Opinions

  • Category

  • Sector

  • Host Destinations

Found 203 Opinions

Viewing all Opinions

IMEX America 2018: A Last Day of Learning and Experience

Designed for an industry that never sleeps, IMEX America 2018 was brimming with opportunity and learning right down to its last moments. From hearing hosted buyer experiences and exhibitor perspectives, to education content like C2’s session on connecting with audiences and The Events Industry Council’s on cybersecurity, it was a packed final day. From the Event…

Read More

Eventprofslive: Meeting Needs at the Refurished Lygon Arms

The Iceberg has fond memories of a stay at the historic Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds forty years ago. Now the owners of Eventprofslive have just organised a familiarisation trip to the refurbished venue, asking attendees to donate money to industry charity Meeting Needs. The idea met with great success. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

Read More

Sustainable Meetings: Single-Use Plastic is No Longer Fantastic

Is time now up for that global event staple, the plastic badge holder? From a registration specialist whose products are all recyclable, to an event caterer transitioning away from bottled mineral water, to a venue banning single-use plastic packaging from hotel and meeting suites, here are three approaches to more sustainable events. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

Read More

Convene Presents and Celebrates: Best in Show 2018

Iceberg partner Convene presents its annual Best in Show list, which again awards top venues and innovations and celebrates industry excellence. Winners include the most original off-site venue, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the best corporate social responsibility initiative, an Internet safety for kids programme. From PCMA Convene…

Read More

Gothenburg: A Big-time City for Big Events

Seasoned meetings industry veterans always take pleasure in discovering any destination unfairly overlooked. For one Iceberg partner a new find is the Swedish seaport of Gothenburg. Hotel Svenska Massan / Gothia Towers recently held a centenary event for customers from all over Europe “that combined intelligence with stardust”. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

Read More

US Independent Planners React to Hilton Commission Cut

The decision of Marriott International to reduce group-intermediary commission rates has already made a major impact on the North American independent planners, many of whom have business models built entirely around commission. Now Hilton is doing the same. What will this mean for both the planners and the wider industry? Photo: Daderot. From Meetings & Conventions…

Read More

Marriott Commission Cut: Independent Planners React

Marriott International is cutting to seven percent the standard ten percent commission paid to group intermediaries in the US and Canada. The move prompted fierce reaction from the industry, much collated above in News. But Iceberg partner Northstar has also filmed video interviews with organisers at its Independent Planner Education Conference. From Meetings & Conventions…

Read More

Paris: 2024 and Olympic Competition

Paris is riding high both on its new convention centre and on hosting the 2024 Olympics. But when one huge event is in town at a major destination, does that cause other large meetings to, erm… bottle out? There’s evidence this is the case, but good reasons why it shouldn’t be. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

Read More

Balancing ACT: Marriott and the Value of Values

Marriott has recently taken flak for hosting a convention of ACT America, which calls itself a ‘grassroots national security organisation’ but which has also been dubbed America’s ‘largest anti-Muslim hate group’. Marriott lists diversity and inclusion among its core values. ACT America has its own anti-violence, anti-discrimination policy. From the editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

Read More

Las Vegas: Thoughts on Current Hotel Security Practice

In the wake of the Las Vegas tragedy, Michael Susong of iJet International has been discussing the state of hotel security. Screening baggage is hard, but vigilance, noticing out of place details, protocols for warning security – and for leaving the area – are all crucial. Photo: C. Mendoza. From Meetings & Conventions…    

Read More

Principal’s Recruitment Principles

The UK meetings and events industry is heavily dependent on foreign labour. The effect of Brexit on its ability to recruit remains a unknown quantity. Even before the surprise referendum result, possibly the country’s biggest independent conference group, Principal Hotel Company, created a training academy which is now attracting local talent. From the editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

Read More