Five Canadian convention bureaux recently attended London Tech Week’s AI Summit at ExCeL. Their aim was to attract tech-related business events across to their own destinations, along with the inward investment that follows. Among them was Virginie De Visscher, Director of Business Development for Economic Sectors, Business Events Canada (third left). From Association Meetings International…
Elliott L. Ferguson II, President and CEO of Washington DC’s official marketing organisation Destination DC, has been talking “connected capital”, inclusion and positive impact at IMEX in Frankfurt. His themes included which knowledge sectors the district is targeting, the legacies its meetings are leaving in their wake, and issues of diversity. From Boardroom…
As IMEX Frankfurt wraps up for another year, the events industry is already looking foward towards IMEX America this September in Las Vegas. “Imagination” is IMEX’s talking point for the year, and this theme will inform content throughout the meeting, bringing with it exciting new experiences, exhibitors and educational sessions. From Boardroom…
Keith Tan has been the Singapore Tourism Board’s Chief Executive for about half a year. During IMEX he spoke about the city-state’s plans and approaches for continuing to attract international associations and their meetings, which include working alongside Iceberg partners BestCities Global Alliance and Global Association Hubs Partnership. From Boardroom…
A legacy of awareness around visual impairment was created during IMEX in Frankfurt with the holding of a “Dialogue in the Dark” workshop. Hosted by industry association IAPCO, and the business events teams of both Dubai and Melbourne, it all started with a blindfold. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
The head of tourism association Destinations International says his organisation spends a lot of its energy and resources doing battle with politicians around the world on behalf of members facing financial and legislative challenges. CEO Don Welch was speaking out at IMEX about issues like “over-tourism” and womens’ and LGBTQ rights. From Association Meetings International…
At the recent CEO Summit held in London by Iceberg partner UFI, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Saif Saeed Ghobash explained how international business events and exhibitions play a key role in diversifying the emirate’s economy away from petrochemicals. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
A recent trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, including both The Iceberg and its partner Boardroom, revealed a lot about this emerging conference destination. In this second video from the Jalisco state capital we hear discussed two key sectors earmarked for growth – high tech and creative – and the role of events in shaping that legacy. From Boardroom…
Expo 2020 Dubai and its legacy are expected to contribute AED122.6 billion of gross value added to the UAE’s economy from 2013–31, according to the EY report, The Economic Impact of Expo 2020 Dubai. The report states that Expo 2020 is also expected to support up to 905,200 full-time equivalent job-years in the UAE from…
Glasgow is using major medical meetings held in the city as a platform for championing and improving public health. Glasgow Convention Bureau is leading the People Make Glasgow Healthier campaign, launched at IMEX (pictured), with support from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Event Campus, local industry and the city’s academic community. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
A thunderstorm delaying flights failed to deter meetings industry professionals in their thousands from gathering at IMEX in Frankfurt on Tuesday May 21st. Association congress organisers were already in the city having taken part at the ICCA Association Experts Seminar over the weekend and at IMEX Association Day on Monday. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Corne Koch, the head of the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, a division of Wesgro, has been elected Board Chair of the BestCities Global Alliance. Koch made her first appearance in the new position at the BestCities media breakfast at IMEX Frankfurt, and takes over from Jeannie Lim of Singapore. From the Event…
After IMEX 2019 opened in Frankfurt with EduMonday and Association Day (pictured), the Alliance of Brain Cities, a group of four Scandinavian destinations, held a breakfast for twenty international associations. Attendees at the meeting expressed enthusiastic support for choosing second-tier cities for their events, and for destination transparency and sustainability. From Meetings International…
Paris has returned to the top of the ICCA City Rankings in emphatic style, hosting 40 meetings more than second place Vienna as well as knocking Barcelona off the lead. The French capital hosted 212 rotating international association meetings in 2018, up by 22, and was last lead city in 2016. From Association Meetings International…
Expo 2020 Dubai will boost the United Arab Emirates’ economy by AED122.6 billion ($33.4 billion), and will also support 905,200 job-years between 2013 and 2031. So says an independent report from global consultancy EY. During its peak six months the event is predicted to add the equivalent of 1.5 percent to UAE GDP. From Meetings International…
Geoff Donaghy, ICC Sydney CEO, AEG Ogden Director Convention Centres and Iceberg Ambassador, just joined a panel at IMEX Frankfurt on placemaking (pictured). Here he discusses how an event precinct can sit at the heart of any destination’s placemaking strategy to drive its economic, cultural and social growth. From Geoff Donaghy via LinkedIn…
At IMEX Frankfurt last week the usual sector promotion and celebration was clearly on display. Concern about the industry’s future, though, was also common in discussion, particularly on sustainability and the health of group bookings overall. The former has become an area of increasing focus, with the aim of reducing future political risk. From Skift…
Matthias Schultze, the Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau, is adamant that meetings and events’ environmental impact on the world needs to be addressed in their design. Here he discusses Germany’s approach to sustainability and findings on its importance in GCB’s Meeting & Event Barometer. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Harrogate Convention Centre in Yorkshire has hosted more than 320 suppliers from UK and Ireland at the ExploreGB event, together with at least 250 international organisations from 31 countries. Peter Dodd, the Commercial Director of Welcome to Yorkshire, offers a north of England events perspective. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Business and professional events are key to economic and social transformation. South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, confirmed as much at Meetings Africa 2019, held recently in Sandton, Johannesburg. Minister Hanekom acknowledged the contribution to tourism numbers from business events but emphasised that the legacies of events in healthcare and economic development were where…
Organisers have unveiled a sneak peek of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, set to host the six-month-long World Expo 2020 from October next year. Other legacy constructions that were built for the sole purpose of hosting the World Expo include Paris’ Eiffel Tower, London’s Crystal Palace and Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building. From Association Meetings International…
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