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Sustainable Agency: Legacy by Nature, Legacy by Name

The Iceberg doesn’t usually focus on the activities of individual agencies working across the meetings and events sector. But it is hard not to notice one founded at the same time as our very own little platform celebrating business event legacy, particularly when that agency is actually called “Legacy”. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Event Sustainability: Has the Emergency Already Been Sounded?

With a scientific consensus that we are already in a full-blown climate crisis, events are under widespread scrutiny for environmental impact. So are meetings now in a state of emergency? German Convention Bureau Director Matthias Schultze, UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf and Iceberg Founder James Latham are among the sector voices canvassed. From EventMB…

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BestCities Global Forum Debates Legacy and the Congress of the Future

Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance has just staged its annual Forum under the theme “Exploring the Congress of the Future / Fortifying Impact”. Copenhagen Convention Bureau and BestCities published four future scenarios for congresses (see Research), and the CVB also launched its Legacy Lab. From Boardroom…

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Getting Personal with AI, Sustainability, and Evolving Q and A

In comes another year, and with it yet another list of trends to watch on the horizon. Events will deliver personalised experiences with the aid of artificial intelligence. Plus, sustainability, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and flygskam (flight shaming) are also on the map, as is Q and A 2.0, Conversation and input. From PCMA…

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Sustainability: COP25, Brexit, Greta Thunberg and the UN SDGs

Sustainability is high on the events industry agenda. COP25’s Events Industry Council panel discussed vegan menus, recyclable cups and refillable bottles. Britain’s Brexit is shaking up supply chains and may encourage local sourcing. Iceberg partner Positive Impact is engaging the industry in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Mariela McIlwraith: The Events Industry Climate Panel at COP25

Last December Mariela McIlwraith, Director of Industry Advancement at the Events Industry Council, went to the UN Climate Conference COP25 in Madrid. There she took part in a panel discussion on the role of the meetings sector in bringing people together to act on climate. From the Events Industry Council…

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DMCs, DMOs and the Market’s Disruption: An Incentive Perspective

In what way does the purpose of DMCs (Destination Management Companies) change in a market disrupted by the Internet? What happens when the core value proposition of “local knowledge, expertise and connections” is accessible, sometimes more efficiently and affordably, via other platforms? From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…

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Abu Dhabi: The Role of Meetings in Economic Vision 2030

Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, has been speaking about the emirate’s Economic Vision 2030, and the part played in it by business events. New infrastructure includes Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s The Hive, and its 80-seat auditorium The Collaboratorium. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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“We Want the World to Know our Full Impact”, PCMA CEO

Convening Leaders, the flagship event of PCMA (the Professional Convention Management Association), is taking place in January at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Setting out the agenda and stage for this major industry meet, PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat explains how debate has shifted towards the outcomes and impact created by the sector. From PCMA…

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Incentives Core Market for Macau’s Galaxy International CC

Opening in 2021, Macau’s Galaxy International Convention Centre is aiming for the title of Asia’s most technologically advanced venue. Galaxy’s Director of Operations Development, Scott Kreeger, has been speaking about the facility at IBTM World in Barcelona, and says incentives will be one of its core markets. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Associations Like Cities “Business-friendly”, Says GAHP

Cities with a “business-friendly” environment for international associations will find more of them opening offices, including regional headquarters, within their vicinity. So says Martin Sirk, International Adviser of Iceberg partner GAHP, the Global Association Hubs Partnership. New data on association office locations backs up the claim. From Association Meetings International…

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The Power of the Desk Photo, the Power of Incentive Travel

Salespeople used to visualise reward for success through pictures placed on their desk, of a sports car, dream home or paradise location. Agency Strata Creative Communications’s Client Services Director and Head of Incentives, Mike Parrott, spells out how modern incentive events drive effective and sustainable growth in performance. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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Incentive Travel and the Potential Disincentive of Flight Shame

The Swedish concept of “flygskam” or “flight shame” is starting to affect air travel. So says new research from UBS, which claims that one person in five is actively reducing the flights they take for environmental reasons. What do event professionals make of the possible impact, on incentive travel especially? From Conference & Incentive Travel via AIME…

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Sustainable Meetings: Understanding Event Impact on Society

Sustainability continues to rise up the agenda across meetings and events, and two Iceberg partner specialists in this area have turned up in a series of video interviews on the subject filmed at IMEX America, Positive Impact’s Fiona Pelham and the Global Destination Sustainability Index’s Guy Bigwood. From Endless Events…

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Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2019: Business Events and Tourism

Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2019 has just run at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. In a session on business events, Lance Gibbons, the Publisher of Iceberg partner Event Africa, headed up a discussion on the importance of the sector. Also contributing was Jeffers Miruka, President of African Society of Association Executives. From the Event…

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What the Eye Can See at the ICC: Venues and Large-Scale Art Exhibits

Convention centres are great places to exhibit the largest pieces of art. In Singapore, Sydney, Washington DC and Paris, four venues have placed significant works on display, from contemporary legends like Anthony Gormley and Anish Kapoor, to First Nations’ art in Australia, to Europe’s largest fresco (pictured). From Association Meetings International…

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