Competitively Collaborative: How We All Win
The business events world is often portrayed as unrelentingly competitive: destinations fighting to win bidding battles against an ever-growing cohort of rivals; event owners striving to entice delegates and sponsors from the temptations of traditional challengers’ and entrepreneurial newcomers’ events; DMOs struggling to win a bigger slice of local government budgets and institutional attention.
In this framing, there are clear winners and losers (What’s my city’s ICCA ranking? Are we up on last year’s attendance?), and the spotlight shines brightest on the independently aggressive, the self-starting smartest, the big budget soloists.
In a world measured in bed-nights and delegate expenditure, this framing makes perfect sense. But such zero-sum thinking is sorely inadequate when we consider the wider societal and economic value and impact of business and scientific events.
If we believe (as we should!) that the greatest value generated by our events is to be found in scientific and technological progress, healthcare and environmental solutions, knowledge creation and transfer, innovative partnerships, sustainable economic development, and the professional advancement and intellectual enrichment of participants, then we all win when we share and adopt the ideas and practices that maximise these impacts.
This month’s edition of Business Events World is packed with such collaborative content: freely-shared, market-tested concepts for which consultants would charge six-figure sums, new partnership and citizen-centred models that will change your perspectives.
In Features, the GDS Forum celebrates collaboration in its own bottom-up event design as well as throughout its global community; Prof Greg Clark eloquently articulates why flying solo is a destination’s quickest route to non-competitiveness; and Antwerp’s Louder Together “congrestival” demonstrates the value of involving young people and children in events.
Our Case Studies include Singapore’s and Copenhagen’s different approaches to co-locating international and home-grown events to generate incredible synergies; Vienna-, Sydney- and Glasgow-hosted events each focus on citizen engagement and co-responsibility; whilst Saskatoon in Canada and Manchester in the UK share inside secrets of their successful bidding strategies (spoiler alert: it’s a lot to do with relationships!).
The Reports & Research section includes the IMEX Place Leaders Forum White Paper, packed with advice on new destination leadership models; Germany’s innovative nationwide collaboration to map out the country’s intellectual capital specialisations and strengths; and there is also food for thought from a report demonstrating that it is during informal peer-to-peer interactions that delegates gain the greatest insights and knowledge, not in formal sessions. Micro-collaboration at its most granular!
As always, our Opinions writers aren’t known for their shyness or unwillingness to take a stand: there are calls for greater sharing of knowledge and practices between associations throughout the Asia-Pacific region from Peng Ee Ooi; Virginie De Visscher claims concrete proof that collaborative inclusion is essential for impact maximisation; and Don Welsh from Destinations International calls for the emergence of “Alternative Mayors” amongst our leaders to act as ringmasters of the complex ecosystems that both make up and influence our industry from outside.
There are plenty of other issues covered in all these sections, of course, as well as in our News section, including the latest global statistics and industry projections, examples of events as policy goal drivers, announcements of new national event strategies, leadership recognition awards, numerous advocacy initiatives, and much, much more.
A final thought: the more competitively you collaborate in every aspect of our far-flung ecosystem, the more successful your organisation, company or destination will be… AND, the more society in general will gain from our collective efforts. Please share your insights, initiatives and innovations with The Iceberg – we’ll make sure they help raise us all up.
The Curator
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This year’s GDS-Forum and Impact Day held in Szezecin, Poland, aimed to build the capacity of every delegate to improve the sustainability and event impact strategies in their destinations by tapping into the expertise, experiences and tacit knowledge of their peers. The informal but innovative meeting design elements created new connections, unlocked new insights, and…
In this interview at the 2025 IMEX Place Leaders Forum, US Travel Association MD Group Travel Kevin Hinton explains the two critical sides of his job, and how USTA’s efforts in these dimensions interact to support the success of the US business events sector. Before they travel, overseas visitors to the US frequently receive inaccurate…
COO of Business Events Adelaide Tony Saulters explains how his bureau focuses on the world-class specialisations in his destination when determining which events to target, assessing their potential importance not just on delegate numbers and expenditure, but on their capacity to drive inward investment and talent acquisition, and the extent to which they can facilitate…
Speaking at this year’s Place Leaders Forum at IMEX Frankfurt, future of cities expert Prof. Greg Clark articulates the potential for business events to fulfil a pivotal role within destinations’ strategic thinking, thanks to the emergence of new competitive realities as we enter an era where the Innovation Economy interacts with the Experience Economy. Our…
Companies are placing conference attendance under a microscope, sending fewer employees than in previous years — or choosing not to send anyone at all. 56% of respondents to GBTA’s recent survey said their organisation has changed its meetings or events strategy in the past three months, with 24% saying they are reducing employee event attendance.
Across Europe, conferences and exhibitions help to shape cities, through visitor spend and supporting industrial strategies and economic development. Europe is experiencing a summer of ferocious heat, which scientists predict will become the ‘new normal’. AMI’s writers explore how the events industry is coping, responding, and thinking about the future.
The process of designing and executing a seamless event is an art, but tracking and analysing all the metrics is definitely a science. The formula for success can vary from group to group, but there are some universal metrics that most planners should focus on — ones that go beyond total attendance and satisfaction scores.
For years, the UK’s BE sector has been making the same case to government: we are more than tourism. Now, Parliament has said it too. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s new report is arguably the strongest political endorsement the sector has received, warning it risks falling behind without Government commitment to funding. From M&IT…
In August, the Louder Together “congrestival” will take place in Antwerp, combining a conference and festival where children, young people and teaching artists from around the world convene in a lively mix of theatre festival and scientific conference, with a clear ambition to create societal impact. From Flanders Convention Bureau…
Copenhagen’s life science congresses are being asked to do more than convene international specialists. Through Valuable Meetings, a MeetDenmark project supported by the Danish Board of Business Development, the city is exploring how congresses can become active platforms for sector development, connecting global associations with Danish research, healthcare, companies and innovation networks. From Boardroom…
Organised by the Association of Association Executives, the Associations World Congress took place in Portugal this year, setting up camp at the Lagoa Congress Centre and the Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort for three days of debate, collaboration, and an industry doing some serious reckoning with its own future. From Boardroom…
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Tourism Australia’s Managing Director Robin Mack provides an overview of the ROI generated by Australia’s Bid Fund, the current edition of which has been in operation since 2018. Over A$1.5 billion in direct impact has been generated from the 221 qualifying events, 52 times the value of subventions awarded. But the impact goes much further…
ECA is actively opposing and coordinating an industry-wide response to a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal that would prevent exhibitors from importing, displaying, and demonstrating certain new and emerging communications technologies at U.S. events and tradeshows before those products have received final FCC authorization.
BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have announced the finalists of this year’s Incredible Impact Programme, an initiative which celebrates associations that drive lasting, positive change through international meetings. Two of the three shortlisted are the subjects of case studies produced by The Iceberg in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland –…
The German Convention Bureau organised an exclusive knowledge-sharing and peer-group platform for event professionals from the finance and international law sectors, enabling specialists to explore the factors that will influence the evolution of their sectors’ events. Future editions are planned for other scientific and business sectors, in German cities where these are strongly represented.
ECA, the public policy voice of the US business events industry, has launched the ECA Ambassadors Circle, designed to recognise, empower and engage the industry’s most committed advocates. The programme will provide a select group of industry leaders with specialised year-round programming, advanced advocacy training and new opportunities to help amplify the industry’s voice.
With a government funding deadline looming, three of the industry’s largest trade associations are urging Congress to resolve differences between competing continuing-resolution spending bills for the fiscal year 2027 and avoid a federal shutdown that could disrupt travel operations ahead of the fall travel season. From Northstar…
Global business travel spending is projected to reach $1.71 trillion in 2026, while business trip volume is expected to total 1.84 billion trips, according to GBTA’s Business Travel Index Annual Global Report and Forecast. The figures point to another year of expansion for the sector, although spending continues to grow significantly faster than trip volume.
The Mozambican government has approved a strategy to develop business tourism in the country through to 2030. The strategy projects annual revenues of US$106 million alongside increased inward investment and economic capacity building, through the hosting of 38 international conferences, congresses, and other professional events.
SITE has launched the first three of its new Specialty Certifications, expanding its professional development offering with focused, on-demand education in incentive travel psychology, risk management and wellness. The new credentials respond directly to demand from SITE members for practical, career-advancing education that can be applied to their work immediately.
Singapore’s MICE industry is moving into a new phase of sustainable growth, with the launch of MICE Sustainability Roadmap 2.0, placing social and economic sustainability alongside environmental considerations. Announced at Singapore MICE Forum 2026 by guest-of-honour Gan Siow Huang, the refreshed roadmap was developed by the Singapore Tourism Board and SACEOS.
A new advocacy movement, The Athens Promise, has launched this July to support existing efforts and further unite the meetings and events industry behind one clear message: the work of business events matters, and the world needs to understand why. The initiative is led by the IAPCO, in partnership with AIPC AMC Institute and PCMA.
The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) has released the third edition of its Global Manifesto, giving the business-events industry updated data and case studies to help make its case to governments, destinations, and public officials. The updated manifesto uses data from the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2026 Global Economic Significance Study.
Kigali has joined the BestCities Global Alliance as its 14th member, placing Rwanda’s capital within a network of leading international convention destinations. The move reflects Kigali’s growing profile as a meetings destination in Africa, combining modern event infrastructure, accessibility and a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and economic development.
The latest annual Hall of Leaders honourees have been announced by the Events Industry Council, including international event-impact advocates WeeMin Ong from Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Kit Lykketoft from Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau. The six inductees will be honoured at a ceremony held alongside IMEX America in Las Vegas on 12 October.
Every year, AIPC, in collaboration with Access Intelligence, conducts its Annual Member Survey to track the trends shaping the global convention centre industry. Covering industry outlook, business strategies, client expectations, technology, sustainability and workforce development, the 2026 survey gathered responses from 67 convention centres, providing valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges facing our sector.
Malaysia’s business events industry significantly outperformed its annual targets in 2025, with international delegate arrivals surging almost 80% above expectations as the country accelerates efforts to become one of Asia’s top five business events destinations by 2030. The country welcomed more than 867,000 international delegates last year, comfortably exceeding its target of 482,000 by 79.9%.
The WONCA Conference resulted in action for local and global rural health sectors, with the launch of The Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026, a national roadmap setting out six priority areas to strengthen rural health systems, and a global initiative focusing on international collaboration, policy advocacy and sharing practical solutions. From TTGmice…
From M&C/ASIA: An event aimed at tackling extreme heat was cancelled amid a record-breaking heatwave, turning a policy discussion into a live example of the risks climate experts have long warned about. The session, titled Extreme Heat: Improving Governance and Strengthening Action Around the World, was due to take place during London Climate Action Week…
Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) has appointed sustainability specialist Johanna Fuhlendorf as its new Programme Director, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the global initiative as it enters its next phase of development. The appointment is the first dedicated leadership role created specifically for NZCE since its launch in 2021. From Headquarters Magazine…
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Winner of the 2026 Incredible Impacts Programme Seed Fund Grant, the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) World Congress 2026 will focus on the ‘IHPBA 2026 Legacy Project’, which addresses regional disparities in Hepatocellular carcinoma care across the Asia-Pacific region and low- and middle-income countries. This initiative aims to improve equity through frameworks, policy leadership, and regional…
Denmark’s life science sector accounts for approximately 20% of total national exports, backed by a national strategy through 2030 designed to enhance research capacity, improve framework conditions, and elevate global competitiveness. A major cornerstone of this strategy was the 2025 launch of Innovation District Copenhagen (IDC), a closely connected public–private hub bringing together 40,000 researchers,…
The International Association for Relationship Research Conference turned research into conversation through a community event at Social Bite. More than 660 delegates gathered in Glasgow for the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) Conference 2026, but some of the conference’s most meaningful conversations took place away from the main programme.
Learn how Discover Saskatoon won the International Food and Agriculture Business Management Association (IFAMA) World Forum, using Destination Canada’s International Convention Attraction Fund. Invaluable lessons in how to incorporate “impact” and build partnerships at the earliest bidding stage. By Anna Look, Look Ahead Consulting…
Anthony Cassidy from Manchester Convention Bureau dissects the process of identifying targets, building ambassador capacity and bidding teams, and establishing trust with decision-makers in targeted organisations and events – a useful guide for destinations developing a bidding strategy linked to their economic development strategy, or looking to compare and benchmark their approach with others.
A year after global sexual health specialists gathered at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress continues to bear fruit. A financial surplus of C$55,151.77 has been given to six Montréal community organisations working in sexual health, a wonderful example of the lasting legacy international conferences can leave.
Across Europe, more than 36 million people live with rare genetic diseases, many caused by single-gene mutations that have historically left patients with severe, life-limiting conditions and no effective treatments. While breakthrough CRISPR technology can now correct faulty DNA to treat genetic causes, there are barriers to these scientific advances reaching everyday clinical practice. Fragmented…
Beyond its status as Denmark’s leading gaming and esports festival, Copenhagen Gaming Week operates with a strategic long-term legacy model. Built to deliver tangible economic and societal outcomes, the event focuses on four core pillars: business and ecosystem development, cybercrime prevention, neuro-inclusion, and encouraging future careers in the cyber sector. To support these wider community…
In June 2026, Vienna hosted the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. The Festival of Robots, taking place ahead of the congress, and sustainability focus, formed a core pillar of the impact strategy by bridging science with the local community, while the Community Building Day highlighted DEI in science, encouraging inclusive environments in STEM.
Talley Management’s Ksenija Polla illustrates dimensions in delivering association event impact through the example of ISPCAN, describing intentional steps to put victims’ voices and experiences at the centre of ISPCAN’s Jamaica conference, and how a simple change of emphasis led to a profound communication impact via a presentation for ICCA’s Incredibile Impacts programme.
Singapore demonstrates how business events can deliver economic policy goals and strategic destination positioning. This event will attract high-level international participation, not only through its own agenda (including new policy announcements), but through synergy with events on related themes: Singapore International Energy Week, Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, and the Asian Downstream Summit.
When the 76th International Astronautical Congress convened at ICC Sydney in 2025, Sydney became host of one of the world’s most strategically charged sectors. Space agencies, governments, scientists, engineers, commercial suppliers, students and the public gathered in Darling Harbour at a congress that reflected the ambition and complexity of the global space economy. From Boardroom…
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David Adler from GatheringPoint has created an incredible wide-ranging collection of free resources for anyone interested in maximising the impact and outcomes from their events. Workbooks and checklists cover themes such as Event Strategy, Outcome Planning, Formats & Facilitation, Attendee Psychology, Risk Management, Marketing and Sponsorship!
This report from UFI in association with Oxford Economics summarises the direct, indirect and induced impacts of the exhibitions sector within the UK economy in 2025. It highlights 1,154 exhibitions involving 6.8 million visitors and 139,000 exhibitors, supporting more than 127,000 jobs, generating £11.7bn in economic output and contributing £6.1bn towards the country’s GDP.
In the latest Northstar/Cvent Meetings Industry PULSE Survey, conducted in partnership with Phocuswright, the level of planner optimism largely continues from the previous cycle, the percentage of planners booking and actively sourcing new events is up year-over-year, whiles there is also evidence of geopolitical and economic uncertainty taking a toll.
EIC, in partnership with Oxford Economics, has released the full 2026 Global Economic Significance of Business Events Study, providing a comprehensive examination of the scale and broader value of the global business events sector. They found business events generated US$3.1 trillion in total business sales. Download the full report via the link in this article.
Skift analyses new research from Freeman that confirms what meeting planners have suspected for years: the agenda they spend months building isn’t where attendees are finding the most value. Attendees say they would ideally spend 54% of their learning time in unstructured formats rather than formal sessions. At trade shows, that figure rises to 64%.
Why does The Iceberg consider the just-released IMEX White Paper, “Place Leadership and the Business Events Sector”, to be so important? In almost four decades of monitoring and supporting this sector, The Iceberg Curator, Martin Sirk, has reviewed hundreds of research reports, policy documents, and thought-leadership papers, yet he notes that “few match this paper’s…
PCMA’s newly released report provides in-depth analysis of the trends, market dynamics, innovation priorities, and stakeholder perspectives shaping one of the world’s fastest-evolving sectors. Combining sector intelligence, community insights, and practical implementation tools, the report equips event professionals, destinations, and suppliers with actionable strategies to make more informed business and event decisions.
The German Convention Bureau has created the world’s first detailed national map that identifies centres of scientific and technological research expertise and links them with key meetings infrastructure, enabling associations and other conference decision-makers to more effectively plan events taking into account intellectual capital criteria.
Business events generate £33.6bn annually for the UK economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, and driving trade, innovation and business relationships. Despite this, the report highlights that the sector is not consistently recognised within government, with fragmented engagement, and growth constrained by the absence of a clear national strategy, coordinated leadership and sustained funding.
SFA Connect, specialists in lead generation and strategic matchmaking in the business events industry, have reviewed over 60 research projects they have conducted over the last decade to identify key evolutionary changes to destination event attraction strategies. Where the focus was previously on identifying bidding opportunities, DMOs are now adopting more sophisticated destination policy-supporting models.
TBOE’s report highlights a business events sector that has transitioned from post-pandemic recovery into a phase of stabilisation. Survey findings show that growth is moderating, while interviews point to a more complex operating environment shaped by structural constraints and external pressures. Competitiveness is increasingly related to value, connectivity, sustainability, policy alignment and long-term impact.
In partnership with The Meetings Show, event sustainability platform TRACE by Isla has created this series of interactive response cards to assist meeting planners in overcoming objections and making the case for management commitment to and investment in sustainable practices. Each card gives a comeback line with proof behind it and a practical next step.
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Peng Ee Ooi outlines the unfulfilled needs that led to the creation of Associations Commons as a portal for associations in the Asia-Pacific region to share their perspectives, challenges, and solutions with one another. Western know-how and methodologies are often not easily translatable, for cultural or economic reasons, into Asian scenarios, whereas local associations have…
Crisis and leadership communication expert Marjie Hadad gives an outsider’s perspective and issues a strong wake-up call to the Business Events sector, arguing that we need to craft far more effective messaging, tailored carefully for every key audience and group of stakeholders, with local voices but high-level consistency of our key talking-points. Business Events leaders…
Y.T. Anderson, of Visit Northern Finland & Oulu Convention Bureau, reflects on City DNA’s 40th Summer School, designed for newcomers to business events. He shares insights into the changing models of destination leadership, the shift from bednight-driven metrics to societal impact, and the growing influence of the new generation of future leaders in our sector.
Destination Canada’s Virginie De Visscher calls for the wider industry to adopt the lessons from the first three years of their unique study into international event impact and legacy. The biggest surprise in the research: the power of inclusion and diversity during planning, creating and delivering events. From Conference & Meetings World…
AMI’s James Lancaster argues that when so much of our professional life has been compressed into screens, feeds and notifications, conferences seem a little quaint – people travelling for hours to sit beside colleagues, listen to someone imparting information and then chat about it over a coffee. But this quaintness increasingly looks like the point.
Ihor Chava from Kyiv School of Economics argues that the primary purpose of place branding is not to shape a new image for a destination, but to create a space where all place stakeholders can align themselves around a shared vision, agree on the highest priorities and collectively nurture civic pride. From CityNationPlace…
Meeting design guru Adrian Segar argues the meetings industry has spent decades measuring success as a matter of volume: more attendees, more exhibitors, more sponsors, more square footage. But bigger events don’t necessarily create greater value for the people who attend. Segar puts forward his predictions for the rise of delegate-centred success metrics.
GCB Managing Director Schultze argues that while the world of business events has access to more data than ever before, and destination and venue information is widely available, the real value emerges only when different data sources are connected and placed into a meaningful context. Schultze outlines what Germany is doing to illuminate these connections.
Kai Hattendorf conducts a deep dive into Informa’s recent state-of-business report for the first half of 2026, drawing our attention to the impact of geopolitics on global trade show sector performance, and the company’s strategic and tactical decisions on issues such as event postponement vs cancellation, regional prioritisation and differentiation, and risk management.
Destinations International’s President & CEO Don Welsh shares his personal business philosophy and his views on the future role of convention bureaux or DMOs. Leaders of these organisations will need to evolve into “alternative mayors”, ringmasters of the complex institutional relationships that make up modern place leadership in destinations large and small. From GatheringPoint.news…
David Adler takes a critical look at the threat to scientific and medical meetings should US federal regulation OMB-2026-0034 go ahead, prohibiting grant recipients from attending conferences not named in the original grant proposal (in practice, an impossibility!). David also brilliantly articulates the processes by which face-to-face meetings generate scientific insights and progress.
An industry asked its government for attention, got it, and watched the government defund it mid-conversation. Parliament formally objected, demanded the cuts be reversed, and proposed moving the entire sector out of the culture department and into the trade department. David Adler translates the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee report into plain English…
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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.
The Business Operations Summit is a cross-functional gathering of destination organisation professionals in finance, human resources, operations and technology. This year’s summit will provide insight on post-pandemic recovery from an organisational perspective, focusing on new ways to think about how destination organisations are organised, staffed and operated.
An immersive leadership programme designed to develop the next generation of convention centre leaders through practical learning, site visits and peer collaboration. Delivered by AIPC, CCC, and IAVM, the high-impact programme covers operations, strategy, and finance – with global experts, hands-on learning, and powerful networking.
The Visitor Experience Expert Meeting offers a mix of incentive and exchange opportunities for all attendees, so participant diversity is of great importance. This event is for managers and TIC front office professionals coming from small and large cities and working for either public or private tourist information organisations – CityDNA members or not.
The AIPC Operational Excellence Summit offers a high-level forum for convention centre professionals navigating increasing operational complexity, rapid technological change, and rising expectations around sustainability, security and customer experience. It is designed for the people who actually make events happen, from operations directors and operational excellence leaders to technical, AV, ICT and facilities managers.
The ICCA Pharma Compliance Training takes place for the first time in December 2026, bringing together representatives of medical and pharmaceutical associations for two intensive days of learning, exchange and best‑practice sharing in Düsseldorf, a dynamic healthcare and life sciences hub. Open to association professionals who are event leads and meet the criteria.
Across Europe, CVBs are navigating rapid shifts in expectations, competition and complexity, yet there are few opportunities designed specifically for them to step back, connect with peers and reflect on how we operate, collaborate and evolve. This meeting fills that gap, combining focused discussions and informal networking. The event is open to all CVBs.
The ICCA Business Workshop, hosted by the Meetings & Events Management Sector, will bring together up to 15 ICCA Members from the Meetings & Events Management, Destination Management, and Venues & Hotels sectors from around the world for one-to-one business meetings and to explore St. Julian’s association offering.
The AIPC Academy is designed for convention centre professionals seeking to broaden their industry knowledge, strengthen their leadership capabilities, and prepare for increased management responsibilities within an evolving global events landscape. It provides a valuable platform for previous graduates and experienced industry professionals looking to continue developing their strategic thinking, professional network and industry perspective.
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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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 industry come together at IMEX, held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas.
Under the theme Moving Together, this conference will explore how city destinations can navigate movement in all its forms. Across three days of learning, exchange and networking, CityDNA members will reflect on what is moving in our cities today, and how destinations can move forward together with greater alignment, collective purpose and one authoritative voice.
Join us for the inaugural Advocacy & Action: The Destination Impact Event, where destination leaders come together to explore the strategies, partnerships and solutions that strengthen communities and shape the future of destination organisations. Please note that a 2026 partnership is required to attend this event, and not all partner tiers are eligible.
Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition & Tourism Sectors, co-hosting with ICCA, is delighted to organise the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific BE Youth Challenge. This competition aims to foster young professionals in the Business Events industry and provide an exclusive opportunity for participants to take centre stage in showcasing innovative and creative ideas.
This is not another forum about what the business events industry already knows. The AP EvolvDestination Forum 2026 is designed for professionals who want to understand where future business will come from, how association decisions are changing, and how destinations, venues, PCOs, associations, universities, and industry partners can create opportunities together.
TEAMS: TRAVEL, EVENTS AND MANAGEMENT IN SPORTS, is the world’s leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry. Presented by SportsTravel, and hosted by the Greater Birmingham CVB, TEAMS ’26 will be held October 26–29 in Birmingham, Alabama. For more than 25 years, TEAMS has helped define the sports-event and appointment-based trade show industries.
Northstar’s premier hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings brings 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 exclusive group.
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.
The UFI Global Congress is a unique platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring innovative solutions to the challenges facing the exhibition industry. By choosing Bahrain, UFI highlights the Kingdom’s growing importance as a hub for international events and its commitment to fostering the global exhibition ecosystem. (Open to UFI Members Only.)
The Summit 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 of incentive specialists.
The 65th ICCA Congress in Panama will be a powerful celebration of connection, innovation, and shared purpose. Join us to explore new perspectives, forge meaningful partnerships, and shape the future of business events in one of the world’s most vibrant destinations. This is our moment to learn, grow, and lead — together.
The Forum gives emerging professionals a genuine voice — and a seat at the table — empowering them to challenge assumptions, share bold ideas and help shape the future of our industry. This event is open to ICCA members, Observers association executives, and students of any age, though priority will be given to Young Professionals.
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In 2016, Alicia Yao became the Chief editor of Association Innovative Development, a quarterly magazine owned by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Association for Non-Profit Organization (CANPO) for the executives of over 2,300 China National level associations. In 2018, She co-founded China Business Event Industry Committee (CBEIC) jointly with CCPIT-CSC and serves as its…
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Silvano joined Congrex Switzerland in 2010 and is a member of the company’s senior management team. He leads the Marketing, Sales, Communications and Sustainability divisions. His career began in the hospitality sector, and he has since accumulated more than twenty years of experience in the business events industry. Congrex Switzerland is one of Europe’s leading…
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Alyson Robb is a public relations specialist with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sector. Alyson has worked for different members of government, both at the federal and provincial level, providing communications and strategic political advice. She is also successful in creating positive working relationships with various external partners. Currently, Alyson…
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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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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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Sven joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are…
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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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Nigel started his career at the head office of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) in Amsterdam. He was part of the event organizing team of the association and served 7 years organizing a host of events on all continents. During his tenure he gained extensive project management skills and was responsible for implementing…
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Peirui joined UFI as the Programme Manager for Advocacy and Alliances in 2023. In this role, she collaborates with UFI members and partners to advance advocacy initiatives for the exhibitions industry globally. A Singaporean based in Frankfurt, Peirui brings over 20 years of international experience to her position. She has previously worked with the Singapore…
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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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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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Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA, the world’s largest community for business events strategists, providing education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events community. Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. He is a prominent business architect, enabling communities to become a…
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Destinations International’s advocacy team has put together resources to help destinations pivot their stakeholder messaging to one centered around the organization’s true customer: the resident. Take a look at videos, case studies, lexicons and more information that will help you communicate the value of your organization to your entire community.
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.
Stay informed with the latest association insights and trends by subscribing to regular updates from Boardroom, the global reference point both for the world of associations and within the meetings industry, with articles written by the sector’s most-experienced professionals and a magazine endorsed and supported by the members of its Association Advisory Board.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
For an academic perspective on the events sector (as opposed to the usual industry-led approach), make sure you follow the Centre for Events and Festivals. Many of CEF’s professors are attempting to evaluate events with a much more scientific rigour than is the norm. CEF Insights are short, accessible articles written by industry experts.
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.
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The world’s first international professional body to support the professional development and recognition of everyone working across the global events industry. The Centre for Events & Festivals (CEF) is an international Not-for-Profit providing resources to all event and festival sectors – from sports, business and private events to public, arts, and cultural festivals. We do…
Destination DC is a vital economic development organization that promotes Washington, DC as a world-class destination for conventions, tourism, sports and special events with an emphasis on the arts, cultural and historical communities. DDC is a private, non-profit corporation with a membership of over 1,000 businesses and organizations that support the DC travel and tourism…
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