Angola has officially launched the Angola Convention Bureau, marking a key milestone in its ambition to become one of Africa’s emerging destinations for business events. The inauguration on 6 May at the Talatona Convention Centre in Luanda, brought together around 400 delegates from government, tourism, aviation, hospitality and the international events industry. From M&C/ASIA…
Three of the world’s leading events and exhibition associations have joined forces to unite and strengthen their European advocacy work under a single body: the European Events and Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEEIA). The move expands the existing European Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEIA), founded by EMECA and UFI in 2012, to formally incorporate ICCA…
PCMA’s President & CEO Sherrif Karamat argues that it is past time for the Business Events industry’s myriad associations to consolidate in order to deliver better value to all industry stakeholders on both the supplier side and amongst all categories of organiser. Failure to modernise and evolve will lead many organisations to be non-selected by…
Whether extending trade from exhibition halls into production floors, or grounding conference insights in real-world settings, factory access is playing a bigger role in MICE programmes. In sectors such as electric vehicles, robotics, aerospace and precision engineering, access to factories is important in driving programme differentiation, providing privileged insights and cementing economic positioning. From M&C/ASIA…
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
PCMA continues to advance its role as the global platform for the business events community by investing in the people, insights, and innovations that will define the future of the industry. In a rapidly evolving landscape, PCMA is taking steps to ensure the community is both prepared for what’s next, and positioned to lead it.
In a vote of confidence for the positive societal and economic impact of Business Events, C$15 million has been earmarked over the next three years to help attract events in strategically important sectors. Administered by Destination Canada, ICAF has helped secure 116 international conventions, generating C$803.3 million in direct economic impact and supporting 6,692 jobs.
PCMA Insights, a resource for business events leaders has been released, designed to help make sense of an increasingly complex business environment. Also available to download is PCMA’s flagship annual report on how event strategists in companies and associations, and destination leaders in city and national DMOs worldwide are planning, designing and leading through 2026.
60 years young: that’s the spirit of Melbourne Convention Bureau, one of the world’s most successful and innovative DMOs. The MCEC – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – is a relative youngster with only 30 years under its belt, but the venue laid out its ambitions at birth by achieving a six Green Star sustainable…
From 3 to 4 March 2026, Amsterdam hosted the first edition of the Amsterdam Space Symposium at Beurs van Berlage, bringing together over 500 participants and 100+ speakers from across the global space sector. Organised by SpaceNed in collaboration with the Amsterdam Convention Bureau (ACB), the event combined high-level dialogue with a strong focus on…
Exclusive 3-day masterclass in Luxembourg for association leaders to enhance skills in creating, executing, and evaluating impactful activities promoting social, economic, and environmental progress. Featuring a programme crafted in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT, GainingEdge and Business Events Sarawak as the Seed Fund Contributor.
Meeting tourism has always been a changing and dynamic industry. The behaviours and the needs of our clients are constantly changing, and our organisations face a much more competitive and demanding market. Learners will: Strengthen key skills to outshine competitors; Reinforce expertise with new strategies and insights; Stay current and competitive in a changing industry.
A more structured and transparent RFP process empowers associations to compare partners on equal footing, identify the destinations that truly align with their mission, and make more intentional, impact-driven decisions. This session will explore how clearer criteria, phased approaches, and mission alignment can transform RFPs from procurement tools into strategic partnership frameworks.
Taking place at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, ICCA Business Intelligence Database Training offers members a quicker, smarter user experience; giving access to data, stats, reports, and analysis to uncover more business opportunities. Key features include: Improved integration, Intuitive modern user interface, Customised meeting search tools, Notification system, Smart recommendation engine.
The traditional pre-IMEX Association Expert Seminar has evolved into the Association Circle, designed to elevate and upskill the meetings and association community, strengthening its ability to remain future-proof and resilient. By focusing on complex, strategy-driven topics, the initiative challenges participants to deepen their expertise and advance their knowledge to the next level.
Exploring practical and creative approaches to embedding wellbeing into how teams work together and how events are designed, introducing simple yet powerful tools that help facilitators, leaders, and event planners create environments where people feel safe, engaged, and connected. You’ll gain insights into how intentional design can improve collaboration, reduce stress, and support meaningful participation
Not all booth conversations are created equal. Some lead to qualified opportunities. Others are polite exchanges that go nowhere. We’ll break down the art of strategic conversation at industry events — how to ask the right questions, listen for the signals that matter, and capture intelligence that informs your bid strategy and destination positioning.
Convene 4 Climate (C4C) is a global platform and movement aimed at accelerating the transition of the Business Events Industry (BEI) towards sustainability and regeneration. A collaborative initiative born in 2024 between PCMA in collaboration with The Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe (SANCBE), C4C has taken a structured, action-oriented approach, stimulating cross-sector…
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