Opinions

  • Category

  • Sector

  • Host Destinations

Found 52 Opinions

Viewing all Opinions

HCB’s Florian Gerdes on Hamburg: Capital German Non-Capital

Florian Gerdes is Marketing Manager Conventions at HCB, the Hamburg Convention Bureau. He describes here HCB’s approach to subvention during low demand, the relationship Hamburg has with UK, what the city has to offer the planners organising within prioritised knowledge sectors, its competition with Berlin and its recent secured bid wins. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

Read More

Positive Impact’s UN SDG Campaign: The United Nations Update

During August, Iceberg partner Positive Impact conducted a survey of event industry commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Over 7,000 pledges from 58 countries were received, like using only plant-based food to reduce carbon footprint. In a video from outside UN HQ in New York, CEO Fiona Pelham explains. From Positive Impact via YouTube…

Read More

Davos: A High-Altitude Knowledge Hub for the AO Foundation

Davos is perhaps best known for staging the World Economic Forum, which gathers around 3,000 leading figures from business, politics and science every year. As such, it also has the expertise and capacity to host association events, as Professor Geoff Richards, Director of the AO Research Institute Davos, can testify. From Boardroom…

Read More

Positive Impact’s UN SDG Campaign: An IMEX America Update

Iceberg partner Positive Impact has been campaigning for the meetings industry to align its activity to the framework of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. An industry survey that was conducted during August is being submitted to the UN itself. In a further video recorded at IMEX America, CEO Fiona Pelham explains. From IMEX via YouTube…

Read More

Glasgow’s Culture of Events: Views from Across the Sectors

Glasgow will be welcoming 30,000 delegates, among them 200 world leaders, to discuss climate change at COP26 next year. The Glasgow Convention Bureau has also just reported best ever year-end results for conference business, attracting as well incentive and motivational events like KFC’s RGM Fest. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Nantes: Setting the Scene for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation is about to host its 36th World Conference at La Cité Nantes Congress Centre. IASP consulting director Jean-François Balducchi, from Atlanpole (the science-based business incubator for the whole Pays de la Loire region), discusses the fit of event and destination. Photo: LisaRlld. From Boardroom…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

Shaun Vorster: Planning Dubai’s Expo 2020 and Shaping its Legacy

Shaun Vorster is Vice President of Business Integration and Activations at Dubai’s Expo 2020. Here he talks about that role, shares information on what to expect at the October 2020 launch, and discusses the place legacy holds in shaping both the programming of Expo 2020 and the afterlife of its venues. From the Event…

Read More

Abstract Expressionism: Flipping the Scientific Meeting Model

Many healthcare and STEM meeting participants can justify attendance because an abstract of theirs has been accepted. But rather than holding conferences of speakers speaking to speakers, perhaps there is space for a “flipped” model, where the event environment is a place for peer review and improvement of works in progress. From PCMA…

Read More

Associations Growing Global VII: IASP’s Painless Growth

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. Matthew D’Uva, CEO of the Washington DC-headquartered International Association for the Study of Pain, describes reaching 100 chapters around the world. From Global Association Hubs Partnership…

Read More

Access to Scientific Meetings: UK and US Visa Refusal Woes

Are openly hostile immigration policies in the UK and US making it harder for delegates from lower income countries to attend scientific meetings? Here’s a round up from both sides of the pond of events that have faced very high levels of visa rejections with delegates attending from developing nations. From Association Meetings International…

Read More

Lausanne Montreux Congress: The Two Directors’ Vision

As The Iceberg reported in October, the Swiss regions of Lausanne and Montreux have joined forces to create the joint Lausanne Montreux Congress. Two LMC representatives, Director Lausanne Tourisme Steeve Pasche and Director Montreux-Vevey Tourisme Christoph Sturny, have been speaking exclusively about their future plans. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

Read More

The Events Brain: Behavioural Science and Meetings Design

We think we make decisions based on logic, but unconscious influences affect our behaviour and judgment. So says Maritz Chief Behavioural Officer Charlotte Blank. Maritz Global Events is a partner of The Iceberg. Understanding behaviour presents a “whole new world of opportunity” for event design. From PCMA Convene…

Read More