Whose Responsibility?
What obligations are owed by individuals, institutions, and the collective Business Events industry to a future we can all be proud of?
The day-to-day stress of organising complex events in an environment of shifting economic sands, tectonic geopolitical upheavals, and unrelenting financial pressures is something everyone in our sector understands and has experienced. Deadlines, to-do-lists, and never-ending delegate demands dictate our unnatural biorhythms and distract us from our biggest collective responsibility: to communicate far beyond our own “bubble” that Business Events are some of the most powerful catalysts for societal progress and the most efficient platforms for business development that humankind has yet devised.
Thankfully, this edition of Business Events World is packed with material from individuals, industry associations and far-sighted corporations that have taken up this responsibility, all enthusiastic to tell inspiring stories, to share vital data, and to dissect successful case studies, so that we can collectively paint a true picture of the value of what we do to policymakers and the general public, and inspire our colleagues worldwide to design, deliver or host ever-improving and more impactful events.
In our wide-ranging Features section, IAPCO’s Sissy Lignou explains why association voices tell the best stories; BESydney’s Amanda Lampe strategizes about partnerships; and the Centre for Festivals & Events’ Mike Duignan introduces a new suite of event evaluation tools that will help bridge the gap between industry and academia. And don’t miss thought-pieces on risk and resilience, fuel price influence on destination selection, Gen Z delegate changes, and passport politics.
Our Case Studies include Autism Europe Congress, an event co-designed with the Irish autistic community; the impact of Africa’s Green Economy Summit; and lessons from other highly innovative events held in Switzerland, Spain and Andorra (where the host city’s main public square became the primary networking hub mingling delegates with local citizens!).
Under Reports & Research you can gain insights into the state of the association sector, the latest trends in how delegates learn, and how to design community engagement or talent attraction programmes. PCMA, City Nation Place, ASAE, and IMEX are amongst those sharing their research and analysis.
Any industry-wide communication effort requires passionately held and intellectually challenging Opinions. We have plenty! From Taking Responsibility for Legacy to Calling for Industry Consolidation, from Delivering on Sustainability Promises to Taking the Long-View in the UAE, these are articles to change your perspectives and really get you thinking.
I would like to thank all those who stepped away from day-to-day priorities to share their News, expertise, insights and research findings. And to encourage all users of The Iceberg to send through their own material on a regular basis: we need a constant stream of stories and data from all regions of the world and every branch of our far-ranging sector.
After all, we are all responsible for whether our industry’s story is clearly heard and adequately understood. No-one will do it for us!
The Curator
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IAPCO’s “Dear Associations” campaign ensures that leaders from the worlds of healthcare, science, technology, trade and academia are the faces and voices that can best influence policymakers in destinations worldwide to truly understand the impact and value of association meetings. Leading PCOs describe why this issue is so critical and what needs to change for…
BEIA CEO Lisa Hopkins outlines the combination of advantageous factors and hard work that have enabled New Zealand’s industry to enjoy the proactive support of their recently appointed Minister. With a ministerial portfolio that covers social development and employment, the voluntary sector and disabilities, as well as tourism and hospitality, the new Minister is an…
Business Events Sydney CEO Amanda Lampe and ACCI’s Director Strategic Partnerships & Engagement Andrew Hiebl describe the necessity of building strategic partnerships aligned to the economic and societal development priorities of government, rather than petitioning or lobbying for support. Our role as an at-scale medium of knowledge and know-how transfers and an effective means of…
With over half the population and rapidly evolving industries, Asia-Pacific is poised to shape the future of many sectors. PCMA’s Kelly Ricker (Chair, Board of Directors), and Sheriff Karamat (President & CEO) assert that APAC is entering a phase where it can redefine what associations and their meetings are meant to do. From Association Commons…
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
Plato designed the Academy around dialogue because he understood that knowledge advances through inquiry and exchange. Ksenija Polla questions whether modern associations still design their gatherings with that purpose in mind, and calls them to embrace their role as stewards of curiosity, welcome new voices, facilitate exchanges and intentional participant journeys, and measure intellectual outcomes.
Kai Hattendorf documents a fundamental shift in the way AI will influence the future of events: rather than primarily being a suite of tools for organisers, AI’s most impactful role will be in how younger delegates use it long before the event starts to guide their entire decision-making on whether and how to participate.
David Adler, Gathering Point News, explores the rationale for establishing the Centre for Events & Festivals as a response to a fragmented events industry, weak knowledge-sharing, and limited use of evidence. The organisation aims to bridge academia and practice, strengthen collaboration, and promote more sustainable, inclusive, and community-focused approaches to event design and delivery.
Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa and Remi Deve summarise the key issues, opportunities and challenges discussed at the recent EAS 2026, all of which provide vital insights for business events suppliers and destinations interested in better understanding the current thinking and priorities of their association clients. An important conclusion: collaboration has become a strategic necessity.
M&C Asia magazine examines the changing picture of global rankings in passport power (how easy it is for holders of a particular passport to visit other countries) and border openness (how restrictive countries are to holders of different passports), and explains the implications for destination competitiveness for international business events.
Australian-based association consultancy Mayvin Global has released a series of three White Papers packed with valuable insights from 15 international association case studies, focused on the most mission-critical strategic challenges and potential solutions, many of which have implications for the future evolution of their event strategies.
International association meetings can find themselves in the frontline when geopolitical conflicts erupt. This Boardroom feature by Pamela Wilton explores the implications of key risk factors, illustrates why associations can no longer argue that they are “apolitical by nature”, and outlines how to build a geopolitical resilience framework.
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Held in the RDS Dublin, 11-13 September 2025, The 14th Autism Europe Congress hosted by Ireland’s national autism charity, AsIAm, delivered on intentional change established well before the functional planning of the congress began. Noel Mitchell, Chairman & Managing Director of Keynote PCO reflects on how the Conference Ambassador, AsIAm Founder & CEO, Adam Harris,…
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has set out plans for integrating Exhibitor Group following its recent acquisition, including a merger of their flagship events. A new Exhibitor Group division will be established within IAEE, led by general manager Stephanie Gibbs, overseeing EXHIBITOR magazine, EXHIBITORLIVE and the Certified Trade Show Marketer certification programme.
As global dynamics shift and power relations are being redefined, which countries are securing the preference of international audiences? Join this webinar on 03 June for a preview of findings from the 2026 RepCore® Nations analysis, exploring how countries are perceived around the world and what this may mean for their competitiveness and international standing.
This first-of-its-kind global event will take place May 13, 2026, designed to expand advocacy beyond government relations to empower stakeholders across the destination ecosystem, and redefine how the industry approaches advocacy by convening destination leaders, board members, public officials, private sector partners and community stakeholders for a dynamic, interactive experience spanning multiple global time zones.
Leading global tourism and business events industry consulting firm, GainingEdge has announced that Hamish Reid has joined the company as Director, Business Development and Representation Services, UK and Europe, effective April 1, 2026. Reid brings more than 25 years of international experience in sales, marketing and strategic leadership in the Business Events sector…
ECA has registered its opposition to potential new tariffs under consideration by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which could lead to new tariffs on imports from 60+ countries across a wide range of product categories. The scope is unusually broad, which increases the likelihood of increased costs and potential supply chain disruptions.
This high-level advocacy event will bring business events leaders together with UK national parliamentarians and policy influencers who will consider the strategic challenges and set the policymaking agenda for the sector in the UK over the coming years. Over 300 leaders gathered together at the previous edition in 2025. Register your interest here…
In April, Lagos became a meeting point for the global childhood cancer community, hosting the CCI Africa Annual Conference 2026, held alongside the SIOP Africa 2026 Congress. Government representatives, civil society organisations, medical institutions, researchers, survivors, families, and strategic partners gathered to improve quality of care, quality of life, and childhood cancer outcomes. From CCI…
PCMA continues to advance its role as the global platform for the business events community by investing in the people, insights, and innovations that will define the future of the industry. In a rapidly evolving landscape, PCMA is taking steps to ensure the community is both prepared for what’s next, and positioned to lead it.
In a vote of confidence for the positive societal and economic impact of Business Events, C$15 million has been earmarked over the next three years to help attract events in strategically important sectors. Administered by Destination Canada, ICAF has helped secure 116 international conventions, generating C$803.3 million in direct economic impact and supporting 6,692 jobs.
The program is fully operational as of 10th April and replaces traditional passport stamps with a digital system, designed to increase security, and make border checks faster and more efficient. Border control agents will collect fingerprints, take a facial image and ask for travel information of non-EU nationals who are visiting European countries. From Northstar…
The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), has launched a targeted refinement of the EIC Sustainable Event Standards (SES), representing an important opportunity to further strengthen alignment across the industry’s leading sustainability frameworks. Contributions are welcome until 12 April 2026.
With support from Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, RX is readying its IBTM series for another foray into the region after Covid-era knockbacks in Singapore and reportedly dim market expectations in Hong Kong. Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre will host IBTM APAC, 9-10 June 2027, intensifying competition among APAC event organisers and host cities.
On 9th March, Mohamed Mezghani, secretary general of Union Internationale des Transports Publics, cancelled the organisation’s 2026 Summit in Dubai, scheduled for April 21–23. Unlike other regional events that have been postponed, the summit, expecting 8,000 attendees, will not take place. During Skift Meetings’ LinkedIn Live on 31st March he described the decision as “heartbreaking.”
US Travel Association has published a helpful fact-sheet which not only provides key facts and figures related to travel and immigration, but outlines policy proposals (e.g. for visitors to provide social media histories) that would have a negative impact on visitor flows and the advocacy steps US Travel is taking to oppose them.
visit.brussels, the city’s DMO responsible for tourism, business events, and for attracting and supporting international associations is looking at the potential loss of over half its personnel & decimated programmes. Industry peers are urged to sign and share the petition in opposition to these cuts.
IMEX is set to bring a fresh perspective to destination strategy with the IMEX Place Leaders Forum on 19 May, bringing together senior executives from the Business Events community with policymakers and policy influencers, examining how place leadership is evolving to reflect the growing complexity of city and national economic decision-making. From HQ Magazine…
This year’s theme is “Business Events and Exhibitions: The Human Catalyst for Global Growth”, through which EIC is encouraging worldwide advocacy programmes that underscore the essential role of face-to-face engagement in unlocking opportunity, fostering collaboration and advancing societal progress. GMID will also the release of the 2026 Global Economic Significant of Business Event Study…
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The Autism Europe Congress 2025 in Dublin was more than a gathering of global experts – it marked a decisive shift in how events can be designed, delivered, and experienced when inclusion is not an add-on, but the foundation. That shift began long before the doors of the RDS opened in September 2025. When Fáilte…
According to the post-event report, AGES 2026 facilitated 44 curated project pitches, representing an estimated $1.7 billion investment pipeline, alongside 677 confirmed matchmaking meetings between investors and project developers, and highlights a clear shift underway across Africa’s green and blue economy: from ambition and dialogue towards execution, deployment and scale. From VUKA Group…
Organisers of Masterclass Zurich 2026 – Vaginal Birth, hosted by the Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich, created a public-centred initiative designed to bring specialist knowledge into the city. while the congress gathered around 200 physicians, specialists, and midwives, mainly from the DACH region, the accompanying legacy project aimed to reach residents directly. From Boardroom…
The congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis demonstrates the impact of Barcelona Convention Bureau’s Legacy Programme, where intentional impact planning helped bring the congress’s scientific advances closer to patients, encouraging their participation in research, whilst educating Barcelona’s business community about stigma around MS and building more inclusive workplaces.
Citizen engagement was the prime objective of this initiative by the European Network of Living Labs, who transformed Andorra la Vella’s main square into a conference space, earning them the Event Innovation Award at the European Association Awards 2026. A great example for other associations aiming to break out of their traditional “bubble”. From Boardroom…
The 19th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes took place in Barcelona in March, gathering 5,300+ participants, in-person and online. The conference showcased the latest innovations and connected endocrinologists, diabetes care providers, researchers and industry professionals from around the world to drive forward the future of diabetes treatment. From Kenes Group…
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This new edition reflects the author’s unique ability to blend academic rigour with practical relevance, making it an essential guide for students, professionals, and educators within the events industry. Case studies from every continent, experts’ perspectives, and thought-provoking discussion points at the end of each chapter, ensure that this volume remains an indispensable resource.
To assist business events organisations to develop their own comprehensive sustainability strategies, IMEX is sharing details about its business philosophy, experiences, and implementation models. While industry progress remains uneven and the need for clear direction persists, the strategy positions sustainability as central to how the sector responds to risk, regulation and long-term resilience.
Destination Canada’s Canadian Tourism Outlook 2026–2035, prepared with Tourism Economics, highlights that demand for Canada as a destination is accelerating. The sector is outperforming expectations. The opportunity ahead is bigger than ever. This Outlook gives industry, government and partners a shared, current view of where growth is heading and what it takes to capture it.
Executive assistants remain the largest group of business event organisers in Australia; this provides a useful snapshot of how buying behaviour is shifting. Activity and budgets are back to 2019 levels but the way events are being planned has changed: Lead times are shorter. Convenience, speed and ease of delivery are now key decision drivers.
David Adler digs deeply into the Freeman Spring 2026 Learning Trends Report, highlighting the content strategies that truly motivate and engage attendees, driving impact and repeat attendance. The era of celebrity speakers and rock band “networking” events is being overtaken by attendee demand to put usable ideas and solutions at the centre of event design.
Destinations International has released a comprehensive new resource designed to help destination leaders strengthen relationships with residents and stakeholders while advancing long-term community alignment. Grounded in insights from the Futures Study and shaped by global industry leaders, the Destination Professional’s Guide to Community Engagement offers a practical framework to help destination organizations measure meaningful impact.
City Nation Place has released a benchmarking report into the different approaches taken by a range of destinations to build competitiveness in attracting and retaining talent. There are certain to be many lessons that can be taken on board when designing business event strategies that share this same objective.
PCMA Insights, a resource for business events leaders has been released, designed to help make sense of an increasingly complex business environment. Also available to download is PCMA’s flagship annual report on how event strategists in companies and associations, and destination leaders in city and national DMOs worldwide are planning, designing and leading through 2026.
Findings from the newly released Northstar Meetings Group/Cvent PULSE Survey (APAC), conducted in March 2026, show geopolitical and economic risks rising to the top of planners’ concerns, reshaping sentiment across the region. Despite this, demand remains resilient as the region’s planners continue to actively source and book events.
This White Paper from MayvinGlobal association consultancy contains a case study on the journey undertaken by the Australian Business Events community to create a unified industry body, the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) in 2023, to ensure the sector had an authoritative voice that would be taken seriously by national government and other policymakers.
ASAE has released a free-to-download snapshot report on how associations are navigating a rapidly changing environment, drawing on a series of “pulse polls” conducted throughout the last year, and including trends in their meetings and international participation, helping association leaders connect data to strategy and identify where to focus for greater impact and resilience.
This report provides insights into how the perceptions, experiences, concerns and thoughts of Amsterdam’s residents regarding local tourism issues have evolved. The study, by Inholland University of Applied Sciences, amsterdam&partners, & MMGY Global / TCI Research, found that Amsterdam’s residents do not oppose tourism per se, but call for a more thoughtful and balanced approach.
This report from IMEX explores how design matters not only at events, but across adjacent fields where human experience, brand perception and long-term impact are at stake. Drawing on research, industry insight and real-world examples, it examines how intentional design strengthens and seeds relationships, builds brand power and reinforces long-term commercial resilience.
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Australian PCO owner Emma Bowyer argues that legacy measurement is woefully absent across most of Asia-Pacific Destination Marketing Organisations, and that it’s become the responsibility of event organisers to educate clients to include such metrics in the way they evaluate the impact of their meetings. A Robotics conference that will track 200 local high-school attendees…
PCMA’s President & CEO Sherrif Karamat argues that it is past time for the Business Events industry’s myriad associations to consolidate in order to deliver better value to all industry stakeholders on both the supplier side and amongst all categories of organiser. Failure to modernise and evolve will lead many organisations to be non-selected by…
From Meetings Today, by Vincent Alonzo: On April 22, more than 10,000 Earth Day events unfolded across the globe—river cleanups in Bali, regenerative tourism pledges in Canada, LEED-certified renovations in Tampa, and a wave of “conscious luxury” messaging from hotel brands worldwide. The meetings and events industry showed up as well. On paper, at least…
As geopolitical instability continues, organisers are under growing pressure to respond quickly, communicate clearly and reassure clients when disruption strikes. Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa interviews Kenes Group CEO Ora Lahav on why crisis readiness should no longer be treated as an occasional capability, but needs to become part of an international event organiser’s everyday operating mindset.
Anna Look argues that the most important impact of conference subvention programmes such as Canada’s International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF) comes from the conversations that can be initiated with local intellectual and business leaders, enabling them to understand how their bidding for and hosting of international meetings can exploit and showcase their expertise and attributes.
ICCA CEO Dr Senthil Gopinath argues that a projected doubling of business events sector value by 2035 makes it more imperative than ever to communicate the societal value of events to policymakers. Their role in setting visa regimes, air travel regulations, infrastructure development and destination development strategies will determine whether this growth projection transpires.
Sumaira Isaacs analyses the 5-decades long-term vision that underpins the UAE’s economic strategy, and argues that what makes UAE different is not just resilience, it is preparedness embedded into infrastructure, policy and execution. Business Events may have short-term disruption, but remain central to the delivery of many of UAE’s strategic developmental objectives.
Iceberg Ambassador Peng Ee Ooi argues for a creative synthesis between competing visions of business events as either a sub-sector of the travel and tourism economy or a driver of economic and social agendas, supported by examples from leading destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. From Associations Commons…
ICCA CEO Dr Senthil Gopinath argues that despite all today’s geopolitical pressures, associations can still remain both neutral and resilient. But what they have to accept is that disruption, uncertainty and ongoing threats are the “new normal”, not anomalies that will swiftly pass on by. From Boardroom…
UFI CEO Chris Skeith OBE argues that economic impact data underpins effective advocacy, highlighting a powerful case the exhibition industry rarely amplifies. There is a story the sector has always struggled to tell. Not because it isn’t compelling – it is – but because the evidence that makes it undeniable has, for too long, been…
AMI’s James Lancaster examines a peculiar contradiction that sits at the heart of Europe’s convention bureaux: while they spend much of their time handing out money to compete for lucrative association conferences, they often struggle to secure their own funding. Could tourism tax up-end the rules of the game?
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The PCMA Business Events Summit is an advanced, members-only education experience — an immersive, skills‑based summit for business events professionals ready to sharpen their expertise, solve real‑world challenges, and elevate their impact. Formerly edUcon, the Summit has been reimagined as a pinnacle learning environment with longer sessions, hands‑on application, and peer‑driven problem solving.
A more structured and transparent RFP process empowers associations to compare partners on equal footing, identify the destinations that truly align with their mission, and make more intentional, impact-driven decisions. This session will explore how clearer criteria, phased approaches, and mission alignment can transform RFPs from procurement tools into strategic partnership frameworks.
Meeting tourism has always been a changing and dynamic industry. The behaviours and the needs of our clients are constantly changing, and our organisations face a much more competitive and demanding market. Learners will: Strengthen key skills to outshine competitors; Reinforce expertise with new strategies and insights; Stay current and competitive in a changing industry.
Exclusive 3-day masterclass in Luxembourg for association leaders to enhance skills in creating, executing, and evaluating impactful activities promoting social, economic, and environmental progress. Featuring a programme crafted in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, GainingEdge and Business Events Sarawak as the Seed Fund Contributor.
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. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
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…
The event is aimed at city, regional, national, and international tourism organisations, as well as universities and companies from the hospitality and tourism industry. It is directed toward managers, academics, as well as consultants and representatives of governments and international organisations dealing with tourism. Participants are invited to register for both days or can choose…
This event is open to senior meeting professionals and previous EDGE Seminar attendees. It is open to both IAPCO members and non-members. The event website will go live soon but we encourage you to register your interest to attend now in order to avoid missing the limited spots available.
At IMEX, the free professional education program includes 150+ in-depth seminars, hands-on workshops and specialist forums at each show, covering a wide range of industry insights, trends, and best practices. Spark your imagination at groundbreaking keynotes, soak up fresh ideas from experts and innovators, keep up with the latest event tech, polish your professional skills.
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. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
UFI Learning is structured as a learning landscape that brings together programmes, events, communities, and resources. This flexible approach aims to provide diverse opportunities to encourage continuous learning for all. Whether it’s an UFI event, a programme, or a research report—every engagement with UFI offers an opportunity to learn.
Northstar Meetings Group has collaborated with industry experts isla to create unique online learning courses for event organisers, one for beginners (The Sustainable Events Course) and one for those looking to further their existing knowledge (The Advanced Sustainable Events Course). Watch and learn at a pace suited to you with these on-demand courses.
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Global Exhibitions Day (GED) is held annually on the first Wednesday of June. It is open to everyone interested in increasing the visibility of the exhibitions industry regionally and on a global scale. Four key messages highlight how exhibitions unlock potential for industries, individuals, communities, and companies: Exhibitions drive collaboration and innovation to transform businesses…
IZFAS, one of Turkey’s leading exhibition organisers, will host this flagship regional event, bringing together exhibition industry professionals from Europe and beyond to share insights, explore new trends, and strengthen cross-border collaboration. Izmir, known for its strategic location, cultural richness, and thriving trade fair industry, offers the perfect backdrop for dynamic discussions and meaningful connections.
The ICCA Middle East Summit gathers leading regional and international stakeholders from the business events industry, featuring an agenda that includes panel discussions, case studies, workshops, and structured networking sessions. The event is expected to facilitate valuable networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative opportunities for destination marketing professionals, tourism boards, association executives, sustainability advocates, technology innovators…
SHOP is ETOA and CityDNA’s new B2B event focused on driving demand beyond the high season. Designed for destinations and suppliers seeking to grow business outside traditional peak months, SHOP unites industry professionals committed to building a more balanced, sustainable tourism economy. As travel patterns evolve, extending the season and diversifying itineraries has never been…
This is not another conference – it’s a living lab where destination leaders convene to co-create a bold new blueprint for regenerative impact, resilience, and courage. Through collaborative workshops, deep dialogue, and peer-to-peer learning, we will prototype solutions for the pressing challenges of climate disruption and social change. Join us to harness our collective intelligence…
The 10th Edition of the EsportsTravel Summit is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers—and the only event dedicated to the travel side of the esports industry. Launched in conjunction with the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2017, the EsportsTravel Summit quickly established itself as the industry’s leading platform.
The UK’s leading event for meetings and events professionals, where the industry comes together for two days of fresh ideas, powerful connections, and unmissable opportunities. Exhibitors come from all corners of the globe, with over 80 international destinations represented, and a diverse exhibitor base, including hotels, destinations, destination management companies, conference centres, venues, technology suppliers…
The Annual Conference brings together members to consider key industry issues and hear from top professionals in a variety of related fields. A global gathering for convention & exhibition centre managers and industry partners to share best practices, explore innovations, benchmark performance, build networks and tackle challenges across operations, sales, marketing, sustainability and facility management.
The ICCA Business Workshop European Destination Marketing Sector 2026 will be hosted in Salzburg, Austria, and will bring together up to 15 ICCA Destination Marketing Members from across Europe with their European association clients, to have one-to-one business meetings and of course explore all that Salzburg has on offer for association delegates.
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.
Annual Convention is the destination organization industry’s premier event to meet your peers and gain cutting-edge knowledge to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. The world of destination marketing and management is now completely different. Destination organization professionals of today must have a renewed focus on solutions to tackle the challenges of showcasing organizational strength and…
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 US. Learn from, and be inspired by, our guest speakers who will provide targeted education…
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A passionate and dedicated leader, Carina Bauer is the CEO of the IMEX Group – an organisation responsible for organising the leading global trade shows for the international business events industry. Carina is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and…
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Senthil Gopinath has over 20 years’ experience in the meetings, association and leisure industry. He has held a wide range of positions, including CEO of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, and Vice President of Kuoni. In 2006 Senthil moved to Dubai to work for Congress Solutions International, the Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) arm of Emirates Group….
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Having lived and worked in Asia, Africa and Europe before moving to Canada in 2010, Virginie is the Senior Director of Business Development – Economic Sectors for Destination Canada Business Events (DCBE), Virginie is responsible for leading the development and implementation of DCBE’s global economic sector strategy and team to increase overnight visitations to Canada…
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Loren Christie brings more than 25 years of experience in Tourism & Hospitality to his role as Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance. He held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17 year career with them including Director of Sales for International Congress, Business Transient and Leisure Sales at the…
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Geneviève is a Canadian industry professional based in Montreal. She has 26 years of experience in congress management and consultancy services for national and international associations and has managed international events in over 20 countries. Geneviève has been active at elevating the industry’s capacity in sustainability and value creation since 2006, when she was an…
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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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Eva started her career in the travel industry working as a Manager/Director for Thomas Cook and American Express Business Travel. After 6 years abroad in Ghana and Malta as an expatriate and family time she started working for Messe Frankfurt visitor services in 2006. After different roles and accompanying various projects within the visitor service…
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John Burke is the General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) and is a senior venue operation professional with over 25 years’ experience working across all areas of venue and event management including leadership, commercial management, construction liaison, vendor management, programme management, facility operations & engineering, and audio visual (AV) & technical…
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Heike Mahmoud has been Chief Operating Officer (COO) and authorized signatory at Estrel Berlin, Europe’s largest hotel, congress and entertainment complex with over 1,000 hotel rooms and 30,000 sqm of event space, since August 2024. She is responsible for the operational business of Estrel Berlin and the marketing of the new Estrel Tower, the first…
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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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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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Mike is the Founder and Chair of the Centre for Events & Festivals (CEF); CEO of Legacies (the official consultancy arm of CEF); and a Professeur des universités at the University of Paris 1. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Event Management Journal – the leading academic journal for the study and analysis of events…
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A monthly update of reports, news, events and insights into the exhibition and trade show sector from UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry – this is where the global community stays connected and informed.
Thoughts & Observations is a weekly newsletter by Kai Hattendorf. It shares updates, reflections, and analyses on the business events and exhibitions industry, covering topics ranging from market trends to industry practices and emerging developments. Each edition provides a concise summary of recent news, data, and professional insights relevant to event organizers and stakeholders.
Northstar Meeting Group’s flagship business events newsletter, with the option to sign up to lots of specialist feeds, including region-specific news, and the latest news of interest to association meeting professionals. Providing meeting planners and suppliers with comprehensive information and original content in the form of articles, magazines, podcasts, and videos.
For perspectives from around the world on destination competitiveness in the business and professional events space, check out the regular thought-pieces from the GainingEdge experts, exploring trends, developments and insights in the meetings, conventions, exhibitions and destination-marketing industries, and strategic topics for DMOs, CVBs associations, exhibition & conference venues, and their advisors.
PCMA offers a range of newsletters, so you can tailor your subscription(s) to match your interests. Get daily industry headlines with News Junkie; weekly inspiration from Convene magazine via ThisWeek at Convene; and career guidance in The Raise. Stay informed with PCMA Institute updates, or connect regionally through APAC Exchange, EMEA Connect, and LATAM CONECTA.
Receive monthly updates from GDS-Movement, a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world, empowering tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
Everything you wanted to know about how US policymaking influences business events, and how to participate in campaigns designed to nudge policy in the right direction. Every other Friday, the ECA Advocacy Update email newsletter shares the latest advocacy news from Washington, DC and beyond on the public policy issues that matter to the industry.
Better understand the business of travel through Skift’s wide range of daily and weekly newsletters. From daily travel news to a deep dive into the events industry, you can tailor your subscription to the information relevant to you. Weekly briefings cover topics such as how AI and tech are changing travel…
No-one covers every area of event tech from AI to Zoom like Julius Solaris! Company updates & product reviews; trends & mega-trends; hard-hitting commentary & informative opinions based on hands-on experience. Join the 35,000+ event professionals who receive the free Boldpush Newsletter every Wednesday – popular with Event Marketers, Event Planners, Agencies, and Suppliers.
The mission of Our World in Data is to make data and research on the world’s largest problems understandable and accessible. Sign up to receive a biweekly Digest with highlights of their latest and past work every other Friday, to keep abreast of research, insights, and product announcements.
Updates for meeting planners & MICE professionals: GCB Mailings provide you with everything you need to know about business events in Germany. Whether it’s their monthly newsletter, invitations to GCB events or information on new research projects. You can subscribe and / or access the Newsletter Archive here.
David Adler is consistently one of the most eloquent and far-sighted commentators on how the business and professional events sector is changing, and the mega-trends most likely to shape that evolution. He’s also never afraid of a good controversy! GatheringPoint.news is the insider’s guide to the most powerful industry you don’t hear enough about…
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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,…
ICCA -the International Congress and Convention Association- is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry. ICCA represents the main specialists in organising, transporting, and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises 1,100 member companies and organisations in almost 100 countries worldwide. Since its establishment in 1963, ICCA specialises in the international…
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