Jeannie Lim, Executive Director of Conventions, Meetings and Incentive Travel at the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, has been elected Board Chair of BestCities Global Alliance. BestCities is currently planning its third annual Global Forum taking place in Bogotá this December, and the second running of “Incredible Impacts” in partnership with ICCA. From Association Meetings International…
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…
Barcelona hosted more international association meetings than any other city last year, according to statistics from the International Congress and Convention Association. There is a familiar look to the top five of ICCA’s city rankings, but the Catalonian capital has claimed the headline spot for the first time since 2004. From Association Meetings International…
According to International Congress and Convention Association statistics, the Middle East has been the fastest growing region for hosting international association meetings, even starting from a low base. ICCA has pointed to an eighty percent growth in the engagement of its own Middle East membership as proof. From Association Meetings International…
In 2016 Turkey’s largest city Istanbul claimed eighth spot in ICCA’s much-trumpeted city rankings. Today it is in 133rd place. Over the past 24 months the city has suffered deadly terrorist attacks, a failed coup, and a series of purges against its citizens, including teachers, journalists and lawyers. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
Seasoned meetings industry veterans always take pleasure in discovering any destination unfairly overlooked. For one Iceberg partner a new find is the Swedish seaport of Gothenburg. Hotel Svenska Massan / Gothia Towers recently held a centenary event for customers from all over Europe “that combined intelligence with stardust”. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
With a network of eight major association destinations, the Hauts-de-France region definitely plays alongside the big champions of the meetings industry. It is also now committed to an ambitious and innovative policy: the Third Industrial Revolution, a concept right at the meeting point of energy transition, digital transformation and new economic models. From Boardroom…
Even before the leaders of North and South Korea shook hands over the Demilitarized Zone border, plans were already being made for a possible meeting between Kim Jong-un and US President Trump. Is this political coup the legacy of an event: the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
WTM Africa 2018, the continent’s most highly-anticipated travel trade show, has taken place in Cape Town with a record number of exhibitors. The event is a major business facilitator for the region. Content included the new WTM Africa Festivals, the role of women in tourism, and the potential of the local meetings sector. From the Event…
Blackpool saw the biggest growth in UK overnight business travel in 2017, with 55 percent more room nights than in 2016. The upsurge comes ahead of the town’s new £25 million conference and exhibition centre, set to open in 2019. According to new research there is significant growth also from Peterborough, Preston and Bradford. From Meetpie.com…
Proposed Trump administration legislation, if approved next month, will require most US visa applicants to relinquish all their social media identities from the previous five years. Convention bureaux across the country have already reacted, but what will the move mean for visiting international delegates? From editor’s blog at Assocation Meetings International…
Convention bureaux in the US have responded to proposals by the Trump administration that would require most visa applicants to submit details of their social media accounts. Under strict new vetting procedures, details of accounts held in the last five years on sites like Twitter and Facebook would be required. From Meetpie.com…
Destination websites and industry trade shows are the key sources for North American planners in meeting and event site selection, according to a new report from analytics firm STR. Three-quarters of the planners also turned to an industry trade publication in 2017, and 19 percent had attended the most recent IMEX industry conference. From Meetings & Conventions…
The total spend by international convention delegates coming to New Zealand rose 17 per cent from 2017 to 2016, despite a drop in total delegate spend from NZ$588 million to NZ$506 million. The Convention Delegate Survey from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment shows that international events are a major growth sector. From CIM News Magazine…
This year, CMI is partnering with Destinations International to bring together leading industry professionals to share learnings about the LGBTQ market; these are the people behind the success stories. Designed for marketing and sales executives of tourism boards, CVBs and DMOs (we also welcome accommodations, tour operators, travel suppliers, events, agencies, and meeting and wedding professionals!). Topics include:…
The Faroe Islands are in the North Atlantic Ocean above Scotland. They belong to Denmark but are semi-autonomous. They also have a meetings industry and are seeking to attract international congresses. Visit Faroe Islands even has an Ambassador Network, with an Ambassador Day and Ambassador Awards, to do just that. From tmf dialogue marketing…
Cape Town is to bid for more incentive travel business over the next twelve months, as it sends out the message that the region is still open for business. The city is currently suffering one of the worst droughts in its history, and could actually even run out of water. From Meetpie.com…
Building on the success of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Korea Tourism Organisation is organising a series of roadshows across Europe and America to promote South Korea as a conference and meeting destination. Vienna, Brussels, New York, Washington and London are on the itinerary, and several of Korea’s convention bureaux are exhibiting. From Association Meetings International…
Have a look Pacific World’s Destination Index, a unique tool to provide corporate, association and agency planners with an advanced indicator of destination popularity for international meetings, incentives and events. The index is based on over 5,000 international enquiries received worldwide, actual meeting and event results and highly valuable feedback from attending delegates from around…
Puerto Rico has worked hard to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria last year. But its comeback is far from over. In January, the governor submitted a troubling forecast: an eleven percent contraction for the economy and an eight percent population drop for next year. Can business events ensure a brighter future? From PCMA…
A partner of The Iceberg, tmf dialogue marketing has also been looking at issues surrounding legacy. From ambassador programmes, to the way Qatar is becoming a knowledge economy to ease dependence on fossil fuels, to the idea of sponsoring speakers to give talks to the destination community, this is what it has found. From tmf dialogue marketing…
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