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Destination Boycotts Over Abortion Bans: Different Approaches

Meeting planners reacted strongly to the US Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights. Over 40 percent said state abortion legislation would influence site-selection decisions. But Iceberg partner Destinations International has been on a mission to convince groups that travel boycotts simply do not work. From Northstar Meetings Group…

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Pandemic Heroes: One Year Later, How the Sector Survived

One year since exhibitions returned after the UK’s COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, EN guest editor Phil Soar explores who the true “heroes” of the pandemic have been. He looks in particular at the roles played by venues that became National Health Service “Nightingale” field hospitals, and finds some encouraging causes for hope. From Exhibition News…

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Ten Organisers Discuss Challenges of 2020, Outlook for 2021

Ten well-known UK exhibition organisers have been describing their thought processes and plans for 2021. Several talked about how their teams had risen to the multiple challenges of keeping the lights on and their businesses ticking over. There was also real consensus of opinion about key learnings and outlook going forward. From Exhibition News…

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Birmingham ICC’s Tory Conference Hat-trick Reveals Legacy

The UK’s Conservative Party will be hosting its annual conference at Birmingham in 2022, 2024 and 2026. The event has alternated between ICC Birmingham and Manchester Central since 2008. Both used to be Labour heartlands, which shows the legacies that come from targeting a specific destination. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Venue Accessibility: A Guide to Meeting Every Delegate’s Needs

Conference Aston Head Samantha Brown explains how the industry can meet the needs of all delegates through a new approach to venue accessibility. Delegates with sight, hearing and some lesser-known impairments need just as much consideration as attendees with restricted mobility. The value of proper training should never be underestimated. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Meat-Free Meetings: The 2020 Commitment of a Trade Show Vegan

2019 was the year veganism went mainstream. In 2020 Veganuary, or going vegan for January, is bigger than ever. One Iceberg publishing partner is sampling fast food vegan options, went vegan at Associations UK Congress 2019, and will again at all 2020 events. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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UFI’s Next Generation of Leaders Grant 2019 Winners: Part II

Every year Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, gives young and emerging sector talent the chance to advance via its Next Generation of Leaders Grant sponsored by Freeman. In the second of two-parts, the last two of the five 2019 awardees talk about what NGL mentoring means for them. From UFI…

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UFI’s Next Generation of Leaders Grant 2019 Winners: Part I

Every year Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, gives young and emerging sector talent the chance to advance via its Next Generation of Leaders Grant sponsored by Freeman. In the first of a two-part series, three of the five 2019 awardees talk about what NGL mentoring means for them. From UFI…

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First All Plant-Catered Conference Hosted at The Vox in Birmingham

A recent conference hosted by Tropic Skincare at The Vox was the first fully plant-based event held at the Resorts World Birmingham venue. As a developer of freshly made, cruelty-free products, the cosmetics brand had wanted to reflect these values through its conference menu. Meals included an “indulgent” gala dinner. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Missing the Irony: Planning Brexit in the EU Funded ICC

The recent Conservative Party conference offered little clarity on the UK’s route forward to leaving the European Union. But did delegates also miss some irony? The event’s venue, Birmingham’s International Convention Centre, was partially funded by the EU with a donation of £50 million in 1991. Photo: Philip Pankhurst. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Reusable Conference Coffee Cups: A More Robusta Approach?

Eunomia is running a conference coffee cup scheme at the Recycling & Waste Management Conference in Birmingham’s NEC. All F&B outlets are offering a discount for using a reusable cup, which also can be loaned for a deposit. But does this tackle the symptom rather than the problem? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Birmingham: Kojak’s Kind of Town

In preparing an upcoming feature on Birmingham in the UK, an Iceberg partner has rediscovered a destination marketing masterpiece also well known to the Iceberg team, which itself has reported from the city. It’s a vintage promo gem narrated by TV’s Kojak… Telly Savalas. Birmingham: who loves ya, baby? From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

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