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Congresses May Move Over Abortion Access

The US Supreme Court ruling that lifted constitutional protections for access to abortion services has now prompted calls for scientific events to boycott states that have banned or severely restricted services. At least one organisation has already moved a meeting out of Louisiana over the issue of abortion rights. Photo: Ted Eytan. From Nature…

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Ukraine: Events Sector Offers Support

A large number of meetings industry groups have now made statements condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are raising awareness or funds, or have barred Russian state participation in meetings. More and more convention venues in Europe have now converted their facilities to house the millions of Ukrainians escaping the ravages of war. From PCMA…

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ICCA and UFI Suspend Russian Members

As refugees flee the war in Ukraine, Russian members of Iceberg partner ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) will not be attending association events until further notice. The ICCA board also cancelled all planned activities and meetings in Russia. Iceberg partner UFI has as well suspended Russian members. From Association Meetings International…

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Ukrainian Scientists Urge Russian Boycott

Ukrainian scientists have called for an international boycott of scientific conferences inside Russia and asked for Russian institutes and scientific leaders to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile international associations and other academic bodies are scrambling to cancel conferences in Russia and find alternative venues or pivot their meetings to virtual events. From Association Meetings International…

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IMEX in Frankfurt Bars Russia’s Participation

IMEX in Frankfurt has barred all Russian state enterprises from exhibiting at the show in May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Iceberg partner’s Group CEO Carina Bauer and its Chairman Ray Bloom posted the decision in a statement on social media which also offered Ukraine sipport. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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COP26 Chief Flies to Thirty Countries

It has been revealed that COP26 President Alok Sharma has taken flights to 30 countries over the last seven months. The UK government minister running the UN’s climate change conference in Glasgow has been accused of hypocrisy, racking up tens of thousands of air miles in quick succession. From Association Meetings International…

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ICCA Statistics 2020: Numbers Rise, Fees Fall

Average association meetings were fifty percent bigger in 2020, but only because they pivoted online. So say the latest ICCA Statistics just posted. Average registrations rose from 908 to 1,356 delegates, but associations did take a huge hit on fees, average prices dropping from $525 to $211. From Association Meetings International…

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WEF Cancellation Hits Sector and Singapore

The scale of the challenges facing event planners were again laid bare with the World Economic Forum announcing the cancelling of the Special Annual Meeting that was set for Singapore. Amid a spike in local cases of COVID-19, WEF cited the uncertain travel outlook and also variations in vaccination rollout. From Association Meetings International…

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A Third of CVBs Suffer Public Funding Cuts

One in three European convention bureaux have suffered public sector budget cuts over the last year. That’s according to a new report into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic upon meetings. Over fifteen percent of bureaux had “stopped or severely reduced” bidding as associations grappled with the uncertainties of planning events. From Association Meetings International…

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Events for up to 30 Under UK Lockdown

In the UK the Meetings Industry Association received formal notice that business events for up to thirty delegates are allowed to take place under the second national lockdown in England between November 5th and December 2nd 2020. Bookings had been lost after lockdown was announced. From Conference News…

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525,000 Jobs at Risk in UK Meetings Industry

More than 525,000 jobs are now at risk across the £84 billion UK events and experiences industry, and three out of four companies could fail to survive beyond next February, the government has been warned. The impact on around 774,000 working in business events was laid out in research given to ministers. From Conference News…

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NEC Group Set to Make 450 Redundancies

The owner of one of the UK’s largest convention centres is set to make 450 redundancies after reporting “almost zero revenues” due to the coronavirus pandemic. NEC Group, which owns ICC Birmingham and other venues including the National Exhibition Centre, is planning to cut its workforce by 55 percent. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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UK MI Will “Enter Free Fall” Without Support

Without a support package the UK meetings and events industry will enter into free fall. The very stark message from the Association of Event Organisers, Association of Event Venues and Event Supplier and Services Association was in response to the UK government delaying the reopening of business events. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Informa Posts Pre-Tax H1 Losses of £739.9m

Informa has posted pre-tax losses of £739.9 million ($946.9 million) in its financial results for the six months ending June 30th 2020. The group updated actions to ensure stability through into 2021, amid ongoing disruption and the postponements of events extending into the spring. From Exhibition News…

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UK Pivots on Planned October 1st Reopening

Conferences and exhibitions will not be allowed to run from October 1st, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed. Business events for up to thirty can run, but the backtrack on the date for reopening large events will be place in for six months with the UK now at COVID level four. From Exhibition News…

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Manchester’s EventCity Announces Closure

Manchester’s EventCity conference and exhibition venue has announced its closure and pulled the plans for its new centre. The UK venue had been planning to close and relocate to a new site (pictured). Owners Peel Group however now say EventCity will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. From Exhibition World…

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IEIA Call to Restart India’s Exhibitions

The Indian Exhibitions Industry Association has urged the Indian government to allow exhibitions to be staged once again, to “ensure the survival of the industry and revival of the Indian economy”. India’s events industry has also asked government to organise an economic support package for the sector. From Exhibition World…

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Czech MI Plea to Save 114,000 Jobs

Meetings and events leaders in the Czech Republic have pleaded for government support and say that without it up to 114,000 jobs are at risk. An alliance of industry bodies has warned impact on conferences, trade fairs and cultural events from the COVID-19 pandemic will be “enormous”. From Association Meetings International…

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