PRESENTS
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Skift Meetings has launched a report, in partnership with IMEX, intended to be the ideal entry point for meeting professionals who want to play a crucial role in shaping the industry’s and broader society’s future. It provides an exploration of potential impacts of meetings, practical insights from industry leaders, implementation strategies, and relevant case studies…
By David Edwards, Freelance tourism market intelligence consultant: Once upon a time in a faraway land the Office for National Statistics published provisional monthly estimates for the volume and value of inbound and outbound tourism six weeks after that month had reached its end. Ten weeks after the end of each quarter more granular data…
The BE Sector’s foremost forum for political and policy engagement is the IMEX Policy Forum held annually in Frankfurt, hosted by IMEX Director for Impact & Industry Relations, Natasha Richards. In this video insight from the Forum, Pádraic Gilligan – the CMO of the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and latest recipient of the…
From BestCities: In the dynamic world of international conferences and business events, few organizations have left as indelible a mark as BestCities Global Alliance. By leveraging its network of premier global destinations, BestCities has reshaped the conference industry and established a legacy of profound, lasting impact. From fostering groundbreaking research collaborations to inspiring transformative policy…
The mission of the newly formed Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) is to promote the business events industry and drive member prosperity through industry development, networking, research, and advocacy. In this video report from IMEX 2024, Peter King, the organisation’s inaugural chair, is joined by leading industry faces who share the reaction of both industry…
From AMI: With an expanding economy and a reputation as one of the world’s key financial hubs, Singapore is booming. Nearly half of all regional headquarters in Asia are now based in the city-state, partly fuelled by an exodus from Hong Kong but also prompted by the government’s support for the most future-focused industries and…
PCMA’s flagship event for the EMEA region, Convening EMEA, rolls into Barcelona 30th September – 2nd October with Trust, Strategy, and Future the three key thematic pillars to the event. Jaimé Bennett, PCMA’s charismatic managing director for the 117 countries represented, explains how a Programme Architecture will allow for intentional and personalised experiences in order…
From AMI: In an age of social media, open-source publishing, rising travel costs and heightened concerns around sustainability, it is a brave association that chooses to increase the frequency of its flagship congress. But that’s the decision leaders of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) took in 2019, when they resolved to turn…
From BestCities: In 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity across the planet. At its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) urging all countries to implement strategies to improve health and education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, and tackle climate…
From Boardroom: In an era marked by geopolitical shifts and rapidly evolving policy environments, associations are under more pressure than ever to adapt their lobbying and advocacy strategies. The challenges and opportunities are multidimensional, requiring a clear understanding of both local and global dynamics. Yiannis Liaros, Public & Social Affairs Director at Addcase, spoke to…
From Forbes: Craig King has heard a lot about the sustainability of the upcoming Paris Olympics — its historic commitment to green energy, recycling and mass transit. But that’s not why he’s going to the games. King will be in Paris with his wife to cheer on their son, Matt, who is on the US…
By Gili Back, Corporate Team Building Facilitator & Sustainable Events Manager at TEAM SPIRIT THAILAND: The MICE industry holds immense potential to drive positive change in local communities. When done right, MICE events (and student group travel programs) foster economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. Here’s why focusing on responsible and sustainable practices in…
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From Destination North East England: In partnership with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, Destination North East England has delivered a first-of-its-kind, world-leading Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework that will support our visitor economy to work together to co-create sustainable and circular strategies and develop mindsets and skillsets that enable destinations and communities to thrive and regenerate….
From TTG mice: Sarawak’s business events legacy takes a significant step forward as Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) combine forces to develop the first economic and legacy impact study of its kind in Malaysia. The partnership between BESarawak and UNIMAS will see two key projects implemented – an Economic Impact Study;…
From TTG Asia: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, both countries have introduced visa-free travel policies for their citizens. Malaysians enjoy visa-free entry to China until the end of 2025, while Chinese travellers to Malaysia benefit similarly until the end of 2026. These initiatives have sparked a significant surge in bilateral…
From WellingtonNZ: Electricians, plumbers and internet experts are converging on Wellington next week as its convention centre gears up to host two large conferences at the same time. The conferences are being held at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre – New Zealand’s newest convention centre in the heart of Wellington that has been open…
From Boardroom: The International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) has been awarded the 2024 Incredible Impacts Programme (IIP) Seed Grant by the BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The $5,000 USD grant will support the launch of the ICRS Global Access Fellowship, aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion…
From Conference & Meetings World: Melbourne-based Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has announced details of its 2025 Knowledge Programme. The AIME show returns to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Australia in February. Organisers say the theme for 2025, ‘We Matter!’ seeks to highlight and celebrate the global business events industry as…
From Exhibition World: UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, has announced that its CEO Kai Hattendorf will leave his role at the association at the end of 2024. He has been the CEO since 2015. “I joined UFI in 2015, and these past ten years as the association’s CEO have been an amazing…
From Event Industry News: Destination Canada’s Business Events team has launched the latest resource to come from its Canadian Business Events Sustainability Plan, Canada’s Sustainability Storybook. This sustainability storybook shares initiatives from communities which actively host business events and presents turnkey solutions to inspire and challenge business events decision-makers, planners, sustainability professionals and host destinations,…
Barcelona Convention Bureau partnered with ASSOCIATION WORLD in London to convene UK-headquartered associations to address the relevance, resilience, and strategic development of their organisations. Pick of the speakers, Paul Rulkens, a global expert in strategic high performance and popular TED speaker who offers advice and support to organisations including McKinsey, KPMG, Siemens, DuPont, Exxon Mobil,…
From BBC: The rapid spread of mpox – what used to be called monkeypox – in parts of Africa has been declared a global emergency. A new form of the virus is at the heart of concerns, but there still remain huge unanswered questions. Is it more contagious? We don’t know. How deadly is it?…
From Wellington.Scoop: The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has highlighted Tākina, Wellington’s new convention centre, as a prime example of wasteful council spending – particularly with another water main bursting just down the road, and also considering its unprofitability. He was speaking at the Local Government New Zealand conference, which is being held in Tākina. “The…
From ICC Sydney: After an extraordinary thirty-year career at ASM Global, Geoff Donaghy steps down from his full time role as Chief Executive Officer of ICC Sydney and Group Director – Convention Centres, ASM Global (APAC) this month, leaving behind a legacy that will last well beyond his departure. Throughout the month, Geoff has been…
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From AMI: In July, the Viruses of Microbes Conference (VoM) convened in Cairns, Australia, marking the first time the 14-year-old conference has stepped outside Europe. The International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms (ISVM), which aims to advance the study and application of microorganism viruses, debuted the first VoM conference in Paris back in 2010. Under…
By Alison Shamwana, Association Specialist, ACS Global Management Executive Director, IHPBA Foundation: In May 2024, the IHPBA World Congress was, for the first time, hosted on the African continent. In order to leave a lasting footprint for the congress, our legacy initiative focused on the improvement of management pathways and access to care in sub-Saharan…
From Melbourne Convention Bureau: In 2014 the 20th International AIDS Conference was held in Melbourne, which to this day is still the largest health conference ever held here. Ten-years down the track we are still talking about it. Thinking back to then and the global spotlight on Melbourne with more than 13,000 delegates, visitors and…
From Madrid Convention Bureau: The European Hematology Association through its European Hematology Association Congress, Madrid Convention Bureau and the Red Cross are adding to the positive impact of Madrid’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism industry with a blood donation campaign. The aim is for participants at certain congresses and events held in the…
From C&IT: In April 2023, the Diabetes UK Professional Conference took place at ACC Liverpool. The event itself was a success but just as important has been the legacy work that has helped to promote Diabetes UK throughout Merseyside and Cheshire in the months that followed. This was made possible by ACC Liverpool’s network of…
Destination Canada’s Legacy & Impact Study is tracking the beyond-tourism benefits of up to 16 business events held across Canada between 2018 and 2024. This case study examines the extraordinary legacy of the Insects to Feed the World Conference, which has had a powerful impact on research and industry in Québec. From structuring an…
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The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced today that the U.S. business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry experienced a minor slowdown following a strong first quarter in 2024. Modest performance of the metrics for completed events – especially in exhibition attendance – set back the Q2 2024 Index value to 87.7 after a record 92.3 in…
From Strategic Membership Solutions (SMS): The way associations manage and engage their members is rapidly changing, and it’s clear that the traditional “one-size-fits-all” approach just isn’t cutting it anymore. That’s why I’m excited to announce the release of my latest whitepaper, Evolving Association Membership Models, which dives into these shifts and provides actionable strategies for…
From IMEX: Produced with sustainability consultants MeetGreen®, our latest Sustainability Report lifts the lid on how we tackled waste diversion and energy use, as well as highlighting all-important areas for improvement. We’ve distilled all of our top tips, successes and controlled experiments from last year’s IMEX America into one report. We do this because we’re…
From ASAE: ASAE is releasing the most definitive research on associations to date, demonstrating the massive economic impact generated in every state by these engines of economic prosperity and leaders in community engagement and innovation. “This new study for the first time quantifies the power of associations to boost America’s economy and generate opportunity through…
From Northstar Meetings Group: The latest Meetings Industry PULSE Survey, co-produced and sponsored by Cvent, reveals that high costs remain among planners’ most pressing concerns. However, the investment is wise: 78 percent of the 470 survey respondents say face-to-face gatherings are more valuable than other sales, marketing and business-development initiatives. Among other noteworthy findings: Optimism…
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest 33rd edition of its flagship Global Exhibition Barometer report which takes the pulse of the industry. The results highlight that the exhibition industry will achieve record revenues globally in 2024, moving beyond the post-pandemic recovery that was achieved at the end of 2023…
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From Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance: At last month’s SISO Leadership Conference, CNTV’s Bob Frier sat down with Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s Tommy Goodwin to talk about ECA’s 2024 accomplishments to-date, what to expect between now and the election, and what’s on the horizon for 2025.
From GainingEdge, by Gary Grimmer: If destination marketing organisations (DMO) are to receive funds derived from private sources, there would need to be a mechanism by which the City imposes a levy or tax and then provides the resulting funding to the DMO. That could be through a hotel tax, or a district levy or…
From Conference & Meetings World: Mega events such as the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the FIFA World Cup can transform host countries. Savvy MICE professionals should monitor them to predict future hotspots. Mega sports events can have a mega economic impact on a host country, region, or city. How you assess the financial…
From Boardroom, by Alexandra Henry, Senior Association Manager, European Society of Cardiology: Associations rely on volunteers for vision, strategy, and content creation. Previously, volunteers eagerly offered their time and efforts, sometimes even more than expected. However, this trend is shifting, and associations now face challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers. Traditional approaches to volunteer management…
From The Post, by Lisa Hopkins: When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took aim at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre last week, he unknowingly targeted the heart of the business events industry. As he quipped to the audience, “it’s very nice that politicians like us have another expensive room to deliver speeches in”, he missed…
From IT&CM Asia: Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney and group director of convention centres at ASM Global (APAC), concludes his impactful 30-year tenure with ASM Global this month. The award-winning chief looks back on how he played a part in propelling the business events industry forward amid some of its most challenging times…
FIEXPO, the IMEX of the LATAM region, is more than a rotating trade show for the Business Events Sector – far more. FIEXPO founder, Arnaldo Nardone, and Development Director, Santiago Gonzales, share insight into how FIEXPO has evolved as a strategic development and capacity-building tool for all LATAM countries to better compete for, and facilitate,…
From Digital Tourism Think Tank: In episode 7 of our “Backstage Leadership Conversations” podcast series, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism, we learn from Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement, about the critical role that destinations play in driving sustainability and the innovative solutions being implemented to address climate change…
From APAC Outlook: Business events are critical to the socioeconomic success and prosperity of Australia. Defined as any public or private activity with a common interest or vocation, such as a conference, convention, or congress, hosted by an organisation either in a specific venue or online, these events facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas, trade…
By Anna Abdelnoor, CEO & Founder, isla: The shock and horror being expressed as a result of the riots in the UK is normal, but we can’t ignore they’ve been fuelled by decades of economic depravation, misdirecting racist political rhetoric and media-stoked ‘culture wars’. This rhetoric doesn’t exist because media and politicians actually believe the…
The Paris Olympic Games are approaching the finish line, and I had the opportunity to get a close and personal look at the games from many perspectives: as a (part-time) resident, a visitor, an event professional, and a spectator. Here are some observations. As a destination… Paris blends the Olympic venues into the city with…
From Nature: Attending conferences is a crucial way to establish and build networks, especially for scholars early on in their careers. But not everyone who would benefit is equally able to attend. Many researchers have caring responsibilities. The impact is particularly pronounced for women with children, who often find it hard to juggle professional and…
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It’s challenging to know what the future will bring; however, we know we can be part of a solution for a better society. We must create a platform to bring focus to Business Events and together with adjacent industries find solutions needed to protect our tomorrow. PCMA together with the Strategic Alliance of National Convention…
Enjoy four days of expert education at IMEX America kicking off on Smart Monday powered by MPI, on October 7. Our education program allows you to explore the latest topics and trends, level up your professional skills, and find solutions to industry challenges. Whether you want to keep up with fast-changing event trends, explore event…
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. The Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program prepares senior executives to lead…
Attracting, retaining, and growing talent is a global challenge for our industry, not only in Canada but worldwide. One way of addressing this challenge is providing the upcoming leaders of convention centres with unique professional education, focusing on their specific needs. That is why Convention Centres of Canada and AIPC decided to co-create a Canadian…
ICCASkills Certified International Convention Specialist (CICS) Course | Unlock your potential and elevate your career. This course is designed for early and mid-level professionals, or young graduates wanting to gain hands-on knowledge about the industry and become a specialist in the field. No minimum experience required. Gain insights and knowledge on all aspects of the…
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TEAMS: TRAVEL, EVENTS AND MANAGEMENT IN SPORTS, is the world’s leading conference and expo for the sports-event industry. Launched in 1998, TEAMS attracts more than 1,000 attendees including CEOs, executive directors and event managers from sports organizations as well as representatives from sports commissions and convention bureaus, corporate sponsors, event suppliers and other hospitality industry…
Northstar Meetings Group’s NEW Luxury & Wellness Meetings event connects North American planners seeking luxury or wellness-focused venues for their meetings or incentives. Showcase your destination, CVB, DMC, hotel, resort, venue or related service or activity for successful meetings and incentive programs. Meet with elite planners and buyers who are currently sourcing national suppliers for…
Convening EMEA is PCMA EMEA’s annual flagship event bringing together the global business events industry for an immersive 3-day programme in Europe. The event attracts 500+ business event leaders from over 40 countries to challenge each other and develop ways to move forward together. It is the platform to share knowledge, make meaningful connections, learn,…
IMEX America is the largest trade show for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry. Our award-winning show brings the meetings industry together to do a year’s worth of business under one roof. Suppliers and buyers from every sector of the meetings industry come together at IMEX, held at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. It’s…
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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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Sven joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are…
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Ms Petra Stušek is Managing Director of the Ljubljana Tourism and President of the Board at European Cities Marketing, a non-profit organization which aims at improving the competitiveness and performance of city tourism destinations in Europe, including the leading ones. Prior to this, she managed communications for the foreign and domestic public at Ljubljana Tourism, which…
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Loren Christie brings more than 25 years of experience in Tourism & Hospitality to his role as Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance. He held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17 year career with them including Director of Sales for International Congress, Business Transient and Leisure Sales at the…
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A passionate and dedicated leader, Carina Bauer is the CEO of the IMEX Group – an organisation responsible for organising the leading global trade shows for the international business events industry. Carina is passionate about the business events sector and its impact on the world, taking a particular interest in issues around sustainability, diversity and…
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Sherrif Karamat, CAE, is President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA, the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Karamat leads the vision, mission and promise for PCMA’s global family of brands. He is a prominent business architect, enabling communities to become…
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Gemmeke has over 15 years of experience in the meetings industry. She advises especially international associations on how to develop positive impact on the longer term with their conferences or events within Flanders (Northern Belgium) and Brussels together with the different stakeholders in the Quadruple Helix. Based in the capital of the European Union, Gemmeke…
Working out of both USA and Netherlands; projects in Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America, with a mix of clients including IMEX, UFI, SITE and other international associations and meetings companies. Expert Advisor to tech start-up Kubify, Strategic Relations Advisor to IASP, the International Association for the Study of Pain, and International Advisor to…
Jane loves life in the Nordics and the spirit of Scotland. Her expertise is based on 20 years of experience across the global meetings industry. Over this time she has been fortunate to have gained wonderful experience and friends from working for some great hotels, a convention centre, a destination marketing organisation, a PCO, and…
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For the last 15 years, Guy has been delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping cities, governments, corporations and associations step up, scale up and speed up their sustainability programmes and regenerative practices. Guy’s pioneering work has been recognised with 22 sustainability awards including the Events Industry Council Pacesetter Award, and recognition as a Fellow…
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Marta Gomes has spent nearly 20 years working in the international events and meetings industry. She has collaborated extensively with professors, association executives and destination partners to attract international congresses to Paris, one of the leading global destinations for international events. As Deputy Executive Director Sales, she is charge of sales and business development for…
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Gary has over 30 years’ experience in the convention industry. In 2004 he founded GainingEdge, a global consulting company that offers advisory services in relation to destinations, convention bureaus and convention and exhibition centres. It also provides convention and incentive sales representation services in all of the world’s key markets. The company’s services are end-to-end,…
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