The power of conferences is well understood at the new ICC Sydney.
In this issue of Business Events World and on The Iceberg there are two not-to-be-missed reports on the power of meetings.
Business Events Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney have jointly published a book detailing the role conferences have played in the careers of ten distinguished luminaries, including two Nobel laureates. The Power of Conferences: stories of serendipity, innovation and driving social change is available to download for free in Features. Check out the final pages on insights and long tail outcomes.
And in Research, Iceberg partner Positive Impact ended its campaign during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism with the launch of a report at IBTM World: Telling the Story of the Power of Events. It’s hard to argue with the goal of using this industry to create legacies bettering the most basic and fundamental of human needs.
Also in Features (click right), how the city of Mainz in western Germany has just played host to the Third International Cancer lmmunotherapy Conference 2017. It was selected for the 1,500-delegate event not just as a cost-effective destination, but also as a knowledge hub in the sector and home to one of Europe’s leading cancer immunology research centres.
In Opinions (click right), Pádraic Gilligan writes on cinematic new venue ideas. There are two pieces on Paris: the knowledge hub launch of its new convention centre, and whether organisers of large events will face competition at the time of the 2024 Olympics. And Convene analyses the real return on investment of face-to-face with the meeting that brought President Trump to power: the 2016 Republican National Convention.
In News, both The Power of Conferences and Paris Convention Centre launches again, IBTM World and the IBTM Trends Watch report, some significant exhibitor spending figures from Hong Kong, a new legacy programme from the redoutable ICC Sydney, the JMIC Profile and Power Award, Sheffield’s ambassador programme, and Deborah Sexton stepping down as PCMA CEO. As well as all that and more, the Global Destination Sustainability Index – also a partner of The Iceberg – has released its second annual rankings, with Gothenburg the top performer and Glasgow the most improved.
Finally and with great sadness, The Iceberg offers its sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Manisa Mohamed Nor, who passed away at the age only 39 while travelling to Prague for the 56th ICCA Congress. Manisa was a senior executive with the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and the author of the JMIC Case Study below on the sustainability of business events in Malaysia.
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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The question is often asked: what are the benefits of holding conferences? Often the real answers to the question only emerge years after an event has taken place, when the ideas presented or connections made have become breakthroughs that save lives, change society or redefine best practice and policy. Business Events Sydney (BESydney) and the…
The city of Mainz in western Germany has just played host to the Third International Cancer lmmunotherapy Conference 2017. It was selected for the 1,500-delegate event not just as a cost-effective destination, but also as a knowledge hub in the sector and home to one of Europe’s leading cancer immunology research centres. From tw tagungswirtschaft…
Once the meetings industry was viewed only in terms of spend during an event: flying in, commuting by taxi, renting venue space, booking accommodation and eating at restaurants. Those days are over. Daniel Waigl, executive director of the Radiological Society of Europe, explains how healthcare association meetings deliver legacies of improved treatment and awareness. From Boardroom…
The Iceberg has always tried to shine a light on the benefits of business and professional events that lie hidden beneath the surface and get ignored alongside the visible tip of travel and hospitality spend. Now the Joint Meetings Industry Council is renewing its call for quality storytelling of the legacies the sector delivers.
The annual showcase event for the Asia Pacific meeting and business events sector, IT&CMA, revealed that the region’s destination marketing organisations (DMOs) are adopting the lead set by Australia and Singapore. ‘Clustering’ or focussing efforts on bidding for events from within industry sectors identified in the development frameworks of government is now the priority of…
The International AIDS Society (IAS) organizes the world’s two most prestigious HIV conferences, each convened biennially in alternating years. The next International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) will be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands (23-27 July 2018). Meanwhile, the IAS Conference on HIV Science features the latest HIV science, including basic, clinical and prevention research. It brings…
A landlocked nation offering many opportunities for safari, Botswana is an established incentive destination and growing conference hub in southern Africa. The country sees mostly mining and investment gatherings through its borders, although late last year Botswana also hosted a major ITU meeting: the 14th World Telecommunication / ICT Indicators Symposium. From the Event…
The City of Tshwane, in northern Gauteng Province, is home both to iconic South African historical sites and also several universities. But conferences, exhibitions and corporate meetings take place in Tshwane as well, including many government events. It boasts state-of-the-art conference and exhibition venues like the CSIR International Convention Centre. From the Event…
Nantes on the French Atlantic coast – the birthplace of Jules Verne – has recently transformed itself into an innovation hub. The city and region is home to leading international companies like Airbus, and key knowledge industries like health and biotechnology. At the heart of this journey is La Cité Nantes Events Center. From Boardroom…
European Cities Marketing (ECM) and Destinations International (DI) – two leading destination marketing and development associations – have extended their transatlantic collaboration in response to the radical changes in function of destination marketing organisations (DMOs) across both continents. At the annual ECM Summer School held this year in Dresden, ECM president Dieter Hardt-Stremayr explained the…
This ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) Congress 2017 attracted 9,515 attendees from 110 countries to Messe Berlin. Delegates from countries where haematologists are on low salaries were even assisted with travel allowances. According to the organisation, every significant development in its field has been either presented or enhanced at the event. From tw tagungswirtschaft…
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Deborah Sexton, who has served as CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association for over 12 years, will stand down after the annual Convening Leaders meeting in January. She will be succeeded by current COO Sherrif Karamat. Under Sexton, PCMA more than doubled its membership and revenue. From Meetings & Conventions…
Over 74,000 appointments were made at this year’s IBTM World in Barcelona, up 23 percent on 2016 and a new record for the show. Dubai Business Events alone held almost 1,000. 3,000 exhibitors from more than 150 countries were joined by 3,463 buyers and thousands of visitors for meetings, networking and education. From Meetpie.com…
The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association has released findings from the latest biennial Economic Impact Study on the value of the city’s exhibition industry to its economy. They show that international exhibitors and exhibition visitors significantly outspent general overnight tourists in 2016, by around 75 percent and 66 percent more respectively. From CIM News Magazine…
ICC Sydney is to roll out a multi-streamed legacy programme, designed to connect the world’s brightest minds, industry leaders and delegates across a diverse cross-section of Sydney’s community. Starting in January, the scheme will foster knowledge exchange, collaboration and engagement around four streams: Innovators, Generation Next, Aboriginal Australia and Sustainability. From CIM News Magazine…
The Incentive Federation has issued an update on the Congressional proposal to repeal part of the US tax code which gives firms exclusion for employee service and safety awards. The House of Representatives has now passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but the Senate bill does not have a corresponding provision. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council has announced the winner of the 2017 JMIC Profile and Power Award as Isabel Bardinet, CEO of the Eurpoean Society of Cardiology. The award was made in recognition of her longstanding role as an outspoken advocate for redefining the value of meetings and events in terms of their broader professional…
The annual IBTM Trends Watch report has been released at IBTM World in Barcelona, Spain, and reveals further resilience and confidence in the international meetings industry. The study is based on over 25 sources, as well as on interviews with senior sector figures. Across global markets its outlook is broadly positive. From Meetings & Conventions…
Business Events Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney have published a new book about the legacies of business events. Built around profiles of ten distinguished thought leaders, and focussing on the role meetings have played in their stories, the book also analyses the outcomes conferences help create. Photo: Fairfax Syndication. From CIM News Magazine…
The commitment of one of Barcelona’s biggest association meetings, Mobile World Congress, has become lukewarm amid ongoing political unrest after the Catalonian independence referendum. Last year MWC attracted 108,000 delegates to the city, generating €465 million for the local economy and more than 13,000 temporary jobs. From Association Meetings International…
Sheffield’s conference ambassador programme has celebrated its 10th anniversary at the annual dinner given for advocates who bring larger business events into the city. The city’s conference market is estimated to be worth £113 million to the local economy and the ambassador programme itself has contributed close to £30 million over the last six years. From Association Meetings International…
The Paris Convention Centre, the largest venue of the kind in Europe, has opened its doors for business. The new facility boasts 72,000 square metres of event space and can host up to 35,000 people. The €180 million project is the first of three phases in the refurbishment of the Parc des Expositions. From Association Meetings International…
Gothenburg leads the world’s meetings destinations in sustainability performance, according to the second Global Destination Sustainability Index. The Swedish city also won the Index’s innovation award. Glasgow came fifth, but was also the most-improved over the past year. Cities with a sustainability strategy for meetings increased their performance by 25 percent in 2017. From Meetings & Conventions…
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Many international convention centres use sophisticated methods to measure the economic impact of business events in their host cities. Others recognise the importance of food in customer experience and promote programs like paddock to plate or food miles. ICC Sydney marries these two concepts together and takes them to a new level by measuring the…
Growing its business events sector is part of Malaysia’s strategy to achieve status as a developed nation by 2020. This case study presents the contribution made by the 55th ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress towards developing the business events sector in the country. ICCA’s event engaged political leaders and the local community to raise awareness of the needs…
The Geneva Convention Bureau has adopted a policy of promoting Geneva not only as a destination but also as a center of economic, knowledge and innovation excellence. It does this by marketing meetings and events in relation to local key clusters of industry. As a result, a dynamic and virtuous feedback loop is established between Geneva’s economic or knowledge…
This research by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) demonstrates that business events offer delegates unrestricted exposure to innovative ideas and opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills. Part of the Beyond Tourism Benefits series, the new study by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Conferences: Catalysts for Thriving Economies – provides further evidence showing that…
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Positive Impact has marked the end of its campaign during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism with the launch of a report at IBTM World “Telling the Story of the Power of Events”. The report which has had input from five academics and had a three month period of accepting contributions from across the global…
UFI’s World Map of Exhibition Venues (November 2017) reveals that the total venue space available for exhibitions has grown 7.4 percent in the last six years, from 32,500,000 to 34,900,000 square metres (gross indoor exhibition space, venues over 5,000 square metres). The fastest growth is in venues offering more than 100,000 square metres, a rise of…
This report gives an overview of the experience and intentions of exhibitors at trade shows across the world. It aims to give event organisers a deeper understanding of the patterns and trends that drive positive and negative exhibitor experiences and the objectives and behaviours that underlie them. This report has been created in two stages….
With the majority of all U.S. businesses (84%) now using non-cash awards and the majority of top performing businesses (those with the highest revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction) saying their executives support their non-cash recognition and reward programs as a competitive advantage, the eminent need to understand how to create effective programs becomes…
Attendees are consumers: discerning travelers who may choose to attend conventions & exhibitions… or not. That’s why the mutual goal of both meeting / exhibition professionals and CVBs is generating positive word-of-mouth from attendees, resulting in repeat bookings and increased attendance. This report provides insight from the second Decision to Attend survey conducted in 2017, with…
Drawing on official data from 14 national trade fair bodies who guarantee the quality of the statistics they have provided, UFI’s latest report compiles statistics on 2,590 exhibitions covering a total of 27.4 million square metres of registered rented space in 2016. The report shows a notable increase of 7% in terms of the total…
In today’s highly competitive economy, it is not surprising that businesses are seeking trusted new ways to differentiate themselves and sustain success. As major thought leaders and consultancies point repeatedly to human capital as the prime modern differentiator (even outstripping financial capital), it raises the question: what are truly successful companies now doing differently regarding…
For the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, compliance and regulation are a way of life. In this already complex environment, the ever-changing regulatory landscape has increased the pressure over recent years. These dynamics are having a profound effect on healthcare congresses, which represent the largest segment of educational meetings. The future of these events depends on…
The DestinationNEXT Futures Study identifies the trends and opportunities that will shape the future of destination marketing and management. This Futures Study update, conducted in 2017, is intended to build on the learnings from the 2014 Futures Study, and to determine updated trends and strategies that will keep the thousands of destination organizations around the…
A skills survey of the business events sector, coordinated by Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) in partnership with the Australian Association of Convention Bureaux and the Exhibition & Events Association of Australasia (EEAA), has found that critical skills gaps are considerably impacting the business events industry. With a significant survey response rate of 39 per…
This study is based on a global survey concluded in July 2017. It represents up to date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 14 specific countries and zones. Global Exhibition Barometer 19th Edition (July 2017)
The latest UFI / Business Strategies Group report on the trade fair industry in Asia has now been published complete with updated statistical information from 2016. Leaflet here… The Trade Fair Industry in Asia – 13th Edition (July 2017) – Leaflet Order form here… The Trade Fair Industry in Asia – 13th Edition (July 2017) –…
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The Trump effect on the US’s standing as a destination is much discussed. But what about the actual meeting that helped elect him: the 2016 Republican National Convention? The RNC and its economic impact are at the centre of some thoughts about the real return on investment of face-to-face. From PCMA Convene…
Paris is riding high both on its new convention centre and on hosting the 2024 Olympics. But when one huge event is in town at a major destination, does that cause other large meetings to, erm… bottle out? There’s evidence this is the case, but good reasons why it shouldn’t be. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The opening of the new Paris Convention Centre, the largest venue of its kind in Europe, has shone a spotlight on the French capital’s offering for large meetings. The Viparis launch event showcased not just the centre itself, but also some of the wider knowledge economy Paris can bring to the table. From Boardroom…
The nature of venues and of how organisers use them is changing. If coffee shops are now suitable spaces, why not cinemas? The refurbished Stella in South Dublin – an Art Deco time capsule – is visited in this article, with some Bold ideas for small meetings featured as well. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
It’s awards time again, and the marketing category of any major ceremony is always hotly contested, as for example at the recent ICCA Congress in Prague (News: “FMCCA Wins Best Marketing Award”). One Iceberg partner, SoolNua, boasts not only the Chairman of Judges of that ceremony, but also a nomination in another. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Recent years have seen the growth of regulation from European governments, and also from the sector itself in terms of interactions between the pharmaceutical / medical-device industries and healthcare professionals. So where to now for medical associations, their meetings and their revenue streams? By Caroline Mackenzie, Global Association Partners, on behalf of IAPCO, via Boardroom…
The Iceberg previously reported the Business of Events Senior Leadership Forum that recently brought the UK government and its meetings industry together (Opinions: “Westminster Bubbles: A Meeting of Minds”). Now Events Industry Board Chair Nick de Bois, himself a former MP, weighs in with his own view of the session. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The head of security for the London 2012 Olympics, former MI5 Director General Lord Evans, has given the keynote at a Sydney Speaker Series lunch in London. The event was organised by both Business Events Sydney and ICC Sydney, and hosted by the High Commission of Australia. The Iceberg was also invited. If there was any doubt…
Hybrid meetings can be very different experiences for different delegates. Face-to-face attendees discuss topics in session rooms, virtual ones online via chat forums. The two can remain very separate. But at a recent meeting, the American Academy of Ophthalmology debuted a new virtual-meeting ambassador program to create stronger interaction between the different worlds. From PCMA Convene…
At a reception near Parliament ahead of the Business of Events Leadership Forum, UK tourism minister John Glen promised to help the meetings industry work directly with government to win business. And Michael Hirst, chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, thinks the sector’s standing with government has never been greater. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
All good destination management companies have a tale or three about how far they have gone in serving their clients’ very specific needs. From Girona to Madrid, here’s an eye-watering tale of a DMC willing to go the extra mile to bring home the bacon. Warning: not for the squeamish! From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
Over the past few months, the need to prepare for unexpected eventualities has become increasingly important. Ken Kelling, MPRCA, Associate Director at meetings and events PR firm Davies Tanner, and a featured speaker at PCMA’s recent Knowledge Exchange in London, offers some essential tips for crafting the right message when a crisis unfolds. From PCMA…
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Our 2017 campaign “Telling the Story of the Power of Events” has been GROUNDBREAKING, CHALLENGING, EXCITING and INSPIRATIONAL! Join our webinar to see how you can get involved and gain insight into collaborating for good. A must attend occasion for sustainability specialists, event professionals and anyone who wants to make a global difference.
For those who are new to the profession or have less than five years experience in the field, Association Management Week is composed of five one-day programs designed to build a strong understanding of the fundamentals and core functions of association management: Essential Practices in Association Management; Membership Development; Effectively Managing Volunteer Committees & Task Forces; Communication and Public…
Acts of violence seem to happen more often today than in years past, and in more vulnerable places, especially where people gather. Could the location or venue of your next meeting be a target? What are you doing to make your conferences and meeting safer and more secure? Are you doing it the right way?…
The AIPC Academy is the only comprehensive professional development program specifically serving the needs of international convention centre managers! Designed to address the critical need for centres to maintain fully qualified staff in a highly competitive industry, the AIPC Academy provides a targeted, cost effective form of training and development along with the means to…
Access our free library of industry-leading templates and checklists to guide you through every stage of your international conference planning. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events, straight from some of the world’s foremost experts. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events,…
Maritz Global Events’ resource library gives industry professionals the latest insights about solving their greatest challenges; experts share their insights on the value of face-to-face meetings and events, the journey to take your event global, and the power of experience design thinking.
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We’re cranking up the volume at 2018 PCMA Convening Leaders. The engagement factor is the most critical piece of connecting with your audience. But we’ve entered the new school of engagement — one where you must navigate around digital distractions and satisfy increased attendee expectations at every turn. At Convening Leaders, you’ll learn how to…
SITE is excited to partner with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to bring you SITE + MPI Global Forum. This event will gather the best and the brightest across the meetings and incentive travel industries to power expanded connections, education and destination exploration. SITE + MPI Global Forum will offer joint sessions and events to increase networking and…
BY INVITATION ONLY. The Global CEO Summit, the GCS, is one of UFI’s most prestigious events and takes place each year in the last week of January. This is an exclusive meeting as only the CEOs or equivalent of global exhibition organizing companies and exhibition venues are permitted to attend.
ibtm arabia is a three day event in Abu Dhabi focused on uniting Middle East and international MICE suppliers with highly qualified meeting and event planners. Join many key industry names travelling far and wide to participate in the 12th edition of the event.
Join the Destinations International Foundation for a night of inspiration where leaders come together to celebrate the power of destinations and travel. Bringing together tourism industry leaders, the Spirit of Hospitality is a celebration of excellence and raises funds for the Destinations International Foundation to support education, research, advocacy and leadership development initiatives to empower destinations and…
Your event begins and ends with the destination. Join this dynamic one-day event offering meeting professionals the opportunity to easily connect with over 140 destinations, and better understand how CVBs are the key to making your meeting a total success. Get Inspired, Learn, Network.
CONVENE is an annual business to business two-day event for the meetings industry for the countries of the Baltic. It is an international show case for the regional meetings industry which accelerates the interest in, and demand for, holding meetings, incentives and conferences in the region.
AIME – Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo – is the leading exhibition for the meetings, incentives and events industry. As the largest international event of its kind in Australia, each year the exhibition unites a community of over 4,000 suppliers and meetings and events planners under one roof in Melbourne. With an exceptional Hosted Buyer® program, AIME welcomes valuable association…
Connect with the top international hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, two-night stay at The 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn from February 25-27, 2018.
Meetings Africa showcases Africa’s diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals can partner to help transform our continent. Meet 400 highly qualified hosted buyers; Face-to-face meetings with key decision-makers; Targeted business matchmaking (online diary system); Network with industry colleagues across multiple sectors; Launch new product and service offerings;…
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