At the RNC: “profound” acceptance, no social distancing, and few masks.
It is still a somewhat quiet time, which is why I’ve delayed this issue a little. But at least the world just got to compare and contrast two rival virtual / hybrid meetings, of which only one will ultimately leave a legacy: the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Originally scheduled in July at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, the DNC was delayed and downsized to the Wisconsin Center, with most presenting taking place virtually. Participants that were at the venue had to self-quarantine for at least 72 hours prior to arrival, to wear PPE and to be tested daily for COVID-19. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made their respective speeches remotely from the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware.
The RNC was booked into the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Then President Trump moved the event (mostly) to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, after NC Governor Roy Cooper refused to sanction mass convention attendance because of the pandemic. The President then abruptly changed tack again, the RNC retreating (mostly) to an empty Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. The shorter time to prepare after this late pivot was reflected in the event’s production values.
But President Trump “profoundly” accepted the party’s nomination at the White House itself, ignoring both norms about using federal property for party purposes, and the scientific realities of the ongoing crisis (along with a lot of other realities as well). 2,000 people sat close together watching him on the South Lawn, with very few masks in evidence.
Presidential immunity is a legal concept, not a medical one. PCOs, take note!
In Features below this issue, see how Seoul is showing rather greater COVID-19 care with the reopening of its business events sector. Coverage includes dental congress SIDEX, from which we’ve previously shared fascinating video.
In News the cost of COVID-19 on the industry continues to be counted. Two-thirds of those exhibiting at business events say their absence has had a detrimental impact on business. So says a study from Explori together with Iceberg partner UFI, global association of the exhibition industry. COVID-19 has had a heavy impact in Italy, according to other research. 69.7 percent of events there have been cancelled.
Also evident is the sector’s determination to fight back. Associations and prominent leaders of the industry have joined together to create September’s UKickstart Event 2020, a multi-hub free-to-attend live and virtual meeting. £30,000 for PR has now been raised by a campaign to restore confidence in UK events and experiences. More is needed. UK eventprofs have drawn attention to the critical state of the industry by lighting venues and other landmarks right across the country in red. Event professionals in Hong Kong have been urging government to provide more financial support. As they hammer out rival multi-million dollar economic stimulus bills, legislators in the US were lobbied by Exhibitions Mean Business to consider multiple industry provisions.
Also in News, ongoing cancellations. Informa Markets has postponed CPhI South East Asia to May 2021. The organiser will create a matchmaking platform online for the event. Two big co-located automative equipment shows booked this November in Las Vegas have both cancelled, so the loss of CES 2021 is now compounded by a further hit of $259 million and about 160,000 attendees. Plus, some good news this issue! Iceberg partner GDS-Index, the benchmarking and improvement programme for destinations, has won the IMEX-EIC (Events Industry Council) 2020 Innovation in Sustainability Award. Dubai is the safest location in the world for hosting international exhibitions, according to a survey. Dubai World Trade Centre has held AiEverything, the region’s first in person meeting since March. The 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals is heading to Perth in December 2023. The win should deliver AU$10 million to the economy, and was supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.
Ten Opinions this issue are fresh, and three include video. One is about Europe’s largest medical meeting in its sector, the European Congress of Radiology, held enitrely online for the first time this year. The United Fresh Produce Association cancelled its annual convention and expo this spring, and quickly built an online platform with permanent expo, social gatherings and on-demand education. Plus, the Events Industry Council just released the Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide (posted in Research last issue). A webcast now offers insights and answers questions about the document.
Big association meetings are another theme in Opinions this issue. While they were once prized targets of all convention bureaux, COVID-19 has made the near future smaller and more regional. But this trend should not frighten destination marketing organisations. To make association events look like they did before the pandemic, either enough host countries push case rates down to nearly zero, or else science comes up with a vaccine or treatment(s). Contributors in this piece include Martin Sirk, Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs’ International Advisor. The ever busy Martin also offers innovative brainstorming around future meeting concepts that associations could play leading roles within. At present how can associations plan even for the very near future? Association not-for-profit AC Forum explains how members are reading changes in the sector and in their events. As associations continue to stage virtual conferences, many are concerned about replicating the interaction, networking and engagement of face-to-face events. Tips offered in a webcast from Iceberg partner ASAE might help.
Also in Opinions, Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada, salutes the importance of face-to-face meetings in sharing ideas, building networks and fuelling innovation, and Non-Executive Director with BCD M&E and the Exclusive Collection David Taylor offers an account of his first face-to-face meeting since the imposition of lockdown.
In Research you’ll find Iceberg partner European Cities Marketing’s (ECM’s) A New Tomorrow: Long Thinker Catalogue, which includes the views of two Iceberg partner organisation chiefs, #MEET4IMPACT’s Geneviève Leclerc and GDS-Movement’s Guy Bigwood. The Incentive Research Foundation has posted IRF Pulse Survey: COVID-19’s Impact on the Incentive Travel Industry (July 2020). Kenes Group has published Strategy for Associations Going Virtual. The aforementioned EIC webcast has been added to last issue’s Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide.
This issue’s parish notices start with previously published coronavirus resource pages from within our own partner community: the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), IMEX Group, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), plus publications Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT), Association Meetings International (AMI), Conference & Meetings World, Conference News, Exhibition World, Exhibition News and ASAE’s Associations Now Today’s Coronavirus Tracker.
There are association resources aplenty at the new website of Iceberg partner the Global Association Hubs, including a Free Virtual Meetings Guide made available by Julius Solaris of eventmanagerblog.com, and COVID-19 advisories from the four GAH destinations: Brussels, Dubai, Singapore and Washington DC.
IMEX is refreshing its PlanetIMEX virtual experience platform with a whole new look and feel. The evolved platform returns on October 12th – 16th.
As already above, IMEX has also announced Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index as the winner of the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award. The judges called GDS-Index “a unique and innovative approach to driving sustainability through competition – and with potential beyond the industry”.
IBTM World 2020 has announced that Pancho Campo, tennis professional turned events producer, will keynote at the event, which runs from December 1st to 3rd at Fira Barcelona. IBTM also has new exhibitor signings as intense safety preparations for the show continue. The Iceberg partner had already announced live pitching and a new judging panel Chair, DAHLIA+Agency Founder Dahlia El Gazzar, for its Tech Watch Awards at IBTM World. Entries for live pitching stay open until September 30th. Details have been announced for the IBTM Americas Virtual Summit taking place on August 25th and 26th. The original in-person event at the end of May was postponed to August before ultimately being cancelled. The registration page is here.
UFI’s registration for its “glocalised” Global Congress 2020 in November remains open. There will be physical attendance in three locations: Dubai, Basel and Hong Kong. The main theme is “resilience”. The registration page is here. Reports in the African media also say that Rwanda Convention Bureau has joined the global association of the exhibition industry.
ICCA’s registration for its 59th ICCA Congress in Kaohsiung remains open. The hybrid format regional hubs have been announced as Cape Town, Sarawak, Luxembourg, Malaga and Riyadh, with Latin and North America events being held virtually. There’s a six-week online programme leading up to the main dates. The registration page is here.
ICCA is also partnering with the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA, to bring essential business reopening resources to ICCA members.
ICCA has announced it will phase out a number of positions at its Amsterdam head office as it seeks efficiencies.
ICCA and fellow Iceberg partner ECM (European Cities Marketing) have agreed to launch a European partnership to solidify collaboration and provide better aligned benefits for their respective members. ECM’s announcement page is here. ICCA’s announcement page is here.
ECM has issued an updated summary of its offering entitled European Cities Marketing: Staying Relevant by Our Members’ Side.
Iceberg partner AIPC has announced that its Annual Congress will take place in Paris on September 24th and 25th. Hosted by the Palais de Congrès in Paris, members who are facing travel restrictions will be able to participate virtually.
New Iceberg partner Mash Media has announced that the Exhibition News Awards (EN Awards) will now be held on October 9th at Evolution London from 18.30. Duncan Siegle, Publishing Director of Exhibition News, said Mash is working with Smart Venues to ensure a safe and compliant event. Tickets on sale here.
Iceberg partner GainingEdge has posted the advisories COVID-19 and Destination Promoters, Putting Some Order to the Chaos, What to Ask Associations Beyond “Will You Be Rebooking?”, Partnerships and Collaboration: Now Even More Essential, and Building Confidence with Your Stakeholders, plus insights Tracking the Return of the MICE Events Sector in a COVID-19 World and also The MICE Sector in a COVID-19 World – Lockdown, Transition, New Normal, plus Bulletin: COVID-19 Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3, Issue #4, Issue #5, Issue #6, Issue #7, Issue #8 and Issue #9.
Iceberg partner Boardroom has launched Boardroom MiniCourses, a dedicated online learning site loaded with short, high-quality educational videos. Contributors include Geneviève Leclerc, Chief Executive Officer of #MEET4IMPACT and Iceberg ambassador. Boardroom MiniCourses has an Instagram page here, and the available content is already growing.
Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events is seeking 100,000 event professionals to build the future of the industry. There is a great video here.
There are extensive further COVID-19 resources at the Events Industry Council (EIC), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) and at Meetings Mean Business. Northstar Meetings Group has posted a running list of New Dates for Events and Conventions Postponed Due to Coronavirus, and updated its Pulse Survey in August.
Registration for the hybrid 2020 edition of The Meetings Show in the UK has opened. The show was postponed to October due to the pandemic. The registration page is here. The Meetings Show has also announced the winners of its Tomorrow’s Talent initiative, launched by the event in association with Iceberg partner Meetings & Incentive Travel.
The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), the umbrella body for the UK’s events industry, has launched a reopening survey. The poll will show how industry suppliers across the country are preparing to reopen safely. Take part here.
Seoul Convention Bureau has announced plans to host the Union of International Associations Round Table as a fully virtual event. The meeting, which is due to take place on September 17th and 18th, will work in close partnership with suppliers within Seoul’s meetings and events industry. The registration page is here.
Exhibition World of Iceberg partner Mash Media is supporting International M.I.C.E Showcase 2.0 – Virtual Summit, which runs on September 11th and 12th. New Delhi-based media platform Exhibition Showcase is the organiser of the two-day event which will connect about 1,500 event professionals including PCOs, venue leaders, DMCs, travel / tour operators and exhibition organisers. The registration page is here.
Stress Matters, the event industry workplace wellbeing organisation, has launched the #MHFAEveryEvent campaign to promote workplace wellbeing and offer free training and support to out of work event professionals. To get involved in the campaign, apply for mental health first aid training or to apply for a gifted place on the training course, visit the Stress Matters website.
Finally and as always, The Iceberg reiterates its call for you to join our Global Ambassador Program. You can see ambassadors listed on The Iceberg homepage, Ambassadors page, and in Business Events World below. Visit Call for Ambassadors 2019 & 2020 to find out more.
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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Seoul cautiously resumed business events in June, starting with exhibitions and congresses. Dental meeting SIDEX was the first large-scale example with 4,860 attendees over two days. After their firm focus on sanitation protocols, organisers confirmed two weeks later that no COVID-19 cases had arisen after it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, has released a manifesto that sets out arguments as to why business events can and should be utilised to drive economic recovery and renewal in the post-COVID-19 era. The document was assembled with the advice and input of a broad range of industry leaders. This was…
Iceberg partners ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) and BestCities Global Alliance have announced that their “Incredible Impacts” grants, which awards associations leaving lasting legacies, are to return for their fourth year in a row, with the partnership also renewed for a further three years. Incredible Impacts is now open for submissions, and presents an opportunity…
During 2018 MeetDenmark, with consultancy and Iceberg partner GainingEdge, began a major project on legacy. The study involved desk research on fifty international associations and fifty destinations as well as interviews with twenty from each of the two groups. Some of the findings on the current global landscape were published last year in the MeetDenmark…
Wedged in amongst some of Norway’s most impressive fjords, Stavanger boasts a range of water-based and engineering industries, like shipbuilding and the building of rigs, platforms and subsea installations. But energy is the key sector, and “Europe’s energy capital” has a committed convention bureau keen to attract association meetings. From Boardroom…
The legacies of business events should start early on in life. July 2019 saw a new era begin for Malaysia’s youngest children on the back of the 2nd Sarawak Conference on Inclusive Early Childhood Education. Organised by Fu Yuan Kindergarten, the three-day meeting brought together more than 800 people from over 20 countries. From Boardroom…
Toulouse recently joined Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index, which measures and benchmarks cities’ green strategy and performance. The opening of the new LEED certified MEETT Convention Centre, scheduled for the end of 2020, shows the environmental commitment of the city’s partners. From Boardroom…
As the world’s population grows, the percentage of people living in cities is rising steadily. The future success of humanity is therefore more and more tied to, and even defined by, the future success of the city as a model. In that, of course, business events have a critical role to play. Professor Greg Clark has…
Australia’s business events landscape is surveyed here in a rich collection of articles. BESydney’s Lyn Lewis-Smith, ICC Sydney’s Geoff Donaghy, ACC’s Simon Burgess, MCEC’s Peter King, Brisbane Marketing’s Juliet Alabaster, plus the team behind JMIC’s (the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s) case studies, all offer up viewpoints. From Meetings International…
When President Nelson Mandela opened the Durban ICC in 1997, it was South Africa’s first international convention centre. It has since then been voted “Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre” by the World Travel Awards no fewer than seventeen times. But some of the venue’s greatest legacies lie in environmental sustainability. From Boardroom…
The recent staging of Iceberg partner AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) was not only a platform to showcase the strength and resilience of the region’s events industry, but also as always of destination Melbourne itself. Last October Melbourne Convention Bureau posted record results for the financial year 2018 – 2019, with over…
Luxembourg has a new convention bureau aiming to punch above its weight in business events. The CVB is prioritising green meetings, so wants to register with Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index. As not only a city, Luxembourg will be registered as a country, the first to be benchmarked in the index. From Boardroom…
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Event professionals in Hong Kong have been urging government to provide further financial support as COVID-19 continues to batter the industry. The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association presented a member survey to the Hong Kong SAR’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau. From Association Meetings International…
Dubai is the safest location in the world in which to host international exhibitions, according to a survey of 4,000 professionals in 130 countries by Messe Frankfurt Middle East. This July the Dubai World Trade Centre hosted the AiEverything conference, the region’s first in person business event since March. From Association Meetings International…
UK eventprofs have drawn attention to the critical state of the industry by lighting venues and other landmarks across the country in red. ICC Wales participated, and in London workers wore red shirts and lined the entire Southbank from Westminster to Tate Modern, all as part of the “Red Alert” #WeMakeEvents campaign. From Exhibition News…
In an effort to kickstart the market, associations and prominent leaders in the sector have joined together to create and support UKickstart Event 2020 in September. The multi-hub free-to-attend live and virtual event is the first big national face-to-face gathering of meeting professionals since lockdown. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The winner of the IMEX-EIC (Events Industry Council) 2020 Innovation in Sustainability Award is GDS-Index, a benchmarking and performance improvement programme for business tourism and events destinations,. IMEX, an Iceberg partner like GDS-Movement, will celebrate the award in May 2021. From Conference & Meetings World…
Informa Markets has postponed CPhI South East Asia to May 2021. The event had been scheduled for November 2020 in Maung Thong Thani, Thailand. The meeting is set to return to the Impact Arena next year, and Informa will also create a CPhI South East Asia matchmaking platform online. From Exhibition World…
AAPX (the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) and the co-located SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association Show) have together cancelled their shows due to run this November in Las Vegas. Virtual options will be explored. The loss of CES 2021 is now compounded by a further hit of $259 million and about 160,000 attendees. From Exhibition World…
US exhibition professionals have been urged to support the call to Congress to include the industry’s concerns in any new deal to aid the economy. While they hammer out rival multi-million dollar economic stimulus bills, legislators are being asked by Exhibitions Mean Business to consider multiple provisions. From Exhibition World…
COVID-19 has had a heavy impact on the meetings industry in Italy, which has come to a virtual stop after five years of steady growth, according to new research. 69.7 percent of all events have been cancelled, 16.9 percent deferred until 2021 and only 13.4 percent postponed until autumn. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
A campaign to restore confidence in UK events and experiences across all sectors has now raised £30,000 for PR. Further support is needed, and the organisers are calling on more businesses to get involved. The aim is to raise awareness in the general public and national media about the industry. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Two-thirds of those who exhibit at business events say their absence has had a notable and detrimental impact on business. So says a study of the recovery of trade shows from research specialists Explori together with Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry. From Exhibition World…
The 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals is heading to Perth in December 2023. The event is set to bring thousands of experts into the city and deliver AU$10 million to the local economy. The win was supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program. From Association Meetings International…
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This project collected, analysed and synthesised the findings of all prior Joint Meetings Industry Council Case Studies to deliver a verdict on the broader contributions that conferences, congresses, trade shows, convention centres and bureaux deliver to destinations, communities, industries and economies. The cases were drawn from four continents: Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. The…
The China-LAC Summit is an annual meeting organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It is a key entrepreneurial event for companies from China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries. The Punta del Este Convention and Exhibition Center in Uruguay hosted the 11th edition of the…
The EuroHeartCare conference is one of the most important platforms for driving research publications, exchanging ideas, and forming and deepening collaborations within the field of cardiovascular nursing in Europe. It aims to support healthcare professionals in delivering the best care possible to patients with cardiovascular disease. The 2017 edition was hosted by Jönköping University in…
The study explores the benefits and barriers for individual researchers and universities when hosting research conferences. The study has been commissioned by the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy – an advisory body to the Danish Minister of Higher Education and Science. Thereby the study situates the hosting of research conferences as a potential…
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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While some associations are adapting quicker than others, there remains a general misconception on what is a virtual event. Is it anything as simple as a giant Zoom call, or does it entail more than that? Can simply renting a platform solve everything? What is the role now of event planners? Creating a virtual congress is as…
Earlier this year, the Incentive Research Foundation published the results of a pulse survey fielded between April 2nd and April 16th COVID-19’s Impact on the Incentive Travel Industry (April 2020). Given the continued challenges for the industry related to the pandemic, IRF fielded a study between July 1st and July 15th, 2020 to understand the…
As part of the #aNewTomorrow initiative, Iceberg partner ECM (European Cities Marketing) invited ten Long Thinkers – experts in their fields, industry influencers and purposeful changemakers – to look further ahead, beyond thee crisis and towards a New Tomorrow for tourism and destinations. These are now all compiled in this catalogue and shared anew. A…
In July 2020 the Events Industry Council released the Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide. It is intended to serve as a resource and educational tool for industry professionals to utilise. This guidance also is intended to be global and universal in nature. The work will continue to evolve through regional workshops led by task…
A combined group of members from the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Association Event Venues (AEV) and the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), led by the associations, has launched the All Secure Standard, a risk assessment based framework of COVID-19 secure industry best practice and guidance for business events and consumer shows which…
The results of the July COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey of 476 planners and 212 suppliers reveal a sharper divide between the two in several key areas. For instance, only one third of planners expect to see smaller local and regional events leading the recovery once the crisis is over (41 percent in the June survey),…
For the fifth year in a row, IACC is pleased to present a ground-breaking report that combines research and insights into the top issues facing the global meetings and conference industry. The 2020 IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ report brings together insights from meeting and conference venues, hotels and urban conference venues across three continents,…
This study is based on a global survey, conducted in June 2020. It represents up-to-date information on the development and outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 25 specific markets. Global Exhibition Barometer 25th Edition (July 2020) (UFI website) Global Exhibition Barometer 25th Edition (July 2020) Infographic (UFI website) UFI Global Barometer…
The ICCA Statistics Reports are based on the ICCA Association Database, which means the figures cover meetings organised by international associations according to ICCA criteria: a meeting must take place on a regular basis, host at least 50 participants, and rotate between a minimum of three countries to be included in the Database. ICCA’s Association…
As the pandemic wears on, respondents to the latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard have become more clear-eyed about its economic repercussions, but are still uncertain how best to plan for events in 2021. The new survey compares results from one month earlier and two previous bi-weekly surveys. Planners and suppliers have had another month under their…
Since 2018 GainingEdge has led two major projects for MeetDenmark on meeting legacies. The purpose has been to identify how Danish destinations can create significant added value for visiting congresses while also increasing the value for Danish society beyond the traditional economic benefits. Now MeetDenmark has released the second study completed in 2020 which explores the processes, mechanisms and…
In late May, Talley Management Group President and CEO Gregg Talley served as a panelist on a webinar TMG co-hosted with EventBank. The event discussed ways associations, both nationally and globally, can reposition themselves after the pandemic. Associations across the United States are facing unprecedented challenges because of COVID-19. From adapting to working from home…
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International association meetings, particularly those that are attracting thousands of delegates, were once the prized targets of all convention bureaux. COVID-19 has made the immediate future smaller and more regional. But this trend was already underway and should not frighten destination marketing organisations. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
After months of conference calls, webinars and online meetings, we recognise perhaps more than ever the role that business events play in exchanging ideas, building networks and fuelling innovation. So explains Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada. From PCMA…
Nostalgia inhibits our imagination, according to Martin Sirk, Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs’ International Advisor. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be, says The Iceberg. Here Martin offers some innovative brainstorming of future meeting concepts in which associations could play leading roles. From Association Meetings International…
The Events Industry Council just released the “Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide” (see Research). More guides are to come from the EIC powered APEX COVID-19 Business Recovery Task Force. A webcast offered insights and answered audience questions about the new document. From Northstar Meetings Group…
When the United Fresh Produce Association cancelled its annual convention and expo this spring, organisers quickly put the content online. The scramble proved to be so successful that the association has kept it going, turning a one-off event into an online platform with permanent expo, social gatherings and on-demand education. From PCMA…
As associations continue to stage virtual conferences because of COVID-19, many are concerned about replicating the interaction, networking, engagement and hallway conversations that are staples of face-to-face events. During a webcast from Iceberg partner ASAE, presenters shared five tips on how to achieve them. From Associations Now…
To have international association meetings looking anything like they did before COVID-19, either of two things must happen: enough host countries push their daily case rate down to nearly zero so overseas delegations become possible, or else science comes to the rescue with a vaccine or treatment(s). From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
The complete global shutdown of in person meetings has meant many are now getting out of the habit. Non-Executive Director with BCD M&E and the Exclusive Collection David Taylor offers an account of his first face-to-face meeting since the imposition of lockdown, which he says (spoiler alert!) “felt good”. From Association Meetings International…
Europe’s largest medical meeting in radiology and radiotechnology, the European Congress of Radiology, was held exclusively online for the first time this year. A record 15,265 delegates from over 130 countries took part, an increase of five percent in delegate numbers from the 2019 edition. From Association Meetings International…
In times like the current pandemic, how can associations begin to plan for the years ahead when decisions they are taking today may no longer be valid even in the very near future? Association not-for-profit AC Forum explains how its members anticipate changes in the sector and in their events. From Boardroom…
Martin Sirk is International Advisor for Iceberg partner GAH (Global Association Hubs). In a sharp reality check for the business events sector, he warns that successful reopening relies on a much wider containment of the pandemic than the industry on its own can ever achieve. The economy and health are not zero-sum trade-offs or parallel-track…
The largest business-to-business, face-to-face exhibition in the US, CES 2021, has moved to being an online, all-digital event. In 2019 CES had 170,000 visitors, 6,000 media, plus 4,000 exhibiting businesses from every corner of the world. The early pivot sent shock waves across an industry already devastated by the pandemic. From UFI…
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Welcome to our all-inclusive video hub for associations. Learn anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Our video minicourses, all given by specialised experts, have been structured into easily managed content which will help you overcome any challenge you might have. New courses will be added every month.
UFI connects is a way to stay connected, to get through this pandemic, and to be ready for the time afterwards. It is a programme of regular talks, panels, and webinar sessions – organized by the UFI team for you. Recordings of previous sessions are available to view.
Expert content leaders share their knowledge and facilitate live online conversations in convenient, one-hour sessions. You can register for the full series or choose one or more individual sessions, letting you select the content that best meets your needs and fits your schedule: Dealing With Problematic Board Members | Determining Board Member Competencies and Identifying…
The UFI Exhibition Management School is a continuum of the Exhibition Management Degree that UFI initiated and has been organizing since 2007. UFI and MBB-Consulting Group are working to provide this new industry education programme for exhibition organisers. In the years to come, this collaboration will respond to a clear demand for high-level, focused quality…
A minimum of 10 and maximum 15 ICCA Destination Marketing members each invite an accompanying association executive to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. Association executives must conform to strict selection criteria, so ensuring that participating Destination Marketing members can promote their company and services to senior decision-makers who are actively looking for…
The first step to becoming a more effective leader is to improve yourself from within, which can mean developing your emotional intelligence, improving your ethical foundations, and becoming more mindful, among other valuable internal qualities. Enroll in this collection to explore several aspects of leadership and learn how you can be a better leader. Lessons…
Accompanying association representatives should be decision makers/influencers of an International conference with more than 500 delegates and must use a local PCO (not a Core PCO). Find an accompanying guest now! No other event offers the same opportunity for association executives and ICCA’s meeting management members to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made…
The FYP brings together 35 young industry professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds. Over 3 days, the selected applicants are given networking opportunities, educational sessions, social activities and guidance worth their weights in gold from some of the most influential meetings industry figures. Participants will complete the FYP with a wealth of knowledge, a…
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An invaluable feature of AIPC is the sense of community which in turn is part of a global meetings industry ecosystem. Now more than ever, this sense of community is needed to jointly address the challenges we are facing, as a result of Covid-19. The 2020 AIPC Annual Conference will be the perfect place to…
The TIC Expert Meeting offers a mix of incentive and exchange opportunities. This is why the diversity of participants 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 – whether they are ECM members…
A new starting point for exhibitions is here… Recognition and celebration is what we all need right now, but the awards signifies something much more important, it will give us a template and new starting point in which we can kick start awards in a face-to-face environment and not just with confidence but with style!…
This event is open to ECM members only, specifically to tourism professionals working on city cards schemes (Product Managers, Project Leaders, Marketing Manager) who are looking to improve – but also share – their knowledge with other participants. Meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes, share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of…
The congress has a hybrid format and is themed: “Transforming Global Events Together”. The event will allow ICCA’s global community to connect with each other and explore new ideas, formats and technologies. ICCA’s global community of member-suppliers and associations can experience the future of global events live in Kaohsiung, at a regional hub or virtually….
UFI’s annual Global Congress is known as the “must attend” event for all industry professionals. With travel restrictions expected to continue over the coming months, instead of holding the event in one place, we will adopt a ‘glocalised’ approach – Dubai, UAE 15-16/11/20 | Basel, Switzerland 18-20/11/20 | Hong Kong (dates tbc) | Online 15-20/11/20
The BestCities Global Alliance is gathering industry thought-leaders, international associations and destination partners from around the globe under one digital roof for the anticipated return of their annual Global Forum – with a virtual twist. There has been much to learn from the challenges that the business events sector has faced over the last year, and…
Due to incredibly unpredictable travel restrictions, we’ve decided to transition IBTM World 2020 to a virtual experience, incorporating one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers, as well as a knowledge programme, with a range of targeted education sessions. Exhibitors and buyers will benefit from IBTM’s bespoke appointment system, matchmaking buyer’s business needs with supplier’s services to…
Immerse yourself in new, interactive opportunities designed to help move your organization forward at this year’s revitalized Technology Exploration Conference. Get real-world experience in our new, hands-on tech training seminar and attend a series of learning sessions and demos from the best in the industry. Discover how the latest technology can drive your organization to…
This event will see ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter – the largest Chapter in ICCA’s global membership with nearly 300 members coming in full force, enabling Xiamen to showcase its local expertise to international attendees to encourage collaboration, innovation and business exchange. In turn, Asia Pacific delegates will be provided with opportunities to advance their knowledge…
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A founding member of ICC Sydney’s leadership team, Sam developed the communications and marketing strategies that have resulted in establishing one of the business events industry’s strongest brands. Storytelling, building emotional connection and strong stakeholder engagement have been core to ICC Sydney’s successful brand development throughout its pre-opening, launch and operational phases. Sam steered the…
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