Fractured Globalisation Creates a Multitude of Opportunities
It’s easy for those of us who believe in the power of Business Events to generate positive societal impact to feel depressed when glued to the 24/7 news cycle. Recent months have brought a tsunami of disruptions to long-relied-upon international structures, relationships and norms, new sources of friction and barriers to international travel, ominously bubbling conflict hot-spots, and an erosion of institutional trust with a side-order of dis- and misinformation.
This edition of Business Events World provides an essential antidote to any feelings of despair, with over 50 thought-provoking articles, practical examples, deep-diving studies, and thought-leader viewpoints, which together point to an enormous range of new opportunities that have been opened up by the fracturing and fragmentation of old, established orders.
Knowledge and know-how, business and trade, like water, will always find a way to flow around, under or over whatever obstacles are thrown in their path. We are ultimately a problem-solving, endlessly curious, resilient and opportunistic species, and business events are where we best display these traits!
Who are these resources aimed at? How can you use them?
The Iceberg is an extensive knowledge repository curated to help industry leaders, event owners, ambassadors, and educators to better inform policymakers of the socio-economic transformation derived from business & professional events.
The metaphorical tip of the iceberg – the $1.6tn* direct and induced consumption of event & tourism-related services required to facilitate and attend events – is hugely significant, yet vastly outweighed by the mission and purpose-driven outcomes, the positive societal impacts, the trade, exports, inward investments, knowledge transfer, intellectual and financial capital attraction, professional development, soft power, place leadership, and sectoral capacity building that can be derived from congresses and conventions, corporate meetings, trade fairs and exhibitions.
*EIC Economic Impact Study
*If you’re redesigning your organisation or destination’s Business Events strategy, you really should study many of the documents in Reports & Research. Check out Copenhagen’s plans for 2024-2030, or UFI’s Global Economic impact of Exhibitions study, or Boldpush’s Future of Event Venues report.
*Perhaps you want to persuade local or national policymakers to invest in measuring the “beyond-tourism” impact of specific major events you’ll be hosting in the near future: access our Case Studies for examples of impact and legacy from Gothenburg, Alberta, Australia and Africa.
*Maybe you’ve been newly appointed to a leadership position in the Business Events sector, and want to know what the smartest thinkers in our world are talking about: check out Opinions to hear from the likes of Virginie de Visscher from Destination Canada, ex-UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf, African events pioneer Rick Taylor, and incentive travel guru Padraic Gilligan.
*Or if you simply want to catch up on the News items that are most relevant for strategists working in our sector, we’ve brought a great selection together in one location, including updates on US policy impacting NASA and space meetings, the OECD talking about event impact in Latin America, and international associations’ relationships with European institutions.
*If there is one item that EVERYONE should read, it’s the IMEX Policy Forum 2025 report, hot off the press and the lead item in Reports & Research. It demonstrates the power of collaboration when leaders in our industry come together with city and national policymakers to work out how we can gain a permanent seat amongst Place Leadership teams in an era of “distributed leadership”. We are uniquely placed to connect the ecosystems of academia, business, healthcare and science with each other and with elected politicians and senior civil servants, but too often we are invited into strategic forums as an afterthought, if at all. This is something we can all work to change, taking up The Iceberg’s call for MANY VOICES, ONE MESSAGE!
The Curator
Click here for News on who is now curating Business Events World & The Iceberg!
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Held during the 2025 IMEX Policy Forum in Frankfurt, this high-level interview with urbanist, author and global advisor Prof Greg Clark CBE FAcSS provides essential geopolitical and socioeconomic context for understanding the future potential direction of Business Events and what destinations that wish to strengthen their competitive positioning need to do. “A multiplication of opportunity…
Dubai’s Business Events leaders share strategic insights into how our sector supports broader knowledge economy goals, with ideas that can be adopted by many other destinations worldwide. As Dubai works to transform itself into a continents-connecting knowledge economy powerhouse, business events are playing a critical role, especially during these times of global geopolitical disruption. Karina…
In a call to action for all Asian destinations to embrace “beyond-tourism” thinking in their approach to Business Events, PCMA’s Florence Chua summarises the opportunities and barriers to growth in the regional and international association market within Asia Pacific. Interviewed during this year’s PCMA APAC conference at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Chua highlighted the…
In this interview held during The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in April 2025, Michael Shoory from Tourism Economics Asia-Pacific Office succinctly explains the different categories of economic impact generated by business events, and why post-COVID business events travel has rebounded much more strongly than individual business travel, in…
From Boardroom: Long recognised for its hospitality, culture, and strategic position within Europe’s business events landscape, Barcelona is now working to embed long-term societal value into the very fabric of the events it attracts.
The Global Destination Sustainability Movement has released a must-read guide for destination marketers and managers on the latest regulations, including advice on what practical steps to take, both to remain in compliance and to use your sustainability positioning for competitive advantage in attracting events. From GDS-Movement…
A thoughtful article by Gary Grimmer on the latest geopolitical changes and their implications for both international business events and the societal cost in the fields of healthcare, science, trade and beyond. Numerous commentators and analysts are concluding that the changes to US policy and in power relationships between countries and regions will generate far…
In this series of articles Boardroom pulls together some excellent practical ideas on how associations can advocate more effectively, both in support of business and scientific events in general, but also to drive the mission of their own specific organisation. A highlight is the case study on how the US National Down Syndrome Society utilised…
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It was my pleasure to welcome Martin Sirk as the new Curator of The Iceberg and its regular newsletter, Business Events World, at IMEX in Frankfurt last month (pictured). In this, his first edition, you may already notice the uplift in quality! As a regular media commentator, event designer and facilitator, strategic advisor to destinations,…
This year’s VisitBrussels Night celebrated the academics, scientific and healthcare professionals, and business leaders whose bids brought important international events to Brussels. The event was a great opportunity to hear views on the strategic role of business events from industry thought-leaders. Over 150 ambassadors, 300,000 delegates and EUR 250 million in direct economic impact …
Discussions will explore opportunities in growing sectors such as green energy and the care economy, as well as how places can boost their global presence through hosting major events and place marketing. The OECD Local Development Forum 2025 Annual Meeting will take place on 08-11 July in Barranquilla, Colombia – find out more here…
From Skift Meetings: The White House has proposed the largest single-year budget cut to NASA in U.S. history. As a result, space science and exploration are taking a hit — and so are the cornerstone conferences that support these efforts. NASA is facing a proposed 24% budget cut. The financial uncertainty is already hitting the…
The second edition of this Asia-Pacific tradeshow at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was a great success, thanks to healthy demand growth for business events across the region, and strong partnerships with Singapore Tourism Board and Marina Bay Sands, as well as with global and regional associations. David Blansfield, Executive VP & Group Publisher, Northstar:…
Two events, ten years apart, continue to provide legacies for their host communities and the world at large, emphasising the importance of long-term impact monitoring. CEO of ICMS Australasia, Emma Bowyer, reports the company received news this month that outcomes of two events they managed continue to make an strong societal impact: the 6th IUCN…
From Boardroom: From 27 to 30 May 2025, Calgary played host to Innovate Canada – Life Sciences 2025, the latest edition of Destination Canada’s signature event series. Designed to rotate across the country’s top-performing sectors and innovation hubs, Innovate Canada connects international associations with the research, business, and policy leaders shaping Canada’s future. This year’s…
From Boardroom: This past March, Stuttgart played host to the European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2025, marking the first time in its fifteen-year history that Europe’s premier robotics and AI gathering took place in Germany. More than 1,500 participants from research, industry, and government convened at the Kultur- & Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, cementing the region’s reputation as…
BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have renewed their partnership through a three-year agreement to continue the annual Incredible Impacts Programme. The initiative recognises international meetings that create meaningful, enduring legacies within their host destinations and global communities. Each year, the Incredible Impacts Programme distributes two financial grants – a…
From ICCA: Signed during IMEX 2025 in Frankfurt by ICCA CEO Dr. Senthil Gopinath and ESAE Managing Director Ioannis Pallas, the agreement affirms both organisations’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of association leaders and professionals, as well as contributing to one another’s ongoing research and development efforts.
From Boardroom: As the European Green Deal is shaping various sectors in the continent, associations need to step up their game for advocacy and actively lead their sectors towards transformation. Few have risen to that challenge with the clarity and collaborative ambition of the European Boating Industry (EBI), which has just been awarded the 2025…
It’s great to see a dramatic example of The Iceberg’s central metaphor on the cover of this book about the enormous impact and value of trade shows! It’s focused on the USA, but the arguments and insights are universal. Read a review from ExhibitCity News here. The Invisible Industry: The Evolution of Trade Shows can…
Hugh Jones, CEO of RX Global and President of UFI, the Association of the Global Exhibitions Industry shares the organisation’s key advocacy messages in a video address to policymakers.
From Skift Meetings: Visa delays, funding cuts, and geopolitical tensions are driving scientific conferences out of the U.S. Some are relocating. Others are canceling. The International Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IACBT) canceled its August 14-17 conference in Nashville — its first U.S. meeting in 40 years. Approximately 900 were expected. Organizers cited visa uncertainty,…
From Boardroom: Associations are under pressure. Technology moves fast, members want different things, politics are unstable, and the climate crisis is ever-growing. Association leaders must make difficult decisions about what relevance means and how to partner strategically for impact. In this context, Sydney’s Leadership Choices: Driving Societal Change into Associations event served as a hands-on…
From PCMA: ABTS is seeing some troubling trends for international health-care events — some of which are due to global misperceptions of current realities in the US. After Convene sent out an email invitation to participate in our pulse survey with the subject line “Is Global Uncertainty Affecting Your Events?,” I received an email reply…
This is the calibre of policymaker every country should strive to involve in their business events activity, including recognition of local ambassadors and organisers. Singapore consistently aligns of its meetings strategy with key national development goals. (Pictured above, Mr. Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development, Singapore.)
A record-setting group of 170 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates from 30 states met with more than 130 elected officials on Capitol Hill today as part of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) annual Legislative Action Day. “What happens in Washington, DC is critical to the competitiveness of our industry going forward,”…
Early pre-event collaboration between the city’s destination marketing organisation and congress organisers was key in designing high-impact outreach programmes involving schools and thousands of ordinary citizens, raising awareness of how to maintain lifelong liver health. From Amsterdam Convention Bureau…
The 2025 IMEX Gala was the setting for the sector’s leading associations to present awards recognising star individuals within their communities who are raising awareness of the enormous long-term economic and societal impact of business and scientific events, amongst both policymakers and citizens.
The two of the three most important umbrella organisations for the business events sector, Events Industry Council and Joint Meetings Industry Council announced at IMEX 2025 a joint programme of advocacy, research and sustainability standards, including working together with Oxford Economics on the 2026 Economic Significance of Business Events Industry report, which will provide worldwide…
Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau has been the world leader in sharing its innovative work on event impact, creative event design and sustainability, recognising that encouraging competitors to embrace these changes will help the entire world of Business Events to increase its positive societal impact whilst reducing its carbon footprint, strengthening advocacy arguments for the entire…
Germany reports attendance figures back up to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. This is a useful report for those interested in communicating the enormous scale of the meetings sector in individual countries. 377 million attendees participated in approximately 2 million events in a single year! From Skift Meetings…
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Last month, The Iceberg shared its introduction to three case studies of how the GDS-Award winning city is activating the attraction of business events to advance social, societal, and economic transformation, destination development, and positive change. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do,” claimed Katarina Thorstensson, Head of Sustainability at the city’s destination…
Destination Canada’s Legacy & Impact Study examines the lasting economic, social and environmental impacts of up to 16 business events held across Canada between 2018 and 2024. This case study highlights the legacy of the CitiesIPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference, which inspired cutting-edge urban climate science research in Edmonton and beyond. …
Bringing together over 2,800 C-suite executives from 90 countries, start-up entrepreneurs, senior policymakers (including five Heads of State), NGOs and global investors, this annual event has an impressive track record of generating multinational business deals and new economic development programmes, including major new projects for the host destination. This article provides insight into the headline…
From Wonderful Copenhagen: Comprehensive guidelines on how to design a strategic legacy programme, and how to apply the principles and practices to individual events, from identification of challenges and desired impact, designing the process, measuring the impact, with the active involvement of local policymakers. View / download Copenhagen Legacy Lab’s publications and find inspirational tools…
From Boardroom: The 30th Annual Congress of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO), one of the leading organisations within the field of implant dentistry, was a landmark event that underscored the city’s appeal as a world-class congress destination. With over 3,000 delegates and 140+ expert speakers, the meeting provided a dynamic platform for discussing cutting-edge…
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Essential reading for destination leaders interested in building stronger relationships with national or city policymakers: 120 Business Events association and destination marketing leaders and 20 policymakers (a mix of ministers and MPs, mayors and councillors, senior civil servants and advisors) met during IMEX in Frankfurt to discuss the practical steps our sector could take to…
From Destination Canada: At IMEX Frankfurt, we shared insights that are reshaping how the global business events community thinks about legacy. Destination Canada’s Virginie De Visscher, together with The Iceberg, #MEET4IMPACT and GainingEdge revealed Year 2 findings of the Legacy & Impact Study—a groundbreaking initiative spotlighting the beyond-tourism benefits of business events.
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry, has released its quarterly Global Events Barometer for 2025 Q1. The numbers reflect a slight dip in global business events from the end of 2024 but remain stronger than the same period last year. The report also acknowledges growing concern about the…
From The Business of Events: We are delighted to share the 2025 International Planner Sentiment Report, which reveals a marked divergence in event planner priorities across global markets. Supported by Tourism Ireland, this year’s findings unveil growing regional differences in planner priorities across the UK, Europe, and North America – shaped by shifting economic, political,…
From UFI: The new Global Economic Impact of Exhibitions (2024) report, produced by UFI and Oxford Economics, evaluates the direct output generated by the production of exhibitions and other exhibitors and visitors’ spending at €150 ($162) billion. This first level of impact, which includes inflation, benefits not just the exhibition industry, but all related sectors,…
From Boldpush & Momentus: This exclusive report reveals how venue and event leaders across 50+ countries are reshaping the industry. We’ve uncovered the key trends, challenges, and opportunities that forward-thinking venues are focusing on today. From new technology and data use to better guest experiences and smarter operations, this research gives venue operators and event…
This initiative explores the growing impact of the socioeconomic climate, public safety, accessibility, and social values on destination reputation and the decision-making process of meeting organisers. Contains insights and tools needed for DMOs to anticipate and respond to reputational challenges and strengthen their destination’s competitive positioning. The Full Report from Destinations International can be viewed…
VisitBritain’s updated Delegate Spend Report reveals that 62% of all delegates on average intend to return to the city where the event is held, and 47% intend to return to invest or grow business relationships, encouraging sector growth. You can learn more about the findings / download the full report here…
Wonderful Copenhagen’s new high-level strategy for tourism (including Business Events) 2024-2030, designed to “shed light on tourism’s true impact on society and the world – its positive and negative effects, and its direct and indirect.” A model for meaningful engagement with local citizens and deeper links to local business and scientific ecosystems.
From Boardroom: Just ahead of IMEX Frankfurt, a report has come out to reshape how destinations and associations collaborate in a shifting global environment. Purpose Under Pressure: Global Association Trends in 2025 – the result of a partnership between BestCities Global Alliance and Strategic Membership Solutions – unveils compelling data from 586 association professionals across…
Produced by the German Convention Bureau (GCB), with data collected from nearly 5,000 venues and 3,000 event organisers, the “Meeting & Event Barometer Germany 2024/2025” provides in-depth analysis of the German congress and event market: an excellent model for other countries wishing to produce annual “state of the market” reports.
Generated by “Wisdom of Crowds” workshops involving over 200 industry leaders, this is a “how to” toolkit that provides essential principles, key talking points, and concrete practical advice for designing and running advocacy programmes at local, national or international levels. From ICCA – International Congress and Convention Association…
With the 119th Congress taking office tomorrow, and President-elect Trump being sworn in later this month, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) has released its 2025 public policy agenda. ECA’s alliance partners and board of directors have identified five key areas of focus for 2025 that will drive the future competitiveness of the US business…
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In this compilation of interviews carried out during PCMA APAC and The Meetings Show APAC in Singapore and IMEX in Frankfurt, industry leaders and top destination specialists discuss how disruptions to long-established global relationships are actually creating openings for many more destinations to use business events to achieve world-class status in their areas of expertise….
By Pádraic Gilligan, Research & Consultancy, SITE and Co–founder, SoolNua: We’ve reached the midpoint of the year and one thing is clear: we’re no clearer as to what lies ahead for our world at large, the world of business, our industry, or our sector. Our innate resilience drives us onwards, but it’s one cautious step…
From Northstar Meetings Group: During the IMEX Frankfurt 2025 trade show, Virginie De Visscher, executive director, business events, for Destination Canada, sat down with Northstar Meetings Group editor Lisa Grimaldi to share insight into her organization’s goals for tracking the impact that meetings, conventions and incentives have on destinations. During their conversation, she discussed new…
From Meetings International: Few names resonate as strongly in business events as that of Rick Taylor, who has played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s business events industry. With a career that spans decades, his contributions have left a permanent mark on the industry, shaping the narrative of business events as powerful catalysts for economic…
Follow Geneviève Leclerc’s novel experiment through this series of LinkedIn posts, as she attempts to rigorously apply the “BE Impactful Framework” (designed to measure the overall business, intellectual and societal impact of an event) to her own PERSONAL impact and value gained from attending IMEX 2025 in Frankfurt.
In this episode of The Meeting Room Podcast: Out of Office, industry leaders discuss sustainability, innovation, and tourism. Edward Koh of the Singapore Tourism Board highlights Singapore’s net-zero roadmap and sustainable MICE initiatives. Matthew Burgess previews the World Design Congress at London’s Barbican, showcasing sustainable event planning. Stephanie Tan Pure unveils Macau’s transformation with The…
Ex-UFI CEO turned industry thought-leader Kai Hattendorf was ubiquitous at this year’s IMEX, challenging the industry to up its game in terms of global advocacy, arguing that this is even more critical than ever during a time of geopolitical flux and uncertainty, and then eloquently demonstrating in a series of interviews how to frame the…
By Matthias Schultze, Managing Director, German Convention Bureau: How Business Events Can Adapt to Megatrends and Unlock Future Business Potential Business events remain vital arenas for innovation and strategic dialogue. Yet, in a rapidly changing world shaped by technological, societal and environmental shifts, these platforms are undergoing transformation themselves. In its most recent research phase,…
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Transform the way you deliver events… Two 6-week online courses, curated by isla, and designed to support you on your journey to become an expert in delivering sustainable events – one for beginners (The Sustainable Events Course) and one for those looking to further their existing knowledge (The Advanced Sustainable Events Course), in line with…
This advanced certificate course is designed to equip experienced event and meeting managers with the tools, resources, and business savvy to serve as a strategic advisor in designing, planning, and executing programs. Expanding on foundational and fundamental skills in event and meeting planning for in-person events, learners will explore progressive approaches to apply program strategy…
Now, more than ever, clients and stakeholders are bringing a laser-like focus to the R.O.I. of their events. With all the structural changes to the event industry wrought by the pandemic, decision-makers are scrutinizing how much money, time, and energy they invest in hosting, attending, exhibiting, and sponsoring events. And surveys alone won’t cut it….
The future of Africa looks bright. Ratified by a majority of African countries, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will merge 55 economies into a single, competitive mega market of more than a billion people, making it one of the biggest free trade areas in the world. This also means that there will…
Earning the Events Industry Council’s Certified Meeting Planner designation showcases your industry expertise to employers and clients and enhances prestige among peers. However, with the last standardized exam in the rearview mirror for many, navigating the CMP-International Standards (CMP-IS) and related study material can be intimidating. This course from the long-time leaders in professional development…
The CityDNA Summer School is one of the flagship event of the meetings industry. It 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…
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 that considers how interconnected networks – social, environmental, and economic – can work together to restore, replenish, and sustain…
If you are new to the events industry, looking to become an event or meeting planner, or you’ve been planning events for a while but never received the proper training, this is the ultimate course for you! By the end of this course, you’ll have a thorough understanding of how events work, why people and…
We designed this course to provide you and your team with the knowledge, skills, and know-how to transform your in-person and digital events so they are welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for every body: Create a commonsense approach to event accessibility; Determine which accessibility protocols to include in venue & supplier RFPs, and identify criteria for…
As an event organizer, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) often means bringing groups of attendees, speakers, and suppliers together from different backgrounds, identities, and experiences. But there is still work to be done when it comes to activating allies both internally and externally. This work includes planning events that enact diverse, equitable, and inclusive…
The Enhancing Events with AI certificate course (with refreshed content for 2025) 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…
Enjoy four days of expert education at IMEX America kicking off on Smart Monday powered by MPI. Our education program allows you to explore the latest topics and trends, level up your professional skills, and find solutions to industry challenges. Whether you want to keep up with fast-changing event trends, explore event tech, polish your…
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Destination East is the premier hosted-buyer event for qualified meetings and incentive professionals sourcing programs in the East. Destination East will include destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other services provided in the Eastern U.S. Learn from, and be inspired by, our guest speakers who will provide targeted education specific to your needs…
Destination Hawaii—Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event—brings together the most highly-qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the islands of Hawaii. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group. This unique event…
In 2025, the event proudly marks 33 years of championing international MICE business within Asia-Pacific, consistently delivering opportunities for global exhibitors and buyers to engage, network, and build strategic partnerships that fuel the growth of the sector. Simultaneously, the event celebrates 28 years of advancing Corporate Travel and Entertainment (T&E) management best practices, providing a…
City Destinations Alliance is proud to partner with Visit Tórshavn and Visit Faroe Islands to bring our community to this unique destination and can’t wait to explore its stunning landscapes and rich culture together. To better align with available flight connections, the conference will take place from Tuesday to Thursday instead of the usual Wednesday…
IMEX America is the largest trade show 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 Resort and Casino,…
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, technology and merchandise providers, 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…
Whether your events journey has just begun or you’re a seasoned industry professional committed to growth there is a safe place for you at Convening EMEA to unlock new potential. We’ve designed Convening EMEA to connect people who share a common purpose to unlock tomorrow’s potential today. As our world evolves, and we are challenged…
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, technology and merchandise providers, 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…
Destination organizations have been redesigning themselves to be both visitor and resident facing organizations with community wide social goals alongside of their traditional sales and marketing goals. This means that they are now an essential community asset, responsible for programs that promote their community as an attractive travel destination and enhance its public image as…
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, technology and merchandise providers, 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…
Thrive: The Community Vitality Summit is where bold ideas meet purposeful action. This in-person gathering convenes destination leaders, changemakers and community stewards who are committed to creating places where everyone feels welcome, connected and valued. Formerly the Social Inclusion Summit, Thrive reflects an expanded vision to support vibrant, people-centered destinations by aligning the value of…
The Business Operations Summit is a cross-functional gathering of destination organization professionals in finance, human resources, operations and technology. This year’s summit will provide insight on post-pandemic recovery from an organizational perspective, focusing on new ways to think about how destination organizations are organized, staffed and operated. Sign Up for More Information: Be the first…
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European, Asian or Arab? …One always wonder where Ms. Karina Soraya Lance is from when meeting her for the first time, as her adaptability to any environment always triggers curiosity. With a master in International Relations and Asia Pacific Studies, Karina was one of the few students who started learning Mandarin Chinese in the late…
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Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA, the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. He is a prominent business architect, enabling communities to become…
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Caroline Lepage is a visionary leader and trailblazer in the meetings and events industry, currently serving as CEO of the Québec City Convention Centre and Québec City Business Destination. With a Master’s degree in International Relations and a Bachelor’s in Commerce, she brings a unique blend of strategic insight and operational expertise to her role….
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As the Founder and CEO of 49travelmice.com, Peng Ee leverage over four decades of expertise in the media, travel and MICE industries to deliver strategic consultancy and tailored solutions for the business events and travel sectors. His passion lies in mentoring high performance teams, and driving growth for clients by providing valuable insights, facilitating industry…
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Aileen has worked in the meetings industry for over 25 years and is currently the Head of Tourism and Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau, Glasgow Life. Aileen has served on the board of ICCA as Destination Co-Chair. The Convention Bureau focus on attracting and supporting association conferences to meet in Glasgow. The Bureau offer a…
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After spending his first 20 years in the international MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industry in various executive roles — including meetings organisation, management, MICE technology, as well as planning infrastructure projects — Adem, commonly known as Braco within the industry, sought to contribute his extensive knowledge and experience on a broader scale. Since…
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Stephanie Lynch is a results-driven event professional with a proven track record of creating impactful experiences and driving measurable success. With over eight years at Explore Edmonton, Stephanie has consistently demonstrated her expertise in event strategy, economic impact maximization, and stakeholder collaboration. Currently serving her second term as Chair of the International Congress and Convention…
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Martin has a wealth of experience and a strategic vision that has been shaped over decades of working across a number of countries in the business and professional events and meetings industry. After university and a successful run as a restauranteur, he launched a corporate event management start-up in Canada in the late 1990s. At…
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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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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…
Jennifer Jensen is a passionate advocate for sustainable events, with over 20 years of experience in the events and tourism industry. Based in her hometown of Liverpool, she brings a wealth of expertise gained from working in both London and Liverpool, with extensive experience across venues, convention bureaus, and event management. Her diverse background provides…
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Matt is the CEO and co-founder of Talk2 Media & Events. Talk2 ME owns and runs a variety of trade and consumer exhibitions throughout Australia. Every year Talk2 ME works with some of Australia’s best brands as partners on exhibitions that attract almost 200,000 highly engaged visitors through their doors. Talk2 Media & Events was…
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Nestled along Canada’s majestic St. Lawrence River, Québec City is a charming blend of history, culture, and innovation. As one of North America’s oldest cities, it exudes European charm with cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture, and its iconic Château Frontenac. Québec City is more than a picturesque setting — it’s a hub for world-class business events,…
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) is Malaysia’s premier award-winning venue, owned by KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and is proudly managed by Convex Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd and ASM Global. Located right in the heart of the country’s capital city, and…
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