PRESENTS
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The Global Destination Sustainability Movement has released a must-read guide for destination marketers and managers on the latest regulations, including advice on what practical steps to take, both to remain in compliance and to use your sustainability positioning for competitive advantage in attracting events. From GDS-Movement…
The 7-times winner of the 8 GDS-Index Awards for Leadership, the city of Gothenburg in Sweden, share this long-awaited series from The Iceberg into the DMOs 3-part framework which provides a systematic approach to realising impact from business & professional events; The Gothenburg Way to Legacy… In this 4-part mini-series, we begin with an introduction…
“It’s more than a visitor economy,” says Damien Kitto, CEO of Business Events Adelaide. And the benchmarking and KPIs that track the impact data of events reveal metrics that extend far beyond the consumption economy of events hosted in the South Australian capital. The reason lies in the value sought by the Department of Trade…
In this series of articles Boardroom pulls together some excellent practical ideas on how associations can advocate more effectively, both in support of business and scientific events in general, but also to drive the mission of their own specific organisation. A highlight is the case study on how the US National Down Syndrome Society utilised…
From Skift Meetings: President Trump’s second term began with a series of executive orders that immediately impacted the meetings industry. On Inauguration Day, January 20, Trump signed the Executive Order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” It eliminates federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. All federal DEI staff were also placed…
From City Destinations Alliance: Held from April 9 to 11, 2025, in the heart of Hungary’s vibrant capital, the City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) International Conference & General Assembly brought together over 250 tourism leaders, destination experts and changemakers from across Europe to explore how cities can drive business transformation through the visitor economy. Under the…
ECA and its public policy counsel, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, have prepared the following detailed analysis of recent tariff developments and what they mean for the business and professional events industry. Please bookmark this page for future updates as circumstances warrant. On April 17, the Office of the United States Trade Representative took action…
From Smart Meetings: Four years into an experiment to replace an annual spring event in Washington, D.C., with a collaborative concentration of events organizations all gathering in the same place, Business Events Industry Week (BEIW) has built some popular must-attend features and announced that other pieces will shake off, either going away altogether or moving….
By Kai Hattendorf: 2024 was the best year ever for the trade show industry globally by revenues. 2025 likely won’t be. Uncertainties around an aggressive, tariffs-driven challenge to global trade from the new U.S. administration are shaking markets and economies around the world. If high import tariffs announced by the U.S. administration are here to…
From PCMA: According to a new Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) statement, the latest round of proposed tariffs will “increase costs for business and professional event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees alike.”When Convene spoke in December with Tommy Goodwin, vice president of Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), tariffs imposed on U.S. trading partners didn’t top the…
From BestCities: On 1 April 2025, BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA hosted two insightful sessions to unpack the dynamics of creating lasting impacts through international conferences and celebrating these through the Incredible Impacts Programme. This article captures key takeaways from the collaborative discussions, where industry leaders shared their experiences and offered valuable guidance for prospective…
AIME 2020 pre-empted the pandemic. AIME 2025 pre-empted the unfolding of a global trade and intellectual engagement crisis. As a case study in fortunate timing, the Asia-Pacific’s annual meetings and business events trade show illustrated the harmony of globalisation when in full flow. It’s hard to imagine how the AUS$400m of trade reported from this…
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A record-setting group of 170 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates from 30 states met with more than 130 elected officials on Capitol Hill today as part of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s (ECA) annual Legislative Action Day. “What happens in Washington, DC is critical to the competitiveness of our industry going forward,”…
Early pre-event collaboration between the city’s destination marketing organisation and congress organisers was key in designing high-impact outreach programmes involving schools and thousands of ordinary citizens, raising awareness of how to maintain lifelong liver health. From Amsterdam Convention Bureau…
Germany reports attendance figures back up to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. This is a useful report for those interested in communicating the enormous scale of the meetings sector in individual countries. 377 million attendees participated in approximately 2 million events in a single year! From Skift Meetings…
The second edition of the VisitBritain Business Events Association Conference, held at the ICC Wales 11-13th February, revealed the extent to which the sector has adopted the new impact & sustainability narrative – and tools – for effective congress bidding by the organisation’s key partners and stakeholders. This video of the event titled ‘Bid for…
IAPCO is the global community for accredited PCOs. At AIME in Melbourne this year, the organisation’s immediate past president and CEO of ICMS Pty Ltd, Sarah Markey-Hamm, shares the importance of curiosity in achieving the most potent outcomes – and storytelling – being sought from the organisation’s member-facilitated events. Markey-Hamm and the organisation’s PR lead,…
From TSNN: Following the acquisitions of POSSIBLE and HLTH in the last 12 months, global event organizer Hyve Group has acquired Manifest, a fast-growing, global event for the supply chain and logistics sector, from Connectiv Holdings. The move comes as the U.S. retail logistics sector is projected to grow to $109.31 billion by 2030, up…
From NBC News: Business travel’s four-year crawl out the pandemic was on track to continue this year, but the US trade war has scrambled that outlook. “The big word is uncertainty,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association, which had forecast worldwide spending to surge to $1.64 trillion in 2025, up from…
From Boardroom: Copenhagen has recently earned the EarthCheck Sustainable Destination Certification, a distinction held by only a select number of locations globally. This internationally recognised third-party accreditation further validates the Danish capital’s long-standing commitment to climate action, particularly within the tourism and meetings sector. The certification is the result of a close partnership between Wonderful…
From Irish Examiner: Academics are cancelling planned conferences and seminars in the US because of the risk of harassment and interrogation by immigration officials. That is the warning from Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. It comes as immunologist Professor Luke O’Neill revealed he had “never been quizzed…
From Travel Weekly: Five members of the Brand USA board were reportedly fired by email on Friday, as the Trump Administration moves to mark its stamp on the US tourism industry. According to the industry title Skift, the decision came from the White House. The five members fired from the board were reportedly chair Elliott…
From ICCA: ICCA and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MOU), reaffirming their commitment to collaborate and strengthen engagement within the international association meetings sector. Building on a strong foundation of partnership, the two organisations will continue working together to expand opportunities, develop impactful educational resources, and foster…
From Skift Meetings: Tariffs are impacting the live events industry, and the Live Events Coalition and its allies are stepping up pressure on lawmakers to act. AV and production equipment, raw materials, decor, furnishings, food and beverage, and technology will all increase in cost, said Wendy Porter, vice chair of government affairs for the Live…
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An urban conference with a global impact Destination Canada’s Legacy & Impact Study examines the lasting economic, social and environmental impacts of up to 16 business events held across Canada between 2018 and 2024. This case study highlights the legacy of the CitiesIPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference, which inspired cutting-edge urban climate science…
HIV Glasgow, the HIV Drug Therapy Conference held in the medical hub city, has become the curator of data, the summary of knowledge from other international conferences focussed on the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS. But the legacy is truly unique… The 2025 edition revealed the circularity of a non-profit event dedicated to…
17-19th March 2025, Cape Town. The International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) arrives into the Western Cape in pursuit of transformative social and innovation legacies for the forgotten continent of Africa. 150 innovation professionals from 29 countries connect through 75 presentations and workshops with Africa`s academic, consulting, and research communities. Its mission – to…
From Global Destination Sustainability Movement: If business events’ profits were a country, they’d be in the top 15 in the world. The Events Industry Council notes that “the $1.62 trillion of total GDP supported by global business events would rank the sector as the 13th largest economy globally.” We’ve seen encouraging progress from this vital…
Attracting knowledge, investment, and talent to a destination as the 3 pillars of a Knowledge & Creative Economy requires an ability to attract -and convene – business and professional communities from all over the world. The City of Calgary, famed for its Stampede, has emerged as a round-the-clock meeting space for all manner of sectoral…
Between the 8-11th July last year, 1,100 of the world’s leading developmental neuroscientists convened at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, Scotland, for the International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS) to exchange research, education, and stories, but also to propagate future research and understanding of a child’s early learning from years 0-3. Immersive…
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From Boldpush & Momentus: This exclusive report reveals how venue and event leaders across 50+ countries are reshaping the industry. We’ve uncovered the key trends, challenges, and opportunities that forward-thinking venues are focusing on today. From new technology and data use to better guest experiences and smarter operations, this research gives venue operators and event…
From Destination Canada: At IMEX Frankfurt, we shared insights that are reshaping how the global business events community thinks about legacy. Destination Canada’s Virginie De Visscher, together with The Iceberg, #MEET4IMPACT and GainingEdge revealed Year 2 findings of the Legacy & Impact Study—a groundbreaking initiative spotlighting the beyond-tourism benefits of business events.
From IAPCO: The results of the Global Socio-Political Impact Survey of 2025 which was issued by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), in collaboration with the National PCO Association Task Force members and global Strategic Partners, show two-thirds of respondents (59.53%) reported that global conflicts have impacted their ability to plan or host…
From Destinations International: This survey aims to gather your expert insights on emerging trends and strategic priorities that destination organizations should pursue over the next three years. Your perspectives will help shape the future direction of destination marketing and management organizations, including Destination Organizations (DOs), DMOs, DMMOs, CVBs, national/state/regional tourism offices, chambers of commerce, and…
From Boardroom: Just ahead of IMEX Frankfurt, a report has come out to reshape how destinations and associations collaborate in a shifting global environment. Purpose Under Pressure: Global Association Trends in 2025 – the result of a partnership between BestCities Global Alliance and Strategic Membership Solutions – unveils compelling data from 586 association professionals across…
From Northstar Meetings Group: The April 2025 Northstar/Cvent Incentive PULSE Survey reveals some major shifts and challenges for incentive travel programs. Optimism levels for incentive travel have dropped dramatically in the past six months. Nearly half of planners say their programs have been negatively affected by recent changes in government, social and economic policies. Business…
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From AMI: In this The Meeting Room: Out of Office episode, James Lancaster interviews Kai Hattendorf, former CEO of UFI and global ambassador for the business events sector. They discuss the impact of tariffs, international trade disruptions, and economic uncertainty on the business events industry. Kai shares insights into how trade shows and conferences adapt…
Ex CEO of UFI Kai Hattendorf in wide-ranging conversation with meeting design expert Ruud Janssen on the state of the industry in an era of flux and uncertainty, and how the forthcoming IEEE Convene in Glasgow is designed to focus on finding solutions to massive challenges rather than traditional educational agendas. From Event Design Collective…
From Meetings International, by Gary Grimmer: In his 1914 poem, Mending Wall, American poet Robert Frost offered some sage advice about barriers: “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out, And to whom I was like to given offense. Something there is that doesn’t love a…
The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) broke new ground when it successfully brought all industry organisations and stakeholders under one umbrella organisation. In so doing, its CEO, Melissa Brown, has the mandate to craft the message conveyed to government – across all departments. As its chair, Peter King, reminded The Iceberg when the association was…
By Matthias Schultze, Managing Director, German Convention Bureau: How Business Events Can Adapt to Megatrends and Unlock Future Business Potential Business events remain vital arenas for innovation and strategic dialogue. Yet, in a rapidly changing world shaped by technological, societal and environmental shifts, these platforms are undergoing transformation themselves. In its most recent research phase,…
From 1TourismWorld: Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement at Destinations International, highlights a pivotal shift in destination management toward community-focused stewardship. She emphasizes prioritizing citizens’ interests, ensuring tourism contributes positively to local life rather than becoming a burden. Cunningham advocates engaging communities in tourism planning and aligning visitor experiences with residents’ values, promoting sustainable growth….
From Centre for Events & Festivals: What if we’ve been measuring the value of the Olympic Games all wrong? For decades, critics and champions of mega-events have sparred over their economic and social impact. Are they a catalyst for sustainable change—or just a two-week spectacle with ballooning costs? But maybe we’re asking the wrong question….
From Skift Meetings, by Andrea Doyle: A temporary U.S.-China tariff rollback is offering short-term relief for the global events industry, which has suffered under trade tensions that disrupted supply chains, cut budgets, and cast a shadow over international shows. Greater Pacific, a 31-year-old U.S.-based promotional products supplier, had paused all projects after the tariffs took…
From Boardroom, by Dr Ole Petter Anfinsen: The COVID-19 pandemic drove a shift in how organisations manoeuvre, with many transitioning from traditional office settings to fully remote work almost overnight. What started as a substitute or interim measure soon revealed unexpected benefits—greater flexibility, cost savings, and access to a broader talent pool. Yet, as remote…
From Boardroom: New Zealand’s world-class convention centre, Te Pae Christchurch, is proving a focus on sustainability, cultural connection and community engagement is not only good for the environment, but also good for business. Since opening in May 2022, Te Pae Christchurch has played a key role in reinvigorating Christchurch city, while delivering a sizeable boost…
In this episode of Trade Show Talk, host Danica Tormohlen interviews Chris Skeith, CEO and Managing Director of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, who started in this role in January 2025I. Skeith shares insights about his career path, including his tenure at the Association of Event Organizers UK, and discusses his new…
From M&IT: In this latest episode of The Meeting Room, Neil Brownlee, head of Business Events Scotland and the first non-North American chair of US-based meetings association PCMA, gives us his take on Trump’s impact on the international meetings and events sector. He also provides a withering analysis of the main challenges facing those who…
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The third edition of ETOA and City Destinations Alliance’s B2B workshop, Destinations Exchange Europe, will take place in London on June 2-3, 2025. This B2B event offers a dynamic blend of commercially driven meetings, insightful knowledge sessions, and valuable opportunities to discuss product development and operational challenges. 28 pre-scheduled B2B business meeting slots to meet…
Our lineup is all about igniting ideas, creating breakthroughs, and shaping the future of the meetings, events and incentives world, so come and share your game-changing ideas and insights with our global audience of corporate, agency and association planners. With C-suite executives through to those just beginning their event professional journey, and your expertise will…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please…
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ECA’s 2025 Legislative Action Day will bring leaders and advocates from across the business and professional events industry to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet with their elected officials in support of ECA’s top public policy priorities. “From tax reform to workforce development, 2025 is already shaping up to be a pivotal year for…
Small & Boutique Meetings — Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings — bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
The UFI European Events Week is where around 300 exhibition industry leaders from Europe and beyond meet, network and learn together for 5 days every summer. We have evolved the UFI European Conference and associated events to become the UFI European Events Week, including the main European Conference, and additional topical content and networking opportunities.
4 key messages highlight how exhibitions unlock potential for industries, individuals, communities, and companies: Exhibitions drive collaboration and innovation to transform businesses and industries; Exhibitions enable new, emerging and established talent to grow and succeed; Exhibitions power economic development and societal progress for countries and communities; Exhibitions amplify reach, build brands, foster connections and drive…
Our one-and-a-half-day event provides you with a unique opportunity to meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes; to share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of the latest market trends & anticipate customers’ needs; and to grow your business in a sustainable way as well as strengthen your professional expertise. The participants’…
Incentive Live offers a compelling agenda that makes this event a must-attend for industry professionals. In addition to one-on-one appointments with top incentive destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, merchandise and technology providers, gift cards, and tourism offices, Incentive Live presents leading industry experts providing the latest perspective on industry trends and best practices that…
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Managing Director and owner of SFA Connect (trading name for Sarah Fleming Associates Ltd), Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the Meetings Industry. She was a board director of a leading UK PCO for ten years where she handled numerous large, high-profile events all over the world. Through this work she gained an in-depth…
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James Lancaster is the editor of AMI Magazine, amimagazine.global and Intellectual Capitals, part of the CAT Media portfolio owned by Northstar Travel Group. James gained his experience as a journalist in various reporting and editing roles on business magazines after starting his career as reporter on a newspaper in the UK. He joined CAT Media…
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Heike Mahmoud has been Chief Operating Officer (COO) and authorized signatory at Estrel Berlin, Europe’s largest hotel, congress and entertainment complex with over 1,000 hotel rooms and 30,000 sqm of event space, since August 2024. She is responsible for the operational business of Estrel Berlin and the marketing of the new Estrel Tower, the first…
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John Burke is the General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) and is a senior venue operation professional with over 25 years’ experience working across all areas of venue and event management including leadership, commercial management, construction liaison, vendor management, programme management, facility operations & engineering, and audio visual (AV) & technical…
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Lyn Lewis-Smith is CEO of BESydney and leads a global team of professionals spanning Europe, North America and Asia who are charged with securing global meetings of strategic, economic and social benefit to Sydney, Australia. The organisation works across sectors which include infrastructure, technology, professional services, advanced manufacturing, education and health. Lyn has led transformation…
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Dr. Edward Koh has been leading the Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel division of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, a group under the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), since 2019. He provides strategic counsel to attract quality association congresses and corporate-driven events to Singapore, maintaining its position as a leading International Convention and Meetings destination….
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Peirui joined UFI as the Programme Manager for Advocacy and Alliances in 2023. In this role, she collaborates with UFI members and partners to advance advocacy initiatives for the exhibitions industry globally. A Singaporean based in Frankfurt, Peirui brings over 20 years of international experience to her position. She has previously worked with the Singapore…
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A specialized journalist in the association management field, Remi has been active in the meetings industry for more than 15 years. Together with Cecile Koch, he launched Boardroom in 2017, a niche publication specialized in association management and events. Boardroom covers a wide spectrum of issues of interest to associations based globally and is specifically targeting association…
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Anna is a business event and tourism professional with European and Canadian expertise. She studied for her career at the University of Brighton in the UK and subsequently worked for international tour operators Thomas Cook and Cosmosair group before emigrating to Canada in 2005. British Columbia was her home for the first eight years, honing…
Ben works in the international not-for-profit sector with an emphasis on professional medical associations. Since 2019 Ben is Executive Director of EASL, European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL has over 5,000 members, an annual meeting with over 7,000 participants, a portfolio of hybrid educational meetings, an online education platform and mobile solutions…
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Flavie de Bueil has more than 20 years’ experience in the Tourism and Meetings Industry. She began her career with diverse experiences in customer relations in the insurance and hospitality sectors and then decided to specialise in tourism, mixing her avid passion for international relations, people and cultures. Having graduated in Tourism Management and Culture…
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Born in Toronto, Canada, Greg has divided his life between living in Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa. More than 25 years in the hospitality industry, Greg has spent time in Management of a high-end independent mountain resort property (The Rimrock Resort), Hyatt Hotels and the Intercontinental group before moving over to convention centres. Greg had the…
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