AMI Editor James Lancaster re-ignites the ever-contentious debate about whether there are too many business events industry associations, which he argues has lead to an even greater number of less-than-effective partnerships and joint advocacy initiatives. Are we suffering from too much “talk-the-talk” and not enough “walk-the-walk”!
From AMI: An international association of family doctors whose conference led to a string of initiatives to improve healthcare in rural areas has won $20,000 for its efforts. WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) scooped the 2025 Incredible Impacts Award, run by ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance, presented during the 64th ICCA Congress in Porto,…
Slovakia’s two largest cities, Bratislava and Košice, are taking advantage of their networks of universities, research institutes, innovation centres and start-up clusters serving Automotive, IT, Energy, Life Sciences and Creative industries, to carefully target international events that will gain from interacting with these local centres of intellectual excellence. From AMI…
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.
From AMI: The Meetings Show 2025 brought together almost 6,000 event professionals – including hundreds from associations – for meaningful meetings, enlightening education and collaborative conversations. More than 16,000 meetings took place between buyers and exhibitors over two days at Excel London on 25-26 June, with more than 9,000 of the meetings pre-scheduled, generating game-changing…
From AMI: The UK’s ambition to become a world-leading destination for international business events has been dealt a significant setback following a 41 per cent cut in funding to VisitBritain from the government’s GREAT programme. The announcement, made on 1 April, will see VisitBritain’s ‘GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland’ destination promotion programme budget cut from…
From AMI: In a major win for New Zealand’s rural health community, Wellington has been selected to host the 21st World Rural Health Conference (Rural WONCA) in 2026, bringing international attention to the urgent health needs of non-urban populations and the work being done to address them. Led by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, with…
From AMI: The winds have shifted and optimism has decreased, as a majority of planners say their meetings have been impacted by the new presidential administration. In the latest Meetings Industry PULSE Survey, coproduced and sponsored by Cvent, planner sentiment is clearly shifting. Most planners are less optimistic than they were two months ago, and…
From AMI: Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of Business Events Sydney, and Gary Grimmer, chair of GainingEdge, have been recognised with the inaugural Iceberg Excellence Awards for Advocacy of the Business & Professional Events Sector. Presented at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Exhibition (AIME) Leaders Forum, the awards celebrate their outstanding contributions to repositioning…
The Meeting Room Podcast, by Northstar: What’s next for DEI now Trump is back in the White House? Will 2025 be the year AI comes of age? Who’s getting a budget increase and who’s missing out? Join Holly Patrick and James Lancaster as they discuss what 2025 has in store for event professionals.
From AMI: AC Forum, the association for association executives, has become the latest signatory of Net Zero Carbon Events, the meeting industry’s attempt to eliminate its emissions by 2050. The Brussels-based organisation, which has almost 50 members – most belonging to the field of medicine – signed the NCZE pledge at the start of its…
From AMI, by William Austin, Professor in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews: Mangroves are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. They store carbon from the atmosphere and act as a buffer from tropical storms and coastal erosion, so mangroves are crucial to building climate resilience. More…
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