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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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Positive Impact’s UN SDG Commitment Survey: An Update

Through August, global meetings industry professionals were asked for comments and commitments about how the sector can support UN Sustainable Development Goals. Survey responses have now been analysed by Iceberg partner Positive Impact to form an “acceleration action” shared with the UN. CEO Fiona Pelham explains. From Positive Impact via YouTube…

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Could “Flight-Shaming” See Turbulence Ahead for Events?

Flight-shaming, which many believe started in Sweden, has not reached the US yet, which basks in the glow of a demand boom. Greta Thunberg, the pioneering young eco-warrior (pictured), crossed the Atlantic in a yacht to avoid flying to two major climate summits. How realistic is idealism? From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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The Netherlands: Four Cities, Four Meetings, Four Ambassadors

Holland’s network of thought leaders plays a key role in attracting international association events and enhancing the country’s reputation as a knowledge hub. Here four key influential figures, instrumental in winning bids for Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, discuss the experience. The group includes Professor Peter Reiss (pictured at AIDS 2018). From Boardroom…

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Overtourism: Hosting the Crowd, Without Crowding the Host

When tourist visitors to a city greatly outnumber the resident population, it’s not hard to understand locals feeling crowded, some to the point of revolt. But is overtourism an issue for the meetings industry? What have selfie-stick wielding hordes that descend seasonally on top destinations have to do with business events? From PCMA…

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CVB Alliance Publishes Europe as a Meetings Destination Study

With the aim of analysing Europe’s potential as a meetings destination, a recent report, supported by nine members of the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe, has identified economic, socio-political, technological and other industry trends that are now affecting the European meetings community. From Meetings International…

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Technology that Mimics Human Interaction Set to Change Events

Technology that mimics human behaviour and helps delegates to interact with each other is set to change the face of events, it has been claimed. The Tech Watch Award winners will be announced during IBTM World in Barcelona this November, and the experts on its judging panel have been discussing emerging trends. From Association Meetings International…

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US Exhibitions Industry: Currently Evolving into Exhibitions 2.0

AMR International’s recently updated report, “The US Exhibitions Industry – Developments and Opportunities for Organizers”, points the way to the next generation of exhibitions. The white paper finds the US market still attractive, forecasting continuing compound annual growth rate of 3.5 percent through 2022. Of more concern is a decline in attendee numbers. From PCMA…

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Associations Growing Global VIII: Worldwide WWF Conservation

The Iceberg is publishing a series of interviews about the globalisation of large associations. These are jointly produced by partners Boardroom and the Global Association Hubs Partnership. Sid Das, Director of Digital Engagement at WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) International, talks advancing global conservation globally. From Boardroom via Global Association Hubs Partnership…

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Decolonizing Both the Animals and the Animal Studies Conference

New Zealand gave the AASA (Australasian Animal Studies Association) Conference 2019, “Decolonizing Animals”, an original spin when it hosted the event this July in Christchurch. Both local and international specialists, including indigenous perspectives, were all given a voice. Annie Potts, Director of the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, explains. From Boardroom…

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Meetings and Events: How to Plan and Build Immersive Experience

The event industry talks a lot about “experience” in meeting design, and that “experience” should always be “immersive”. But what does it mean in practice for planners? How should they build experience into meetings they run, and then how should that experience made immersive? From Maritz Global Events…

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Sea Change: A Marine Science Conference’s Plastic-Free Tip Sheet

Plastic pollution is a blight on the world’s oceans. After an almost plastic-free staging of its annual conference, the Australian Marine Sciences Association, and event management organisation Encanta, have created a tip sheet for other planners. They share what they did, what they didn’t, what was learned, and what challenges remain. From PCMA…

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Measuring ROI: Industry Research and the Right Metrics to Follow

Getting proactive with meaningful data is always a good idea. In 2018 the key metric for meetings and events was the number of leads. In 2019 67 percent of marketers are looking to calculate ROI. Here findings from some of the latest meetings and events research are explored. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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In the Bag: Is Switching from Plastic to Cotton Actually Sustainable?

Recently getting soaked leaving an exhibition during a downpour, The Iceberg’s curator has already had cause to note events no longer issuing plastic bags at registration, but now handing out cotton totes. But are these actually any kinder to the environment? UK and Danish studies think not. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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FAM Trips? There’s No Need to Shout about Industry Excursions!

The Iceberg prefers “familiarisation trips”. The rest of the sector uses the shorter “FAM trips”, usually with the capital letters. But why shout? For the second time, and now with accompanying video, one of our more particular partners pleads for industry excursions to remain lower case. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Behavioural Science and its Influence on Meetings and Events

Capita Travel & Events and NYS experts in behavioural science have explained how uses of the field’s techniques can foster collaboration and improve delegate experiences. First discussed in June during The Meetings Show, the methodology can be used to influence many factors, including choice of the most cost-effective meeting locations. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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