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Seafood and Toys: Trade Fair Trade War Tariff Troubles

More than 90 percent of US eaten seafood is imported, and about 40 percent of 25,000 attendees at Seafood Expo North America also attend from abroad. Since tariffs imposed on goods imported from China and other countries have taken effect, some regular exhibitors have cut back on space they’re purchasing for March 2019. From PCMA…

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Heather Seasholtz: A personal Meetings Industry Perspective

Heather Seasholtz CMP, Director of Meetings and Events at Iceberg partner Talley Management Group, is a true difference-maker within the meetings industry. Here she shares her thoughts on conquering burnout, navigating change and appreciating career mentors, alongside emerging industry trends like hybrid meetings and changes in approaches to sponsorship. From PCMA…

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Event Security: A Planner’s Strategy to Combatting Threat

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…

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IBTM World 2018: Highlights of Three Days in Barcelona

As well as attending the 57th ICCA Congress, SoolNua’s Mary Martin has been at IBTM World in Barcelona. Her roundup includes the ICCA World Forum for young professionals. representing the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence with a social media clinic, the 2018 Tech Watch Awards, and IBTM World’s impressive closing statistics. From SoolNua blog and news…

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The Association for Women in Events: Diversity and Inclusion

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…

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The Global Association Hubs Partnership: Growing Above Average

The Global Association Hubs Partnership, founded in Autumn 2015 and an Iceberg partner, brings together four major hubs across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. As it passes its third anniversary, Brussels, Dubai, Singapore and Washington DC are enjoying association growth of 2.5 percent, well above the global average of 0.9 percent. From Boardroom…

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Associations Growing Global II: Middle East Council of Shopping...

The Iceberg is publishing a series of interviews jointly produced by our partners Boardroom and the Global Association Hubs Partnership. The contributors are all addressing the decentralisation and globalisation of large international associations. This time David Macadam, the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres’ CEO, is in the chair. From Global Association Hubs Partnership…

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57th ICCA Congress: Highlights of Four Days in Dubai

The 57th ICCA Congress took place last month in Dubai. The four-day industry event was the biggest the International Congress and Convention Association had ever held outside of Europe, with 1,156 attendees from 70 countries. ICCA’s Charity Run ‘N’ Walk, the Farewell Dinner and three sets of awards were among the highlights. From SoolNua blog and news…

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Ensuring Accessibility: A Planner’s Guide to Best Practice

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…

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MEET RĪGA: The Outsourcing, Insourcing Debate

As more associations create event departments, some see less value in the work of professional congress organisers. So are associations’ event departments taking over what PCOs or destination management companies bring to the table, and what does that actually mean? Aigars Smiltans, director of MEET RĪGA, explains. From Boardroom…

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Incentive Travel: Weathering the Headlines

Now companies have to respond almost immediately to bad publicity, overreaction is the danger. When the positive benefits of an activity aren’t understood, the damage can be even greater. Our incentive specialist looks at headlines the sector has weathered and what they say about the real value of incentive travel. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…

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Associations Growing Global I: International Coach Federation

The Iceberg is publishing a series of interviews jointly produced by our partners Boardroom and the Global Association Hubs Partnership. The contributors are all addressing the increasing decentralisation and globalisation of large international associations. The series is starting with Magdalena Mook, Executive Director and CEO of ICF, the International Coach Federation. From Global Association Hubs Partnership…

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Sydney Speaker Series Luncheon 2018: An Iceberg Special Report

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….

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Meetings Need to Become Part of the Innovation Economy

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…

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Global Economic Significance of Business Events: Video

A new study has found that the business events industry boosts global gross domestic product by $1.5 trillion. Karen Kotowski, CEO of the Events Industry Council, which is behind the Global Economic Significance of Business Events report, discusses its findings with Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX, which was one of the partners in the research. From IMEX…

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Transformative Tech and Mission Critical Meetings

Technology is transforming the way the world does business. Business events facilitate this as the place where tech startups gain exposure. But should the meetings industry also be preparing the world for the workplace transformation that technology will bring? Perhaps its role is mission critical to our future, says PCMA leader Sherrif Karamat. From PCMA…

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