New York’s Javits Center has been put to use in crises before. It was a command and control base for the Federal Emergency Management Agency after 9/11, and in 2012 also had minor government operations running after Hurricane Sandy. But the venue has never been used as a hospital until now. From PCMA…
Expo 2020 Dubai is almost certain to be postponed. Organisers said they wanted to show “solidarity” with the participating countries now fighting coronavirus. The event is likely to be put back a year, but a final decision should be made in June. Expo 2020 was hoping to attract eleven million visitors. From Association Meetings International…
COVID-19 has certainly decimated many meetings industry suppliers. But one Greater Seattle company has followed the lead of many big convention venues in repackaging its product to serve medical need. Alexander Party Rentals was hiring out large tents for conventions and special events. Now the business is in disaster response. From PCMA…
A major meeting of blood doctors will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 crisis. The 28th Congress of ISTH (the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) was scheduled to take place in Milan this July. The USA-based association’s event typically draws over 3,000 delegates to the meeting. From Association Meetings International…
ExCeL London has become an emergency hospital, called NHS Nightingale, with the conference and exhibition centre being put into service to treat the expected surge in coronavirus patients. Other UK venues are also being prepared as ancillary hospitals: Birmingham’s NEC, Manchester Central and Glasgow’s SEC Centre. From Association Meetings International…
After the cancellation of the major industry meeting IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer has been reassuring the sector that her company is “full steam ahead” for IMEX America in September. The Iceberg partner also discussed how staff are working remotely, and what is being learnt in that process. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Under Australian restrictions on big gatherings during the coronavirus crisis, the organisers of technology conference QODE Brisbane chose to partner with YouTube and stream their event live around the world. In what is believed to be an Australian first, attendees were also able to visit exhibitor booths using virtual reality. From Boardroom…
German trade fairs have already been hit hard by COVID-19 crisis cancellations and postponements. Organisers and service providers are already suffering significant financial losses. AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, has now forecast a total loss to the German economy of around three billion euros. From UFI…
No kind of event is immune from the devastation coronavirus is causing. After weeks of speculation and amid mounting criticism, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President of the IOC Thomas Bach both agreed to reschedule the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021, the first break in four-year cycle since World War II. From Reuters…
Emergency hospital beds to serve a total of 1,200 patients have now all been installed in New York City at the Javits Convention Center. The units built across the main exhibition floor were constructed to relieve the pressure on New York City hospitals overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. Venues elsewhere are also being readied. From PCMA…
Coronavirus event cancellations are wiping AU$2.5bn off the Australian economy every month. So say new figures from a major industry body. Shutting down large gatherings has effectively shut down the country’s meetings sector, with devastating results, according to the Business Events Council of Australia. From Association Meetings International…
Iceberg partner UFI has updated its earlier economic impact assessment of international exhibitions and trade shows due to the coronavirus crisis. At least €134 billion ($145 billion) of contracts have not concluded with shows not taking place as planned through Q2. The industry economic output in total is down €81.6 billion ($88.2 billion). From UFI…
In the wake of so many meetings cancelling due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the resultant economic losses, the Founder of The Iceberg James Latham has been discussing how event organisers are reacting, and why the sector could be leading the charge when business does start to return to normal. From Duetto…
The Australian Federal Government shut down all non-essential indoor events for over one hundred people on March 18th (then for more than two people on March 29th). Event venues like ICC Sydney no longer are able to deliver events. This is an unprecedented situation, says CEO Geoff Donaghy. From Boardroom…
The coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge ever faced by the events industry. Get ready for business as extremely unusual. In an editorial posted before the United Kingdom locked down, one Iceberg partner promised the UK meetings industry “to amplify its voice at every turn”. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Meeting planners should be working with hospitality partners to donate leftover food from events cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis or for any other reason. The non-profit Food Rescue US works in seventeen of the fifty United States, facilitating the logistics of meetings donating their excess food. From PCMA…
The President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, has addressed on video the disruption of meetings, events and exhibitions worldwide caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Kai Hattendorf called upon all industry members to actively support measures to help restore and build confidence in event participation including: Making sure policies and procedures…
A resource from Iceberg partners AIPC (the International Association of Convention Centres) and UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) for venues addressing the challenges related to COVID-19. The guide focusses on updated health and safety policies, plans and procedures. It includes both strategic and practical guidance in form of advice, suggestions and best…
The European Exhibition Industry Alliance, representing nearly 400 European exhibition organisers and venue operators in Brussels to the European institutions and wider stakeholders, has welcomed recent economic support measures for the industry the European Commission has announced in the wake of COVID-19. From Exhibition World…
The owner of Scandinavia’s largest convention centre is making 350 people redundant due to “a brutal slowdown” caused by the COVID-19 crisis. BC Hospitality Group, which runs the Bella Center Copenhagen, as well as the Comwell Conference Center and several hotels, has not said where the cuts will fall. From Association Meetings International…
Iceberg partner UFI has released the first economic impact assessment on global exhibitions and trade shows of COVID-19. At least €23 billion ($26.3 billion) total worth of contracts have not concluded with shows not taking place as planned. The industry’s economic output in total is down €14.4 billion ($16.5 billion). From UFI…
Powered by 
