A Riyadh investment conference, dubbed the “Davos in the desert”, kicked off amid huge controversy surrounding the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Dozens of business leaders and politicians pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative following the mounting speculation over the Saudi Arabian government’s role in the journalist’s consulate murder. From Meetpie.com…
Conservative Members of Parliament in the UK have had personal details revealed by the official mobile app of their party conference. Users found they were able to access MP’s information simply by entering email addresses with no password. Within minutes of the flaw’s discovery, app accounts were already being hacked. From Meetpie.com…
Security at the Prague Congress Centre has been put to the test during the largest anti-terrorist exercise ever held in the Czech Republic. 70 armed “terrorists” invaded a musical performance in the presence of 2,000 visitors who were freed by the intervention of elite units of the Czech police. From Association Meetings International…
While Hurricane Florence didn’t touch down in Charleston, the destination estimates it took a $63 million hit as a result of cancelled events. Some organisers postponed early to avoid potential issues, others tried to move forward right up until the governor issued the call for mandatory evacuation. Some groups even turned events virtual. From PCMA Convene…
Where meetings and events choose to go, and how they approach their content, are affected by many factors, not least the influence of political disruptors like Brexit or the 2016 US presidential election. So says Rod Cameron, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg. From CIM News Magazine…
A no-deal Brexit could be disastrous for Europeans in the events and hospitality industry, according to the UK’s Immigration Advice Service. It says the sector faces a shortfall of up to 60,000 workers if Great Britain crashes out of Europe without a deal. But any weakness in sterling could counteract some of the uncertainties. From Meetypie.com…
As Hurricane Florence barrelled down on the Carolinas, the Water Quality Association converted its face-to-face Mid-Year Leadership Conference, planned to take place in Hilton Head, South Carolina, into a virtual event. Water quality sector professionals were able to watch presentations and take part in board, committee, task force and section meetings on their laptops. From PCMA…
Several events were cancelled at convention centres expected to be impacted by Hurricane Florence as the storm approached landfall. The National Rifle Association called off the second NRA Carry Guard Expo scheduled at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Other venues that cancelled events include the Raleigh Convention Center in North Carolina. From TSNN…
Cybersecurity is among the top threats facing businesses and governments in 2018. What you might not realize, though, is that it can impact consumers not only at voting booths and cash registers, but also at meetings and events. Cybersecurity expert Rebecca Herold explains how to protect yourself from the threat. From Successful Meetings…
A recent report from the IMEX Policy Forum 2018 (see Research) outlines three areas of concern raised during the event by Gloria Guevara Manzo, the World Tourism and Travel Council President and CEO (pictured at IMEX with Group Chairman Ray Bloom). Her three concerns were: security and safety, crisis preparation and sustainability. From PCMA Convene…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. When the US Supreme Court recently upheld Trump Travel Ban III, Vancouver quickly tweeted out a welcome mat. But here’s a tale of two cities, New York and San Francisco, that insist the US is still open for business. From PCMA Convene…
Simple meetings – those smaller, replicable gatherings with basic requirements – make up about half of corporate meetings globally. But 52 percent of them are being booked through unmanaged channels according to research from the Global Business Travel Association. This can end up costing companies money, attendee satisfaction and duty-of-care compliance. From Meetings & Conventions…
The past month has revealed the turmoil the United Kingdom is in over the manner of its departure from the European Union. But might the UK exhibition sector provide some palliative relief from Brexit uncertainties? The sector’s global association takes a look at VisitBritain, along with the recent Farnborough International Airshow, for answers. From UFI…
With an ever-increasing focus on the environment and growing demand for sustainable practice, green event and conference planning is now an established trend within the global meetings industry. Here are six areas to consider for a greener approach: the venue, carbon offsetting, the accommodation, the catering, technology and lighting, and the materials used. From the Event…
How not to punch your own event in the face #472. The comics community has hit back at New York Comic Con and its organiser ReedPOP after noted professionals found out that their pro badge applications had been rejected. The mess was caused by a simple Excel spreadsheet sorting glitch. From The Beat…
Although it may seem dramatic, the eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has had little effect on meetings or incentives, the Big Island’s hotels and resorts being on the other side of the island. Meet Hawaii has said that there’s no need to change plans to visit the archipelago’s islands. Photo: Brocken Inaglory. From Successful Meetings…
Nine industry organisations, including partners of The Iceberg, have formed a coalition to combat sexual harassment. The partnership includes the American Society of Association Executives, the Events Industry Council, the IMEX Group, the Joint Meetings Industry Council, Meeting Professionals International, the Professional Convention Management Association, and the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence. From Meetings & Conventions…
The last minute cancellation of an academic conference in 2012 due to an approaching hurricane caused a sizeable decline in collaboration and research, a study from the University of Kent has shown. Two days before the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting was due to begin in New Orleans, Hurricane Isaac forced cancellation. From Meetpie.com…
Jeff Chase is Vice President of Sustainability at Freeman and the PCMA Education Foundation’s 2018 Community Advocate of the Year. He’s a fierce champion of lowering the amount of waste major events send to landfill and getting the sector committed to recycling. Green-minded clients now make up $400 million of Freeman’s business. From PCMA…
Istanbul’s standing as a destination for international association meetings is in tatters, with ICCA’s city rankings suggesting that its popularity for conferences has collapsed. For years the city proudly occupied a top ten position. Because of terrorism and other political turmoil, it dropped first to 39th place, and this year to 133rd. From Association Meetings International…
Despite being a coastal city, Cape Town is fighting the worst drought in its history and has come close to actually running out of water. But even before the problem turned critical, water-related conferences were identifying opportunities for creating legacies in the destination. “Never waste a good crisis” has become the apt motto. From Boardroom…
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