BOOMTIME! Market frenzy as Blackstone gobbles up Cvent and Informa swallows Tarsus!
Welcome to Issue #103 from The Iceberg & Partners. China’s re-opening has immediate impact as investors pile into the sector – and there’s more to come! ‘Honest Broker’, Steve Monnington, reviews $6bn of M&A in a feature length discussion (bring popcorn and a calculator!). Iceberg partner AIME confirms 2024 edition will complete the return of China to its international fold, and amid election fever season in New South Wales our Ambassadors reveal a sense of collective ambition which is already driving an intellectual circular economy using events. Sydney sets its sights on innovation-led growth explains first ever left-brained architect, right-brained engineer! Glasgow looks back at the impact of the World Down Syndrome Conference. VisitBritain triggers a legacy goldrush for member cities as it tools up for impact and PCMA’s News Junkie dedicates a #GMID Special to the critical role that events play in advancing knowledge, improving lives, and moving the world forward.
How the narrative has changed.
Use any arrow buttons to the right of a section, or click on the ‘View all’ option at the top right of each section to feast your eyes on what has to be the sector’s comeback month of the century with a plethora of additional news, views, opinions (‘How are you, Jack?’) and features from The Iceberg’s awesome network of partners, publishers, and ambassadors!
Champagne anyone?
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As Labor and incumbent Liberal politicians including then premier of New South Wales (Australia), Dominic Perrottet, traded policy agendas in front of a packed audience of Sydney leaders ahead of this month’s state elections, The Iceberg enjoys a double-bill with the Committee for Sydney Chair, Deputy Chair, and Sydney’s event sector top brass about the…
Last year, VisitBritain unveiled its Legacy & Impact Toolkit as a start to catalysing the social and other growth impacts which can be derived from business and professional events. As a follow up, social consultancy #MEET4IMPACT and the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Movement were brought in to provide the sustainability and impact design and management…
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The 30th edition of the Asia-Pacific Incentive and Meetings Exhibition, AIME, bounced back last month in Melbourne powered by more than 13,000 hosted-buyer meetings locked in before the event had even begun. As a benchmarking tool for one-to-one events, AIME is setting new standards in value creation, urged on by the competition for buyers’ time…
The Federal Government has confirmed a $2m allocation to measure the impact and benefit of business events. The project is being rolled out in two phases, including the addition of new questions to Tourism Research Australia’s National and International Visitor Surveys which are already in place and collecting data. From Business Events Council of Australia…
Day delegate rates in the UK reached their highest rates in the last 10 years in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to the latest VenueVerdict research from BVA BDRC. And rate rises outside London have outstripped those in the capital in the last three years… From M&IT…
US firm Providence Equity Partners has agreed a deal to acquire UK-based exhibition business Hyve Group. The terms of the offer are 108p in cash for each Hyve share and the deal values the international exhibition organiser at approximately £481m (US580m). A previous bid of 105p per share had been rejected. From Exhibition World…
Meetings, events and hospitality technology provider Cvent Holding Corp. (“Cvent”) (Nasdaq: CVT), has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of private equity funds managed by Blackstone in a transaction valued at approximately $4.6bn. From Conference & Meetings World…
Global event organiser Informa has strengthened its presence in growing regions and markets significantly with the acquisition of B2B events group Tarsus in a deal valued at $940m. The combined business is expected to create incremental revenue opportunities through the cross-marketing of major brands, digital expansion and new event launches. From Exhibition World…
The upcoming UFI European Conference in Maastricht will be collaborating with Women in Exhibitions to honour women’s accomplishments in the exhibition industry. The Conference’s keynote speaker on 15 June will be Ann Daniels, a polar explorer and motivational speaker, who will share her story and leadership lessons with UFI’s delegates. From Exhibition World…
Planners looking to increase the positive impact of a conference on a host city are being helped by convention bureaux and venues through the launch of impact toolkits, dedicated legacy teams and legacy ‘how to’ guides’. Both ACC Liverpool and Glasgow Convention Bureau have announced the launch of legacy-creation initiatives. From Association Meetings International…
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on news of the withdrawal of tennis champion Novak Djokovic from participating in an upcoming U.S. tournament in California: “America’s outdated vaccine policy for international visitors is an unforced error that is contributing to an $80 billion loss in foreign traveler spending…”
Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has urged the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) to be more aggressive in hosting international events. “As international travels are returning to normal, the ministry is proactively supporting business events activities that will bring more delegates into the country.” From The Malaysian Reserve…
Business networking events and conferences are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, but they’ll look different than they did in 2019. And believe it or not, that’s because of AI. By Stefan Deeran, Forbes Councils Member, co-founder and COO of Vendelux, a leading AI platform for event marketers and conference organizers, from Forbes…
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Glasgow Convention Bureau’s Impact and Legacy team have taken a fresh approach to uncovering the true meaning and impact of conferences when they take place in Glasgow, by revisiting the World Down Syndrome Congress team five years on since they met in Glasgow in 2018. Over the last ten years, Glasgow Convention Bureau has delivered…
Liver disease is killing over 300,000 Europeans every year. It is one of the silent killers of mass destruction. And it’s about to get significantly worse… In a case study video double-bill The Iceberg shares the ‘Legacy and Impact Trilogy’ developed for the International Liver Congress (ILC) in London by the European Association for the…
In December, the BestCities Global Alliance convened once more for its annual Forum, this time in Vancouver. The event always breaks new ground, particularly regards the evolution of impacts and legacies sought by professional associations and societies, and the host, to advance social and economic transformation. This was no exception. After the development of the…
Using the BESLegacy Initiative Guideline, the strategic pursuit of measuring the legacy impacts of the first International Conference on Education in the Digital Ecosystem (ICEdDE) 2019 were mapped. The authors found strong agreement on the immediate impacts that the conventions had on the delegates across eight domains: Knowledge Expansion & Education Networking & Relationship Collaboration…
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Face-to-face meetings and business travel creates measurable benefits for companies and organizations — from increased revenue to lasting and effective professional relationships. This is the message the U.S. travel industry, and meetings professionals around the world, will share March 30 on Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), the annual international day of advocacy showcasing the value…
ICCA shares the findings of the 2023 survey, conducted in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives, African Society of Association Executives and Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations. A total of 177 responses were received globally from across the regions, providing a well-rounded picture of the current and future thinking of associations. From ICCA…
The impact of climate change and the ongoing environmental degradation of the planet has highlighted the urgent need for sustainability across all industries and sectors, including meetings and business events. But while sustainability is the word on everyone’s lips, to what extent are meeting planners incorporating sustainable practices into their work? From Northstar Meetings Group…
85% of global companies are failing to set ambitious targets to reduce corporate travel emissions, reveals the second edition of a ranking on business travel by The Travel Smart Campaign. Only 50 companies out of 322 have set targets to reduce business travel emissions. From CleanTechnica…
Since 2015, Omnipress has been tracking the evolution of conferences and the role content plays before, during, and after the event through an annual survey of meeting and association professionals. This year’s edition of the Conference Industry Report explores what “back to normal” actually means in 2023… From Omnipress…
The Association Engagement Index is a global benchmark study that measures the performance, relationship strength, and outcome of engagement tactics as seen through the eyes of associations’ members and customers. 51 associations across multiple industries and professions participated in the 2022 edition of AEI, generating more than 12,700 responses from around the world. From MCI…
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The Iceberg meets Mayfield Merger Strategies (MMS) owner, Steve Monnington, to understand the surge of private equity investments in the sector revealed this month including Blackstone’s $4.6bn takeover of Cvent, Providence Equity Partners’ acquisition of Hyve, and Informa’s trade acquisition of Tarsus. Monnington: ‘There’s a lot of money looking for a home…’ Further…
This is a stressful time in our society and just as importantly, within our destination organization family. And I cannot think of a better first step than to reach out to our families, friends, neighbors, and our peers within the destination organization community and ask that simple question, “How are you doing?” From Destinations International…
Associations are, ultimately, responsible for the carbon emissions produced by their meetings. Yet, when it comes to doing something about them, too many focus almost entirely on the supply chain – relying on host cities, venues, caterers etc. to provide evidence of how they are reducing their emissions. By James Lancaster, from Association Meetings International…
Exhibition News guest editor Phil Soar analyses the effects of Informa buying Tarsus on the wider industry and considers the road ahead for our major exhibition groups: “A couple of months ago that I suggested the trade show world was very likely to be back to normal by 2024 and, in many cases, well ahead…”
Menopause will affect half the world’s population but it’s very rarely spoken about, even less so in professional settings. So how do we get it on the agenda and how do we create supportive, inclusive and encouraging working environments for menopausal women? From M&IT Magazine…
The people in the room create the DNA of an event, and like-minded people usually generate one-dimensional thinking. So imagine the magic that happens when an eclectic group of thinkers from varied backgrounds, professions, and demographics gather together — exactly what happened during the Google Experience Institute (Xi) Days. From Skift Meetings…
It took a pandemic for governments to realise the value of business events. Now the sector has to keep up its advocacy and collaboration efforts. At the recent UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, leaders in the Asia’s events and exhibitions space shared about their effective advocacy strategies and learnings… From Meetings & Conventions…
‘The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative is the collective effort of the global events industry, to make sure that our sector can do its part in that important journey to net zero to combat climate change. It is by now the most global, most inclusive initiative our industry has ever seen…’ From Association Meetings International…
Meetings Today interviewed James Rees, executive director, conference and events, ExCel London and former president of the International Congress and Convention Association, about the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and other major sustainability efforts underway in Europe and North America. Listen to the Meetings Today Podcast…
Around the world, there’s a new course to be plotted as destination organizations look inward at stakeholders and residents and begin to address the organizational changes needed to facilitate that shift: marketing must have a local voice, budgets need to address a wider scope of projects throughout the community with diverse partners… From Simpleview…
Earlier this year, PCMA announced a collaboration with the American Geophysical Union to further its action on climate change at events. Shawna McKinley, AMI expert contributor, asks Lauren Parr, Senior Vice President of Meetings and Learning at AGU how the union approaches this intention at its own events. From Association Meetings International…
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In this dynamic and fun Masterclass we will explore traditional communication strategies and how they can be applied to communicating sustainability and enhance its purpose. You will be introduced to remarkable examples of storytelling by destinations and brands that inspire and elevate sustainability and make it accessible to broader audiences.
Collaboration is the key to making progress on sustainability in the events industry. A growing number of meeting professionals are working with experts and one another to craft sustainability policies and action plans. Join us for this interactive discussion as we share practical advice and best practices, while looking at what’s been put in place…
Global industry thought leaders will share their insights and knowledge with the participants in a campus-like environment and will be available throughout the duration of the programme to provide coaching and guidance when it comes to the team challenges, which aim to shape the future of convention centre management. Next to learning and shaping, connecting…
ICCA Business workshops are a quick and effective way to get a well-informed overview of what offers are available on the market from ICCA members and to exchange knowledge and best practices between associations and meeting suppliers. ICCA Business workshop offer an informal and small platform for associations and meeting suppliers to interact, and thus attendance is capped at 30 persons (15 ICCA…
Work alongside industry peers and grow your global network; continue to stay on top of market trends and developments in the exhibition industry. The programme will cover a wide range of relevant industry topics; set to two hours per topic, the online UFI-EMS will allow you to take part in the training in addition to…
EduCon’s energetic, immersive and provocative program attracts thought leaders, event marketers, experience designers and business events strategists from around the world. EduCon is known industrywide for its innovative approach to education — and the small-group learning that builds lasting relationships.
The Summer School provides great insights into the structure and functioning of the Meetings Industry. Our programme, filled with up-to-date and cutting edge examples of European best practice, lays out a comprehensive framework for you to build your expertise in one of the tourism industry’s most lucrative sector. It is perfect for those just starting…
Learn how to manage destinations through regenerative business models, destination stewardship approaches, and stakeholder engagement methodologies. We are all under pressure: visitor economies, their host communities, the earth, and the vulnerable. We need a new approach to recover, flourish, and thrive.
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
On-demand education from experienced industry professionals: This series of lessons can be reviewed at your own pace, on-demand, saving your progress as you go. At the end, you will take a quiz on what you’ve learned to receive a certificate of completion for CMP credits.
Every Wednesday, Iceberg Ambassador Anna Look hosts a FREE Q&A session to motivate & inspire business event professionals. Boost your week, ready to slay your 2023 sales targets with Anna’s industry trends insights and advice on tackling your specific prospecting worries. Let Anna help you get unstuck with tips, tricks and motivation.
Discover how Singapore, as a premiere business event destination, can help you organize impactful conferences. In this special Knowledge Capital Boardroom MiniCourse, Carrie Kwik, Executive Director Europe, Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, explains what makes Singapore so special when it comes to organizing high-quality association events that will have long-lasting legacies both for your organization…
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Save the date for the 2023 UFI MEA Conference in Doha from 10-11 May 2023! Open to both UFI members and non-members, the UFI MEA Conference is the leading international exhibition industry event in the region. We look forward to seeing you there! More information to come soon.
Destination West is the premier hosted-buyer event for qualified meetings and incentive professionals sourcing programs in the West. Formerly Discover Colorado, Destination West will also include other destinations and hotels in the Western U.S. Destination West enables attendees to experience firsthand the most desirable destinations, hotels and activities for successful meetings, while making invaluable business…
For each of the past 16 years, the AIPC Sales and Marketing Summit has proven to be the perfect kick-off for member participation in IMEX and all the client and industry interactions it entails. Summit participants have the opportunity to compare notes on current issues, consider the latest industry trends and hear from representatives of…
Incentive Live offers a compelling agenda that makes this event a must-attend for industry professionals. In addition to one-on-one appointments with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, brand name merchandise, gift cards and tourism offices, Incentive Live presents leading industry experts providing the latest perspective on industry trends and best practices that will…
The worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. Expect expert speakers, brand-new ideas and plentiful inspiration at 250-plus educational and networking events – and an exhilarating exhibition. Whether you want to keep up with fast-changing event trends, explore event tech, polish your professional skills or connect with your peers, our groundbreaking programme has it…
Your morning sets up the success of your day at IMEX Frankfurt! Come and join us to learn the latest news from BestCities. Find out what we have in store at the next BestCities Gobal Forum. You will also have the opportunity to network with association executives, members of the media and all our partner…
(This event is open to CityDNA members only, specifically to tourism professionals working on city cards schemes.) Our broad approach will include presentations and discussions on latest product developments, successful partnerships, innovating marketing strategies and much more. Meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes, share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of…
ICCA is proud to announce the second in-person ICCA and AC Forum Event – The Future of Healthcare Meetings. This event is part of an exciting and collaborative initiative between ICCA and AC Forum, Europe’s only networking platform established exclusively for and by associations. The collaboration includes a series of signature events taking place over…
Destinations Exchange Europe is ETOA and CityDNA’s new event focussing on the commercial, operational and people-driven development of the tourism industry. A two-day programme of pre-scheduled B2B business meetings is paired with a series of knowledge sessions dedicated to product development and optimisation, overcoming operational hurdles and effective public/private destination management, with a focus on…
Meeting in person is the single biggest driver of the UFI community. The conference is an important annual get-together of our nearly 300 member companies in Europe and other colleagues from around the world. It is an opportunity for the entire industry, UFI member or not, to meet face to face. Join the discussions with…
The first – and only – meetings industry event exclusively designed for planners who are sourcing meetings at venues that can support all of their needs – all in one place, under one roof. Planners and the stakeholders they support are increasingly looking for three things when they are sourcing their meetings, events and incentive…
Meet face-to-face with hundreds of UK and global suppliers: from hotels, destinations, and destination management companies, to conference centres, venues and technology suppliers. Gain insight and inspiration from industry leaders through our comprehensive education programme. Attend countless networking events happening at the show and throughout London.
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Lyn Lewis-Smith is CEO of BESydney and leads a global team of professionals spanning Europe, North America and Asia who are charged with securing global meetings of strategic, economic and social benefit to Sydney, Australia. The organisation works across sectors which include infrastructure, technology, professional services, advanced manufacturing, education and health. Lyn has led transformation…
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A bona fide veteran of the MICE industry with over 25 years of experience building and managing some of the world’s biggest event, conference, and tourism organizations, Sumaira’s reputation precedes her. She has worked both as a destination practitioner (DMC, PCO) as well as an advisor consultant to Tourist Boards, Associations and Local Governments in…
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Nigel started his career at the head office of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) in Amsterdam. He was part of the event organizing team of the association and served 7 years organizing a host of events on all continents. During his tenure he gained extensive project management skills and was responsible for implementing…
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With more than 20 years’ experience in the meetings industry, Bettina has extensive knowledge on working with association congresses and in creating close collaboration between associations, academia, organisations, companies and government. AMCs in attracting international association congresses, meetings and exhibitions to Copenhagen. In her last 7 years as Deputy in the Convention department and Head…
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Ray Bloom is the chairman and founder of the IMEX Group, which organises worldwide exhibitions for the incentive travel, meetings and events industry in Europe and the USA. IMEX in Frankfurt takes place at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, every spring; while IMEX America takes place at the Las Vegas Sands Expo each autumn. Bloom is also…
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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…
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Alex Alles joined JMIC Joint Meetings Industry Council in August 2022. There he is responsible for the overall operations of the association as well as the project office of the Net Zero Carbon Events. NZCE is an industry-wide initiative aiming to help stakeholders of the meetings and events sectors to decarbonise. Before joining JMIC, Alex…
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Fiona launched not for profit Positive Impact in 2005 to provide education and collaboration opportunities to create a sustainable event industry. She was the youngest female to chair an ISO standard when, in 2012, ISO 20121 a management system for event sustainability was created. In 2014 Fiona received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for services to…
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Tommy Goodwin is Vice President for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), a newly-formed association dedicated to the recovery and advancement of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s advocacy and member engagement work on behalf the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the…
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Anna is a business event and tourism professional with European and Canadian expertise. She studied for her career at the University of Brighton in the UK and subsequently worked for international tour operators Thomas Cook and Cosmosair group before emigrating to Canada in 2005. British Columbia was her home for the first eight years, honing…
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