Why does The Iceberg consider the just-released IMEX White Paper, “Place Leadership and the Business Events Sector”, to be so important? In almost four decades of monitoring and supporting this sector, The Iceberg Curator, Martin Sirk, has reviewed hundreds of research reports, policy documents, and thought-leadership papers, yet he notes that “few match this paper’s…
Speaking at this year’s Place Leaders Forum at IMEX Frankfurt, future of cities expert Prof. Greg Clark articulates the potential for business events to fulfil a pivotal role within destinations’ strategic thinking, thanks to the emergence of new competitive realities as we enter an era where the Innovation Economy interacts with the Experience Economy. Our…
As a gathering that champions the power of face-to-face interactions, this forum promises enriching workshops and sessions designed to both challenge and inspire attendees. Planners will benefit from unparalleled opportunities to connect with peers from diverse industries and explore innovative approaches to meeting design, sustainability, and impact.
Every year, AIPC, in collaboration with Access Intelligence, conducts its Annual Member Survey to track the trends shaping the global convention centre industry. Covering industry outlook, business strategies, client expectations, technology, sustainability and workforce development, the 2026 survey gathered responses from 67 convention centres, providing valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges facing our sector.
In partnership with The Meetings Show, event sustainability platform TRACE by Isla has created this series of interactive response cards to assist meeting planners in overcoming objections and making the case for management commitment to and investment in sustainable practices. Each card gives a comeback line with proof behind it and a practical next step.
Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) has appointed sustainability specialist Johanna Fuhlendorf as its new Programme Director, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the global initiative as it enters its next phase of development. The appointment is the first dedicated leadership role created specifically for NZCE since its launch in 2021. From Headquarters Magazine…
In a conversation with Guy Bigwood, the GDS-Forum 2026 emerges as a reflection of the meetings industry’s shift from ambition to accountability. Highlighting themes such as impact measurement, destination stewardship and regenerative development, the GDS-Movement CEO argues that stakeholders are increasingly demanding evidence of progress rather than sustainability pledges alone. From HQ Magazine…
The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), today announced the next phase of its targeted refinement of the Sustainable Event Standards (SES), marking a significant step forward in strengthening alignment, usability and real-world application across the global business events sustainability landscape.
The Sustainable Event Goals are 13 interlinked goals designed to minimise negative environmental and social impacts while maximising positive economic outcomes, and translating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into clear, actionable, event-specific guidance for organisers, suppliers, destinations, and partners across the global Business Events ecosystem. From Kenes Group…
The International Water Association World Water Congress & Exhibition brought together academics, utility leaders and water professionals from around the world to advance global scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange in water management. It is a strong example of how hosting an international event can elevate domestic participation and raise the profile of national stakeholders.
The goal of GLOBExCHANGE 2025 was to bring Canada’s clean economy transition to life. The event served as a catalyst for collaboration across government, industry, finance and civil society, translating climate and sustainability commitments into tangible partnerships, policy initiatives and new sectoral platforms.
From Meetings Today, by Vincent Alonzo: On April 22, more than 10,000 Earth Day events unfolded across the globe—river cleanups in Bali, regenerative tourism pledges in Canada, LEED-certified renovations in Tampa, and a wave of “conscious luxury” messaging from hotel brands worldwide. The meetings and events industry showed up as well. On paper, at least…
To assist business events organisations to develop their own comprehensive sustainability strategies, IMEX is sharing details about its business philosophy, experiences, and implementation models. While industry progress remains uneven and the need for clear direction persists, the strategy positions sustainability as central to how the sector responds to risk, regulation and long-term resilience.
With the adoption of the EU Directive Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo), the European Union is taking a further step to address greenwashing and increase transparency in sustainability-related communication. The German Convention Bureau analyses how the Directive’s provisions (applicable from 27 September 2026) are likely to impact our sector.
The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), has launched a targeted refinement of the EIC Sustainable Event Standards (SES), representing an important opportunity to further strengthen alignment across the industry’s leading sustainability frameworks. Contributions are welcome until 12 April 2026.
According to the post-event report, AGES 2026 facilitated 44 curated project pitches, representing an estimated $1.7 billion investment pipeline, alongside 677 confirmed matchmaking meetings between investors and project developers, and highlights a clear shift underway across Africa’s green and blue economy: from ambition and dialogue towards execution, deployment and scale. From VUKA Group…
This report provides insights into how the perceptions, experiences, concerns and thoughts of Amsterdam’s residents regarding local tourism issues have evolved. The study, by Inholland University of Applied Sciences, amsterdam&partners, & MMGY Global / TCI Research, found that Amsterdam’s residents do not oppose tourism per se, but call for a more thoughtful and balanced approach.
Is sustainability still relevant for international associations? In a shifting global landscape where policy commitments waver and priorities compete, this question has never been more important. We’ll examine the latest findings from ICCA x Destination Canada’s Association sustainability survey to understand where international associations stand now—caught between aspirations and the realities of implementation.
Social carrying capacity is increasingly used to guide sustainable destination management, yet many destinations still struggle to translate the concept into practical, place-specific strategies. Our next Feeling the Pulse webinar explores this through an academic lens with two distinct sessions, each featuring unique content. You’ll get insights from a pilot study in Garda Trentino informed…
Social carrying capacity is increasingly used to guide sustainable destination management, yet many destinations still struggle to translate the concept into practical, place-specific strategies. Our next Feeling the Pulse webinar explores this through an academic lens with two distinct sessions, each featuring unique content. You’ll get insights from a pilot study in Garda Trentino informed…
Experienced sustainability practitioner and impact consultant Jessica Vandy takes issue with the inappropriate and reputation-damaging misuse of sustainability terminology such as “regenerative”, a slowly growing trend that she argues is infiltrating event websites, venue brochures and destination marketing. Credibility and trust are essential attributes, and sloppy use of language is putting these at risk.
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