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Picking up the Crumbs: A Rallying Cry for the Embattled DMO

As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere, there is a growing sense of hope. Some destination marketing organisations (DMOs) have been able to continue their association conference business through the pandemic. But others have faced severe budget cuts, as Sarah Fleming, the owner of Sarah Fleming Associates, explains. From Association Meetings International…

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CTICC’s AGM: A Venue Takes Stock of a Year Unlike Any Other

CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre) has been both serving the people of the Western Cape and adapting to the changing business landscape of the pandemic. The venue’s annual general meeting was the occasion to look back on a year that brought a massive share of challenges and opportunities. From Boardroom…

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TMG’s Gregg Talley: The Cradle of Humanity Incubating Innovation

Gregg Talley, President and CEO of Iceberg partner Talley Management Group, believes Africa’s attraction as a business event destination should remain clear-cut after the pandemic. The continent is still “an incubator for innovation and an incredible cultural experience that connects us all to the cradle of humanity”. From Conference & Meetings World…

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CEO Carina Bauer on IMEX Frankfurt 2021 Cancelling and More

The CEO of Iceberg partner IMEX Group, Carina Bauer, has discussed the decision taken to cancel IMEX Frankfurt 2021. The early call, she said, was “to give everybody clarity”. Bauer also discussed what’s next for IMEX, including her hopes for IMEX America in November and the future of PlanetIMEX. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Kenya’s KICC Standing Tall Against Pandemic Conference Losses

Kenya’s conference tourism has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Cancellations have led to losses of over KS800 million, not to mention the economic ripple effect for the country of lost international conferences. Geoffrey K. Thande is Director of Business Development Services at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). From Conference & Meetings World…

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Green Business Events: Having a Voice at the Carbon Table

To prevent catastrophic warming, humanity must get its act together. More and more industry sectors are committing to carbon reduction, but what about the agencies, PCOs and commercial event producers? Fiona Pelham, the CEO of Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events, feels a voice at the table is crucial. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Damian Hutt Talks Online Pricing and More in AMI Podcast

AMI editor James Lancaster talks to Damian Hutt, Executive Director of AAE (the Association of Association Executives), which runs Associations World Congress, about pricing for online events, engaging members, changing delegate profiles, as well as why resumption of international events will require a global vaccine passport. From Association Meetings International…

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Graham Alderman Talks Legacy for Incentives in M&IT Podcast

Incentive travel has a vital part to play in the legacy agenda. Graham Alderman, Owner and Managing Director of Ulterior Events, talks to journalist Holly Patrick about the changing landscape of the sector, why virtual incentives aren’t feasible long-term and also about the need to leave positive, lasting legacies. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Meetings and Events: Industry Leaders Talk Sector Sustainability

Events might have disappeared during the pandemic, but climate change hasn’t. We want to live in a world where events can take place, but also want to have a world to live in. Leading industry voices discuss sustainability, including two from Iceberg partners Global Destination Sustainability Movement and IMEX Group. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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AMI Podcast: Positive Impact’s Fiona Pelham Talks Carbon Targets

Fiona Pelham has been leading the charge of more sustainable business events for over fifteen years. In this episode of the Deep Dive podcast, the CEO of Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events talks with AMI Editor James Lancaster about changing narratives across that time, about leadership and also about carbon targets. From Association Meetings International…

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Taubie Motlhabane, CTICC CEO, Considers Career, COVID and CSR

The CEO of CTICC (the Cape Town International Convention Centre), Taubie Motlhabane, had been in postition for about three months when coronavirus took hold. She has been talking about her earlier career journey, about CTICC’s role as the Hospital of Hope, and about working with soup kitchen Ladles of Love. From Exhibition World…

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Five CVBs Discuss the Intellectual Capital Destination Role

The pandemic has questioned the role of the meetings industry and the function destinations now play. Five European convention bureaux, part of an informal alliance, share perspectives on how emerging as intellectual capitals may be key to staying relevant beyond the crisis: Glasgow, Copenhagen, Vienna, Brussels and Barcelona. From Boardroom…

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Destination Three Rs: Research, Relevance, Relationships

The “new normal” notwithstanding, the preference across the industry for holding in-person meetings is clear. So what do both venues and destination marketing organisations need to focus on to maximise their attendance in-person now as hybrid meetings proliferate? Sarah Fleming, Managing Director of Sarah Fleming Associates, has some ideas on the subject. From Sarah Fleming…

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DMOs: Down But Not Out, Rebuilding for a Different Future

2020 has been crushing for the DMO (destination management organisations). Destinations in the US have endured wiped-out funds as a result of zero hotel occupancy, en-masse event cancellations, and double-digit layoffs, not to mention further challenges with social unrest and also, for some, natural disasters. 2020 has brought the DMO to the brink. From PCMA…

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