Europe’s largest exhibition centres have mobilised and demanded a restart on September 1st. EMECA, which represents major venues, issued a statement on the urgency of reopening centres and called for financial support from European and national authorities to guarantee the survival and recovery of the entire industry. From Exhibition World…
IMEX America has been cancelled due to COVID-19. Iceberg partner the IMEX Group has confirmed that the show, set for Las Vegas during September, will no longer run. CEO Carina Bauer with Chairman Ray Bloom cited issues with securing hosted buyers, long lead times and ongoing travel restrictions. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
During COVID-19 the meetings industry has pivoted to serve the community. Venues have become field hospitals, logistics networks have shipped personal protective equipment, and surplus food has also been donated. A new social contract is being written, explains Geneviève Leclerc, CEO of Iceberg partner #MEET4IMPACT. From European Cities Marketing…
Iain Bitran, Executive Director of the International Society for Professional Innovation Management, shares the challenge of transforming a physical conference into a digital meeting. In just eleven weeks and with around 400 contributions, the XXXI ISPIM Innovation Conference succeeded in “Innovating in Times of Crisis”. From Boardroom…
The many contributions on video for The Iceberg webinar about the JMIC Manifesto for Economic Recovery Using Business Events included one from Martin Lewis, former Managing Editor of Iceberg partner CAT Media, and Iceberg ambassador. The photo is of Martin in lighter mood at the 32nd M&IT awards last year. But in this longer extract from his…
As authorities around the world are increasingly clearing business events to run again, organisers of conventions and exhibitions, as well as venue and centre operators need to put respective measures in place that create safe environments for participants. A new guide on the matter identifies and promotes globally emerging standards, protocols and good practices. Good…
Three of the meetings industry’s biggest associations have pooled expertise to produce a guide about making event environments safe to re-open. “Good Practice Guidance: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events” is co-written by Iceberg partners AIPC, ICCA and UFI. From Association Meetings International…
Dozens of new conferences have booked the soon-to-open Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre during the coronavirus lockdown, according to the venue’s General Manager. Ross Steele said 67 new events were a 30 percent increase on bookings at the end of 2019, and would bring over NZ$40 million into the city. From Association Meetings International…
IFEMA, the consortium behind Spain’s largest exhibition complex Feria de Madrid, wants to reopen in September and host over 60 events in the last four months of the year. After use as an emergency hospital during the crisis peak, the fairground aims to host the events postponed as a result. From Association Meetings International…
Estonia has laid out tentative plans to reopen its meetings sector with a social media campaign showcasing “safe-hosting practices” that allow for indoor meetings of up to 500 delegates. This coincides with the easing of restrictions in the region, where early measures resulted in a relatively low spread of COVID-19. From Association Meetings International…
With coronavirus leading to major trade fair casualties in the German capital, politicians are calling for a new plan for Messe Berlin, including the injection of €80 million of public money into the venue. International travel show ITB at the venue was a notable early victim of the crisis. From Exhibition World…
BECA, the Business Events Council of Australia, has delivered a set of safety and hygiene procedures to the Australian government. These guidelines make the argument that business events are different from other mass gatherings and should open up as soon as possible. They also show how to keep events safe and hygienic. Photo: Thennicke. From Exhibition World…
RAI Amsterdam has said it is able to reopen its doors while still closely following all guidelines regarding social distancing. The venue wants to organise trial events during the summer to test various ways visitors and exhibitors can be safely brought together. Everyone will be required to register with RAI in advance. From Meetings International…
South Korea’s largest exhibition and convention centre, KINTEX, has just hosted the 2020 MBC Architecture Expo. The venue’s safety protocols included stringent screening and biosecurity, including disinfection mats, thermal imaging cameras, as well as the compulsory wearing of masks, gloves and in some cases full face shields. From Exhibition World…
Governments have differing ideas about how meetings should return safely during the pandemic. Industry bodies advocate different plans. But what of the science? Dr. Brian Labus, epidemiologist and health sciences expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, prepares organisers for the months ahead. From Event MB…
Asia’s business events industry has the potential to rebound faster than that of other continents, but being able to conduct business safely is important. So said the panellists at a Global MICE Situation in the Time of the Pandemic webinar, among them regional managers from the Iceberg partners ICCA and UFI. From Meetings International…
In April the event agency Freeman joined up with eighty other industry leaders to form Go LIVE Together as a response to COVID-19’s impact on live events. One month on Freeman CEO Bob Priest-Heck discusses the importance of advocacy, the status of government funding, and hopes for the future of the industry. From BizBash…
Reykjavik’s Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre says it is ready for the post-COVID-19 era. 2020 had been on track to be a record events year for the venue. May 4th saw Iceland’s lockdown lifted. On May 7th Harpa became one of the first conference halls in Europe to reopen. From Meetings International…
The shape of the “new normal” has become clearer after the first large Asia Pacific trade shows to return: the 2020 Hunan Auto Show run at the Hunan International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, and the MBC Architecture Show at the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center in Goyang. From PCMA…
UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association, has welcomed a call by Germany on reopening exhibitions and trade shows. The county chose to segment its classification of “mass gatherings”, making trade shows and exhibitions types of events that can now be allowed again under certain conditions by the sixteen German states. From UFI…
UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association, has posted a framework for the safe and controlled restart of exhibitions and trade events around the world. The Iceberg partner’s ten page document is intended as a de facto standard to be used in dealing with national policy makers and also other relevant authorities. From UFI…
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