Paul Coulson despairs at cuts to the business events team within VisitBritain whilst the sector is attracting major investment and widespread recognition of its utility as a driver of economic and societal value. It’s time for joined-up thinking by policymakers that respects the essential role business events marketing plays at a national level. From CMW…
The Policy Forum examines the current economic and political climate and reviews the latest policy developments affecting the events sector. In 2025, it attracted 300 senior leaders from destinations, venues, exhibition organisers, event agencies, associations and trade bodies. Attendees are joined by MPs who serve on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, plus Ministers, officials…
University of Exeter research is being used to enhance the world’s only annual sustainability tourism and events benchmark since 2025. The GDS-Index Systems Map shows destinations how specific actions may create knock-on effects across environmental, social, supplier and destination management areas, empowering cities to make more effective decisions for a more sustainable visitor economy.
AI is increasing the need for human meetings, not reducing it, according to new research commissioned by The Meetings Show. Challenging assumptions about the role of technology in improving efficiency, almost two-thirds of business leaders (62 per cent) say AI is increasing the need for human discussion and alignment. From M&IT…
This is the Edinburgh International Conference Centre’s (EIC) third annual Impact Report. This time, they decided to look at environmental, social and economic impacts together. The report doesn’t just track what happened inside the EICC, it reflects what events should do: create lasting value beyond the venue, the people who visit and the events themselves.
The UK’s leading event for meetings and events professionals, where the industry comes together for two days of fresh ideas, powerful connections, and unmissable opportunities. Exhibitors come from all corners of the globe, with over 80 international destinations represented, and a diverse exhibitor base, including hotels, destinations, destination management companies, conference centres, venues, technology suppliers…
This high-level advocacy event will bring business events leaders together with UK national parliamentarians and policy influencers who will consider the strategic challenges and set the policymaking agenda for the sector in the UK over the coming years. Over 300 leaders gathered together at the previous edition in 2025. Register your interest here…
Scotland’s capital is set to become the first city in the UK to fund its convention bureau through a mandatory tourist tax – or ‘visitor levy’ – in what could herald the start of major changes to how cities across the country attract business events and conference tourism. From M&IT…
The launch of the MeetEngland Impact Network at Sheffield’s Cutlers’ revealed why intellectual capital is one of England’s biggest advantages on the international business events stage. It was a genuinely significant industry moment — not just another announcement, but the start of something that could reshape England’s global competitiveness. From M&IT…
VisitScotland’s Rory Archibald outlines the ambitious thinking behind Scotland’s new business events strategy: deep conversations with association clients to understand what knowledge is being generated and exchanged, long-term data-gathering plan, fast and flexible integration of past mistakes, strong alignment with policy goals for Scotland and its aspirations for citizens’ wellbeing.
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Mike is the Founder and Chair of the Centre for Events & Festivals (CEF); CEO of Legacies (the official consultancy arm of CEF); and a Professeur des universités at the University of Paris 1. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Event Management Journal – the leading academic journal for the study and analysis of events…
It’s been a year since Destination North East England launched the first-of-its-kind Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework, developed in partnership with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. Check out progress and the toolkit used to achieve a wide range of positive outcomes, relating to both business events and general tourism. Stories from North East England: Travel that…
UK Events Report 2025 reveals that the UK events industry is now worth an estimated £68.7 billion, reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of the UK economy and a driver of innovation, trade, and tourism. The report highlights the UK’s growing reputation as a safe, stable destination for international events amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
At ICCA Congress 2025, Conference Ambassador Professor William McLean presented the legacy story of the World Endodontic Congress (WEC) 2024, a finalist in the Incredible Impacts Programme 2025. Hosted by the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA) and British Endodontic Society (BES), WEC 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland, harnessed creative, engaging activities to boost oral health…
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.
SHOP is ETOA and CityDNA’s new B2B event focused on driving demand beyond the high season. Designed for destinations and suppliers seeking to grow business outside traditional peak months, SHOP unites industry professionals committed to building a more balanced, sustainable tourism economy. As travel patterns evolve, extending the season and diversifying itineraries has never been…
Produced by Northstar Meetings Group and its flagship SportsTravel media brand, TEAMS Europe brings together the leaders who are shaping the future of sports tourism: Hosted event organisers from international sports federations, professional and semi-professional leagues, mass participation events, youth sports, and esports. Destinations, venues, hoteliers, and industry suppliers eager to grow their share of…
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.
Between April 2018 and March 2024, 91 grant-supported international events taking place in 18 cities across Britain generated over £60 million direct economic impact, £35 for every £1 invested. Positive societal impacts (on healthcare and scientific progress, trade development and inward investment, etc.) need to be added to this already impressive figure.
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…
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…
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