most sustainable ever. What can the events community learn from its plans and its progress? In ways both small and large, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a series of firsts….
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Marta Gomes has spent nearly 20 years working in the international events and meetings industry. She has collaborated extensively with professors, association executives and destination partners to attract international congresses to Paris, one of the leading global destinations for international events. As Deputy Executive Director Sales, she is charge of sales and business development for…
We are pleased to announce that ICCA France Benelux and Central European Chapters will organise their annual meeting in a joint format. And what better city to bring together the members of our two communities than Strasbourg, a Unesco World Heritage Sites City? Did you know that the city hosting our event was batted back and…
During COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative launched its Roadmap. This is designed to aid suppliers, venues, and businesses along their journey to reaching Net Zero by 2050. Net Zero Carbon Events, itself launched at COP26 in August 2021, now has 400 supporting organisations from 55 countries. From Exhibition News…
Association meetings are facing tough economic headwinds with renewed sense of purpose, while focusing on legacy, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. That was the unmistakable message from the 61st Congress of Iceberg partner the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), held in the city of Kraków, Poland. From Association Meetings International…
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