This inaugural, invite-only business and professional events Global Policy Forum is a collaborative initiative between ECA, UFI – the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, and MAD Event Management. The focus will be on key public policy issues shaping events around the world, including: sustainability; talent; and international travel and commerce. From ECA…
SHOP is ETOA and CityDNA’s new B2B event focused on driving demand beyond the high season. Designed for destinations and suppliers seeking to grow business outside traditional peak months, SHOP unites industry professionals committed to building a more balanced, sustainable tourism economy. As travel patterns evolve, extending the season and diversifying itineraries has never been…
Produced by Northstar Meetings Group and its flagship SportsTravel media brand, TEAMS Europe brings together the leaders who are shaping the future of sports tourism: Hosted event organisers from international sports federations, professional and semi-professional leagues, mass participation events, youth sports, and esports. Destinations, venues, hoteliers, and industry suppliers eager to grow their share of…
Northstar Meetings Group’s Luxury & Wellness Meetings event connects North American planners seeking luxury or wellness-focused venues for their meetings or incentives. Those selected to attend will participate in: Two productive days of pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings with suppliers; Insightful educational presentations from inspiring speakers; Great meals, receptions, and numerous networking opportunities with other elite buyers
IPEC, for independent planners, offers a unique chance to explore new venues and destinations; engage in peer-to-peer learning in a collaborative, non-competitive environment; and gain education tailored to you as a business owner and entrepreneur. All qualified buyers will be fully hosted by Northstar Meetings Group for two productive days of prescheduled meetings with key…
Destination Mexico and Latin America — Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event — brings together the most highly qualified meeting and incentive buyers from North America with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the region. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers…
The SportsTravel Leadership Summit is a new kind of industry gathering—an exclusive event for senior leaders in sports-related travel. Modeled after the world’s most prestigious leadership summits, it is designed to foster unstructured, high-value networking in an environment that inspires connection, trust, and new partnerships. Set against the backdrop of the legendary, newly renovated Hotel…
The VISIT USA Act, introduced in Congress today, would restore critical funding to Brand USA—America’s destination marketing organization as the nation prepares to host a decade of global events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Summer Olympics, providing resources to promote the United States abroad, attract international visitors…
From Northstar Meetings Group: Airlines are optimistic they can resume normal operations just a few days after the government lifts its order to cut flights at 40 busy airports, but it’s not clear how soon that will happen even though the federal shutdown is over. The Federal Aviation Administration did announce Wednesday night that airlines…
From TSNN: ECA’s Tommy Goodwin explains what’s at stake as SCOTUS hears arguments in two tariff cases on November 5 and why it matters to the trade show industry: Since January 20, the White House has been ground zero for tariff policy changes negatively impacting the trade show industry. In the coming days, the focus…
Nearly 90 senior executives and thought leaders gathered in Washington, DC for the new gathering, designed to bring together the most influential voices in corporate travel management. The event offered a platform where Travel Management Companies, suppliers and buyers could exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and explore the evolving business case for managed travel. From TravelPulse…
Flight disruptions are intensifying in the U.S. as some 13,000 air-traffic controllers continue working without pay amid the federal shutdown. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said staffing has reached the lowest point in decades, and many controllers are working six days a week without pay during the government shutdown. From Northstar…
Erik Hansen, a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Travel Association, has been named senior VP, head of government relations. He will lead the association’s advocacy on travel policies, including infrastructure, border management, and traveler programs, as the U.S. prepares for events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics. From U.S. Travel Association…
From TSNN: A newly authorized $250 Visa Integrity Fee could reshape the cost — and feasibility — of attending trade shows and exhibitions in the U.S. Though slated to take effect October 1, 2025, the fee remains in bureaucratic limbo. No one’s paying it yet, but many are bracing for impact.
For the first time in 20 years, the United States is no longer ranked amongst the world’s Top 10 most powerful passports. Once unrivalled at No.1 in 2014, the American passport has now slumped to 12th place, tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to only 180 of 227 destinations worldwide. From Henley & Partners…
Business Events advocacy veteran Rod Cameron eloquently sets out the arguments why our sector shouldn’t let the “overtourism crisis” go to waste. Business, professional and scientific events need to be clearly differentiated from leisure tourism, when communicating with the public as well as with policymakers, and now is the perfect time to do this: There…
Hundreds of thousands of government employees are on furlough, while others—such as security guards and air traffic controllers—are working without pay. And in the midst of this standstill, IMEX America, the largest trade fair for the global meetings, events, and incentive travel industry, opens today in Las Vegas. From tw weekly…
The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) unveiled the 2025 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) at IMEX America. Produced with research partner Oxford Economics, the eighth edition offers a panoramic global view of incentive travel today and tomorrow, based on insights from 2,700 professionals across 85 countries.
The 2025 GDS-Index Report marks a decade of progress as destinations worldwide accelerate climate action and sustainability efforts, and reveals a 31% increase in average performance across all participating destinations since the programme began. This year’s theme, Shifting Tides, reflects a period of global transition during which destinations demonstrate remarkable resilience and accelerated action.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) welcomes the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which aims to generate A$91 billion in annual visitor spending and 150,000 new jobs by 2035. Developed with input from over 500 stakeholders, the strategy emphasises “Drive Growth Through Events.” BESydney has already secured 66 upcoming events, bringing 46,000 delegates, 174,000 delegate days,…
James Lancaster, Editorial Director at Northstar Meetings Group, highlights how stricter immigration policies are increasingly affecting international conferences. Visa denials, particularly for delegates from the Global South, limit participation and make global collaboration more difficult, raising questions about inclusivity and the ability to address shared challenges effectively.
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