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GAH’s Martin Sirk and Association Leaders Talk Going Global

Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs’ International Advisor Martin Sirk interviewed four association leaders in preparation for an online education session during the recent #PlanetIMEX event. They discussed how the pandemic has impacted operations, is reshaping thinking, and what international meetings might look like in future. From Boardroom…

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Fighting Zoom Fatigue: Taking Your Meeting Out on the Tiles

The Netherlands Tourism Board recently hosted a meeting called “Dis-Connect”. Association, venue and destination professionals joined a virtual workshop staged live at the museum of the Royal Delft pottery factory. They painted white tiles with blue paint in the style of the famous “Delftware” produced in the town since the 17th century. From PCMA…

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UFI’s 2020 NGL Grant Recipients Talk Hybrid Exhibitions

UFI’s NGL Grant promotes the next generation of leadership within the exhibition sector, rewarding young professionals who show initiative driving change and innovation in their own area. 2020’s recipients have been saying why they applied for the Iceberg partner scheme, and also discussing the role that hybrid offerings play in the sector. From UFI…

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From Field to Fork: The Venues Serious About Sustainability

Once the supply of event food was determined by the consumer. If a planner asked to have strawberries over winter or New Zealand lamb in Scotland, their whims were granted. Now more event venues around the world are implementing sustainable practices. Here’s a special report on those taking sustainability seriously. From Association Meetings International…

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Taking the Congress on Tour: SIAARTI’s ICARE Hits the Road

A medical association has taken its annual congress on the road so as to avoid any mass gathering of its members. The Italian Society of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Intensive Care and Resuscitation toured from Turin to Bari, visiting major hospitals as well in Bologna, Brescia, Padua, Milan, Naples and capital Rome. From Association Meetings International…

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APA Convention 2020: Pivot to All-Virtual, Then Crush It

Like many other organisations, the American Psychological Association quickly switched its in-person 2020 annual convention to an all-virtual event because of COVID-19. Even though the pivot happened in just three months, it was decided from the start to make the August event better than it could possibly have been on site. From PCMA…

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Association-Friendly Regional Destinations Can Still Fuel Growth

COVID-19 has slammed the brakes on the international expansion of associations, their big conferences having been essential to delivering such goals prior to the pandemic. International Advisor Martin Sirk, of Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs, says that association-friendly regional destinations are the answer. From Boardroom…

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Exhibitions Think Tank Final Report Gathers Sector Opinions

The first Exhibitions Think Tank has launched a report gathering insights from over 150 sector professionals and setting out ideas for the future of the global industry. Two surveys plus close to 100 online sessions have culminated in a resource that will support the sector adapting to future changes. From Exhibition News…

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AIPC Interviews: James Rees with Carina Bauer, Shenzhen World

Iceberg partner AIPC has recently published two video perspectives about how business events are now evolving. ICCA President and ExCeL London Executive Director James Rees (pictured) talks to IMEX CEO Carina Bauer. ICCA and IMEX are also Iceberg partners. The second feature is on the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. From AIPC…

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Legacies in Beekeeping: SBFA’s World Congress Bid Outcomes

When the SBFA (Serbian Federation of Beekeeping Association) entered the “Incredible Impacts” grants run by the Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance this year, its bidding stage legacy story wasn’t eligible. Even so, SBFA’s efforts are discussed by the association and Serbia Convention Bureau. From BestCities Global Alliance…

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Small is Beautiful: The Future of Association Business Events

International association meetings, particularly those that are attracting thousands of delegates, were once the prized targets of all convention bureaux. COVID-19 has made the immediate future smaller and more regional. But this trend was already underway and should not frighten destination marketing organisations. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Beyond Virtual Events: Destination Canada’s Chantal Sturk-Nadeau

After months of conference calls, webinars and online meetings, we recognise perhaps more than ever the role that business events play in exchanging ideas, building networks and fuelling innovation. So explains Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada. From PCMA…

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Future Meeting Ideas: Martin Sirk Brainstorms Beyond the Nostalgia

Nostalgia inhibits our imagination, according to Martin Sirk, Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs’ International Advisor. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be, says The Iceberg. Here Martin offers some innovative brainstorming of future meeting concepts in which associations could play leading roles. From Association Meetings International…

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