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…
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…
Fake and predatory events provide little or no substance, if they even take place at all, create confusion in the marketplace, and siphon off the very same audiences that legitimate events work so hard to attract and educate. They are becoming a real problem in the meetings industry. What can be done? From PCMA…
Has the war on plastic blinded us to other problems we face? Jemma Peers, Commercial Director at Top Banana, explores sustainability issues and shares the top three quick wins the industry can start practicing for long-lasting impact: watching air miles, reducing waste and creating sustainable menus. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Conferences and events are set to play a key role in the West Midlands’ new Regional Tourism Strategy, which aims to grow the area’s visitor economy by more than £1 billion and create 19,000 local jobs. At the conurbation’s heart is Birmingham, a city on the rise. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Looking into 2020, sector professionals are “very optimistic” about the meetings and events industry. This global survey’s respondents are predicting that the industry will remain steady with moderate growth across all meeting types, with modest increases in spend, and with a continued focus on the attendee experience and experiential events. 2020 Global Meetings and Events…
Manchester venue EventCity has just submitted a request to relocate to a new site in TraffordCity. The project aims to bring city centres closer together and to grow business tourism. Marketing Manchester recently announced the goal of increasing tourism by 40 percent, bringing in a further £345 million over five years. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The ninth edition of IMEX America came to a close in Las Vegas after an “imaginative” week that saw a three percent increase in pre-scheduled appointments between buyers and exhibitors, with 76,000 recorded. Industry firsts during the exhibition included the launching of the Event Industry Council’s new Centre for Sustainable Events. From Association Meetings International…
The American Express Meetings and Events 2020 Forecast reports that industry professionals are “looking aggressively” towards next year. All meeting types are expected to see steady growth for the fifth year in a row. But planners across Europe are facing specific challenges in relation to GDPR and the uncertainty around Brexit. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The first time Gina Glantz used social media to call out the lack of women on a conference panel, she was “rebuked”. This ultimately led to the foundation of the campaigning nonprofit GenderAvenger, and later a change in how meetings respond to the naming and shaming of sessions which only schedule “manels”. From PCMA…
We’re told that the events industry is one of the most stressful sectors in which to work. It doesn’t have to be. Will Glendinning, event producer, director, designer and adventurer, lays out four key issues behind most of the stress workers deal with on a daily basis. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The shame and stigma of mental illness need to be addressed within the events industry. That was the call at UK Event Wellbeing Week 2019 in London. One idea raised was that clients might foster change, as they increasingly ask about work culture in RFIs (requests for information). From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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…
A recent conference hosted by Tropic Skincare at The Vox was the first fully plant-based event held at the Resorts World Birmingham venue. As a developer of freshly made, cruelty-free products, the cosmetics brand had wanted to reflect these values through its conference menu. Meals included an “indulgent” gala dinner. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
France’s Art Nouveau capital, Nancy, has jumped on the sustainability agenda and is emerging as a premier locale for green meetings. The Prouvé Congress Center boasts a roof covered in solar panels and a bee farm. The trend towards green initiatives trickles through the rest of the city, and its convention bureau as well. From Boardroom…
This is the third year in which IMEX has had an annual “Talking Point”, a thread and a story that runs through both shows and all year long. In 2017, the concept was “Purposeful Meetings”, which was followed by “Legacy” in 2018. To help demonstrate this year’s idea of “Imagination” in concrete and practical terms, IMEX…
CWT M&E’s 2020 Future Trends in Meetings and Events probes into the shifting currents that will frame meetings and events in 2020. It examines how global and regional marketplaces are evolving, to inspire you and keep your M&E program always a step ahead. 2020 Future Trends in Meetings and Events (CWT M&E website, registration required) CWT…
Europe as a Destination for Meetings and Conferences is in the focus of a recent study that looks at challenges and opportunities in a changing environment as a basis for developing hands-on recommendations for action. In an age of complexity creativity and flexibility are key With the aim of analysing Europe’s medium-term to long-term market…
AMR International in this white paper explores the developments and opportunities for organizers in the US exhibitions industry. This is essential reading for US event organizers and investors. What to expect: New insights into the exhibition industry’s performance and outlook Understanding of the evolving needs of attendees and exhibitors Details on AMR’s Exhibitions 2.0 model…
Three major associations have each won $7,500 to develop trailblazing legacy programmes attached to their events. This year’s Incredible Impacts awards given by Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance recognised the European Lung Foundation, International AIDS Society (pictured) and International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. From Association Meetings International…
The first day of IMEX America in Las Vegas saw appointments, enquires and bookings for the event’s high-level meetings industry participants. IMEX attendee numbers, including exhibitors, are expected to exceed 13,000 people this year, with more than 70,000 appointments being held across the event. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Powered by 
