Sibos 2018 at ICC Sydney.
In issue 47 of Business Events World and on The Iceberg, our most featured destination (yet again!) is surely Sydney.
The city is still basking in the afterglow of financial services mega-meet Sibos, and there’s more content about that below. A Sydney Speaker Series luncheon has also just taken place in London, from which The Iceberg has a special report.
In Features you can read about Sibos’s legacies for Sydney’s financial services sector. Plus (click the right arrow or swipe to spin the carousels), there’s data science in New York, respiratory medicine in Paris, a brilliant school’s legacy from a cancer conference in Glasgow, and how an Ottawa meeting is innovating in immigration.
In News, Seoul has secured 40 international conferences so far in 2018. Cape Town’s CTICC has won fifteen similar events in the last six months. Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced a $1 million bid fund. ICC Sydney has launched its Reconciliation Action Plan, to celebrate Australia’s First Nations.
Also in News this issue, Iceberg partner organisations are making headlines. ExCeL London Executive Director James Rees has been elected President of the International Congress and Convention Association. The announcement was made at the 57th ICCA Congress in Dubai, which also showcased women in the meetings industry. The global exhibition industry association UFI released research into women working in the sector, while gathering its members at the 85th UFI Global Congress in St Petersburg.
Paris has topped a new convention competitiveness index from our friends at GainingEdge. Corporate incentive travel is on the rise, according to a report from the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the PCMA Foundation. The study was released at PCMA’s Annual Conference in Bangkok. Melbourne itself has just had a busy October hosting nine international conferences. Final results from the Events Industry Council’s Global Economic Significance of Business Events study show that Asia hosts nearly a third of the world’s 1.5 billion business event delegates, and that the sector in fact boosted global GDP by $1.5 trillion last year.
There’s still more on The Iceberg itself (click View all News), including ICC Sydney’s perspective on hosting Sibos. The New South Wales capital has also won two big energy meetings. Nine more global ambassadors for the city have been appointed, with Montreal honouring its own ambassadors as well. Back down under, Brisbane has secured a mesothelioma conference. Conventions and Incentives New Zealand is creating an events school lunch legacy. Finally, there’s more on the Global MICE Collaborative, announced at IMEX America by Iceberg partners SITE (the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) and MPI (Meeting Professionals International) together with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
In Opinions there’s PCMA leader Sherrif Karamat, former Executive Director of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux Mike Cannon, and why meetings need to become part of the innovation economy, according an ICCA Congress session.
You’ll also find SITE and SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan on the role of incentives in improving worker / management relations, Events Industry Counci CEO Karen Kotowski discussing the Global Economic Significance of Business Events with IMEX CEO Carina Bauer, and please do read my special report from the London Sydney Speaker Series luncheon, featuring an interview with Business Events Sydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith.
Lastly, Research carries a whole stack of fresh reading from our own partners and elsewhere: the International Convention Destination Competitive Index, the Incentive Travel Industry Index 2018, Travel Truths for Business Events Corporate Incentive Travel, the 2019 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, the 2018 Global Economic Significance of Business Events, Women in the Exhibition Industry and Universal Accessibility in Meetings.
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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Ottawa, a capital at the crossroads of government, education and advocacy, has an integrated and holistic approach to immigration. So it is no surprise that the International Metropolis Project, a network of researches, policy makers and community groups focussed on improving migration and diversity, chose this capital hub for its 1,500 delegate 2019 conference. From Boardroom…
Organisers of the National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference in Glasgow are seeking a long-term legacy with a special event aimed at school students considering a career in science or medicine. Sixth form students from across Scotland considering such a professional future have been invited to hear from researchers at the meeting. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Paris is a leading destination for association meetings. The International Congress of the European Respiratory Society recently took place in the Paris Convention Centre. A platform for the latest knowledge in respiratory medicine and science, the event draws more than 20,000 delegates from over 130 countries for around 420 scientific and educational sessions. From Boardroom…
Sydney has hosted a successful Sibos, the world’s premier financial event, cementing Australia’s reputation as innovative financial services hub, while also showcasing local investment opportunities, fintech start-ups and young talent. The event welcomed more than 7,600 business leaders, global banks, academics and entrepreneurs from 150 countries to ICC Sydney. From AMI intellectual Capitals…
The Data for Good Exchange was introduced in 2014 as part of the 20th ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, and expanded to a standalone event the following year. This year the event tackled issues from gender equality and climate change to human genetics and the US census. Photo: Pablo Angulo Troconis. From…
Business events add more than $1 trillion to the global economy, preliminary results of the Events Industry Council’s first Global Economic Significance of Business Events study show. In 2017, according to the Iceberg partner’s report, business events brought together more than 1.4 billion participants in over 180 countries. From PCMA…
The 22nd Human Genome Meeting took place at PACIFICO Yokohama this March. Japanese scientists are at the forefront of genome research, including large-scale population sequencing, and much of that innovation and the institutions behind it cluster around the seaport of Yokohama, second-biggest city in Japan. From Boardroom…
Thanks to a whole-city approach in promoting key sectors, the number of conferences staged in Marseille has been steadily growing. The recent World Conservation Congress win says a lot about the city’s presence on the international meetings scene. But six clusters of expertise are also shaping which association conferences Marseille attracts. From Boardroom…
Nice is the fifth largest city in France, and was sixth most popular European destination for planners in the 2015 American Express Global Meetings Forecast. Venues like the Nice Acropolis Congress & Exhibition Center have attracted events like Cardiostim or the European Congress of Psychiatry. Six of ten regional clusters are represented. From Boardroom…
Sarawak in Malaysia is leveraging business events to help it become a smart agriculture hub for the Asia Pacific region. The BESarawak Alliance has been formed to encourage growth in key sectors, and one of BESA’s first initiatives is an agriculture-based familiarisation trip taking place in conjunction with the first Sarawak AgroFest. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
The monetary value of information presented at this year’s European Congress of Radiology in Vienna, amounted to €813m, according to a groundbreaking report. The total was arrived at by adding up the professional time spent compiling, and the research funding associated with, the content of the 3,331 papers presented. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Nancy, the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine in northeast France, is now synonymous with creativity and brainpower. The presence of large national research institutions, together with four high-yield industries and three internationally recognised competitive clusters, have been drawing conferences and meetings of all sizes and formats. From Boardroom…
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The International Congress and Convention Association showcased the contributions of women to the meetings industry at its recent 57th Congress in Dubai, with ten women from across the organisation’s global community personally honoured as Inspirational ICCA Women by outgoing President Nina Freysen-Pretorius. IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer was one of those celebrated. From the Event…
Iceberg partner the Events Industry Council’s “Global Economic Significance of Business Events” study has found that Asia is the largest region in terms of business event participants, making up nearly a third of the 1.5 billion delegate total. Business events actually boosted global GDP by $1.5 trillion last year, according to the report’s final results. From PCMA…
Corporate incentive travel is on the rise, creating opportunity for events in the Asia Pacific region, according to a report from the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the PCMA Foundation. The report was released at the PCMA Annual Conference in Bangkok. APAC business events are valued at over $200 billion. From PCMA…
Paris has topped a new index which ranks cities in their competitiveness at attracting major international conventions. Iceberg partner GainingEdge CEO Gary Grimmer said his company’s index would help destinations know how many conventions they should expect to be hosting every year. Paris was followed by Washington, Barcelona, New York and Boston. From Association Meetings International…
James Rees, the Executive Director of ExCeL London, has been elected President of Iceberg partner the International Congress and Convention Association. The announcement was made at the 57th ICCA Congress in Dubai. Rees was first elected to the ICCA board in 2012 and in 2017 became a Vice President. Includes video interview. From CIM News Magazine…
The global exhibition industry association UFI, an Iceberg partner, has released the results of research into women who are working in the sector. “Women in the Exhibition Industry” collates an online survey of over 200 respondents, mostly women. 82 percent of them highly appreciated working in exhibitions and loved their jobs. From CIM News Magazine…
Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced a $1 million bid fund in 2019 to increase its share of international meetings. Indonesian Tourism is also thinking about developing new destinations like Batam and Bintan. Currently only Bali and Jakarta are considered meetings-ready. An IMF World Bank Meeting was held this October in Bali. From Association Meetings International…
A ceremony at ICC Sydney has launched its Reconciliation Action Plan, which will recognise and celebrate during events the cultures and traditions of Australia’s First Nations. These include the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the custodians of the land on which ICC Sydney sits. From CIM News Magazine…
Melbourne has just come off the back of a busy October hosting nine international conferences. The events, which attracted over 5,000 delegates, included the World Urban Parks Congress, the World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics and the International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Venues ranged from MCEC to Melbourne Cricket Ground. From CIM News Magazine…
Over 450 event professionals from over 54 countries have gathered in St Petersburg to attend the 85th UFI Global Congress. The event kicked off with the UFI General Assembly, and the exhibition industry’s global association, which is an Iceberg partner, also released two research reports: Global Visitor Insights, and Women in the exhibition industry. From the Event…
Cape Town’s CTICC has secured fifteen major conferences in the last six months alone, many being hosted in Africa for the first time. They include the International Council on Systems Engineering 2020, the 2021 World Congress of the International Health Economics Association, and the 2024 General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. From the Event…
Seoul has secured 40 international conferences so far in 2018, which will bring in over 35,000 delegates. Twelve of the events are large-scale and account for around 25,000 attendees of the total. According to a recent UIA report, Seoul was the third most popular international meetings city from 2015 to 2017. From Association Meetings International…
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The EuroHeartCare conference is one of the most important platforms for driving research publications, exchanging ideas, and forming and deepening collaborations within the field of cardiovascular nursing in Europe. It aims to support healthcare professionals in delivering the best care possible to patients with cardiovascular disease. The 2017 edition was hosted by Jönköping University in…
The study explores the benefits and barriers for individual researchers and universities when hosting research conferences. The study has been commissioned by the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy – an advisory body to the Danish Minister of Higher Education and Science. Thereby the study situates the hosting of research conferences as a potential…
London Tech Week is a festival of live events taking place once a year across the United Kingdom capital. Having been held now for four years, it has become a key gathering for the ICT industry in London. It connects the entire tech ecosystem both within the city and beyond, shapes the future of the…
Many international convention centres use sophisticated methods to measure the economic impact of business events in their host cities. Others recognise the importance of food in customer experience and promote programs like paddock to plate or food miles. ICC Sydney marries these two concepts together and takes them to a new level by measuring the…
Growing its business events sector is part of Malaysia’s strategy to achieve status as a developed nation by 2020. This case study presents the contribution made by the 55th ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress towards developing the business events sector in the country. ICCA’s event engaged political leaders and the local community to raise awareness of the needs…
The Geneva Convention Bureau has adopted a policy of promoting Geneva not only as a destination but also as a center of economic, knowledge and innovation excellence. It does this by marketing meetings and events in relation to local key clusters of industry. As a result, a dynamic and virtuous feedback loop is established between Geneva’s economic or knowledge…
This research by Business Events Sydney (BESydney) demonstrates that business events offer delegates unrestricted exposure to innovative ideas and opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills. Part of the Beyond Tourism Benefits series, the new study by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Conferences: Catalysts for Thriving Economies – provides further evidence showing that…
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Universal Accessibility in Meetings is a research study conducted by GainingEdge, in collaboration with project partners BestCities Global Alliance and Rehabilitation International. The goal of this research project is to promote awareness among meeting organisers and the supplier community on the need to remove barriers in meetings and conventions for delegates with disabilities. The study…
A new index which ranks cities in terms of their competitive strength for attracting international conventions was launched at the 57th ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress 2018. The index scores cities based on their strengths in relation to eleven key drivers that GainingEdge says influence association decision-making during destination selection processes. The first…
Tourism continues to dominate Asia Pacific’s travel industry, but the corporate incentive travel segment, already representing a quarter of the global travel industry, continues to make steady gains. The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) partnered with PCMA Education Foundation to commission a research project to help APAC region meeting planners understand what is driving this expanding…
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the results of Women in the Exhibitions Industry at the 85th UFI Global Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia. The research is a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a providing insights into the perception of women’s and men’s skills in the workplace, the potential…
The Events Industry Council commissioned a study on the global economic significance of business events, conducted by Oxford Economics. This is unprecedented research that could only be accomplished through the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors to qualify the value, influence and impact that business events produce throughout the world. It further enables…
Looking into 2019, meeting professionals have an optimistic view of the meetings market. This global survey shows planners in many regions are planning more meetings, for more attendees, and of longer duration. The industry is mature, stable, and achieving incremental growth. Download the American Express Meetings & Events 2019 Global Meetings and Events Forecast to find…
The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), and Financial and Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) are proud to announce the release of the first joint study of the global incentive travel industry. Incentive Travel Industry Index powered by SITE Index, IRF Outlook and FICP is a landmark for the industry, providing unprecedented,…
Events that create a long-lasting legacy share a common element: putting change first. This research report is our effort to encourage all event planners (where possible) to ask different questions and to seek different results. Planning an event is often a matter of priorities. What results do we want? What is the purpose of the event…
The International Congress and Convention Association’s newest industry report “A Modern History of International Association Meetings – Update: 1963-2017”, released to celebrate ICCA’s 55th anniversary, reveals the results of an extensive study of 55 years of growth in the industry. The report marks an important milestone in ICCA’s history and recognises the continued influence of…
Drawing on official data from 14 national trade fair bodies who guarantee the quality of the statistics they provide, UFI’s latest report compiles statistics on 2,709 exhibitions covering a total of 27.6 million square metres of registered rented space in 2017. The report shows a notable increase of 5% in terms of the total number…
There has never been a more exciting time for meetings and events. The growth in sophisticated venues across the globe and innovation in tech is making boundless creativity a reality. And smarter ways of using data to fine-tune the value around meetings programs are in full effect. The digital revolution and use of social media…
Are you dealing with dwindling travel and event budgets? Are you looking at the improvements in technology and its lower cost of entry price points and wondering if face-to-face events still provide a good return on investment? Now, more than ever, the value of face-to-face events seems to be in question. This white paper highlights…
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Politician, diplomat and educator Baroness Amos has given the keynote at a Sydney Speaker Series luncheon in London. The event was delivered in partnership between Business Events Sydney and ICC Sydney, and was hosted by the High Commission of Australia. The Iceberg itself was invited to attend, and was even able there to interview BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith….
Meetings need to become part of the innovation economy, according to the recent ICCA Congress in Dubai, and this “new industrial revolution” needs fresh thinking from suppliers. The discussion included city expert Greg Clark and Vienna’s Christian Mutschlechner, who joked that planners might soon 3D print their own venues. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
A new study has found that the business events industry boosts global gross domestic product by $1.5 trillion. Karen Kotowski, CEO of the Events Industry Council, which is behind the Global Economic Significance of Business Events report, discusses its findings with Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX, which was one of the partners in the research. From IMEX…
Mike Cannon, former Executive Director of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux, was recently in Sydney to collect an AACB Hall of Fame plaque. During he visit he gave an interview on affordable events, Australia’s new Business Events Bid Fund, regional meetings, future challenges for convention bureaux, and their value to members. From CIM News Magazine…
The recent Incentive Travel Industry Index has detected changes in the sector’s rationale. While the top reasons remain sales, revenue and overall profitability, some “softer” objectives have climbed up the rankings and are impacting event design and desired outcomes. In particular, improving relationships between workers and management now holds second place. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Technology is transforming the way the world does business. Business events facilitate this as the place where tech startups gain exposure. But should the meetings industry also be preparing the world for the workplace transformation that technology will bring? Perhaps its role is mission critical to our future, says PCMA leader Sherrif Karamat. From PCMA…
IMEX America has taken place in Las Vegas. A key focus for this year was corporate social responsibility and sustainability, including another Legacy Wall (pictured), and MPI’s call for planners to be “legacy creators”. Also topical: wellness and support for attendees, and sector collaboration, like IAEE, MPI and SITE’s Global MICE Collaborative. From BizBash…
In 2011 the Minneapolis Convention Center’s leaders talked to their staff about what mattered most to them. Sustainability turned out to be the top priority. The intervening years have seen recycling performance measurement, goal setting and signage improvements, resulting in the current 60 percent recycling rate. The venue is also reducing water usage. From PCMA…
The rise of the ‘individual’, modern consumerism, social media, open-source publishing: all have been cited as reasons why the traditional association model is doomed. It’s a viewpoint which does assume that associations are incapable of self-reform. And yet industry research keeps showing the number of international association meetings going up and up. From Association Meetings International…
It’s the job of a convention bureau to promote destination assets. In 2017 The Hague & Partners created an awards programme to highlight innovative local organisations and professionals. This year the scheme was expanded further to showcase sustainability initiatives leveraging The Hague’s location as the only Netherlands city on the sea. From PCMA Convene…
Company spending on incentive programmes is growing with the evidence that they’re effective at driving productivity. But research from the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, an Iceberg partner, has found that while budgets have increased, average spending per attendee has remained the same for most. More employees are being invited on trips. From Skift…
Designed for an industry that never sleeps, IMEX America 2018 was brimming with opportunity and learning right down to its last moments. From hearing hosted buyer experiences and exhibitor perspectives, to education content like C2’s session on connecting with audiences and The Events Industry Council’s on cybersecurity, it was a packed final day. From the Event…
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This year, CMI is partnering with Destinations International to bring together leading industry professionals to share learnings about the LGBTQ market; these are the people behind the success stories. Designed for marketing and sales executives of tourism boards, CVBs and DMOs (we also welcome accommodations, tour operators, travel suppliers, events, agencies, and meeting and wedding professionals!). Topics include:…
More details to be available closer to the time.
Association leaders have multiple responsibilities and face limitless distractions, competing demands, and a consistent pressure to perform, so it’s no wonder that the practice of mindfulness is increasing in the business world, including in associations. In this five-session online seminar series, learn firsthand from other executives who share techniques they use successfully to thrive and…
The half-day Finance for the Non-Financial Manager workshop will include a comprehensive overview of finance essentials, enabling you to use financial acumen to add value when your association makes growth and strategic allocation decisions. You’ll learn to become a better user of financial information so you’re a more strategic contributor to your association.
The AIPC Academy is the only comprehensive professional development program aimed specifically at international convention centre issues and opportunities. Updated annually to reflect the most current conditions, it is the best possible investment a centre can make in the development of fully professional staff ready to meet the facility management and marketing challenges of today…
A fully loaded two-day conference with leading international experts, event owners and select international showcases that will provide you with all the insights and inspiration you need to cultivate the event scene in your city. We proudly present event leaders and creatives from some of the world’s leading happenings and dissect the strategies that made…
Maritz Global Events’ resource library gives industry professionals the latest insights about solving their greatest challenges; experts share their insights on the value of face-to-face meetings and events, the journey to take your event global, and the power of experience design thinking.
Capturing valuable insights and conversations: Be immersed in engaging live or virtual technologies with MCI proven expertise to be aware of the latest trends. Explore the key topics that affect your business environment through the unique insights of MCI’s industry experts.
Access our free library of industry-leading templates and checklists to guide you through every stage of your international conference planning. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events, straight from some of the world’s foremost experts. Read the latest industry trends, opinion pieces and best-practice guides to shaping international events,…
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Spain Convention Bureau and the Spanish Tourist Office are bringing key destinations of Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Ibiza, to a ‘Taste of Spain’ networking lunch for UK Event Planners at the unique Amantia Restaurant, Birmingham, to give you the opportunity to discuss all the options open to you for future events in Spain. Attendees on the…
Building on the huge success and 100% satisfaction rates of the Global Forum in Dubai & Tokyo, BestCities is delighted to announce Bogotá as the host partner for this year’s event from 9-12 December 2018. Open to senior international association executives (or AMC on behalf of the associations), the Global Forum is the ideal opportunity for decision-makers considering hosting…
PCMA will host 2019 Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh, PA, known as” City of Bridges,” located at confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and recognized for its 400+ bridges and breath-taking vistas. The destination once known as “The Steel City” has transformed into a technology lightening rod with companies such as Google, Apple, Bosch, Facebook, Uber, Nokia,…
SITE’s signature annual event returns, with an agenda full of educational sessions, keynotes and speakers, certification opportunities, evening events and celebrations, award ceremonies, tours and more. Gather with SITE members and incentive travel professionals from around the world to explore our theme of Incentivising Diversity & Innovation. Ranked as one of the top tourist destinations, magnificent Bangkok, Thailand…
EMEC19 is tailor-made BY MPI’s European meeting and event community FOR meeting and event professionals to learn, network and forge and sustain business partnerships.
CONVENE is an annual Baltic Sea Regions premiere boutique exhibition for the meetings, events and incentives industry. The two-day business to business event is an international show case for the regional meetings industry which accelerates the interest in, and demand for, holding meetings, incentives and conferences in the region. CONVENE also serves as an exciting platform…
This dynamic one-day event offers Destination International members the opportunity to connect with the nation’s top planners in one location. Destination Showcase is designed to maximize opportunities for meaningful connections between planners and destination organizations and highlight how CVBs can drive more successful meetings.
Get the inside edge on BONDay to help your business soar! Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) is dedicated to helping exhibitors bond and learn through networking, education and shared thinking.
In recent years, the global meetings industry has begun to recognise Africa as a sought after destination. Meetings Africa showcases Africa’s diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals can partner to help transform our continent.
The event industry’s biggest and most prestigious recognition programme; the only independently audited events industry awards programme. Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the awards event brings together all sectors of the business to reward excellence of service and product and to enjoy fantastic cuisine, fine wines, excellent live entertainment and raise funds for charity.
We look forward to three interactive, informative and inspiring days with new knowledge, network and examples of best practice. Once you travel back home from the chapter meeting, our aim is that you will have concrete ideas and tools to implement in your daily work. The invited speakers will give inspiration, as well as present how…
The most important gathering of Asian exhibition industry leaders, this fast-paced, two day event is geared towards providing industry updates and insights from across the region, combined with quality networking and unique cultural experiences.
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