April 27th 2018. The profound power of a face-to-face meeting.
In Business Events World issue 18 last September I posted the picture below. It’s of a drab conference room that sits in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
As President Trump was trading barbs with Kim Jong-un, and as missiles were being test-fired by North Korea, I wondered whether this uninspiring venue was awaiting a booking. “Some kind of peace accord at which heads can be knocked together to de-escalate hostilities?”.
How amazing it was to see on April 27th 2018 that very meeting taking place… and between the North and South Korean leaders themselves. A handshake across the border, some genuine-looking smiles from both Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, and the power of face-to-face is palpable. The Panmunjeom Declaration they signed could create a real legacy for the region a mere 65 years after armistice… if it is honoured.
The Iceberg will be discussing its commission later.
In this issue of Business Events World and on The Iceberg, Opinions (click the right arrow) calls the Korean rapprochement a legacy of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. In the same section… Farnborough’s new venue, associations in China, the USPs of PCOs, late conference scheduling, a child’s play legacy from the World Economic Forum, how best to spell “fam trip”, and how best to address gender imbalance on speaker panels.
In News (still clicking the right arrow!) you will find Prague’s coming O2 Universum and London’s QEII Centre results. Dubai is spending $42.5 billion on Expo 2020 infrastructure. La La Land’s Convention Center will be harvesting “Another Day of Sun”. Also… WTM Africa 2018, a new incentive study, Visit Victoria welcomes further government meetings investment, and growth or other sector strategy stories for Blackpool, Liverpool, Glasgow and Vienna. Finally, Puerto Rico’s new DMO says the territory is ready and eager for group business.
New in Features you can enjoy the knowledge hubs and meetings appeal of the Hauts-de-France region, and the legacy of the 66th International Astronautical Congress 2015 in Jerusalem.
New in Research there is the IRF 2018 Award Program Value & Evidence White Paper and the Association Global Growth Trends Survey 2013 – 2018.
Finally, new in JMIC Case Studies there is International Research Conferences: The Academic Impact. This is a brilliant, detailed study of the benefits and barriers for individual researchers and universities.
Until our next reunification…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
The JSA conference room in the Korean DMZ The Iceberg posted in September.
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You might not think that the second man to walk on the moon would need a conference name badge. Back in 2015 Buzz Aldrin addressed the 66th International Astronautical Congress in Jerusalem. Hosted by the Israel Space Agency, the event saw over 2,000 participants brought together from 60 countries, and has left a significant legacy. From Boardroom…
With a network of eight major association destinations, the Hauts-de-France region definitely plays alongside the big champions of the meetings industry. It is also now committed to an ambitious and innovative policy: the Third Industrial Revolution, a concept right at the meeting point of energy transition, digital transformation and new economic models. From Boardroom…
The China-LAC Summit is an annual event 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 was honored to host the 11th edition of…
With more than 37 million people living in greater Tokyo, the city is probably the world’s largest metropolitan area. As the 2020 Summer Olympic Games approach, Japan’s capital is growing even busier with the preparation of infrastructure, transport and human resources. Business events are right at the centre of this development fever. From Boardroom…
Australian cities are leveraging medical knowledge and research specialities to secure major events and realise the investment, employment, healthcare and other legacies that result from them. The 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014), which took place in Melbourne after over two years’ extensive planning and preparation, might well be the epitome of this. From Boardroom…
From ICC Sydney, to NZICC in Auckland, from Setia SPICE in Penang, to the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Rome’s Convention Center La Nuvola, the Paris Convention Centre, ICC Wales, and CRCC in Costa Rica, the construction of new convention centres across the world suggests face to face has a future. From Association Meetings International…
When the Singapore Tourism Bureau invited several international and European associations to come over and visit local societies and conference venues, they did not expect much symbiosis between these different organisations. But the group started to see synergies across its various fields of expertise and even dreamed up a joint congress together. From Boardroom…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
Montreal has become Canada’s cultural capital: not quite North American, but not entirely European either. Already home to top-notch researchers in fields like genetics, aging, economics and life sciences, Montreal’s scientific community is building on its international reputation. It is doing this both by winning scientific awards and by attracting large-scale international conventions. From Boardroom…
The longest inhabited city on the globe, Jerusalem is not only holy to three major world religions but also an evolving association destination. Thanks to the presence of 17 academic institutions, the Israeli capital is also a modern-day knowledge hub. It boasts the largest number of start-ups and venture capital investments per capita anywhere. From Boardroom…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
In November the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) welcomed a record number of delegates to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300 members, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. During the event, the inaugural winners of the “Incredible Impacts” grants supported by both…
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It has been seven months since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing widespread devastation and crippling power outages. Now the new Puerto Rico Destination Marketing Organization, a merger of Meet Puerto Rico and the leisure-focused Puerto Rico Tourism Co., says the territory is ready and eager to host group business. Photo: Jaime Olmo. From Meetings & Conventions…
London’s threatened QEII Centre has had its most successful financial year to date, achieving a £14.2 million turnover in 2017/18, an increase of 24 percent on the previous year. A £15m capital investment project and rebrand began at the venue in 2013, since when turnover has increased by 48 percent and occupancy ratio by 38 percent. From Meetpie.com…
Visit Victoria has welcomed the Victorian Government’s further investment in tourism and events. Building on previous funds, the Victorian 2018/19 budget provides an additional AU$51.1 million for marketing and major events, including AU$21.8 million over two years to ensure Visit Victoria continues to draw lucrative business events to Melbourne. From CIM News Magazine…
Glasgow is to host the 2020 World Congress on Computational Intelligence, a flagship event of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This brings to twelve the IEEE meetings the city has won since 2015, which have attracted 8,000 delegates in total and contributed £14.8 million to the local economy. From Association Meetings International…
Research into the effectiveness of motivation awards has long shown that a well-conceived and well-run incentive, recognition or reward programme improves productivity and performance. Now the Incentive Research Foundation has released a new study summarising the benefits and reasons for them, as well as the evidence backing the claims up. From Incentive What Motivates…
Liverpool has secured two high-profile medical meetings likely to generate £15m for the city, says conference venue ACC Liverpool. The venue will host the International Orthoptic Association’s congress in 2020, and the Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology the same year. 1,000 and 3,500 delegates are respectively expected. From Association Meetings International…
The Vienna Convention Bureau’s end-of-year results have underlined how crucial international association congresses are to a city’s balance sheet. Such events accounted for just 20 percent of meetings. But the segment represented 51 percent of the participants, 74 percent of the overnights and 79 percent of the €1.2 billion impact. From Association Meetings International…
WTM Africa 2018, the continent’s most highly-anticipated travel trade show, has taken place in Cape Town with a record number of exhibitors. The event is a major business facilitator for the region. Content included the new WTM Africa Festivals, the role of women in tourism, and the potential of the local meetings sector. From the Event…
Every day in La La Land is “Another Day of Sun”. Now the Los Angeles Convention Center has unveiled the largest solar array on any similar municipally-owned venue in the US. The new 2.21 megawatt array on the South Hall roof comprises 6,228 panels and brings LACC’s total solar capacity to 2.58 MW. From Successful Meetings…
Blackpool saw the biggest growth in UK overnight business travel in 2017, with 55 percent more room nights than in 2016. The upsurge comes ahead of the town’s new £25 million conference and exhibition centre, set to open in 2019. According to new research there is significant growth also from Peterborough, Preston and Bradford. From Meetpie.com…
Dubai is spending $42.5bn on major hotel, theme park and transport projects ahead of international trade fair Expo 2020. The first World Expo staged in the Middle East, the six-month event is forecast to attract up to 300,000 visitors a day, half from abroad, when it opens in October 2020. From CIM News Magazine…
The Prague Convention Bureau says operator Bestsport is building a new congress and cultural centre next to O2 Arena, the existing sports and entertainment venue. The O2 Universum is scheduled to open in mid-2019, and will have 21 halls of different sizes, the largest able to accommodate up to 4,500. From Meetings & Conventions…
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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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For almost 30 years, GLOBALSTRAT has been collecting independent data on how international associations are approaching global membership, programs and engagement. This valuable information and insights are used to help associations to make better informed decisions when developing their international strategies and business plans. According to the United Nations, the world population is expected to…
Most leaders expect their investments in incentive, reward and recognition (IRR) programs to drive more sales, increase revenue, result in a larger share of the market, or produce some other return on investment. Leaders may also seek measurable improvements in production costs, product quality, reduced accidents and down-time, lower attrition and absenteeism, and increased engagement,…
Have a look Pacific World’s Destination Index, a unique tool to provide corporate, association and agency planners with an advanced indicator of destination popularity for international meetings, incentives and events. The index is based on over 5,000 international enquiries received worldwide, actual meeting and event results and highly valuable feedback from attending delegates from around…
“2017 was a good year for UK meetings industry sales growth” reports Louise Goalen, Chair of HBAA, as the HBAA Meetings Barometer results for 2017 are revealed. The average spend per meeting and average spend per delegate in the UK both grew significantly year on year in 2017, despite a slight decline in the average…
Ashfield Meetings & Events is pleased to announce a 2018 follow-up study to the 2016 “Future Of Meetings” white paper. “The Science Of Healthcare Professional Meetings” compares and contrasts the perceptions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) across a wide variety of speciality areas, and dives deeper into the ongoing evolution of the medical meetings landscape. By looking…
A new research report examining “The Rise of Midsize Cities in the Meetings Industry” in North America and Europe, commissioned by the IMEX Group and developed by Skift, has been published. The free 40+ page report carefully examines why and how some midsize cities (historically known as second-tier cities, a label they’ve now shaken off) have managed…
This Economic Significance Study (ESS), conducted by Oxford Economics, quantifies a vital industry that contributes billions of dollars to the US economy, while creating millions of jobs in almost every community in the country. The data in this study provides a clear and credible statistical base on which to gain recognition for this vast and…
The IRF 2018 Trends Study highlights ten key trends that will affect organizations, their products and services, and the workforce in 2018. From market optimism to concerns about risk and safety, the study identifies key areas of change and their implications for workforce engagement, incentive travel and recognition. IRF 2018 Trends Study (IRF website version)
This study is based on a global survey, concluded in January 2018. It represents up to date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 17 specific countries and geographic zones. Global Exhibition Barometer 20th Edition (January 2018)
The United Kingdom is a preferred host for international meetings, conferences and events because of its economic, academic and industry sector strengths. That applies equally to the major gateway cities and the many regional cities spread across every corner of the UK, each with extensive clusters of expertise in advanced and creative industries. This sector…
Positive Impact has marked the end of its campaign during the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism with the launch of a report at IBTM World “Telling the Story of the Power of Events”. The report which has had input from five academics and had a three month period of accepting contributions from across the global…
UFI’s World Map of Exhibition Venues (November 2017) reveals that the total venue space available for exhibitions has grown 7.4 percent in the last six years, from 32,500,000 to 34,900,000 square metres (gross indoor exhibition space, venues over 5,000 square metres). The fastest growth is in venues offering more than 100,000 square metres, a rise of…
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Despite a recent report that men give more than twice as many talks than women at scientific conferences, there are signs that female-to-male ratios are improving at some events. One of the best strategies for tackling the gender agenda is to include women as part of the team that selects speakers. From PCMA Convene…
While The Iceberg prefers to write “familiarisation trips”, the rest of the industry seems to stick with the shorter “fam trips”, or sometimes the capital “FAM trips”. Which should be considered correct? One of our more particular partners places the use of that shift key under the microscope. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The Iceberg has previously covered the legacy created by Calgary for the International Play Association World Conference. Now delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, have also taken time out to talk about play. Unilever, LEGO Foundation and IKEA Group founded the Real Play Coalition in partnership with National Geographic. From PCMA Convene…
As meeting marketers try to turn prospective participants into registered attendees, it might seem that publishing a complete schedule early would be more than helpful. But in a fast moving knowledge sector, like that of the American Association of Cancer Research’s Annual Meeting, this can become a game of juggling crystal balls. From PCMA…
At the recent International Association of Professional Congress Organisers Annual Meeting in Tokyo, an Iceberg partner asked four distinguished industry voices – including IAPCO’s new president – what value a PCO brings to the table for associations, what sector trends they were seeing, and how they saw the importance of IAPCO certification. From Boardroom…
Even before the leaders of North and South Korea shook hands over the Demilitarized Zone border, plans were already being made for a possible meeting between Kim Jong-un and US President Trump. Is this political coup the legacy of an event: the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
Two years ago the authorities in China began the long process of decoupling an astonishing 700,000 associations or scientific societies from government sponsorship and control. International conferences also must have local partners. Olivia Jia, Senior Manager of consultants IME and publisher of the China Social Organisation, reflects on working with associations in China. From Boardroom…
The new £30 million hall at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre is now open for business. A year after an initial tour of the site, one Iceberg partner finds the finished facilities to be “gleaming” and “sparkling”: the new Hall 1 big enough to house three football pitches. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
This Global Meetings Industry Day IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer has been reflecting on how the events and meetings industry has been evolving. In a press release marking GMID, Bauer shared four major tipping points that have transformed the sector over the last decade: globalisation, the emergence of innovation hubs, technology, and the TED factor. From BizBash…
Proposed Trump administration legislation, if approved next month, will require most US visa applicants to relinquish all their social media identities from the previous five years. Convention bureaux across the country have already reacted, but what will the move mean for visiting international delegates? From editor’s blog at Assocation Meetings International…
In the US April 10th is Equal Pay Day. The date chosen reinforces a point. It takes women nearly four months longer to catch up to a man’s annual salary. Last year Convene’s Annual Salary Survey reported that female respondents earned 22 percent less than male respondents. This year’s survey has now closed. From PCMA Convene…
TED has just announced The Audacious Project, which will apply a startup funding model to bold, new philanthropic legacy projects every year. According to the press release, it is a “joint endeavor housed at TED, to surface and fund critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives”. From PCMA Convene…
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In this high-impact, interactive session, Jan Spence will share actionable tools event planners can utilize when dealing with the stressful, chaotic details of planning, prepping, and executing to truly surpass their role as a “just a meeting planner” by moving to the next level to become a show producer. Attendees will be challenged to step…
Change is on the way, and by most accounts it will intensify and accelerate in the years ahead. You and your volunteers will be able to lead—rather than react—if you see it coming. What will your organization be doing a decade from now? How can you predict the changes that will affect how you work…
Meetings are big investments and stakeholder expectations for measurable value based outcomes are at an all-time high. Understand trends that validate the need for a meeting activity, data & spend management process; Examine the umbrella of meeting data and value categories to track and incorporate into an action plan; Learn how to assess and leverage this data to enhance…
PCMA Education Conference – Where New Ideas and Event Design Converge. As learning styles rapidly evolve and experience expectations continue to rise, do you find yourself in need of idea butane to stay ahead of the curve? Activities include conversations with thought leaders who bring fresh outside perspectives. Together we will celebrate dialogue as we reimagine the…
No matter event length or type, meeting professionals most likely will need to ship things there. Make sure your materials arrive on time and in good condition with tips on best and next practices in shipping goods and services from recent MPI research. Understand service providers, roles and responsibilities; discover best practices to help you…
The CIS, Certified Incentive Specialist, is an entry level certification program from SITE. Professionals from around the globe will acquire in an efficient manner a broad comprehension of the incentive travel industry. All emerging professionals, faculty members and students aspiring to enter this specialized segment of the meetings and events industry may use CIS as a…
AIPC’s most important annual event brings together CEO’s, senior level industry professionals and provocative keynote speakers in a focussed exchange dedicated specifically to the educational, networking and strategic planning needs of international convention centres. It is widely recognized for the priority it places on practical, insightful and industry-specific content on a global scale.
Join fellow senior executives in advancing your career to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The CDME program focuses on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
An introduction to the unique role of exhibitions throughout history in the promotion of business relations, products and services. Ideal for industry colleagues who would like to get some more information on the history and development of our industry, sales approaches, marketing strategies and many things more, this 16-hours programme is available to all for downloading…
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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The World Education Congress is MPI’s signature event through which it delivers premier education, business and networking opportunities for meeting and event planners. Every programming decision MPI is making for #WEC18 is toward the goal of revitalizing you and the events you plan. From the keynotes to concurrent sessions; from the networking functions to the…
Global Exhibitions Day is a chance to celebrate the exhibition industry and highlight its positive impact on jobs, business, innovation and local investment. Online, and through an array of national and local events, people on every continent are expected to join the GED18 campaign, from venues and organisers to students, local partners and public authorities.
City Fair is a one day event of pre-scheduled appointments dedicated to the lucrative and growing sector of city tourism organised by ETOA and ECM. City Fair gives European destination suppliers the opportunity to meet selected travel buyers in a productive business environment. One-day B2B event of up to 32 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings. Unique format of targeted business workshop with marketing opportunities
European Cities Marketing will present a toploaded program for the ECM International Conference where Europe’s city marketers and tourism professionals meet industry thought leaders to debate and strategise the new normal in urban travel and tourism.
ibtm america is a 3 day event in North America focused on uniting US and international travel industry suppliers with highly qualified meeting and event planners. The turn-key pod format offers 1-to-1 meetings between suppliers and buyers, with appointments mutually matched to ensure all meetings are highly relevant.
The highlight of the Central European Chapter of ICCA is the Summer Meeting in Wiesbaden, June 20-22. Dozens of industry professionals from about 15 different countries will come together to make new contacts, share ideas, and enjoy their stay in Germany. The central theme of this year’s event is “Industry Challenges: Are you prepared for…
No other event offers the same opportunity for client and supplier to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made Workshop environment. Participating bureaux can promote their company and services to senior decision-makers who are actively looking for destinations.
Co-located with Asia’s largest business platform for MICE, experiential marketing and destination weddings industry, attend expert sessions featuring 100 global industry leaders as speakers; network with over 200 top marketers/corporates/brand representatives from Inida and Asia; meet 1000 top MICE and destination wedding planners; gain exclusive access to the glitziest awards ceremony in the experiential industry!
Destinations International’s Annual Convention provides an exclusive opportunity to connect peers and thought leaders from inside and outside the industry; an integrated approach to learning regardless of your budget size or discipline focus; recognition for our leaders and their accomplishments on behalf of the industry; relationship-based exchanges among industry providers, destination organizations and CVBs; diversity of thought by assembling the best minds…
World Meetings Forum is a dedicated space open for discussion and analysis of global trends, statics and the path for the Global MICE Industry including business exchange and networking moments. WMF puts all the effort to bring events that helps our industry to educate on all levels.
This event focuses on fostering long-term relationships among major MICE players, including pre-qualified buyers from North America, Europe and Asia, and leading Asia-Pacific based suppliers. Attendees will connect in pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, and through non-stop networking.
A special program to experience the best of the Rocky Mountain state. Attendees engage in a relaxed environment to discover new venues as they meet Colorado’s most prominent hotels/resorts, CVBs and unique venues.
