Toshiko Mori: “Tokyo demonstrates that ‘city’ is a verb and not a noun”.
“More than any other city”, wrote architecture professor Toshiko Mori, “Tokyo demonstrates that ‘city’ is a verb and not a noun”.
In this issue of Business Events World and on The Iceberg, how Japan’s capital is preparing both for the 2020 Summer Olympics… and also for a major upsurge in its meetings business. Meetpie.com has tackled the same story here.
Also added to Features (click right), Australian cities are leveraging medical knowledge to secure major events. The 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne attracted 12,000 delegates from 173 countries.
In News (click right again), the exhibition industry global asscociation UFI’s Next Generation Leadership Grant recipients have been announced. The inaugural GainingEdge Scholars have as well. Durban International Convention Centre is celebrating its 21st. SQUARE Brussels Convention Centre is marking its 60th (and that’s the new name). Legacy outcomes abound: South Korea is building conference business on the back of its own recent Winter Olympics, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is partnering with a new wind farm, and Sibos 2018 has launched an information security challenge to engage Australian students. US independent planners are braced for a further cut in intermediary commission, this time from Hilton. Las Vegas marks 24 years as the top US trade fair destination. Australia is still counting its lost international business event bids. Grapevine, Texas, has been selected to host Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress in June 2020. And MPI and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition are live streaming Global Meetings Industry Day on April 12th.
There’s more on The Iceberg itself (click View all News). Cape Town is targeting incentives despite its drought, ICC Sydney has held a planners’ open forum, and Business Events Canada is staging Innovate Canada to attract the ICT sector.
In Opinions (still clicking right), why Glasgow was perfect for a historical architecture conference, the European Association Summit 2018 in Brussels, the Faroe Islands’ conference ambassadors, a bullish view on how events have now reached the marketing mainstream, how the smart city agenda is attracting its own conference tracks, that Hilton commission cut, how the Destinations International Annual Convention in Anaheim held an education session for delegates’ families, an insider’s guide to meetings and events associations, and the legacies of incentives’ corporate social responsibility projects. They’ll be a test later!
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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With more than 37 million people living in greater Tokyo, the city is probably the world’s largest metropolitan area. As the 2020 Summer Olympic Games approach, Japan’s capital is growing even busier with the preparation of infrastructure, transport and human resources. Business events are right at the centre of this development fever. From Boardroom…
Australian cities are leveraging medical knowledge and research specialities to secure major events and realise the investment, employment, healthcare and other legacies that result from them. The 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014), which took place in Melbourne after over two years’ extensive planning and preparation, might well be the epitome of this. From Boardroom…
From ICC Sydney, to NZICC in Auckland, from Setia SPICE in Penang, to the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Rome’s Convention Center La Nuvola, the Paris Convention Centre, ICC Wales, and CRCC in Costa Rica, the construction of new convention centres across the world suggests face to face has a future. From Association Meetings International…
When the Singapore Tourism Bureau invited several international and European associations to come over and visit local societies and conference venues, they did not expect much symbiosis between these different organisations. But the group started to see synergies across its various fields of expertise and even dreamed up a joint congress together. From Boardroom…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Montreal has become Canada’s cultural capital: not quite North American, but not entirely European either. Already home to top-notch researchers in fields like genetics, aging, economics and life sciences, Montreal’s scientific community is building on its international reputation. It is doing this both by winning scientific awards and by attracting large-scale international conventions. From Boardroom…
The longest inhabited city on the globe, Jerusalem is not only holy to three major world religions but also an evolving association destination. Thanks to the presence of 17 academic institutions, the Israeli capital is also a modern-day knowledge hub. It boasts the largest number of start-ups and venture capital investments per capita anywhere. From Boardroom…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Friends, family, and colleagues of the late Paul Flackett joined in celebration of the IMEX and business events industry icon at a memorial event generously hosted by London’s Queen Elizabeth II Centre. Comic, emotional, and musical farewells from all corners of the world were delivered in fond remembrance of “the boy from Birmingham”. These included…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Last month the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. According to Czech Statistical Office data, Prague welcomed a total of 4,426 conferences in…
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The Durban International Convention Centre is staging a 21st anniversary celebration campaign with a series of nationwide events leading up to a gala dinner in October. In 21 years the venue, officially opened in 1997 by Nelson Mandela, has contributed over R34.4 billion towards South Africa’s GDP, R32.6 billion directly benefitting KwaZulu-Natal. From Meetpie.com…
The number of international business events won for Australia continues to decline, according to new data from the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux. The latest edition of the AACB’s Forward Calendar showed bid wins at 361, down from 396 six months ago. But delegate numbers and associated delegate spend is up. From CIM News Magazine…
The financial services event Sibos is heading back to Sydney in October and already looking to create new legacies in the destination (see JMIC Case Studies). Organisers SWIFT have launched the 2018 SWIFT Institute Challenge, which tasks Australian students with devising new ways of protecting personal information in an open banking environment. From CIM News Magazine…
Two young scholars from Africa, Stalin Tawanda Mau Mau and Mercy Cherono Too, are the first awarded by the inaugural GainingEdge Scholar Programme, which recognises the importance of meaningful work experience for students who wish to pursue careers in the business events industry and who also demonstrate outstanding potential for future leadership. From Boardroom…
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is creating a legacy by partnering with a new wind farm. MCEC’s involvement with the power project at Ararat in regional Victoria will enable the venue to purchase renewable energy certificates equivalent to the projected electricity consumption of its current 20,000 square metre expansion plans. From CIM News Magazine…
Brussels’ convention centre SQUARE has celebrated its 60th anniversary at an event celebrating the key role it has played in the economic growth of both Brussels and also Belgium. Founded for the 1958 World Expo, SQUARE Brussels Convention Centre (its new name) was at the time one of only two of its kind worldwide. From Boardroom…
Two months after Marriott International’s announcement that it is reducing North American group-intermediary commission rates from ten to seven percent, Hilton has said it will make the same rate drop in October. The changes are likely substantially to reshape both the US and Canada’s independent planner sectors. From Meetings & Conventions…
Meeting Professionals International and the Meetings Mean Business Coalition will together present a free live stream from many of the Global Meetings Industry Day events taking place around the world on April 12th. The GMID Virtual Event starts at 6 a.m. US CDT and concludes at 6 p.m. CDT. Registration is required. From Meetings & Conventions…
Grapevine, Texas, has been selected to host Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress in June 2020. MPI will collaborate with the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau on the event, which attracts more than 2,000 attendees annually, including corporate, third-party and association planners, as well as suppliers, students, and industry staff. From Successful Meetings…
Building on the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Korea Tourism Organisation is organising a series of roadshows across Europe and America to promote South Korea as a conference and meeting destination. Vienna, Brussels, New York, Washington and London are on the itinerary, and several of Korea’s convention bureaux are exhibiting. From Association Meetings International…
Las Vegas hosted 47 of the largest trade fairs in the US last year, making it top destination for the 24th year running. In a TSNN list, CONEXPO-CON / AGG 2017 was the largest show with over 2.67 million square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 128,000 attendees and 2,375 exhibitors. From CIM News Magazine…
An international jury headed up by UFI President Corrado Peraboni has selected five lucky sector recipients of the exhibition industry global association’s 2018 Next Generation Leadership Grant. This year there were over 70 percent more applications received than in 2017. Responses were handed in from 15 different countries, representing all of UFI’s regional chapters. From CIM news Magazine…
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London Tech Week is a festival of live events taking place once a year across the United Kingdom capital. Having been held now for four years, it has become a key gathering for the ICT industry in London. It connects the entire tech ecosystem both within the city and beyond, shapes the future of the…
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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Have a look Pacific World’s Destination Index, a unique tool to provide corporate, association and agency planners with an advanced indicator of destination popularity for international meetings, incentives and events. The index is based on over 5,000 international enquiries received worldwide, actual meeting and event results and highly valuable feedback from attending delegates from around…
“2017 was a good year for UK meetings industry sales growth” reports Louise Goalen, Chair of HBAA, as the HBAA Meetings Barometer results for 2017 are revealed. The average spend per meeting and average spend per delegate in the UK both grew significantly year on year in 2017, despite a slight decline in the average…
Ashfield Meetings & Events is pleased to announce a 2018 follow-up study to the 2016 “Future Of Meetings” white paper. “The Science Of Healthcare Professional Meetings” compares and contrasts the perceptions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) across a wide variety of speciality areas, and dives deeper into the ongoing evolution of the medical meetings landscape. By looking…
A new research report examining “The Rise of Midsize Cities in the Meetings Industry” in North America and Europe, commissioned by the IMEX Group and developed by Skift, has been published. The free 40+ page report carefully examines why and how some midsize cities (historically known as second-tier cities, a label they’ve now shaken off) have managed…
This Economic Significance Study (ESS), conducted by Oxford Economics, quantifies a vital industry that contributes billions of dollars to the US economy, while creating millions of jobs in almost every community in the country. The data in this study provides a clear and credible statistical base on which to gain recognition for this vast and…
The IRF 2018 Trends Study highlights ten key trends that will affect organizations, their products and services, and the workforce in 2018. From market optimism to concerns about risk and safety, the study identifies key areas of change and their implications for workforce engagement, incentive travel and recognition. IRF 2018 Trends Study (IRF website version)
This study is based on a global survey, concluded in January 2018. It represents up to date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 17 specific countries and geographic zones. Global Exhibition Barometer 20th Edition (January 2018)
The United Kingdom is a preferred host for international meetings, conferences and events because of its economic, academic and industry sector strengths. That applies equally to the major gateway cities and the many regional cities spread across every corner of the UK, each with extensive clusters of expertise in advanced and creative industries. This sector…
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…
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Corporate social responsibility initiatives are becoming an increasingly important element of incentive programmes. They drive employee engagement and build corporate culture. From ordering 800 garments for a gala evening, helping locals to buy an industrial sewing machine and start a business, to rebuilding a school, creating such legacies can be powerful, authentic and transformative. From motivate…
The events and meetings industry is hardly short of its own professional associations. A good many of them are even Iceberg partners! You join for the networking, education and advocacy, then get much more. But which are right for each of the different tribes within our overall sector? From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
It is not unusual for conventions to include recreational options for significant others and children. It is more enticing to register if the business trip is also a family vacation. But Destinations International Annual Convention organisers took the idea to the next level by holding an education session for the whole family. From PCMA…
The decision of Marriott International to reduce group-intermediary commission rates has already made a major impact on the North American independent planners, many of whom have business models built entirely around commission. Now Hilton is doing the same. What will this mean for both the planners and the wider industry? Photo: Daderot. From Meetings & Conventions…
Port Covington in Baltimore, Lake Nona in Orlando, Hudson Yards in New York, and Quayside in Toronto are all being built or rebuilt from the ground up to promote mobility, connectivity and livability. In 2018 both the Consumer Electronics Show and South by Southwest launched tracks dedicated to smart cities for the first time. From Skift…
For some years the event sector struggled to find a voice. Now being more recognised as part of the marketing mix can only benefit the industry as a whole. The MD of marketing communications agency Triggerfish, Andrew White, believes the events sector could be about to hit boom time. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The Faroe Islands are in the North Atlantic Ocean above Scotland. They belong to Denmark but are semi-autonomous. They also have a meetings industry and are seeking to attract international congresses. Visit Faroe Islands even has an Ambassador Network, with an Ambassador Day and Ambassador Awards, to do just that. From tmf dialogue marketing…
For the sixth year in a row, visit.brussels has just staged the European Association Summit 2018 at the newly-rebranded SQUARE Brussels Convention Centre. This year’s EAS was the biggest to date, with over 200 participants, twenty themed workshops and three plenary sessions. For the first time industry associations ICCA and PCMA also participated. From Boardroom…
When the Chicago-based Society of Architectural Historians ran its 70th Annual International Conference, it left the US for the first time in forty years and visited Glasgow. The Glasgow Convention Bureau, VisitScotland, and the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow all helped showcase the local built environment and start a wider conversation about the future of cities. From Skift…
With advances in technology and the rise of crowdfunding platforms, the start-up scene is booming. This has seen many events emerge for those that play in the sector, like 4 Years from Now (4YFN), an initiative from the GSM Association which takes place alongside its flagship Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. From Freeman XP…
Puerto Rico has worked hard to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria last year. But its comeback is far from over. In January, the governor submitted a troubling forecast: an eleven percent contraction for the economy and an eight percent population drop for next year. Can business events ensure a brighter future? From PCMA…
National medical associations hold conventions yearly, while international ones are held every two to four years. But educational timeframes have utterly changed in the digital age. So what will happen to the traditional convention model, and its role in medical professional education? Neurosurgery Professor Antonio A.F. De Salles asks whether conventions will become digital. From Boardroom…
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To keep our Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate recipients up to date on healthcare meeting compliance regulations, cross-border compliance, CMS Open Payments changes and updates, the EFPIA Disclosure Code, and other healthcare trends, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) requires all current HMCCs to attend a refresh webinar on the second anniversary of their class date.
The AES covers all aspects of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of meetings and at the same time is a unique opportunity for suppliers to understand client objectives and business cultures, and for association executives to understand how to negotiate with and understand the objectives of suppliers, enabling both sides to establish stronger and more…
The AIPC Sales and Marketing Summit has proven to be the perfect kick-off for member participation in IMEX and all the client and industry interactions it entails. Participants have the opportunity to compare notes on current issues, consider the latest industry trends and hear from key customer groups before they hit the show floor.
Celebrating the role of women in the meetings industry; A brand new conference for meeting and event strategists, both female and male, to collaborate with and learn from inspiring speakers on crucial issues facing women in the meetings industry.
This training is full of demonstrations of the latest technological tools to get the most out this day of intensive learning. The technologies addressed are: Digital Content Management; Mobile Apps; The basics of hybrid meetings and the latest innovation; Co-creation; Participant involvement: how to make it really work. Discover practical techniques, formats, processes and tools that you can…
The Symposium for Chief Executive and Chief Elected Officers provides a unique opportunity for you and your volunteer leader to maximize the leadership partnership. Explore how you can best work together to effectively carry out your association’s mission and enhance future success. The expert faculty from Tecker International, LLC, will help you and your leadership…
PCMA Education Conference – Where New Ideas and Event Design Converge. As learning styles rapidly evolve and experience expectations continue to rise, do you find yourself in need of idea butane to stay ahead of the curve? Activities include conversations with thought leaders who bring fresh outside perspectives. Together we will celebrate dialogue as we reimagine the…
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,…
Capturing valuable insights and conversations: Be immersed in engaging live or virtual technologies with MCI proven expertise to be aware of the latest trends. Explore the key topics that affect your business environment through the unique insights of MCI’s industry experts.
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#CSRShareDay is a 24 hour twitter campaign where sustainability champions across the globe host an hour of conversation discussing and sharing their Corporate Social Responsibility actions and methods to make their business more sustainable for their local environment and beyond. The movement plays a pioneering role in a global sharing of wisdom, ideas, challenges, best practices,…
In its second year, the PCMA Education Foundation Visionary Awards delivered on its promise to inspire all who attended the sold out event. More than 1,000 leaders in the business events were in attendance at the premier industry recognition event. From the red carpet to the awards program and the swinging after-party, the evening will be…
Our industry’s landscape is shifting – traditional trade shows have become exhibitions, and in recent years have added conference and digital elements to serve their customers’ expanding and changing needs. In parallel, and driven by a need from digital communities to meet in person face to face, hybrid formats have evolved – part festival, past conference,…
Join Tourism New Zealand to experience a journey through New Zealand’s famous wine regions, sample New Zealand inspired cuisine and discover why you should bring your conference to New Zealand. Register your interest for this exclusive event and let us show you why New Zealand is the perfect host.
AIPC Members, who are exhibiting at IMEX Frankfurt are invited, to attend the IMEX Association Evening on May 14. This event is organised by IMEX in collaboration with AIPC. To register contact secretariat@aipc.org prior to April 10.
The INCON Digital Infrastructure Award rewards venues that invest in their infrastructure to ensure a flawless digital experience for meeting and conference guests. This year, INCON has opened the award to two categories – Convention Centres and Hotel Convention Venues. Winners will be announced at IMEX Frankfurt in May 2018.
Discover 3,500 worldwide exhibitors, the latest trends and hundreds of meeting professionals under one roof. With the largest global array of exhibitors from every sector in the meetings industry, come to IMEX prepared to do a year’s worth of business in just three days. Choose from 150 seminars, including seminars, workshops, campfires and bite-sized show-floor education. Over 200…
The Policy Forum takes the success of its previous incarnation, the Politicians Forum, to the next level, bringing policy makers together with influential industry leaders to engage national and local governments in the advancement of our industry. Part of our strategy to create a positive legacy. Our advocacy partners are AIPC, ECM, ICCA, JMIC, The…
The World Education Congress is MPI’s signature event through which it delivers premier education, business and networking opportunities for meeting and event planners. Every programming decision MPI is making for #WEC18 is toward the goal of revitalizing you and the events you plan. From the keynotes to concurrent sessions; from the networking functions to the…
Global Exhibitions Day is a chance to celebrate the exhibition industry and highlight its positive impact on jobs, business, innovation and local investment. Online, and through an array of national and local events, people on every continent are expected to join the GED18 campaign, from venues and organisers to students, local partners and public authorities.
City Fair is a one day event of pre-scheduled appointments dedicated to the lucrative and growing sector of city tourism organised by ETOA and ECM. City Fair gives European destination suppliers the opportunity to meet selected travel buyers in a productive business environment. One-day B2B event of up to 32 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings. Unique format of targeted business workshop with marketing opportunities
European Cities Marketing will present a toploaded program for the ECM International Conference where Europe’s city marketers and tourism professionals meet industry thought leaders to debate and strategise the new normal in urban travel and tourism.
