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New UFI Director: Eventprofs ‘Bullish’ Despite Global Crises

From ExpoPlatform: Martha Donato, regional director for North America, pointed to the upcoming “volatile” US election as an example before claiming “the show will go on”. She spoke to ExpoPlatform after taking on the position for the recently established chapter in the leading association for the exhibition industry. Martha, who is also president of MAD…

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Why Do We Look into the Future?

By Jack Johnson, from Destinations International: Every two years, Destinations International, as the world’s largest membership entity and resource for official destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), looks into the future and releases the DestinationNEXT (DNEXT) Futures Study. It is the largest and most extensive survey of destination organizations around the world…

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PRIDE: Navigating Corporate Sponsorship

In a polarized political climate, Pride sponsors are vulnerable to backlash from both the right and the left. How do Pride organizers navigate shifting social currents and bilateral backlash to maintain their corporate partnerships? From DAHLIA+Agency…

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Business Events Industry Advocacy with Tommy Goodwin

Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, and Iceberg Ambassador, talks about the challenge of getting Visas to enter the U.S. and the impact that has had on the industry, the Kentucky legislature (failed) attempt to tax space rental for exhibitors and sponsors, and more. From Trade Show News Network…

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How to Build an Effective Grasstops Advocacy Program

Grasstops advocacy is necessary for associations to have success on Capitol Hill moving forward. For organizations newer to the concept, here’s a success-driven roadmap to follow. At the height of the pandemic, organizations were mobilizing advocates to connect with lawmakers to push for a variety of legislative concerns, such as financial assistance… From ASAE…

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Skift Take: Google Xi Days

The people in the room create the DNA of an event, and like-minded people usually generate one-dimensional thinking. So imagine the magic that happens when an eclectic group of thinkers from varied backgrounds, professions, and demographics gather together — exactly what happened during the Google Experience Institute (Xi) Days. From Skift Meetings…

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Jack Johnson: The Power of One Single Question

This is a stressful time in our society and just as importantly, within our destination organization family. And I cannot think of a better first step than to reach out to our families, friends, neighbors, and our peers within the destination organization community and ask that simple question, “How are you doing?” From Destinations International…

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‘We Can’t Ignore the Science’

Earlier this year, PCMA announced a collaboration with the American Geophysical Union to further its action on climate change at events. Shawna McKinley, AMI expert contributor, asks Lauren Parr, Senior Vice President of Meetings and Learning at AGU how the union approaches this intention at its own events. From Association Meetings International…

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DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL: Cunningham Leads Euro Charge

Iceberg Ambassador Jane Cunningham, director of European engagement at Destinations International, has concluded her ‘Year of the Ear’ and plans to unveil the organisation’s community-led pathway to European services at IMEX in Frankfurt.  Cunningham is seeking to elevate the role of the DMO beyond the visitor economy.

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Elevating the Business Events Industry Starts With Advocacy

Iceberg Ambassador Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Government Affairs for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, discusses the value and power of advocacy for the meetings industry. ECA has spearheaded a number of programmes to help small businesses and key stakeholders across the industry within the US. From Skift Meetings…

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Thinking Again With Adam Grant at Convening Leaders

In his work as an organizational psychologist and consultant, Adam Grant has seen a lot of companies go out of business, he told a packed audience at Convening Leaders 2023. It wasn’t because their leaders weren’t good at thinking, said Grant, “They were too slow when it came to rethinking.” From PCMA…

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DI’s Jane Cunningham Talks Legacy and Net Zero Carbon Events

Jane Cunningham has worked for hotels, a convention centre, a DMO (destination marketing organisation) and a PCO (professional conference organiser). She has also worked for two Iceberg partners, BestCities Global Alliance and Destinations International. Here she offers her thinking on legacy and Net Zero Carbon Events. From Meetings International…

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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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The Invisible Industry Gets 49-Foot Trailer Advocacy Roadshow

The “Invisible Industry” was a label put on the meetings and hospitality sectors back in 1996 by broadcaster Charles Osgood. Now this title has become an advocacy roadshow, thanks to a 49-foot trailer stocked with interactive media. It launched a year-long “Invisible Industry Tour” of US cities last June. From PCMA…

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PCMA Discussion Takes Talk of Destination Boycotts to DC

PCMA has held a roundtable discussion in Washington DC on how to navigate events in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision on US abortion rights. Ninety minutes of fascinating crosstalk on the rights and wrongs of events boycotting destinations because of their laws ensued. From PCMA…

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