From Meetings International: A major boost for Kenya’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, President William Ruto on 15 December 2025 approved the operationalisation of the National Convention Bureau during a Cabinet meeting at State House – marking its re-establishment after being disbanded three years ago due to funding constraints.
Gustav Källstrand has for many years hosted the Nobel Prize Museum’s podcast, in which numerous Nobel laureates emphasise the importance of community, collaboration and of course international meetings in the evolution of truly revolutionary ideas. This wide-ranging essay explores the mindsets of these top thinkers and the environments in which their successful breakthroughs are possible.
Atti Soenarso argues that behind every breakthrough in physiology or medicine, chemistry or physics, literature and peace, lies not just genius but conversation, debate and collaboration, often in the corridors of meeting venues: Every December, the Nobel Prize award ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway, remind the world that brilliance rarely blooms in solitude…
From Meetings International: The German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO have announced the launch of their new Research Centre for Future Meeting Studies (RCFMS). The Research Centre builds on and continues the work of the “Future Meeting Space” innovation network, which was initiated by the two organisations back in…
Many cities, states and countries have not yet set up dedicated convention bureaux. For these destinations, Maharashtra (the State containing economic powerhouse Mumbai) is an excellent case study on how to incorporate political and economic development priorities into the structure and objectives of a new bureau. From Meetings International…
Botswana’s ambitious plans to diversify from the industry that has defined its economy – mining gemstones – and to embrace a future with business events as a key tool to drive economic diversification. Keitumetse Setlang, CEO, Botswana Tourism Organisation (pictured) says, “Botswana has strong potential to become a premier destination for the business events industry…
Meetings International’s Roger Kellerman laments the failure of so many countries’ national governments to adopt transformative event strategies, and suggests a few actions the events sector can take to help solve this problem: If a country creates a strategy for events and major sports championships, only to never actually implement it, this inverted power move…
Industry guru Gary Grimmer on the need for a new acronym to effectively communicate the true USP of business and professional events: Leveraging International Networks and Knowledge. From Meetings International: Over the years, it has been common to hear association leaders, meeting planners, and people from convention bureaux, venues, and PCOs say that collectively, we…
This Meetings International report is packed with thought-leadership articles on issues such as using Futurist techniques, implementing augmented analytics, the future role within Business Events strategies for Science Parks and Business Incubators, restating our industry’s value proposition via a catchy(?) new acronym, and how destinations are using events to reinvent their branding and market competitiveness.
From Meetings International, an illustration of the growing, and vital, role of international association conferences as platforms for overcoming dis- and misinformation. Face-to-face events led by experts in specialised fields are uniquely positioned to provide this essential public service.
This initiative will serve as a catalyst across key sectors, from tourism and hospitality to higher education, manufacturing, and infrastructure. It will attract global thinkers, investors, and changemakers to Maharashtra, generating new opportunities for our youth, our entrepreneurs, and our communities. From Meetings International…
A thoughtful article by Gary Grimmer on the latest geopolitical changes and their implications for both international business events and the societal cost in the fields of healthcare, science, trade and beyond. Numerous commentators and analysts are concluding that the changes to US policy and in power relationships between countries and regions will generate far…
From Meetings International: Few names resonate as strongly in business events as that of Rick Taylor, who has played a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s business events industry. With a career that spans decades, his contributions have left a permanent mark on the industry, shaping the narrative of business events as powerful catalysts for economic…
From Meetings International, by Roger Kellerman: IBTM World 2024 was perhaps one of the best IBTM fairs I have experienced in my 20 years at the show. It surpassed last year’s success, with over 73,000 pre-scheduled meetings (an increase of over 19 per cent compared to 2023), but these figures should be taken with a…
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