Carina Bauer, the CEO of Iceberg partner the IMEX Group, has been looking at four very positive industry trends for 2020 and beyond with her team: the “circular” economy, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, health and wellbeing (with increased focus on mental health), and how artificial intelligence can improve travel. From IMEX…
A lot has happened over the past year. Amidst all the political, social and technological goings-on, you may have missed big shifts in event design and experience strategy. The Design Studio™ of Iceberg partner Maritz Global Events just convened to discuss observations from 2019 and prognostications for 2020. From Maritz Global Events…
Meeting venues are facing increasing event acquisition, property and staff costs and competition from new venues. Planners are having to reconcile rising venue and travel costs with their flat budgets. Both groups are embracing technology in solving these challenges. Carl Law is a Development Manager at Capita Travel and Events. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Most conferences focus on success stories and those leaders who have chosen the right path with positive results. But real learning also comes when you talk about what didn’t go right. That’s the philosophy behind meetings known as “Fail Festivals”, which celebrate lessons emerging over shared “Fail Tales”. From PCMA…
Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, has been speaking about the emirate’s Economic Vision 2030, and the part played in it by business events. New infrastructure includes Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company’s The Hive, and its 80-seat auditorium The Collaboratorium. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The IBTM World Trends Watch Report by Rob Davidson and Ali Turner is an insightful compendium of data that crosses business, industries, economies and geographies within the global meetings and events industry. The IBTM World Trends Watch Report 2019 (IBTM World website) Virtual Experience Economy Set to Grow, Says IBTM Trends Watch Report (Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Monaco’s meetings industry goes from strength to strength with a rise of 5.4 percent in business events during 2019. The principality has focused on continually improving services in the sector, which makes up 25 percent of the economy. The growth is also thanks to the Grimaldi Forum, which is set to be extended. From Boardroom…
During 2019, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre successfully attracted ten major international events due to be held in Malaysia between 2020 and 2025. These meetings, from the energy, medical and education sectors, are expected to be attended by more than 17,300 participants. The venue’s recent expansion contributed to its wins. From Boardroom…
Toronto’s Leaders Circle has just honoured thirteen local experts, from fields including atomic physics and human rights, for their role in bringing international meetings to the Canadian city. Together these experts helped to secure eight major events that will leave lasting legacies in Toronto and Ontario. From Boardroom…
Silicon Valley start-up “wordly”, which uses voice recognition and artificial intelligence to translate between 15 languages, has won the Iceberg partner IBTM World’s Tech Watch Award. The interpretation app was praised by judges for helping event planners reduce costs by eliminating the need to hire translators in sound-proof booths. From Association Meetings International…
The virtual experience economy is set for big growth, according to the annual IBTM World Trends Watch Report. The complete study, which analyses the future of the events industry, was compiled using over 25 existing data sources and was unveiled on the first day of Iceberg partner IBTM World in Barcelona. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Marketing Cheshire’s “Brilliant Science” programme has helped it win the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology September 2020 40th anniversary event. “Brilliant Science” makes the most of the region’s scientific heritage and links, to develop the North West as a hub for international association congresses. From Association Meetings International…
Opening in 2021, Macau’s Galaxy International Convention Centre is aiming for the title of Asia’s most technologically advanced venue. Galaxy’s Director of Operations Development, Scott Kreeger, has been speaking about the facility at IBTM World in Barcelona, and says incentives will be one of its core markets. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Riga’s lead in 5G has made it a fitting hub to host a meeting setting Europe’s agenda on the technology. The Latvian capital is about to stage the 5G Techritory Forum, the 2nd Baltic Sea Region 5G Ecosystem Forum. The invitation-only event is expected to attract some 1,000 innovators, legislators and investors. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
The impact of the meetings, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) industry on the Canadian economy has always been significant, relating to short-term delegate expenditure and long-term job growth and economic development. These types of business events are also an ideal way to counteract seasonality because international business events take place throughout the year, ensuring a…
Adelaide will host the 2023 World Potato Congress, the first time the biennial meeting has been held in Australia. The winning bid was led by the Adelaide Convention Bureau and Potatoes South Australia, which won over the WPC board with the idea of a WPC Trust supporting developing nations R&D. From Association Meetings International…
The Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism has just staged the Hangzhou – Leading Innovation for Future Conferences event, highlighting city strengths as a destination for “new economy” conferences. The event included a destination success presentation from Paul Vallee, Managing Director of Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance. From Boardroom…
The Association of Independent Festivals has just returned to the city of Sheffield for its annual Festival Congress. The two-day meeting is claiming to be the first travel carbon neutral events industry conference. Organisers have worked with Energy Revolution to balance emissions with investment in projects creating clean and renewable power. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
With almost 1,000 senior meetings professionals and association event planners from 75 countries coming to Houston, Texas, the recent 58th Congress of Iceberg partner ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, was the largest ever held in North America. The event is one of the industry calendar’s most significant. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Business Events Luxembourg was created at the end of 2018 by the Ministry of the Economy of the Grand Duchy and the City of Luxembourg. It is the convention bureau for a destination striving to attract meetings in the government defined key sectors for economic growth: automobility, ICT, space, cleantech and life sciences. From Boardroom…
Florian Gerdes is Marketing Manager Conventions at HCB, the Hamburg Convention Bureau. He describes here HCB’s approach to subvention during low demand, the relationship Hamburg has with UK, what the city has to offer the planners organising within prioritised knowledge sectors, its competition with Berlin and its recent secured bid wins. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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