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AIPC President Aloysius Arlando: The Benefits of The Global Alliance

Three big industry associations, all Iceberg partners, are dovetailing resources available to members: the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), together with the global association of the exhibition Industry (UFI). AIPC President (and UFI Board Member) Aloysius Arlando talks collaboration, standardisation and advocacy. From UFI…

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Tracking the Predators: Taking on Counterfeit Conferences

Legitimate research meetings are now under threat from “predatory” conferences. These unscholarly events are organised for profit and publish anything sent their way for a fee. One even passed a nuclear physics paper written using iOS autocomplete. Could tracking the meetings as well as the research be the answer? From Paul Killoran via Boardroom…

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The Global Alliance: AIPC, ICCA and UFI Pooling Resources

Three major business event industry associations are pooling resources available to their members. AIPC (the International Association of Convention Centres), ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) and UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) have together formed The Global Alliance. From UFI…

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Brexit and Advocacy to New Government: UK EIB’s Michael Hirst

As Boris Johnson was appointed new Prime Minister of the UK, Events Industry Board Chair Michael Hirst was speaking about Brexit and government involvement in the meetings and events industry. He also discussed how advocacy always has to start over again, engaging with new ministers after Cabinet reshuffle turnover. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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BestCities’ Jane Cunningham on Association Legacies

Jane Cunningham, Director of International Associations at Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance, has recorded a video with Kit Watts, Strategic Communications Director at IMEX, also a partner. In it she talks about the role of associations, the legacies their events leave, the “Incredible Impacts” awards, and even The Iceberg. From BestCities Global Alliance…

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Pharma Event Discusses Science of Healthcare Congresses Report

The findings of “The Science of Healthcare Congresses” (see Research), Ashfield Meetings & Events’ new study of over 200 healthcare professionals, was a focus of discussion at the 36th Pharma Fortbildungs-Forum in Cologne. Its results were presented by Ashfield’s Client Relationship Director Fabienne Wild. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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The Future of Meetings: In the Coming Decade Reality Will be Virtual

What will the meetings industry look like in 2029? New tech, spiralling travel costs, legislation about the environment and “flight guilt” will transform the sector. The industry will still thrive. The need to “meet” will not go away. But “meeting” will more often be through a screen. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Festivalisation: The Immersive Future of Association Congresses

Festivalisation refers to a process of making existing meeting structures more engaging, more immersive, and more tailored to the individual. The word is everywhere and may sound like a gimmick, but there’s a serious side to it, which might determine whether your congress lives to see another ten years. From Association Meetings International…

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ECM Conference Talks Transformation for Sustainability

The international conference just staged in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by Iceberg partner European Cities Marketing included thoughts about destination sustainability from Nobel prize winner and climatologist Lučka Kajfež Bogataj. Another Iceberg partner participating, the Global Destination Sustainability Index, also released its third white paper. From European Cities Marketing…

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JMIC’s Legacy Report: Sharing Stories Gives Advocacy Weight

“Business Events Legacies”, the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s recent report, reveals “significant” failings in the way governments measure the true value delivered by conferences, congresses and trade shows. But further sharing of sector impact stories could give the report weight in the battle to convince the world of the industry’s worth. From UFI…

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Kai Hattendorf: UN SDGs, UFI, JMIC and the Global Alliance

After enduring record temperatures at sector meetings, the CEO of UFI, global association of the exhibition industry, muses on its recent report about supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Joint Meetings Industry Council is doing similar work, plus Iceberg partners UFI, ICCA and AIPC have launched a Global Alliance. From Kai Hattendorf via LinkedIn…

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Collaboration Versus Consolidation in MI Trade Associations

The meetings and events industry is served by many international trade associations, quite a few of them partners of the Iceberg. Some have formalised collaborations, the latest being The Global Alliance, a sharing of content between ICCA, UFI and AIPC. But are there still too many for the sector? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Hong Kong: SAR Still Safe and Still Stable for Meetings and Events

Any manifestation of political instability can have a devastating effect on a destination’s perceived attractiveness for staging major events. Stuart Bailey, the CEO of a Hong Kong-based exhibition and conference organiser, believes that international impressions of the special administrative region’s recent protests are overblown, and should not deter either business or leisure visitors. From UFI…

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Tunnel Vision: Food and Community Housing Legacies at WTC 2019

The World Tunnel Congress 2019 was recently held in Naples, Italy. Over 2,700 attendees from more than 70 countries, an 80 percent rise in delegates, gathered at the Mostra D’Oltremare Congress Center. Trips included ancient and Renaissance archaeological sites, and legacy projects donated excess food and helped build community housing. From Boardroom…  

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Food Waste, and Managing FORO (the Fear of Running Out)

Food waste is a universal problem, a lesson in Moroccan manners clearly shows. In the latest Meeting Room of the Future report from IACC, 62 percent of planners consider how a venue manages its waste before booking. 54 percent want to know if it buys from sustainable sources. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Exhibitions: Thoughts on Transformation for Sector Stakeholders

You don’t have to be a doctor to change people’s lives! On June 5th, Global Exhibitions Day brought the industry together like never before. GED 2019 also saw the sector trying to quantify the huge transformative power of exhibitions as a medium, for entrepreneurs, businesses of all sizes, and destinations. From UFI…

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