David Adler takes a critical look at the threat to scientific and medical meetings should US federal regulation OMB-2026-0034 go ahead, prohibiting grant recipients from attending conferences not named in the original grant proposal (in practice, an impossibility!). David also brilliantly articulates the processes by which face-to-face meetings generate scientific insights and progress.
The UFI European Conference 2027 will take place in the historic city of Rimini in Italy, where industry leaders will gather to chart the future of face-to-face events. IEG’s expansive Rimini Expo Centre provides the perfect setting to explore the latest innovations, challenge conventional thinking, and strengthen the connections that drive our industry forward.
The UFI Asia-Pacific Conference will return in 2027 in one of Asia’s most inspiring destinations: Bali, Indonesia. The conference will once again bring together exhibition industry leaders from across the region and around the world to connect, exchange insights, and explore the trends shaping the future of exhibitions in Asia.
The Global CEO Summit (GCS) is an invitation-only conference for CEOs and equivalents from international exhibition organisers and venue operators. Participants can look forward to high-level networking with global industry leaders, exclusive CEO insights on challenges and opportunities ahead, and future-focused strategies shaping the exhibitions sector.
Bringing together exhibition and events industry leaders from Latin America and beyond, the conference will serve as a key platform to exchange insights, explore opportunities, and strengthen connections in Central & South America’s largest exhibition market. This year’s edition will be hosted by the Brazilian Association of Exhibition and Events Industry.
M&C Asia Connections is an exclusive tabletop tradeshow that unites Asia’s top suppliers and global buyers in the MICE industry. This premier event offers a compelling agenda tailored for forward-thinking MICE professionals to forge impactful connections through pre-scheduled one-to-one business appointments and enriching networking sessions.
The AIPC Annual Conference is the Association’s flagship event, designed for senior leadership and decision-makers across convention centres and the wider events ecosystem. At the same time, the Conference also actively engages future leaders of the industry through the AIPC Future Shapers programme, with high-potential professionals presenting their projects.
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In 2016, Alicia Yao became the Chief editor of Association Innovative Development, a quarterly magazine owned by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China Association for Non-Profit Organization (CANPO) for the executives of over 2,300 China National level associations. In 2018, She co-founded China Business Event Industry Committee (CBEIC) jointly with CCPIT-CSC and serves as its…
The WONCA Conference resulted in action for local and global rural health sectors, with the launch of The Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026, a national roadmap setting out six priority areas to strengthen rural health systems, and a global initiative focusing on international collaboration, policy advocacy and sharing practical solutions. From TTGmice…
The recent cancellation of a prominent African financial conference comes as confirmed Ebola cases surge, raising questions about whether more meetings will be impacted, not just within Africa itself, but at events in destinations such as India and the Middle East which have traditionally relied on large numbers of African delegates.
Progressive policies and culture converge with mega-venue developments as Vietnam’s US$6 billion MICE sector is primed for growth. This pivotal growth phase is supported by economic stability, rising consumer spending and government efforts to liberalise the cultural and events industries, according to leaders speaking at the 2026 Exhibition, Event and Advertising Summit in Hanoi.
This article from the Centre for Events and Festivals analyses and summarises a new research report on long-term event impact from the University of Technology Sydney Business School, which shows governments are vastly underselling their investment in attracting conferences, justifying it purely with tourism data such as delegate hotel spend.
The 2026 edition of IMEX Frankfurt closed today, confirming its biggest show floor to date, combined with strong buyer and exhibitor numbers. The show (May 19-21) saw almost 3,000 exhibiting companies, from destinations and venues to tech providers and event agencies, all representing the breadth of a future-focused global industry.
Global conflict, policy change and socio-political instability are having a growing and measurable impact on the international meetings and conferences industry. The findings reveal a significant shift in the operating environment for international meetings. 73.84% of respondents said global conflicts have impacted their ability to plan or host international meetings, up from 53.92% in 2025.
The International Conference on Liquefied Natural Gas offered a critical platform to discuss the energy sector’s role in enhancing global security following Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, and address other issues such as eliminating energy poverty and tackling the climate crisis. The Canadian Gas Association staged a world-class event that highlighted Canada’s clean energy potential.
The International Social Innovation Research Conference brought together academics, researchers and practitioners from more than 30 countries to share and discuss the latest research and ideas on social innovation. The conference focused on themes such as social entrepreneurship, social impact and social innovation policy, and included workshops and doctoral sessions to support early-career scholars.
The International Metropolis Conference brought together 1,400+ participants from over 100 countries, making it one of the largest global gatherings focused on migration and integration. The purpose of the event was to reinforce Canada’s international leadership on migration governance, while simultaneously strengthening local research and civil society networks addressing immigration and settlement.
The UN Biodiversity Conference aimed to finalize and adopt a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which would guide international action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Canada’s role was to provide the political and logistical platform for multilateral negotiations. The conference exemplified the role of business events as platforms for transformative environmental policy.
The AquaCulture Canada and World Aquaculture Society North America event showcases how business events can deliver substantial value across multiple domains when it is strongly linked to sectoral development. The conference amplified visibility for the local industry and provided momentum for long-term positioning in ocean tech and sustainable seafood development.
The 24th International AIDS Conference represented a significant moment in the global HIV response, uniting researchers, policymakers, clinicians and people living with HIV. For the International AIDS Society, it was an opportunity to accelerate scientific evidence and global solidarity. For local stakeholders, it mobilized the pursuit of renewed advocacy and expanded service access.
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