Organisations that break EU General Data Protection Regulation, which soon comes into force, could face fines of up to €20 million. Competitors can report you, since non-compliance is unfair competition. The warning comes from David Chalmers, Senior Marketing Director of Cvent Europe. GDPR will discussed at a SITE event in London on February 7th. From Association Meetings International…
CTICC 2, the Cape Town International Convention Centre’s R900 million expansion, has officially opened for business. The new facility strengthens Cape Town’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top ten long-haul convention destinations. The city holds 71.4 percent of CTICC shares and invested R550 million in the project, which helped regenerate the inner city. From the Event…
The 19th century city landmark and event space Manchester Town Hall has closed as part of a £328m refurbishment. The “Our Town Hall” project will take until 2024 to complete. The iconic venue is Grade I listed, 140 years old, and according to a spokesperson for Manchester City Council, “showing its age”. From Meetpie.com…
Two past Opinions (“Westminster Bubbles”) have reported the UK meetings industry’s bridge-building with government. Now Prime Minister Theresa May’s January reshuffle has moved tourism minister John Glen (pictured) over to another post. So the industry will therefore have to start the conversation all over again with his successor. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Around 450 US Geological Survey researchers typically attend the annual conference of the American Geophysical Union. But ahead of the recent event the Interior Department said no more than 199 could travel to the meeting, and spending could not exceed $399,000. Only 178 attended and 30 abstracts were withdrawn by absent scientists. From Association Meetings International……
The IMEX Group has changed the name of its IMEX Politicians Forum to the IMEX Policy Forum, reflecting a shift in focus and participants. Policymakers and government influencers attend the influential meeting as well as politicians. The 2018 forum is during IMEX itself on May 15 at the InterContinental Frankfurt. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Incentive Federation has issued an update on the Congressional proposal to repeal part of the US tax code which gives firms exclusion for employee service and safety awards. The House of Representatives has now passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but the Senate bill does not have a corresponding provision. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Iceberg previously reported the Business of Events Senior Leadership Forum that recently brought the UK government and its meetings industry together (Opinions: “Westminster Bubbles: A Meeting of Minds”). Now Events Industry Board Chair Nick de Bois, himself a former MP, weighs in with his own view of the session. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The head of security for the London 2012 Olympics, former MI5 Director General Lord Evans, has given the keynote at a Sydney Speaker Series lunch in London. The event was organised by both Business Events Sydney and ICC Sydney, and hosted by the High Commission of Australia. The Iceberg was also invited. If there was any doubt…
Abu Dhabi has launched a fund to incentivise international, regional and local companies to enhance its events programme. Attracting more meetings is a key goal of the emirate’s Department of Culture and Tourism. The initial funding is AED10 million, with further tranches being made available as the scheme evolves. From CIM News Magazine…
At a reception near Parliament ahead of the Business of Events Leadership Forum, UK tourism minister John Glen promised to help the meetings industry work directly with government to win business. And Michael Hirst, chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, thinks the sector’s standing with government has never been greater. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
A new convention centre is to be built in Hong Kong to bring in more international meetings to the city. The new venue will be near the existing Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The site currently houses government buildings which will be demolished to create the new facility. From Association Meetings International…
The events and meetings industry will play a key role within UK tourism’s application for a sector deal in the government’s post-Brexit industrial strategy. In a document agreed by the Tourism Industry Council, growing Britain’s market share in meetings is cited as a goal of extending the tourism season year-round. From Meetpie.com…
At Meetings Africa 2017 a R110 million subvention fund was announced, part of the South African Government’s R494 million tourism allocation for the next three years. It has already assisted organisers in bringing association meetings to South Africa. So who is eligible for this funding and how does one apply for it? From the Event…
It was a speech the embattled UK Prime Minister was hoping would go rather better than it did. First, a prankster breached security to hand Theresa May a fake P45 (a UK termination of employment form). Then she lost her voice. Even the set designer received an unexpected “F” (and later “E”). From CIM News Magazine…
Following the summer recess, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Events Industry has been formally confirmed as continuing. Core members remain the same, and say they’ll continue keeping the industry high on Parliament’s agenda. The group also attracts events to the UK. Photo: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor. From Meetpie.com…
The debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament building is one of the most extraordinary meeting spaces ever constructed. And now the Scottish Government has further recognised the importance of meetings to the country’s economic development by saluting the academic and business ambassadors helping the capital Edinburgh to attract business and professional events. Photo: Colin. From Meetpie.com…
In the US, Democratic lawmakers are introducing a bill to ban federal officials from enjoying taxpayer-funded business travel at properties owned by senior government officials. This would include resorts like President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, was entertained in April. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Cairns Convention Centre – which has twice been named “World’s Best Congress Centre” at the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) APEX Awards – is to receive AU$176m to fund an expansion that will make it a “state-of-the-art international venue”, according to Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt. He called the government money a “catalytic investment”. From CIM News Magazine…
Did any of the G20 financial ministers and central bank directors know they were sitting on an old gold-miners’ staging post when they met in the seaside city of Cairns? By Rob Spalding at Associated Meetings International… G20 Finance Summit in Cairns – Following in Their Footsteps
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