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Sustainable Agency: Legacy by Nature, Legacy by Name

The Iceberg doesn’t usually focus on the activities of individual agencies working across the meetings and events sector. But it is hard not to notice one founded at the same time as our very own little platform celebrating business event legacy, particularly when that agency is actually called “Legacy”. 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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The London Bridge Terror Attack: The Lessons Are Complex

The London Bridge terror attack has had special resonance for meeting planners. It began during an event at Fishmongers’ Hall, which already stood in the shadow of increased security measures introduced after the previous 2017 attack. But lessons for the industry are complex. Photo: ChiralJon. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…  

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One Young World: Meat-Free Meeting for the Next Generation

In October the One Young World Global Summit came to London collecting together trailblazers including HRH The Duchess of Sussex. With sustainability at the core of the event, organisers asked venue partners for wholly meat-free menus. With over 3,600 delegates attending, meat-free meeting was no mean feat. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Battersea Power Station Sparks Back to Life as Event Space

Battersea Power Station has been a London landmark since 1933 when station A was completed and began producing electricity. Shut down in 1983, the facility is now undergoing regeneration, which will create new event spaces for organisers to hire: Generator Hall, Control Room A and three others. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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ExCeL London: Jeremy Rees on the Power of Events and of People

Jeremy Rees, ExCeL London CEO, has been revealing his plans for the future of the venue. Topics covered include measuring event success, budgets, safety, changes inside the industry, and the sector’s wider recognition. Ahead of Sibos, the centre upgraded its W-Fi, and also installed a living wall of more than 9,500 plants (see picture). From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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The 33rd ECM Summer School: Learning the London Experience

London has just hosted the 33rd edition of the European Cities Marketing Summer School. This year’s event graduated 64 students from three continents, including four from the USA and Canada and five from South Africa. Brand new for 2019 was an innovative stronger connection between attendees and the host city. From European Cities Marketing…

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The Canadian CVBs Seeking Business at London Tech Week

Five Canadian convention bureaux recently attended London Tech Week’s AI Summit at ExCeL. Their aim was to attract tech-related business events across to their own destinations, along with the inward investment that follows. Among them was Virginie De Visscher, Director of Business Development for Economic Sectors, Business Events Canada (third left). From Association Meetings International…

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Fast Forward 15 Holds Graduation Party on River Thames

Back in 2014, meetings and events industry veteran Fay Sharpe began Fast Forward 15, a mentoring programme to give 15 female professionals a voice in the industry. The scheme includes one-to-one sessions, group workshops and a graduation ceremony, held this year on board the Silver Sturgeon on the River Thames. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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London Meetings Set for Brexit Boom, Says Industry MD

London’s meeting industry will see a Brexit boom whatever happens. That’s according to etc.venues MD Alastair Stewart, who is refreshingly optimistic amid the current political turmoil and uncertainty. He sees substantial change as inevitable, and with change comes the need for meetings to address it. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Thinking Before Using: Creating the Ethos of a Sustainable Venue

London’s 15Hatfields was set up as a sustainable venue in 2008, avoiding single-use plastics from day one. The venue needed to find a general manager who could embody this environmentally-minded ethos. Warren Campbell has been helping clients embrace sustainability in Central London ever since. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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James Rees: Doubled US Business for ExCeL London

It’s been a busy year for James Rees, Executive Director of ExCeL London. Following election as ICCA President in November 2018, Rees reveals his approach to the US market, to diversity at both ExCeL and ICCA, and how being in a New Romantic pop band helped him thrive in the events industry. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Productive Meetings: The Architecture of Good Foundations

What are the foundations of a productive meeting? It’s the question at the core of every planner’s job, and if you want to know about foundations, who better to ask than an architect? Caterina Alves is actually Venue Manager at the historic Royal Institute of British Architects. Photo: Philafrenzy. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

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AIPC 2018: How the Global Affects the Local

Iceberg partner AIPC, the international association of congress centres, represents more than 185 venues in 60 countries. The AIPC Annual Congress fosters excellence in every aspect of centre management, and the 2018 event at ExCeL London saw about 250 delegates tackling the theme of “Strategies for a Changing World!”. From Boardroom…

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The Meetings Show: Impromptu Debates and Chocolate Biscuits

The Meetings Show has just drawn the UK events sector together at London’s Olympia in a brisker new two-day format. For one Iceberg media partner highlights included an interview with James Heappey, followed by an impromptu debate between the Member of Parliament and BVEP chair Michael Hirst. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

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