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After conducting research for the recent “Gender Diversity & Inclusion in Events” report, reviewing over 60,000 speakers at business events in 23 countries between 2013 and 2018, event software company Bizzabo found that on average more than two thirds (69 percent) of speakers were male, with less than one third female. From PCMA…
Steff Berger is Managing Director of VOBE – Inspires People, which organises events of up to 20,000 attendees for mainly European associations. Here the conference consultant and event planner shares expertise in crisis management, from counterterrorism measures like airport scanners, to working with local authorities to minimise risk, and the potential threat of cyberattacks. From PCMA…
The President of the Association for Women in Events has spoken about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry. Kiki J Fox (pictured top right) discussed career advancement resources, what women have to offer the industry, the #MeToo movement, AWE’s goals, and the recurring subject of gender diverse panels. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Accessibility is a concept buzzing around the business events industry, but what do planners need to know to ensure awareness at congresses? According to new research from Iceberg partners BestCities Global Alliance and GainingEdge, working with Rehabilitation International, universal accessibility is now key to business growth, knowledge sharing and increased competitiveness for destinations. From PCMA…
Politician, diplomat and educator Baroness Amos has given the keynote at a Sydney Speaker Series luncheon in London. The event was delivered in partnership between Business Events Sydney and ICC Sydney, and was hosted by the High Commission of Australia. The Iceberg itself was invited to attend, and was even able there to interview BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith….
Meetings need to become part of the innovation economy, according to the recent ICCA Congress in Dubai, and this “new industrial revolution” needs fresh thinking from suppliers. The discussion included city expert Greg Clark and Vienna’s Christian Mutschlechner, who joked that planners might soon 3D print their own venues. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
In 2011 the Minneapolis Convention Center’s leaders talked to their staff about what mattered most to them. Sustainability turned out to be the top priority. The intervening years have seen recycling performance measurement, goal setting and signage improvements, resulting in the current 60 percent recycling rate. The venue is also reducing water usage. From PCMA…
In June The Iceberg covered the news that Grimaldi Forum Monaco is installing a rooftop photovoltaic power station, the largest in the principality. Now a familiarisation trip has showcased not just the venue’s spaces and architecture, but also its environmental policy and aspirations to run solely on solar. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The Duke of York may have had ten thousand men, but recently when the University of York announced an all-male panel of seven for a history (sic) conference, a well-known female alumna tweeted academic displeasure. The conference sponsor immediately took the message on board and postponed the event, winning himself a GenderAvengers award. From PCMA Convene…
Some things just work better when you’re hearing from two locations at the same time. The industry has been talking for a while about virtual and hybrid meetings, both on the rise. But what about multi-hub events (partially virtual meetings where groups in different places share the same programme at the same time)? From PCMA…
If a company sponsors a bar tab or breakfast at an event, the return on that investment may quickly wear off. But at the inaugural MANOVA in Minneapolis, one of the healthcare event’s biggest sponsors chose to offer something rather more lasting. Walmart installed something most unusual for a conference: a flu-shot station. From PCMA…
Event designers are always imagining new ways to harness audience attention and make experiences memorable. But the pressure to be bigger and better than last year always seems to grow. David Peckinpaugh spoke at the Experient “Change Agents”-themed conference earlier this year, and here offers views on video about experience design. From Maritz Global Events…
The meetings industry has a huge environmental impact, from the distance delegates fly, to the reams of paper printed and kilowatts of energy used. As green culture takes hold, events with environment-friendly certification already have a market advantage. As expectations rise, this will become a minimum requirement. Views include Iceberg partner IAPCO. From Skift…
Most convention centres are publicly owned, so local laws are framed to allow community access. When it comes to the homeless this can present challenges. But being public institutions, venues can also play an active role in assisting the homeless. The International Association of Venue Managers offers nineteen amazing cases in point. From PCMA Convene…
Big Ben now may be hidden away from tourists, but the slow nature of industry advocacy to government was fully out on show all through the opening evidence session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the events industry. The first sitting of an intended three focused on venues. Photo: David Holt. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
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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