Now a COVID-19 vaccine seems imminent after months cooped up indoors on Zoom, the release from getting back face-to-face will feel better than ever. We’ll want to meet, travel, see people and everything in between. But that is not a reason to throw our obligations to the planet away. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
2020 has been crushing for the DMO (destination management organisations). Destinations in the US have endured wiped-out funds as a result of zero hotel occupancy, en-masse event cancellations, and double-digit layoffs, not to mention further challenges with social unrest and also, for some, natural disasters. 2020 has brought the DMO to the brink. From PCMA…
Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs’ International Advisor Martin Sirk interviewed four association leaders in preparation for an online education session during the recent #PlanetIMEX event. They discussed how the pandemic has impacted operations, is reshaping thinking, and what international meetings might look like in future. From Boardroom…
The Netherlands Tourism Board recently hosted a meeting called “Dis-Connect”. Association, venue and destination professionals joined a virtual workshop staged live at the museum of the Royal Delft pottery factory. They painted white tiles with blue paint in the style of the famous “Delftware” produced in the town since the 17th century. From PCMA…
Once the supply of event food was determined by the consumer. If a planner asked to have strawberries over winter or New Zealand lamb in Scotland, their whims were granted. Now more event venues around the world are implementing sustainable practices. Here’s a special report on those taking sustainability seriously. From Association Meetings International…
Kai Hattendorf, the MD and CEO of Iceberg partner UFI, the exhibitions industry’s global association, has just been a guest on the AMI Deep Dive podcast. Talking to AMI editor James Lancaster, he discusses the impact of the pandemic on the sector, its longterm future, plus advocating economic value to government. From Association Meetings International…
Like many other organisations, the American Psychological Association quickly switched its in-person 2020 annual convention to an all-virtual event because of COVID-19. Even though the pivot happened in just three months, it was decided from the start to make the August event better than it could possibly have been on site. From PCMA…
It is time once again to grab your own little piece of The Iceberg! The call has just been issued for partners and ambassadors through 2021 and 2022. Iceberg Founder and Producer and James Latham believes sharing storytelling and advocacy is the best possible route to wider appreciation of the sector and its vital role in…
A new report published by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), which presents The Iceberg, offers the most comprehensive assessment yet of meetings industry activities addressing the full range of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The program was an extension of an initiative begun by Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the…
When the lockdowns began in the US in March, it was hoped COVID-19 would be well under control by the autumn. As we enter the last quarter of 2020, we have come to accept that we will be living with COVID-19 well into 2021 and perhaps 2022, that its effects on the economy will linger,…
Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance has collaborated with associations and destinations around the world to build new research around a “legacy language” and impact measurement indicators. This highly ambitious and innovative project involved an extensive study with over fifty interviews and surveys with destinations and associations across the world from a broad spectrum of sectors and disciplines….
The overall objective of this survey was to understand how inclusive events are as an industry. The survey also considered education, career progression, perceived success and salary. Diversity and inclusion – Fast Forward 15 (Fast Forward 15 website) Diversity in Events Has “a Way to Go”, Reveals Report (Meetings & Incentive Travel article) Women in Exhibitions (Exhibition News…
This report addresses the issue of waste in the exhibitions industry. It derives from several actions of Iceberg partner UFI, including the set-up of dedicated regional task forces around the world and the selection of best practices. Compiled by Greenview, a member of the UFI Sustainable Development Working Group, the report also includes a detailed…
Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance has released a global study of legacy impact measurement in the business events sector. Whilst it is recognised legacy impact makes a significant contribution to the true value of meetings, there are too few indicators and measurement tools in place for the task. From Meetings International…
The managers of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre have welcomed the launching of a subsidy scheme to “reinvigorate” the local business events industry. The HK$1,020 million ($131 million) deal offers to cover the full venue rental costs for exhibitions and global conventions. From Association Meetings International…
After “overwhelming” interest, the Austria Center Vienna has published key findings of its COVID-19 testing pilot at a September 16th and 17th event. Each test took approximately 30 seconds with results delivered in six to ten minutes. Out of the 2,000 rapid tests taken, five were positive. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The convention bureau Meet in Reykjavik has joined together with Promote Iceland. After agreement between the Reykjavik city council executive committee, with Promote Iceland and with Icelandair, Meet in Reykjavik will also market meetings as a national convention bureau for the whole country. From Meetings International…
“Incredible Impacts”, the awards for legacy run by Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance, has unveiled three association winners whose events have been “leading examples of excellence within the global meetings industry”. Each will receive a $7,500 grant toward future legacy projects. From PCMA…
2020’s Top 25 Influencers within the Meetings Industry have been named. The list includes the Events Industry Council’s Amy Calvert, Destination DC’s Elliott Ferguson, the Iceberg partner UFI’s (and also JMIC’s) Kai Hattendorf, plus Iceberg partner Talley Management Group’s Gregg Talley. From Northstar Meetings Group…
Without a support package the UK meetings and events industry will enter into free fall. The very stark message from the Association of Event Organisers, Association of Event Venues and Event Supplier and Services Association was in response to the UK government delaying the reopening of business events. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Informa has posted pre-tax losses of £739.9 million ($946.9 million) in its financial results for the six months ending June 30th 2020. The group updated actions to ensure stability through into 2021, amid ongoing disruption and the postponements of events extending into the spring. From Exhibition News…
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