With the ICCA team (left) at the 59th ICCA Congress global kick-off.
The six-week “Road to Kaohsiung” journey of the 59th ICCA Congress has officially started. The Iceberg team has been invited to help out with the meeting’s hybrid / regional hub-and-spoke model hosting, so it was my great privilege to venture out to a DPRG TV studio a few days ago and moderate the impressive panel above.
As I write the kick-off press conference has been broadcast, and we are next live on September 22nd with a longer opening session. In Features this issue, you can see the press conference itself, plus an exclusive panel discussing how ICCA is tackling this year’s congress. Iceberg Founder James Latham interviews ICCA’s CEO Senthil Gopinath, along with President and CEO of Talley Management Group Gregg Talley, and Enterprise Vice President Global and Industry Presence at Maritz Global Events, Ben Goedegebuure. ICCA, Maritz and TMG are all Iceberg partners.
In News this issue, brave attempts to surmount current challenges, warnings from those about to succumb, and sad news of those who have already. Collaboration and unity were shining through as 1,419 event professionals, including 305 on site across twelve venues, attended UKickstart. Olympia London has said it is ready to reopen in October, as larger UK events resume. But in a separate announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the October 1st reopening date for UK business events is to be reviewed following a spike in the pandemic infection rate. Olympia’s big opener, The Meetings Show, has also pivoted to virtual since I posted that story. So has Iceberg partner IBTM World 2020, due to have taken place in Barcelona from December 1st to 3rd. The event will now be online between December 8th and 10th. Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, and research compiler Explori have released latest findings from their “Global Recovery Project”. What a surprise! Visitors and exhibitors significantly prefer live events to digital.
Also in News, Manchester’s EventCity has announced its closure and shelved plans for a brand new site. The venue will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. Hong Kong-based destination and event management company Pacific World has announced it will stop all meeting and event operations as of November after four decades in business. IEIA (the Indian Exhibitions Industry Association) has urged the Indian government to allow exhibitions to be staged again, to “ensure the survival of the industry and revival of the Indian economy”. Leaders of meetings and events in the Czech Republic have pleaded for government support and say without it up to 114,000 jobs may go. BECA (the Business Events Council of Australia) has welcomed AU$50 million funding announced by the Australian government to help support the restart of the country’s business events industry. The Singapore Tourism Board will accept applications for events of up to 250 people from October 1st, up from the current limit of 50 attendees. Planners must demonstrate ability to implement new health and safety measures. Meanwhile, an officer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has called upon the meetings industry urgently to speed up action on climate change. Miguel Naranjo warned there “would be no events industry” if the challenge is not met.
There’s still more on The Iceberg itself (click View all News). The World Economic Forum has postponed its Annual Meeting in Davos. The event booked for January will now run either “early next summer” or when the safety of both delegates and the host community can be guaranteed. The UK Government has made it mandatory to wear face masks inside conference and event venues. The limit on public gatherings in Copenhagen and Odense has lowered to 50 people after an increase in pandemic infections, but the limit for meetings and conferences in Denmark remains at 500. Aquatech China 2020, the largest global meeting for the Asian sector, has run at the Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center after a postponement of three months. Iceberg partner IMEX has just donated $250,000 to Meeting Professionals International to help members facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The MPI Foundation will distribute most of the donation, with the balance going to European chapters to help the industry to recover. Finally (and what a surprise!), Zoom shares hit a record high as the virtual meeting platform released financial results for Q2 2020. Revenue was 355 percent up on the same time last year, reaching $663.5 million.
All twelve Opinions this issue are fresh. When the time comes for business events to resume in person, convention centres across the US will be ready to deliver a new experience prioritising health and safety, via new technologies, cleaning protocols and staff positions. As the industry continues to press pause on large F2F meetings, venues and suppliers are still serving those in need. SDCC (San Diego Convention Center) has delivered 500,000 meals to the community since April. When the Serbian Federation of Beekeeping Association entered the “Incredible Impacts” grant awards run by Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance, its bidding stage legacy story wasn’t eligible. Nevertheless, SBFA’s work is discussed by the association and Serbia Convention Bureau. The Bulb, a UK-based sustainable event consultancy, has released a helpful guide to help meeting organisers navigate the “new normal” and make sure the progress made towards a sustainable industry is not lost.
Also in Opinions, reports from various business events, be they virtual, hybrid or in person. 2020’s DNC (Democratic National Convention) made history as the first US national political convention held online. The RNC (Republican National Convention) offered a second chance to see how a high-stakes, big-budget hybrid meeting can capture audience attention and engagement, despite some criticism over choice of venues and lack of social distancing. PCMA collaborated with the National Speakers Association and also the International Association of Speakers Bureaus on a virtual event addressing new industry business models. A new phone app let the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association meet safely but in person through the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Colorado. By mid-June the Netherlands had begun to welcome back international travellers. There are no attendance limits for meetings and events, but even so associations are wary. Consumer electronics show IFA has run at Messe Berlin, just 750 attendees allowed at each show segment. The hybrid multi-site event BOCOM saw players from across the German meetings industry demonstrating readiness for future event formats.
In Research you’ll find Positive Impact Events’s Exploring the Role of the SDGs in Building the Future of How Human Connection Happens, UFI’s The Trade Fair Industry in Asia – 16th Edition (August 2020), and UFI, AIPC and ICCA’s updated Good Practice Guidance: Addressing COVID-19 Requirements for Re-Opening Business Events – Version 2 (September 2020). All are Iceberg partners. Also just added is PCMA’s August COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard.
This issue’s parish notices start with previously published coronavirus resource pages from within our own partner community: the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), IMEX Group, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), plus publications Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT), Association Meetings International (AMI), Conference & Meetings World, Conference News, Exhibition World, Exhibition News and ASAE’s Associations Now Today’s Coronavirus Tracker.
There are association resources aplenty at the new website of Iceberg partner the Global Association Hubs, including a Free Virtual Meetings Guide made available by Julius Solaris of eventmanagerblog.com, and COVID-19 advisories from the four GAH destinations: Brussels, Dubai, Singapore and Washington DC.
As above, ICCA’s registration for its 59th ICCA Congress in Kaohsiung remains open. The hybrid format regional hubs are Cape Town, Sarawak, Luxembourg, Malaga and Riyadh, with Latin and North America events being held virtually. A six-week online programme is underway leading up to main dates November 1st to November 3rd. The registration page is here. ICCA has also partnered with the Geneva International Association Forum (GIAF), which was launched by the ASSOCIATIONWORLD Foundation in collaboration with the Geneva Convention Bureau and Congrex Switzerland earlier this year. GIAF also announced a further postponement to November 5th and 6th. The event, being held at the InterContinental Geneva, will refund ticket purchases if the event is cancelled or postponed again due to the pandemic.
UFI’s registration for its “glocalised” Global Congress 2020 in November remains open. There will be physical attendance in three locations: Dubai, Basel and Hong Kong. The main theme is “resilience”. The registration page is here. UFI Connects is also back with all new online talks.
IMEX’s PlanetIMEX virtual experience platform is set to deliver “personal and collective transformation” with a series of headliners from the business events community and beyond on October 13th and 14th as part of a full week of creative content. Users will enjoy an enriched experience and smoother user journey. The IMEX Group is working with new providers GRIP and Event.Video and also continuing its partnership with Cvent.
As mentioned above, Iceberg partner IBTM World 2020 has announced a pivot from the Barcelona-based live event between December 1st to 3rd, to “IBTM World Virtual” between December 8th and 10th.
Iceberg partner AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) has launched its 2021 Hosted Buyer program, designed to kickstart the industry and provide some certainty to participants in these uncertain times.
Iceberg partner AIPC’s Annual Congress will take place in Paris on September 24th and 25th. Hosted by the Palais de Congrès in Paris, members who are facing travel restrictions will be able to participate virtually.
Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance has posted Your Guide to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols at Every BestCities Destination.
Iceberg partner European Cities Marketing launched its first ever ECM Mentor Programme during the ECM Summer School 2.0. The industry-supported initiative has been created to secure networking, relationship building and knowledge exchange between newly-appointed and advanced professionals in the meetings industry.
Iceberg partner Mash Media has announced that the Exhibition News Awards (EN Awards) are postponed to February 5th 2021. Tickets are on sale here. Mash Media has also partnered with EVNTe.ch to launch the Everything Event Tech Guide, which will be unveiled with a series of event technology awards at International Confex 2021.
Iceberg partner GainingEdge has posted the advisories COVID-19 and Destination Promoters, Putting Some Order to the Chaos, What to Ask Associations Beyond “Will You Be Rebooking?”, Partnerships and Collaboration: Now Even More Essential, and Building Confidence with Your Stakeholders, plus insights Tracking the Return of the MICE Events Sector in a COVID-19 World, The MICE Sector in a COVID-19 World – Lockdown, Transition, New Normal, and Tracking the Return of the MICE Events Sector in a COVID-19 World – Part 2, plus Bulletin: COVID-19 Issue #1, Issue #2, Issue #3, Issue #4, Issue #5, Issue #6, Issue #7, Issue #8, Issue #9 and Issue #10.
Iceberg partner Boardroom has launched Boardroom MiniCourses, a dedicated online learning site loaded with short, high-quality educational videos. New strategy, communications and marketing MiniCourses are available. Contributors include Geneviève Leclerc, Chief Executive Officer of #MEET4IMPACT and Iceberg ambassador, plus International Pitch Coach David Beckett. Boardroom MiniCourses has an Instagram page here.
Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events is seeking 100,000 event professionals to build the future of the industry. There is a great video here.
There are extensive further COVID-19 resources at the Events Industry Council (EIC), the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), Meetings Mean Business and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Northstar Meetings Group has posted a running list of New Dates for Events and Conventions Postponed Due to Coronavirus, and updated its Pulse Survey in August.
As mentioned above, the hybrid 2020 edition of The Meetings Show in the UK has just pivoted to an all-virtual event. Ongoing increases in the UK rate of COVID-19 infections and the tightening of government restrictions have forced the change.
The organisers of CHS Birmingham have announced that the show will be moved to spring 2021, following discussions with exhibitors, stakeholders, the event’s venue and its Advisory Board. The exhibition will now take place April 20th 2021, but organisers will also be running a series of smaller “buyer meetings” in October.
The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), the umbrella body for the UK’s events industry, has launched a reopening survey. The poll will show how industry suppliers across the country are preparing to reopen safely. Take part here.
The IRF, FICP and SITE Foundation partner each year with market leader Oxford Economics to conduct the most comprehensive research ever into the incentive travel industry and its future evolution. This year’s Incentive Travel Industry Index survey is now open for submissions.
Twelve event agencies have put their support behind a new sustainability concept called Isla. Described as an organisation, its creators say it will support businesses to “implement consistent standards of environmental impact, measurement and management of events”, and “accelerate the event industry’s transition to a sustainable future”.
EventWell, the UK charitable social enterprise which educates and campaigns for better mental health and wellbeing in the events industry, has announced that Event Wellbeing Week will be Event Wellbeing Month this year. EventWell has partnered with The Shaper Group to launch EventWell Pledge, a peer-to-peer pledge and support programme designed to offer help for event professionals who are in need or experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
Stress Matters, the event industry workplace wellbeing organisation, has launched the #MHFAEveryEvent campaign to promote workplace wellbeing and offer free training and support to out of work event professionals. To get involved in the campaign, apply for mental health first aid training or to apply for a gifted place on the training course, visit the Stress Matters website. The Stress Matters support line, set up in April to provide event professionals with mental health guidance during the COVID-19 crisis, has been replaced by a new Support Circle service.
Finally and as always, The Iceberg reiterates its call for you to join our Global Ambassador Program. You can see ambassadors listed on The Iceberg homepage, Ambassadors page, and in Business Events World below. Visit Call for Ambassadors 2019 & 2020 to find out more.
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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The 59th ICCA Congress in Kaohsiung is to showcase a unique and hybrid hub-and-spoke model, with regional events across the globe coinciding with the main congress and sharing the experience for those unable to attend it. The locations include the main host destination, along with Kuching, Cape Town, Luxembourg, Malaga and Riyadh. An all-virtual option is…
Seoul cautiously resumed business events in June, starting with exhibitions and congresses. Dental meeting SIDEX was the first large-scale example with 4,860 attendees over two days. After their firm focus on sanitation protocols, organisers confirmed two weeks later that no COVID-19 cases had arisen after it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg, has released a manifesto that sets out arguments as to why business events can and should be utilised to drive economic recovery and renewal in the post-COVID-19 era. The document was assembled with the advice and input of a broad range of industry leaders. This was…
Iceberg partners ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) and BestCities Global Alliance have announced that their “Incredible Impacts” grants, which awards associations leaving lasting legacies, are to return for their fourth year in a row, with the partnership also renewed for a further three years. Incredible Impacts is now open for submissions, and presents an opportunity…
During 2018 MeetDenmark, with consultancy and Iceberg partner GainingEdge, began a major project on legacy. The study involved desk research on fifty international associations and fifty destinations as well as interviews with twenty from each of the two groups. Some of the findings on the current global landscape were published last year in the MeetDenmark…
Wedged in amongst some of Norway’s most impressive fjords, Stavanger boasts a range of water-based and engineering industries, like shipbuilding and the building of rigs, platforms and subsea installations. But energy is the key sector, and “Europe’s energy capital” has a committed convention bureau keen to attract association meetings. From Boardroom…
The legacies of business events should start early on in life. July 2019 saw a new era begin for Malaysia’s youngest children on the back of the 2nd Sarawak Conference on Inclusive Early Childhood Education. Organised by Fu Yuan Kindergarten, the three-day meeting brought together more than 800 people from over 20 countries. From Boardroom…
Toulouse recently joined Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index, which measures and benchmarks cities’ green strategy and performance. The opening of the new LEED certified MEETT Convention Centre, scheduled for the end of 2020, shows the environmental commitment of the city’s partners. From Boardroom…
As the world’s population grows, the percentage of people living in cities is rising steadily. The future success of humanity is therefore more and more tied to, and even defined by, the future success of the city as a model. In that, of course, business events have a critical role to play. Professor Greg Clark has…
Australia’s business events landscape is surveyed here in a rich collection of articles. BESydney’s Lyn Lewis-Smith, ICC Sydney’s Geoff Donaghy, ACC’s Simon Burgess, MCEC’s Peter King, Brisbane Marketing’s Juliet Alabaster, plus the team behind JMIC’s (the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s) case studies, all offer up viewpoints. From Meetings International…
When President Nelson Mandela opened the Durban ICC in 1997, it was South Africa’s first international convention centre. It has since then been voted “Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre” by the World Travel Awards no fewer than seventeen times. But some of the venue’s greatest legacies lie in environmental sustainability. From Boardroom…
The recent staging of Iceberg partner AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) was not only a platform to showcase the strength and resilience of the region’s events industry, but also as always of destination Melbourne itself. Last October Melbourne Convention Bureau posted record results for the financial year 2018 – 2019, with over…
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Iceberg partner IBTM Events has said that IBTM World 2020, due to have taken place in Barcelona, will pivot to a fully virtual event now between December 8th and 10th. The move is a result of the unpredictable travel restrictions that still persist because of the ongoing pandemic crisis. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Manchester’s EventCity conference and exhibition venue has announced its closure and pulled the plans for its new centre. The UK venue had been planning to close and relocate to a new site (pictured). Owners Peel Group however now say EventCity will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. From Exhibition World…
The Indian Exhibitions Industry Association has urged the Indian government to allow exhibitions to be staged once again, to “ensure the survival of the industry and revival of the Indian economy”. India’s events industry has also asked government to organise an economic support package for the sector. From Exhibition World…
BECA (the Business Events Council of Australia) has welcomed AU$50 million funding announced by the Australian government to support the restart of the country’s business events industry. Targeted support is designed to drive confidence and to create momentum, positioning the industry to rebound as the market conditions improve. From Exhibition World…
Collaboration and unity were shining through as 1,419 event professionals, including 305 on site across twelve venues, attended UKickstart. Started by etc.venues and with support from twelve sector associations, the new event for many was a first meeting face-to-face since the crisis began. Photo: Hosted by NML, via Twiitter. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The October 1st reopening date for UK business events is to be reviewed following a spike in the pandemic’s infection rate, the Prime Minister has announced. Boris Johnson also said social gatherings with more than six people will be made illegal and are punishable by dispersal, fines and arrest. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Singapore Tourism Board will accept applications from organisers for events of up to 250 people from October 1st, up from today’s limit of 50 attendees. Planners piloting such events must demonstrate ability to implement new Safe Management Measures and to meet health and safety metrics. From Association Meetings International…
Olympia London is set to reopen in October, beginning with a series of hybrid events including industry fixture The Meetings Show. After working with organisers and other industry bodies, the facility has set out a robust plan of procedures in alignment with the new All Secure Standard endorsed by Government. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Meetings and events leaders in the Czech Republic have pleaded for government support and say that without it up to 114,000 jobs are at risk. An alliance of industry bodies has warned impact on conferences, trade fairs and cultural events from the COVID-19 pandemic will be “enormous”. From Association Meetings International…
Hong Kong-based destination and event management company Pacific World has announced it is to stop all meeting and event operations as of November after four decades in the sector. PW parent company TUI Destination Experiences said the decision was made as a result of impact COVID-19 is having. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
An officer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has called on the meetings industry urgently to speed up action on climate change. Miguel Naranjo warned there “would be no events industry” if the challenge is not met. Event professionals, he said, had a responsibility to contribute. From Conference News…
Iceberg partner UFI, the global association of the exhibition sector, and research compiler Explori have released latest findings from their “Global Recovery Project”. Visitors and exhibitors significantly prefer live events to digital (by 83 percent and 77 percent). Only 13 percent of exhibitors have sponsored online third-party events. From Exhibition World…
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This project collected, analysed and synthesised the findings of all prior Joint Meetings Industry Council Case Studies to deliver a verdict on the broader contributions that conferences, congresses, trade shows, convention centres and bureaux deliver to destinations, communities, industries and economies. The cases were drawn from four continents: Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. The…
The China-LAC Summit is an annual meeting organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It is a key entrepreneurial event for companies from China and the Latin American and Caribbean countries. The Punta del Este Convention and Exhibition Center in Uruguay hosted the 11th edition of the…
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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As authorities around the world are increasingly clearing business events to run again, organisers of conventions and exhibitions, as well as venue and centre operators need to put respective measures in place that create safe environments for participants. A new guide on the matter identifies and promotes globally emerging standards, protocols and good practices. Good…
The latest UFI / Business Strategies Group report on the trade fair industry in Asia has now been published complete with the latest updated statistical information from 2019, as well as detailed commentary on the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaflet here… The Trade Fair Industry in Asia – 16th Edition (August 2020) –…
After reader input, latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey has changed the wording “cannibalise face-to-face attendance” to “impact face-to-face attendance” in the survey questions. Both planners and suppliers expect digital tech will have a greater impact throughout the rest of this year: an average of 57 percent in August versus an average of 47 percent in…
This white paper from Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events has been written to engage with CEOs, corporate heads of sustainability, global government staff, United Nations event organisers, association CEOs and corporate heads of events, plus any others in action innovating around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It explains why the event industry is best-placed to…
While some associations are adapting quicker than others, there remains a general misconception on what is a virtual event. Is it anything as simple as a giant Zoom call, or does it entail more than that? Can simply renting a platform solve everything? What is the role now of event planners? Creating a virtual congress is as…
Earlier this year, the Incentive Research Foundation published the results of a pulse survey fielded between April 2nd and April 16th COVID-19’s Impact on the Incentive Travel Industry (April 2020). Given the continued challenges for the industry related to the pandemic, IRF fielded a study between July 1st and July 15th, 2020 to understand the…
As part of the #aNewTomorrow initiative, Iceberg partner ECM (European Cities Marketing) invited ten Long Thinkers – experts in their fields, industry influencers and purposeful changemakers – to look further ahead, beyond thee crisis and towards a New Tomorrow for tourism and destinations. These are now all compiled in this catalogue and shared anew. A…
In July 2020 the Events Industry Council released the Meeting and Event Design Accepted Practices Guide. It is intended to serve as a resource and educational tool for industry professionals to utilise. This guidance also is intended to be global and universal in nature. The work will continue to evolve through regional workshops led by task…
A combined group of members from the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Association Event Venues (AEV) and the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), led by the associations, has launched the All Secure Standard, a risk assessment based framework of COVID-19 secure industry best practice and guidance for business events and consumer shows which…
The results of the July COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey of 476 planners and 212 suppliers reveal a sharper divide between the two in several key areas. For instance, only one third of planners expect to see smaller local and regional events leading the recovery once the crisis is over (41 percent in the June survey),…
For the fifth year in a row, IACC is pleased to present a ground-breaking report that combines research and insights into the top issues facing the global meetings and conference industry. The 2020 IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ report brings together insights from meeting and conference venues, hotels and urban conference venues across three continents,…
This study is based on a global survey, conducted in June 2020. It represents up-to-date information on the development and outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 25 specific markets. Global Exhibition Barometer 25th Edition (July 2020) (UFI website) Global Exhibition Barometer 25th Edition (July 2020) Infographic (UFI website) UFI Global Barometer…
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The hybrid multi-site event BOCOM saw players from across Germany’s meetings industry demonstrating readiness for future event formats. Several hundred participants met on-site at the central conference venue in Berlin and at the hubs in Amsterdam, Essen and Vienna, as well as virtually from all continents. From GCB…
Consumer electronics show IFA has run at Messe Berlin, as German trade shows and exhibitions restarted this September. In line with local COVID regulations, attendance was limited: just 750 attendees allowed at each show segment, so invitation only for industry experts and sector media. From UFI…
When the time comes for in person events to start up again, convention centres across the US will be ready to deliver an experience prioritising health and safety. Much of that will be the result of new technologies, new cleaning protocols, and new staff positions that venues have in place. From Associations Now…
When the SBFA (Serbian Federation of Beekeeping Association) entered the “Incredible Impacts” grants run by the Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance this year, its bidding stage legacy story wasn’t eligible. Even so, SBFA’s efforts are discussed by the association and Serbia Convention Bureau. From BestCities Global Alliance…
As the industry continues to press pause on larger in person events, venues and suppliers have moved resources to serve those in need. The San Diego Convention Center has since April delivered 500,000 meals to those in need through its scheme Operation Shelter to Home, 3,500 meals a day at peak. From PCMA…
In mid-June the Netherlands started to welcome international travellers back to its borders. There is no limit for maximum attendees at meetings and events, but associations even so are wary, and with countries like the US, India and Australia still unable to travel, planners are considering best strategy for the coming autumn. From Boardroom…
The pandemic is forcing so many sectors to rethink how they operate, including business events. So PCMA, the 7,000-member association for the industry, collaborated with the National Speakers Association and also the International Association of Speakers Bureaus on a virtual event addressing new business models. From Forbes…
2020’s RNC (Republican National Convention) offered event industry strategists another opportunity to see how organisers of a high-stakes, big-budget meeting can answer the challenges of capturing audience attention and engagement during the pandemic, still getting criticism over their choice of venues and lack of social distancing. From PCMA…
How do you make sure your event adheres to US Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines? A new tool let the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association meet safely but in person through the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting this July in Colorado. NCBA worked with 42Chat to launch a symptom screening tool. From PCMA…
When Marco Oelschlegel became head of Berlin’s Convention Bureau in January 2020, neither he nor the rest of the world knew how difficult and strange the coming few months would be. So just how has the start of his new role ended up being, and what is Berlin’s “new normal” like? From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Bulb, a UK-based sustainable event consultancy, has released a guide to help meeting organisers to navigate the “new normal” and make sure the progress made in creating a sustainable industry is not lost. The increase in need for PPE (personal protective equipment) has seen a rise in plastic pollution. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
2020’s DNC (Democratic National Convention) made history for being the first time a US national political convention was held online. For any professional working in the events industry, it was an historic chance to watch and learn from a high-profile, all-or-nothing experiment in how to capture audience attention and engagement. From PCMA…
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Welcome to our all-inclusive video hub for associations. Learn anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. Our video minicourses, all given by specialised experts, have been structured into easily managed content which will help you overcome any challenge you might have. New courses will be added every month.
Enhance your career with short, industry courses or build organizational capabilities with relevant company learning for immediate impact. Our extensive on-site training and coaching programmes are now online to make them more easily accessible for business event professionals anywhere. The content has been specifically designed for convention bureaus, convention centres and any suppliers to the…
We have created a library of resources to not only help you through COVID-19 but also to ensure that you’re ready to get back to face-to-face business on the other side. Because there will be another side. You’ll find webinars and videos from key industry professionals, providing you with the great insights you need to keep…
UFI connects is a way to stay connected, to get through this pandemic, and to be ready for the time afterwards. It is a programme of regular talks, panels, and webinar sessions – organized by the UFI team for you. Recordings of previous sessions are available to view.
The Bottom Line is designed for non-financially-oriented individuals, employees with new budgeting responsibilities, or people who are just looking to broaden their scope of knowledge. You’ll learn or review the basics of financial information—the key terms and concepts that even former humanities majors need to understand in order to succeed in thriving organizations. By the end…
It really is possible to add immense value through values. This interactive session explores values-based leadership through two effective (and free) assessments. Through the lens of the VIA and SCARF assessments—and other best practices that we will discuss together—participants will: discover their most cherished values or character strengths; xplore how to leverage those values to amplify professional impact; keep…
The CEO Symposium provides a unique opportunity for you and your volunteer leader to maximize the leadership partnership. Explore how you can best work together to effectively carry out your association’s mission and enhance future success. The expert faculty from Tecker International, LLC, will help you and your leadership partner come to a common understanding…
The recent COVID-19 pandemic produced shifts in member behavior and drove membership models to evolve. Due to the pandemic, many successful associations are moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to varied membership options and more individualized engagement opportunities to embrace the “new normal” in a post COVID world. This online seminar series will offer insights into…
The first step to becoming a more effective leader is to improve yourself from within, which can mean developing your emotional intelligence, improving your ethical foundations, and becoming more mindful, among other valuable internal qualities. Enroll in this collection to explore several aspects of leadership and learn how you can be a better leader. Lessons…
The FYP brings together 35 young industry professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds. Over 3 days, the selected applicants are given networking opportunities, educational sessions, social activities and guidance worth their weights in gold from some of the most influential meetings industry figures. Participants will complete the FYP with a wealth of knowledge, a…
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A new starting point for exhibitions is here… Recognition and celebration is what we all need right now, but the awards signifies something much more important, it will give us a template and new starting point in which we can kick start awards in a face-to-face environment and not just with confidence but with style!…
A minimum of 10 and maximum 15 ICCA Destination Marketing members each invite an accompanying association executive to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. Association executives must conform to strict selection criteria, so ensuring that participating Destination Marketing members can promote their company and services to senior decision-makers who are actively looking for…
This event is open to ECM members only, specifically to tourism professionals working on city cards schemes (Product Managers, Project Leaders, Marketing Manager) who are looking to improve – but also share – their knowledge with other participants. Meet and network with European colleagues managing city cards schemes, share knowledge and insights to stay ahead of…
The congress has a hybrid format and is themed: “Transforming Global Events Together”. The event will allow ICCA’s global community to connect with each other and explore new ideas, formats and technologies. ICCA’s global community of member-suppliers and associations can experience the future of global events live in Kaohsiung, at a regional hub or virtually….
Accompanying association representatives should be decision makers/influencers of an International conference with more than 500 delegates and must use a local PCO (not a Core PCO). Find an accompanying guest now! No other event offers the same opportunity for association executives and ICCA’s meeting management members to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made…
UFI’s annual Global Congress is known as the “must attend” event for all industry professionals. With travel restrictions expected to continue over the coming months, instead of holding the event in one place, we will adopt a ‘glocalised’ approach – Dubai, UAE 15-16/11/20 | Basel, Switzerland 18-20/11/20 | Hong Kong (dates tbc) | Online 15-20/11/20
The BestCities Global Alliance is gathering industry thought-leaders, international associations and destination partners from around the globe under one digital roof for the anticipated return of their annual Global Forum – with a virtual twist. There has been much to learn from the challenges that the business events sector has faced over the last year, and…
Due to incredibly unpredictable travel restrictions, we’ve decided to transition IBTM World 2020 to a virtual experience, incorporating one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers, as well as a knowledge programme, with a range of targeted education sessions. Exhibitors and buyers will benefit from IBTM’s bespoke appointment system, matchmaking buyer’s business needs with supplier’s services to…
Immerse yourself in new, interactive opportunities designed to help move your organization forward at this year’s revitalized Technology Exploration Conference. Get real-world experience in our new, hands-on tech training seminar and attend a series of learning sessions and demos from the best in the industry. Discover how the latest technology can drive your organization to…
This event will see ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter – the largest Chapter in ICCA’s global membership with nearly 300 members coming in full force, enabling Xiamen to showcase its local expertise to international attendees to encourage collaboration, innovation and business exchange. In turn, Asia Pacific delegates will be provided with opportunities to advance their knowledge…
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Jane Vong Holmes is Senior Manager – Asia of GainingEdge, GainingEdge, a consultancy specialising in the business events industry since 2004, and a proud Partner of The Iceberg. Jane has been part of the consulting team on several GainingEdge projects in Asia, working with bureaus, tourism offices and convention centres in Hangzhou, Japan, Malaysia, South…
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