The European Society of Cardiology has said that its ESC Congress, the world’s largest gathering of heart specialists, will be back at ExCeL London in 2024. The society ran its 2015 event at the venue, bringing in more than 32,700 participants from 140 countries, and leaving a legacy of public involvement. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The GSM Association intends to welcome 50,000 attendees on site to Barcelona during Mobile World Congress at the end of June, plus many more digitally for the entirely hybrid event. The show welcomed over 100,000 visitors in 2019. Every physical attendee will need to give a negative COVID-19 test every three days. From Conference News…
The key role that conference ambassadors can play in a city’s fortunes has been highlighted by Dubai Business Events securing several international association events last year. The World Marinas Conference 2021, World Congress of Direct Selling 2023 and World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems 2024 were all secured by ambassadors. From Association Meetings International…
The World Congress on Railway Research will be taking place at ICC Birmingham, following a global bid process. On behalf of the UK’s rail industry, the RSSB and the University of Birmingham will jointly stage the meeting in June 2022. Birmingham is a key hub across both current and forthcoming railway networks. From Conference News…
Glasgow says it has secured 28 new conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are expected to bring in around 36,000 delegates. The events, all won since last April, could be worth £84 million to the city. Glasgow Convention Bureau worked jointly on the bids with the destination’s academic conference ambassadors. From Association Meetings International…
As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere, there is a growing sense of hope. Some destination marketing organisations (DMOs) have been able to continue their association conference business through the pandemic. But others have faced severe budget cuts, as Sarah Fleming, the owner of Sarah Fleming Associates, explains. From Association Meetings International…
The UK government has announced a timeline for reopening business events, with all sizes of meetings able to run from June 21st. But according to Meetings Industry Association Chief Executive Jane Longhurst, UK event professionals need to manage their expectations around the certainty of the date and the necessary conditions for it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The impact of the pandemic on Australia’s business events is well documented. The Business Council of Australia has reported a loss of AU$35 billion in direct expenditure for Australia’s economy and over 230,000 jobs affected. But what about the country’s knowledge economy, asks ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy? From Meetings International…
Proclaiming the industry is sick of virtual events, Group Chairman and Founder of Iceberg partner IMEX Ray Bloom has reaffirmed the signature trade show IMEX America will take place as scheduled this November. His confidence in the event makes welcome reading for all industry professionals eager to speed up recovery after COVID-19. From TSNN…
The trends expert and conference speaker Daniel Levine sees the near future of live events as “nothing less than spectacular”. For special events company owner Kevin Molesworth the picture is not quite so rosy and the sector has to be more realistic. The two have unique and rather different perspectives. From PCMA…
Confidence about recovery is revealed in Iceberg partner UFI’s latest Global Exhibition Barometer (see News and Research). But should rebuilding rely solely on rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, or also on advocacy that events can run safely and on “testing over quarantine”. UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf has been planning the months ahead. From Event MB…
This autumn the Global Forum of Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance returns in Madrid. Other major congresses are also heading to the Spanish capital, including World Blindness Summit, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and the Spanish Society of Stomatological Prosthesis. All are committed to leaving legacies. From BestCities Global Alliance…
The Dutch government is to expand its support package for jobs and the economy with a raft of measures including plans for a €300 million guarantee fund for events. While vaccinations are underway in the Netherlands, businesses continue to suffer during the economic crisis with the country in lockdown. From Conference & Meetings World…
Confidence among exhibition organisers that profits will double this year has been revealed in the latest UFI Global Barometer survey of 457 companies. The exhibition organisers’ association and Iceberg partner reported said that though over half of members have had to reduce workforce, the crisis has reinforced faith in face-to-face events. From Meetings International…
Iceberg partner AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) has cancelled its 2021 show, scheduled to run at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and online in March, due to the pandemic. The challenges of both domestic and international travel restrictions weighed against healthy interest from exhibitors and buyers. From Meetings International…
The Scottish government is to provide further funding for its events industry as part of a new £104.3 million package split into nine separate funds. These include a Pivotal Event Businesses Fund and wider Event Industry Support Fund. Businesses can apply even if they have drawn on previous funding. From Conference & Meetings World…
The Austria Center Vienna is the nation’s largest COVID-19 testing facility. Over two weeks before the holiday break, around 113,000 rapid tests were conducted at the venue. Heavy demand meant increasing the number of testing lanes (both walk-in and drive-in), with up to twenty now available. From Conference & Meetings World…
Organisers hosting their meetings in Vienna through 2021 and 2022 will be covered by Austria’s government if there are COVID cancellations or restrictions. The protective umbrella has been welcomed by the Vienna Convention Bureau. Other markets either have similar schemes or else are campaigning for them. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
PCMA’s Convening Leaders has been held as a global showcase of business events. Houston in Texas had initially been chosen to host, but the pandemic meant that PCMA connected delegates mainly via the Marina Bay Sands Global Broadcast Center in Singapore. The content was constructed around “Recovery Discovery”. From Conference & Meetings World…
IMEX Frankfurt 2021, due to have been held at Messe Frankfurt this May, has been cancelled. The news follows the cancellation last year of IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America. Iceberg partner IMEX Group said the industry’s resurgence would arrive too late to organise a successful show. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Two of Copenhagen’s largest event venues, Bella Center Copenhagen and Øksnehallen, have opened as vaccination centres. The pair make up two of five major vaccination centres in the Copenhagen City Region. Both venues also acted as COVID-19 test facilities and Bella Center still offers drive-in tests with no prior booking required. From Conference & Meetings World…
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