SOURCE CODE: Tania Baumann (left) and Bettina Reventlow-Mourier ignited the journey to the UNBROKEN Summit in Lviv from the ICCA Congress in Krakow
Welcome to Issue #108 of Business Events World from The Iceberg as the Business Events Sector Rallies to Ukraine’s UNBROKEN Call to Action.
In Features, an astonishing act of collective humanitarianism as the world’s leading Business & Professional Event Sector organisations issued invitations to their members to attend a hybrid event – the UNBROKEN Emergency Summit – being held in Lviv, Ukraine, from 29-31 October.
Also in Features, the source code to the Summit, Bettina Reventlow-Mourier of Copenhagen Convention Bureau [seen pictured alongside fellow protagonist Tania Baumann of the World Energy Council] combines with 2023 UIA Congress President, Natalie Mossin, to illustrate how the architecture community is already contributing to Ukraine’s recovery. The bureau Deputy Director completes a Copenhagen Trilogy with an Update to the 7-Step Model of the Copenhagen Legacy Lab.
Meanwhile, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, applies his entrepreneurial experiences to business events both at home and at IMEX, while Skift editor Andrea Doyle captures the need for consolidation among the sector’s alphabet soup of associations – a view shared by most, other than the egos, argues UFI chief Kai Hattendorf.
In News, Meetings Industry Meeting Needs Celebrates 20 Years, Copenhagen Launches Risk Assessment White Paper at a stunning edition of PCMA’s Convene EMEA, PATA Welcomes Noor Hamid as its new CEO, and Maui Beckons Tourists to Stave off Economic Disaster.
What an unfortunate few months it has been for so many.
In Opinions, Iceberg Ambassador Oscar Cerezales insists that associations must adopt Business Model Platforms or risk failure. Fellow Ambassador Martin Sirk highlights the Untapped Potential of Association Intelligence. Fresh from being awarded the EIC Social Impact Award, the High Priestess of Impact and #MEET4IMPACT Founder Genevieve Leclerc refutes The Iceberg suggestion that Business Events have reached the End of the Legacy Road. And Iceberg Ambassadors Jane Vong Holmes of GainingEdge and former IEEE advisor Matty Rubenstein share centre spreads in the latest edition of Meetings International. If you hold a candle for deep thinking, read Vong Holmes’ Unbroken Spirit of Ukraine complimenting James Lancaster’s relay of Lviv Convention Bureau Deputy Director Juliia Katynska’s Glass Half Full in Features. Rubenstein shares his views on the badge of honour that legacy programs deliver to association leaders in his ‘Tale of Two Industries’ titled The Nexus of Destinations & Associations.
In Case Studies, see the DIY Legacy Project Report from Copenhagen and not to be outdone see also the AIDS 2022 Conference Case Study Report from Montreal Business Events alongside Iceberg Partner Boardroom Magazine’s feature article; Singapore: How Legacy-Building & Impact Go Hand-in-Hand.
These and an Iceberg full of newsletters and publications from the world’s finest publishers, a litany of forthcoming events and education from the world’s leading associations and professional communities set within the world’s largest library of research and case studies confirming Business & Professional Events as a policymaker’s dream.
Until next time, enjoy another cracking edition of IMEX America. Bring home a legacy to be proud of.
Enjoy #108, and share…
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The Humanitarian: Andriy Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, Ukraine “11 years ago Lviv hosted the European Football Championships. Today Lviv is a huge humanitarian hub. 5 million internally displaced people [have] passed through Lviv. Today Lviv hosts over 150,000 IDPs and every day we host wounded – civilian wounded, women, children and Ukrainian soldiers. Our municipal…
In a sequel to the UNBROKEN Ukraine Call to Action, The Iceberg reports from the recent UIA Congress to understand how the architectural sector is leveraging its Congress & Community to meet the intellectual resources required by Ukraine. Bettina Reventlow-Mourier, Deputy Director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau combines with 2023 UIA Congress President and Head…
Launched at the 2019 BestCities Global Forum, the revised 7-step model of the Copenhagen Legacy Lab (CLL) is explained by Copenhagen Convention Bureau Deputy Director and Iceberg Ambassador, Bettina Reventlow-Mourier. Starting the process begins at, or before, the RFP planning stage of a congress (or event) to ensure that intentional outcomes and impacts can be…
Rajesh Agrawal, London’s self-professed traveling salesman, is a former tech entrepreneur and businessman who built his success through meetings. Not one of those ‘show and go’ politicians, Agrawal is a ‘roll your sleeves up’ type, illustrated by his attendance on the London & Partners booth at IMEX in Frankfurt throughout the duration of the show…
From Skift Meetings: Meetings industry associations stand at the precipice of what many perceive as long overdue change. Some remain on shaky financial footing as they try to recover from the Covid pandemic. Others have fallen short in at least one of the key areas most important to a thriving association — innovation, advocacy, and…
From Association Meetings International: Yuliia Katynska, deputy director of the Lviv Convention Bureau, explains how Lviv’s business events community has transformed challenges into solutions as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to wreak havoc…
From AMI: A recent report by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) identified a ‘significant gap’ between what associations think destination marketing organisations should be focusing on and what the destinations think themselves. Holly Patrick talks to association experts to better understand what destinations need to do to attract their attention…
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The UK-based industry charity, Meetings Industry Meeting Needs, gathered in London to celebrate raising over £1.3m to support over 400 grants to those in need both in the UK and beyond. Copenhagen Convention Bureau‘s Lene Corgan and founder Martin Lewis share the story of the charity, some of the programs supported, and celebrate the impact…
From PCMA: PCMA and the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe (SANCBE) today announced a new sustainability conference to be hosted in conjunction with Convening EMEA 2024 (30 September – 2 October) in Barcelona, Spain. The news was shared during the closing session of Convening EMEA 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Together, PCMA…
From Global Destinations Sustainability Movement: A white paper released at the UKinbound Annual Convention in Belfast reveals how a pioneering partnership between Green Tourism and Visit Belfast and Belfast City Council has helped to propel Northern Ireland’s capital into the Global Destinations Sustainability Index Top 10. The report, Sustainable Tourism for Cities and Stakeholders, and…
From Wonderful Copenhagen: From megatrends to contractual challenges – risk plays a major role for both buyers and suppliers when deciding on a destination or providing a quote for an event. By identifying key risks for the different industry players, Copenhagen Convention Bureau’s new white paper sets out to create greater mutual understanding and awareness…
From PATA: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Noor Ahmad Hamid as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2023. Noor’s appointment for a three-year term will usher in a new era for PATA as one of the world’s most influential industry associations dedicated to promoting…
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has been awarded Best Exhibition or Trade Show at the 2023 Australian Event Awards & Symposium. At a gala event held at the Highline Venue in Bankstown, NSW, on 13 September, AIME received the prestigious award, cementing its position as the flagship trade show for the meetings…
From Northstar Meetings Group: The European Travel Information and Authorization System, formed to improve the security of European Union member states in the Schengen Region, has announced that travelers will need special authorization to enter Europe beginning next year. Visitors from countries that are currently exempt from visa requirements — including the United States…
From TravelPulse: The popular Italian tourist destination of Venice will soon trial a tourist tax that was originally supposed to take effect in the summer of 2022. In an ongoing effort to combat overcrowding during the city’s peak visitor days, officials will charge a €5 or $5.35 tax to day-trippers visiting Venice’s Old City starting…
From Polish Tourism Organisation: From 26 to 30 August, Gdańsk hosted the participants of the 37th edition of the CityDNA Summer School. This important event, organised by the City Destinations Alliance, had been acquired for Poland by the Gdańsk Convention Bureau. The four-day training session, aimed mainly at people starting their careers in the MICE…
From Northstar Meetings Group: Crucial tourism revenue has plummeted since the wildfires hit, and unemployment is surging as restaurants and tour companies lay off workers. Richie Olsten has been in the helicopter tour business on Maui for half a century — so long he’s developed a barometer for the tourism-dependent economy: the number of rental…
From Exhibition World: UK-based Cuil Bay Capital (CBC), a new investment vehicle led by exhibition industry entrepreneur Doug Emslie, former CEO of Tarsus Group, announces its inaugural investment, the acquisition of a majority stake in UK-based Raccoon Media Group (Raccoon). Exact terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Founded in 2016, Raccoon achieved acclaim…
From Business Events Adelaide: The biennial gathering of Australia’s pre-eminent philanthropic organisations will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre in August 2024. It is expected to attract more than 700 delegates, and speakers from around the world. Philanthropy Australia’s 2024 conference will be its first held outside Melbourne or Sydney…
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The conversation on sustainability has changed. Today’s leading organisations no longer see sustainability as a reporting or compliance issue, but as a critical business imperative in our interconnected world. More than ever before, longterm prosperity and success hinge on integrating sustainability into strategic planning and decision-making, as well as determining the synergies between financial performance…
From Boardroom: Singapore’s global influence is undeniable. Moving up a spot as the 7th most innovative nation in the world in the latest Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022, the city attracts associations aiming for meaningful impact and sustainability, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and positive community engagement. Home to an airport serving nearly 100 airlines and…
In 2022, Montréal Convention Centre hosted the 24th International AIDS Conference, organised by the International AIDS society, bringing together approximately 8,000 people, including scientists, clinicians, people living with HIV, community leaders and decision-makers, and other stakeholders from around the world. A further 1,000 attendees joined the event virtually. The main aims of the conference were…
The Southern Hemisphere’s very first WorldPride held in Sydney, Australia in March, over 17 days extending to 400 events proved an opportunity to galvanise the LGBTQIA+SB community in standing together in a powerful call for equality. The Theme: Gather. Dream. Amplify and Sydney delivered on every level as Robin Mack, Executive General Manager for Commercial…
Medical conferences convene hundreds, often thousands, of doctors and scientists in one city. But their expertise is seldom heard outside the conference centre. They exchange knowledge and best practice peer-to-peer, using technical language non-experts would find bewildering, in lectures, workshops, panel discussions and poster presentations. The end goal is to improve patient outcomes in the…
The 6th World Parkinson Congress 2023 provided an unparalleled international and interdisciplinary forum to highlight the latest developments in Parkinson’s Disease worldwide. But the benefits for Barcelona go far beyond the economic impact and overnight stays, as the event will leave an invaluable legacy in the city’s social and scientific fields. From HQ Magazine July…
The 2021 BestCities Global Forum in Madrid came just a few months after the city hosted the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Congress. The Iceberg has been following the evolution of its legacy engagement project – The Madrid Project – which derived from a revolutionary RFP created by CEO Alessandro Cortese, and explained…
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…
What happens when associations prioritise long-term positive impact in the early planning stages of their event? And what kind of activities and outcomes can it lead to? To cast light on this, Copenhagen Legacy Lab is launching a series of legacy case studies. Throughout 2022, Copenhagen Legacy Lab has been rolled out at several congresses…
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From EIC: Today, the Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry, released its quarterly Global Events Barometer for Q2 2023, which indicates a second consecutive quarter of an increase in hotel room nights and business event RFPs. As indicated in EIC’s 2023 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study released…
From Global Destination Sustainability Movement: Lessons from Belfast’s ambitious 18 month programme for transitioning to become a more sustainable destination are offered for take-up by tourist destinations keen to address climate change. Destination management and marketing organisations, industry stakeholders and local authorities don’t have to reinvent the wheel when planning to mitigate climate change.
From Northstar Meetings Group: Planners will likely be increasing their budgets next year to account for rising costs, based on findings from the latest Northstar/Cvent Meetings Industry PULSE Survey. Among the highlights of this new research: A plurality of planners (44 percent) report that their event budgets will increase next year, with six out of…
Envisioning Tourism in 2030 is a new research report developed to help policymakers and the tourism industry understand what a global, thriving, decarbonising tourism industry could look like by 2030 and through to 2050, when tourism and every other human activity must achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. From The Travel Foundation…
The exhibition industry has long had challenges in focusing its identity. The purpose of this white paper is to help organisations in the industry unite on a common talent narrative and suggest central threads for customising their own “people story”. This document discusses: key industry-wide narratives, the Gen-Z perspective on talent… From UFI…
In our latest IMEX America Sustainable Event Report, discover how we delivered a zero-waste event for more than 12,000 participants. Download the report now for insight on: Eliminating single-use plastics; Reducing CO2 emissions; Diverting waste; Tracking and measuring event impact; Giving back to local communities… From IMEX…
From GCB: Sustainability is increasingly becoming the focus of event planners and participants alike. The value of personal encounters at business events remains unbroken – and more and more people are extending business trips for private purposes. These are some of the key findings of the new study “Portrait of European Meeting & Convention Travel”…
WTTC produces reports on the economic and employment impact of Travel & Tourism for 185 countries/economies and 26 geographic or economic regions in the world. These reports are a vital tool in helping to equip public and private sector bodies with hard evidence of the huge value Travel & Tourism brings to the economy…
From the German Convention Bureau (GCB): Recently, the GCB released a thought-provoking whitepaper that delves deep into the future of business events and their intrinsic significance in sculpting regions and cities. The whitepaper encapsulates the essence of crucial considerations for destinations, venues, and stakeholders alike, while navigating the implications of global megatrends…
New analysis shows the UK has the biggest price difference between trains and flights in Europe – taking the train will cost you four times the price of a flight on average, according to a new report from Greenpeace. The study compared ticket prices on more than 100 routes between major European cities… From Greenpeace…
The DestinationNEXT Futures Study provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant trends affecting both leisure tourism and business events from around the world as well as a list of key strategies leaders can implement to help ensure the success of their organizations and destinations. The report is a key tool for any destination organization…
This study is based on a global survey, concluded in July 2023. It represents up-to-date information on the development and outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 19 markets and regions. This edition builds on those released over the past three years to create an overall assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic impact…
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Speaking from Luxembourg at the AIPC annual conference, the Iceberg Ambassador and Global Executive Vice President of MCI, Oscar Cerezales, picks up the thread of Skift editor Angela Doyle’s recent post titled ‘Consolidation on the Horizon for Meetings Industry Associations’ insisting that the alphabet soup of association interests needs recalibration. But it doesn’t stop there….
Geneviève Leclerc, Co-Founder & CEO of MEET4IMPACT, reflects on the issues raised in Business Events World #107: The End of the Legacy Road?… It’s sad to hear that the efforts deployed by European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) – a pioneer in elevating the act of purposefully allocating a meeting to a destination based…
By Jane Vong Holmes, featured in Meetings International: Lviv’s business events community in Ukraine transforms challenges into solutions amidst war’s impact. Humanitarian hubs, charitable initiatives, and innovation mark their response. Noteworthy are hotels turned shelters, IT companies aiding modernisation, and Lviv’s commitment to building connections. Winning titles like European Youth Capital 2025 and hosting international…
By Matty Rubenstein, featured in Meetings International: Two deeply interwoven industries have both seen unprecedented change to their business imperatives in the last decade. Yesterday’s cities would compete for conferences as tourist destinations, a boon for hotels, convention centres and entertainment. Today, municipalities see mass-tourism as the key to health, social and economic development. At…
From ESAE: This article by Martin Sirk, International Advisor to our Partners at Global Association Hubs Partnership, explores the pitfalls of chasing the latest business trends and highlights the untapped potential of Association Intelligence. It highlights how Associations can leverage their unique attributes to build long-term success and offer genuine value in a world obsessed…
From the International Society of Sustainability Professionals: At the present level of GHG emissions, it is clear that emission reductions alone will be insufficient to achieve the Paris Agreement aspirational target of restricting average global surface temperature increase to 1.5°C by the end of the century. As well, emission reductions alone will be insufficient to…
By Phil Soar, Chairman, CloserStill Group and Nineteen Group, from Exhibition News: On 11 August, 2020, I wrote a piece in EN about “Hopin” and have followed this up with occasional health reports since. Hopin was, according to The Times, the future of events, a future which would be almost all online and digital…
The tourism industry is being hit by a wave of climate shocks. The crises come just as the industry has started to recover from lengthy travel restrictions following the covid-19 pandemic. However, that experience has already led some in the sector, and travellers around the globe, to think differently about tourism… From The Economist…
Destination Marketing Organization University (DMOU) Podcast: When the moderator went to the audience this year at the Annual Convention of Destinations International asking, “what keeps you up at night,” Lviv’s Olena Pavlyuk held out her mobile device and replayed a recording of an air raid siren. In this fascinating episode of DMOU, Olena shares how…
By James Lancaster, from AMI: Has event legacy (associations and host cities working together to ensure meetings leave a lasting benefit to society) hit a brick wall? Or is it just getting started? It’s a question causing a great deal of anguish amongst meeting professionals right now. Either way, it’s hard to recall a subject…
By Maraika Black, Advocacy, Policy, and Public Health Coordinator, European Association for the Study of the Liver: Health conferences have traditionally focused on actors directly involved in the field – specialists, medical experts, general practitioners, researchers, nurses, and allied health professionals. It has long since been a source of prestige and professional mobilisation for delegates…
By Jack Johnson, from Destinations International: Every two years, Destinations International, as the world’s largest membership entity and resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), looks into the future and releases the DestinationNEXT (DNEXT) Futures Study. It is the largest and most extensive survey of destination organizations around the world…
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“Celebrating the 2023 GDS-Index Results and GDS-Awards Winners” – explore and be inspired by sustainability successes on our journey towards greater regeneration for destinations. Discover insights and trends from the data we’ve collected, and learn about the projects that are putting our winners into leadership positions, in a webinar packed with inspiration and practical examples.
Our free professional education program includes 200-plus in-depth seminars, hands-on workshops and specialist forums. Spark your imagination with ground-breaking keynotes and fresh ideas from experts and innovators. Explore our talking point, sustainability, well-being and experiential. Keep up with event tech and legislation, and polish your professional skills.
Attracting, retaining, and growing talent is a global challenge for our industry, not only in Canada but worldwide. One way of addressing this challenge is providing the upcoming leaders of convention centres with unique professional education, focusing on their specific needs. That is why Convention Centres of Canada and AIPC decided to co-create a Canadian…
The Enhancing Events with AI certificate course is a tailor-made program for all event organizers who want to bring the power (and magic) of artificial intelligence (AI) into their work. This course goes beyond helping you understand AI. We’ll take you behind the scenes, revealing how to use the most practical AI platforms. These new…
This unique, international programme is tailored for our developing leaders who are ready to shape the industry around the globe. The programme has three components: Masterclasses: a series of 7 expert led masterclasses; Industry challenge: working with your group, you will collectively identify an industry challenge, create a proposed solution, and develop a business case…
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.
Become an authority on live stream and digital events; master the art of event measurement, from event conception to post-event debrief; crack the code on producing hybrid events that work for your organization’s needs, budget, and technology; solve complex business challenges with innovation-driven strategic solutions – study on-the-go and on your schedule with PCMA…
Destinations International recognizes the importance of cultivating a tourism industry that represents a wide variety of individuals at all levels, celebrating the broad range of human differences among us, while embracing the commonalities we share. Our association is committed to transforming destination communities through thought leadership, best practices and tools based on equity, diversity and…
Currently, only a small number of destinations have clearly defined legacy and impact strategies and use outcome and impact indicators to monitor their non-financial performance. Go to the next level of performance: learn the latest social impact theories and approaches to enable you to develop a robust impact strategy and implement measurement processes to monitor…
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…
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.
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IMEX America is the largest trade show in the US for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry. Our award-winning show brings the meetings industry together to do a year’s worth of business under one roof. Suppliers and buyers from every sector of the meetings industry come together at IMEX, held at Mandalay Bay,…
ICCA Business workshop offer an informal and small platform for associations and meeting suppliers to interact (ICCA members and accompanying association executives). During the workshop, a series of one-to-one business meetings will take place where all associations executives will have the chance to meet sale representatives to discuss their specific meeting requirements.
(Open to UFI members only.) UFI’s annual Global Congress is known as the exhibition industry’s largest global meeting of the year, combining international networking with unique content. It is an ideal opportunity for members to gain insight into topics of strategic interest, on the current industry trends and challenges that the exhibition industry is currently…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
Join industry leaders, event professionals, and innovators to explore cutting-edge trends, strategies, and technologies driving the future of event management. Delve into global outlook, technological advancements, customer insights, sustainability, economic impact, AI utilization, business development, and thought-provoking debates. Unleash the potential of your events.
Global Incentive Summit—Northstar’s global hosted buyer event for the incentive travel industry—brings together the most highly-qualified incentive travel buyers with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs and tourism offices from around the world. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group of…
Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate with fellow ICCA members and create business opportunities by sharing detailed meeting intelligence. ICCA Business Exchange lead criteria – 1. Won or lost bids for events took/are taking place after 1st January 2022; 2. Attendance of 200-5000 participants; 3. The lead must have ‘World/International’ as rotation; 4. Members are…
ICCA is proud to announce that the annual ICCA Young Professionals Forum is relocating to the enchanting city of Bangkok on the 11th of November! The Forum brings together young industry professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds. At ICCA, we firmly believe that great ideas flourish when diverse minds collaborate and we are inviting…
With over 1,000 members from 91 countries and territories across the globe, the hosting of the ICCA Annual Congress will spotlight Thailand as the ideal destination for international conventions in both quantitative and qualitative terms. The congress will create revenue, economic and social impacts as well as contribute to the potential of Thailand in hosting…
The AIPC Facility Operations Summit provides an engaging forum for issues and opportunities associated with a new era of growing digitization of the industry and implications this has for centre management. Amongst the areas to be explored will be what’s trending in event logistics, risk and crowd management, security and cybersecurity, changing tech requirements, responding…
Join us at IBTM World and discover all the inspiration, business connections and content you need to create world-class events for your customers. Dive in to the world of business connetions and events, learning how to maximise business opportunities through serious networking. Meet and share ideas and inspiration with some of the world’s most influential…
The Northstar Leadership Forum brings together the industry’s thought leaders – planning professionals and suppliers – for three days of education, networking and sharing of best practices. Our forum is unlike any other industry gathering: A unique, high-level experience where business relationships and friendships are forged. Hosted at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble…
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Geoff Donaghy is CEO of Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, ICC Sydney, which since its opening has been successfully attracting local, national and international visitors with its focus on high quality events, local produce and commitment to service excellence. He is also the Group Director of Convention Centres for leading venue management specialists,…
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Melissa Riley serves as the Senior Vice President, Convention Sales and Services at Destination DC (DDC), the official convention and tourism organization for the nation’s capital. A 26-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Riley leads a team of more than 30 who work in concert to generate a positive economic impact for the…
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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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Aileen has worked in the meetings industry for over 20 years, initially in venue sales for Glasgow Museums, then in a variety of roles within the Conventions team at the Tourist Board, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and is currently the Head of Tourism and Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau, Glasgow Life. The Glasgow Convention Bureau…
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For the last 15 years, Guy has been delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and regenerative practices. Guy’s pioneering work has been recognised with 22 sustainability awards including the Events Industry Council Pacesetter Award, and recognition as a Fellow…
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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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Gary has over 30 years’ experience in the convention industry. In 2004 he founded GainingEdge, a global consulting company that offers advisory services in relation to destinations, convention bureaus and convention and exhibition centres. It also provides convention and incentive sales representation services in all of the world’s key markets. The company’s services are end-to-end,…
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Managing Director and owner of SFA Connect (trading name for Sarah Fleming Associates Ltd), Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the Meetings Industry. She was a board director of a leading UK PCO for ten years where she handled numerous large, high-profile events all over the world. Through this work she gained an in-depth…
Working out of both USA and Netherlands; projects in Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America, with a mix of clients including IMEX, UFI, SITE and other international associations and meetings companies. Expert Advisor to tech start-up Kubify, Strategic Relations Advisor to IASP, the International Association for the Study of Pain, and International Advisor to…
Jane loves life in the Nordics and the spirit of Scotland. Her expertise is based on 20 years of experience across the global meetings industry. Over this time she has been fortunate to have gained wonderful experience and friends from working for some great hotels, a convention centre, a destination marketing organisation, a PCO, and…
