ExCeL London has seen a strong start to 2018 with a host of new events relocating to the venue. On the conference side, ExCeL will welcome the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and the International Association for Dental Research this year, as well as the return of Diabetes UK. In 2019 Sibos is coming. From Meepie.com…
The Business Visits and Events Partnership has welcomed a decision to review the impact on the QEII Centre of a vote by the House of Lords to leave the Palace of Westminster during a six year renovation. Many Lords expressed concern over central London’s largest conference venue being temporarily chosen to host the upper chamber. From Meetpie.com…
Before opening, the ICE Totally Gaming event at London’s ExCeL was warned by the Gambling Commission that it faced a boycott if it did not stamp out sexism. The message fell on deaf ears, as Microgaming kicked off proceedings with a Playboy-themed show, while Endorphina had pole dancers on its stand. From Meetpie.com…
One of the world’s leading independent events organisers, London based Clarion Events, has completed a merger with exhibition and online B2B marketplace operator Global Sources, based in Hong Kong. Both are owned by investment firm Blackstone, which will control the combined group. The merger creates one of the world’s largest privately-owned exhibition businesses. From CIM News Magazine…
Venues are being urged to get involved with the 2018 UK Conference and Meeting Survey. Now in its 25th year, UKCAMS focuses on the value and volume of the market and the performance of venues. It also highlights market trends. New this year is a section about the targeting and securing of international events. From Meetpie.com…
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has reported a record year in 2017 with delegate numbers up 3,000 year-on-year to 94,000, attending around 200 events at the venue. Operating profits almost doubled year-on-year, while economic impact for the city was up to £55 million in 2017 from £51.6 million the previous year. From Association Meetings International…
MPs have not considered the loss of income to London of the QEII Centre being out of action for six years. That’s according to the chair of the Events Industry Board Nick de Bois. MPs have just voted for a refurbishment that could see the House of Lords occupy the venue from 2025. From Meepie.com…
New Tourism Minister Michael Ellis is keen to develop a positive agenda for the events industry, says Business Visits and Events Partnership Chair Michael Hirst. As discussed in the last “Westminster Bubbles”, the minister was appointed in the January reshuffle, replacing John Glen and resetting government dialogue with the industry. Photo: Chris McAndrew. From Meetpie.com…
Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, is the new Chair of the city region’s conference ambassador programme. An audience of sixty gathered at Liverpool Cathedral to celebrate Club Liverpool, a partnership between the Convention Bureau and ACC Liverpool, and the conferences with an economic value of £3.8 million it has helped secure. From Meetpie.com…
The QEII Centre could be out of action for at least six years after MPs voted for Parliament to relocate during its £3.5 billion refurbishment. They voted by 236 to 220 to support works that could see the House of Lords relocated to the venue. The refit could take six years from 2025. From Meetpie.com…
Informa has revealed details of its £3.8 billion deal to buy rival trade show organiser UBM. The merger will see Informa’s shareholders owning 65.5 percent of the combined firm, with UBM’s investors taking the remaining 34.5 percent. But Informa shares actually dropped sharply after the takeover was announced. UBM stock rose, but with heavy trading. From Meetpie.com…
Central Hall Westminster has launched a new carbon calculator to help organisers estimate their events’ environmental impact. The London conferencing centre is the first UK venue to partner with Green Tourism on the scheme. The formula takes into account both the size of the venue space hired and the number of days an event lasts. From Meetpie.com…
The Presidents Club, which hosted an event at the heart of a reported sexual harassment scandal in the UK, has announced that it is closing down. The organisation held a men-only charity fundraiser at which, an undercover report by the Financial Times alleged, young women paid as hostesses were groped and propositioned. From Meetpie.com…
The 19th century city landmark and event space Manchester Town Hall has closed as part of a £328m refurbishment. The “Our Town Hall” project will take until 2024 to complete. The iconic venue is Grade I listed, 140 years old, and according to a spokesperson for Manchester City Council, “showing its age”. From Meetpie.com…
Join over 1,200 events industry professionals at the BIGGEST and most prestigious event in the year. It is the only independently audited industry awards programme and is attended by key personnel from around the world. Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the awards event brings together the various sectors of the business to measure market…
The Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (Site) has assembled an impressive line-up of experts to help event industry professionals find their way around the upcoming EU General Data Protection Regulations without getting prosecuted. The session will be relevant for both the non-profit and corporate sectors. Costing from just £45 for the evening presentation, the session…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Friends, family, and colleagues of the late Paul Flackett joined in celebration of the IMEX and business events industry icon at a memorial event generously hosted by London’s Queen Elizabeth II Centre. Comic, emotional, and musical farewells from all corners of the world were delivered in fond remembrance of “the boy from Birmingham”. These included…
Two past Opinions (“Westminster Bubbles”) have reported the UK meetings industry’s bridge-building with government. Now Prime Minister Theresa May’s January reshuffle has moved tourism minister John Glen (pictured) over to another post. So the industry will therefore have to start the conversation all over again with his successor. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Destination Bristol has relaunched its convention bureau, now promoting the city region for conferences, meetings and incentive travel as ‘Meet Bristol’. In 2017, the team managed enquiries about potential business worth more than £2.3 million and were responsible for confirming more than £830,000 of business related events that took place during the year. From Meetpie.com…
Informa, the events and business information group, is to pay a huge £4.5 billion for rival exhibitions organiser UBM. The amount, that will include debt, has divided investors who have questioned the decision to pay what amounts to the full price. Informa CEO Stephen Carter claimed there would be “significant” synergies to justify the deal. From Meetpie.com…
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