“It’s more than a visitor economy,” says Damien Kitto, CEO of Business Events Adelaide. And the benchmarking and KPIs that track the impact data of events reveal metrics that extend far beyond the consumption economy of events hosted in the South Australian capital. The reason lies in the value sought by the Department of Trade…
17-19th March 2025, Cape Town. The International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) arrives into the Western Cape in pursuit of transformative social and innovation legacies for the forgotten continent of Africa. 150 innovation professionals from 29 countries connect through 75 presentations and workshops with Africa`s academic, consulting, and research communities. Its mission – to…
From Centre for Events & Festivals: What if we’ve been measuring the value of the Olympic Games all wrong? For decades, critics and champions of mega-events have sparred over their economic and social impact. Are they a catalyst for sustainable change—or just a two-week spectacle with ballooning costs? But maybe we’re asking the wrong question….
From Boardroom: For decades, organisations operated on a simple premise: to generate profit. Yet in today’s fragmented world, where societal and environmental concerns weigh heavily on decision-making, financial performance alone no longer suffices. In response, BESydney has emerged as a leader in championing business events that prioritise long-term impact over short-term gain, turning meetings into…
From BestCities: On 1 April 2025, BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA hosted two insightful sessions to unpack the dynamics of creating lasting impacts through international conferences and celebrating these through the Incredible Impacts Programme. This article captures key takeaways from the collaborative discussions, where industry leaders shared their experiences and offered valuable guidance for prospective…
This ESAE seminar report illustrates the importance of building long-term strategic relationships between destinations and international associations, and co-creating impact and legacy programmes from an early stage. Beyond their immediate objectives, conferences and congresses are increasingly expected to leave a trace, be that a new practice introduced, regulation debated, partnership launched, or community engaged…
True to form, the BestCities Global Alliance continued to use its annual Forum to pursue association impact by gathering members of its association community for shared learning. The methodology for developing greater impact strategies came in the form of the 2nd edition of the ICCA Association Impact Masterclass following its inauguration by Founding Funders and…
By Kai Hattendorf: Good food for thought from Simon Anholt on public perception of countries this week at BI Norwegian Business School – and how countries can work to improve their global standing. For me, these points stood out from his data: Overall, the trend in global perception of countries has been positive between 2008…
Between the 8-11th July last year, 1,100 of the world’s leading developmental neuroscientists convened at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, for the International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS) to exchange research, education, and stories, but also to propagate future research and understanding of a child’s early learning from years 0-3. Immersive…
Social impact is no longer an add-on: it’s the new business-as-usual approach for leading destinations and convention bureaux. Join us for this insightful webinar to explore how event legacy, stakeholder collaboration, and impact measurement are transforming the way destinations approach sustainability. Through practical strategies and real-world case studies, we’ll break down the key elements of…
Social impact is no longer an add-on: it’s the new business-as-usual approach for leading destinations and convention bureaux. Join us for this insightful webinar to explore how event legacy, stakeholder collaboration, and impact measurement are transforming the way destinations approach sustainability. Through practical strategies and real-world case studies, we’ll break down the key elements of…
From Boardroom: For the first time, ESAE hosted a dedicated session in Paris focused on how associations can maximize the long-term impact of their conferences. Sponsored by Singapore Tourism Board, the discussion took place on Wednesday 19 March at M Social Hotel and brought together associations who shared insights on legacy-building, advocacy, and engaging future…
From Boardroom: Turisme de Barcelona has officially unveiled its Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB) Legacy Programme, a strategic initiative designed to amplify the positive impact of congresses and events held in the city, extending their benefits far beyond their duration. As explained by BCB’s director, Christoph Tessmar, “the point is to generate an impact that has…
From ASE News: The Positive Impact of Business Events Report is an overview of the immense value that business events deliver. From significant economic contributions, to community engagement and sector growth, to education, trade and investment; business events create real change and lasting legacies for Victoria. The informative and comprehensive report features case studies from…
Powered by 
