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Overtourism: Hosting the Crowd, Without Crowding the Host

When tourist visitors to a city greatly outnumber the resident population, it’s not hard to understand locals feeling crowded, some to the point of revolt. But is overtourism an issue for the meetings industry? What have selfie-stick wielding hordes that descend seasonally on top destinations have to do with business events? From PCMA…

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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…

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CVB Alliance Publishes Europe as a Meetings Destination Study

With the aim of analysing Europe’s potential as a meetings destination, a recent report, supported by nine members of the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe, has identified economic, socio-political, technological and other industry trends that are now affecting the European meetings community. From Meetings International…

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Technology that Mimics Human Interaction Set to Change Events

Technology that mimics human behaviour and helps delegates to interact with each other is set to change the face of events, it has been claimed. The Tech Watch Award winners will be announced during IBTM World in Barcelona this November, and the experts on its judging panel have been discussing emerging trends. From Association Meetings International…

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US Exhibitions Industry: Currently Evolving into Exhibitions 2.0

AMR International’s recently updated report, “The US Exhibitions Industry – Developments and Opportunities for Organizers”, points the way to the next generation of exhibitions. The white paper finds the US market still attractive, forecasting continuing compound annual growth rate of 3.5 percent through 2022. Of more concern is a decline in attendee numbers. From PCMA…

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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…

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Meetings and Events: How to Plan and Build Immersive Experience

The event industry talks a lot about “experience” in meeting design, and that “experience” should always be “immersive”. But what does it mean in practice for planners? How should they build experience into meetings they run, and then how should that experience made immersive? From Maritz Global Events…

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Sea Change: A Marine Science Conference’s Plastic-Free Tip Sheet

Plastic pollution is a blight on the world’s oceans. After an almost plastic-free staging of its annual conference, the Australian Marine Sciences Association, and event management organisation Encanta, have created a tip sheet for other planners. They share what they did, what they didn’t, what was learned, and what challenges remain. From PCMA…

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Measuring ROI: Industry Research and the Right Metrics to Follow

Getting proactive with meaningful data is always a good idea. In 2018 the key metric for meetings and events was the number of leads. In 2019 67 percent of marketers are looking to calculate ROI. Here findings from some of the latest meetings and events research are explored. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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In the Bag: Is Switching from Plastic to Cotton Actually Sustainable?

Recently getting soaked leaving an exhibition during a downpour, The Iceberg’s curator has already had cause to note events no longer issuing plastic bags at registration, but now handing out cotton totes. But are these actually any kinder to the environment? UK and Danish studies think not. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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FAM Trips? There’s No Need to Shout about Industry Excursions!

The Iceberg prefers “familiarisation trips”. The rest of the sector uses the shorter “FAM trips”, usually with the capital letters. But why shout? For the second time, and now with accompanying video, one of our more particular partners pleads for industry excursions to remain lower case. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…

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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…

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AIPC President Aloysius Arlando: The Benefits of The Global Alliance

Three big industry associations, all Iceberg partners, are dovetailing resources available to members: the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), together with the global association of the exhibition Industry (UFI). AIPC President (and UFI Board Member) Aloysius Arlando talks collaboration, standardisation and advocacy. From UFI…

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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…

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The Global Alliance: AIPC, ICCA and UFI Pooling Resources

Three major business event industry associations are pooling resources available to their members. AIPC (the International Association of Convention Centres), ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) and UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) have together formed The Global Alliance. From UFI…

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Festivalisation: The Immersive Future of Association Congresses

Festivalisation refers to a process of making existing meeting structures more engaging, more immersive, and more tailored to the individual. The word is everywhere and may sound like a gimmick, but there’s a serious side to it, which might determine whether your congress lives to see another ten years. From Association Meetings International…

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