While an attempt to to form the largest ever human guitar didn’t quite break the world record, the Professional Convention Management Association did announce strong financial growth and record revenue at its annual Convening Leaders event. Membership globally now totals 7,000, with more than half attending in Nashville. From Association Meetings International…
Janet Tan-Collis, President of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers, has picked up the Professional Convention Management Association’s 2017 Chairman’s Award at the latter’s Convening Leaders event in Nashville. The prize recognises individuals or organisations for their unique achievements in and contributions to the business events industry over the previous year. From Association Meetings International…
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 Only 178 attended and 30 abstracts were withdrawn by absent scientists.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……
Kensington Roof Gardens has closed after 37 years due to rising costs. The party venue’s operator, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, said it was struggling to make a profit at the Grade II listed site, an iconic favourite for London event organisers. 85 staff are being made redundant, and booking deposits are being refunded. Photo: Edwardx. From Meetpie.com…
In an age of terror attacks, natural disasters and political dissent, event safety and security is at the forefront of every planner’s thinking. But how do you deliver for delegates an environment that is as risk-free as possible? Here are ten tips to keep your meetings safe and secure. From Event Marketer magazine…
Event organisers ignore contingency planning at their peril. In March 2017 Ernst & Young’s Future Finance Leaders Spring Seminar had to cope with the ultimate nightmare: postponement at less than 24 hours’ notice after the terror attack on Westminster Bridge in London. The team’s handling of the logistics went on to win an award. From PCMA Convene…
Today convention centres have to take a broader approach to the meetings sector, offering organisers a gateway to the cities and regions in which they are located. Some are effectively convention bureaux in their own right. Just how the role of major venues is changing is revealed across the thriving Australian scene. From CIM News Magazine…
From politics, security and safety to the dipping of congress statistics and how learning and education is at the forefront of growth, South African thought leaders, association heads and professionals share thoughts and predictions on where the local business events industry is heading. What lessons has 2017 taught, and what will 2018 bring? From the Event…
Having just announced her imminent departure as leader of the Professional Convention Management Association, Deborah Sexton has offered further thoughts on her time at PCMA, and also the reasons and timing of her exit. Her last major event in the post will be Convening Leaders 2018 in Nashville, and a Guinness World Record attempt. From PCMA…
Pádraic Gilligan of Iceberg partner SoolNua is a expert in social media and its usage across the meetings industry. He often presents on the subject and did so with colleague Aoife McCrum at the recent IBTM World in Barcelona. He continues the session here with the audience’s Sli.do feedback. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
The Trump effect on the US’s standing as a destination is much discussed. But what about the actual meeting that helped elect him: the 2016 Republican National Convention? The RNC and its economic impact are at the centre of some thoughts about the real return on investment of face-to-face. From PCMA Convene…
Paris is riding high both on its new convention centre and on hosting the 2024 Olympics. But when one huge event is in town at a major destination, does that cause other large meetings to, erm… bottle out? There’s evidence this is the case, but good reasons why it shouldn’t be. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The nature of venues and of how organisers use them is changing. If coffee shops are now suitable spaces, why not cinemas? The refurbished Stella in South Dublin – an Art Deco time capsule – is visited in this article, with some Bold ideas for small meetings featured as well. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Deborah Sexton, who has served as CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association for over 12 years, will stand down after the annual Convening Leaders meeting in January. She will be succeeded by current COO Sherrif Karamat. Under Sexton, PCMA more than doubled its membership and revenue. 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…
Those travelling internationally to an event are more flexible than domestic travellers about journey times. While a Barbican poll recently showed that 58 percent of domestic delegates wanted journeys of less than an hour, the venue’s research also shows one third of international attendees willing to travel ten hours to a meeting. From Meetpie.com…
The International Congress and Convention Association has welcomed a record number of members to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. The destination for the 2020 ICCA Congress was also announced as Kaohsiung, in Chinese Taipei. From Association Meetings International…
This report gives an overview of the experience and intentions of exhibitors at trade shows across the world. It aims to give event organisers a deeper understanding of the patterns and trends that drive positive and negative exhibitor experiences and the objectives and behaviours that underlie them. This report has been created in two stages….
The Fall 2017 edition of Meeting Professionals International’s Outlook surveyed planners about their contingency plans for emergencies. 46 percent of respondents said they have specific contingency plans for natural disasters, 45 percent for active shooters, 43 percent for bomb threats, 40 percent for general illness/injury/death, and 31 percent for a cyber attack. From Meetings & Conventions…
Over the past few months, the need to prepare for unexpected eventualities has become increasingly important. Ken Kelling, MPRCA, Associate Director at meetings and events PR firm Davies Tanner, and a featured speaker at PCMA’s recent Knowledge Exchange in London, offers some essential tips for crafting the right message when a crisis unfolds. From PCMA…
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