Matthias Schultze, MD of the German Convention Bureau, has been discussing the future of meetings on the back of GCB’s research project, Future Meeting Space, recently launched at PCMA Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh. Diversity, disruption, format innovation, knowledge transfer, networking, and accommodating the shy and less tech-savvy are all covered. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance has unveiled a new brand platform and updated strategic plan as it approaches its twentieth year of operation. The Alliance is made up of twelve leading cities for major conferences and business events. International associations were consulted on the new platform’s principles. From Boardroom…
The finalists have been announced for the M&IT Awards 2019, which take place on Friday March 1st at Battersea Evolution in London. More than 1,200 events industry professionals will celebrate the industry’s finest at this prestigious celebration of the UK and wider sectors. M&IT Personality of the Year will also be awarded. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Knowledge transfer is the key to successful events, according to new research unveiled by the German Convention Bureau. Event planners should concentrate on surprising or disruptive elements, as well as responding to individual attendee requirements. The GCB presented its Future Meeting Space research at PCMA Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Five Convene editors have been examining meeting trends for 2019. Big data now needs data ethics. We will pay more attention to attention itself and our use of technology in groups. New kinds of benchmarks are emerging to measure diversity and inclusivity. Sleep is now very much part of any focus on wellbeing. From PCMA Convene…
As 2018 leaves its footprints on the sands of time, here’s to the past extraordinary year. The last twelve months brought great change to the meetings industry, from the #MeToo movement, to the war on plastic, and to fears about climate change. That’s before even the dreaded “B” word. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
After conducting research for the recent “Gender Diversity & Inclusion in Events” report, reviewing over 60,000 speakers at business events in 23 countries between 2013 and 2018, event software company Bizzabo found that on average more than two thirds (69 percent) of speakers were male, with less than one third female. From PCMA…
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….
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers has appointed Martin Boyle, Director of Europe for convention bureau BESydney, as its new CEO. Boyle will take the helm in April next year, replacing Executive Director Sarah Storie-Pugh, who will continue in a part-time capacity. From Association Meetings International…
Meeting Professionals International has released its latest Meetings Outlook report, which highlights projected favourable business conditions, with the caveat that budgets are unlikely to increase. Only 1.5 percent of those polled believed budget conditions were favourable, with 43 percent thinking budgets would get 1-5 percent better. From Association Meetings International…
Steff Berger is Managing Director of VOBE – Inspires People, which organises events of up to 20,000 attendees for mainly European associations. Here the conference consultant and event planner shares expertise in crisis management, from counterterrorism measures like airport scanners, to working with local authorities to minimise risk, and the potential threat of cyberattacks. From PCMA…
The President of the Association for Women in Events has spoken about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry. Kiki J Fox (pictured top right) discussed career advancement resources, what women have to offer the industry, the #MeToo movement, AWE’s goals, and the recurring subject of gender diverse panels. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The team at UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association and an Iceberg partner, used UFI’s Global Congress, and other conversations around the world, to isolate and identify core themes that will be impacting the global sector. Kai Hattendorf, UFI’s CEO and MD, lays out five industry trends to watch out for in 2019. From UFI…
The Global Association Hubs Partnership, founded in Autumn 2015 and an Iceberg partner, brings together four major hubs across America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. As it passes its third anniversary, Brussels, Dubai, Singapore and Washington DC are enjoying association growth of 2.5 percent, well above the global average of 0.9 percent. From Boardroom…
The Iceberg, presented by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), is the established industry metaphor for the extended value capture of business and professional events. The Iceberg Global Ambassador Program, announced at IBTM World, will commence in January 2019. The JMIC Iceberg initiative encourages industry stakeholders to secure a role in delivering – and contributing to…
Accessibility is a concept buzzing around the business events industry, but what do planners need to know to ensure awareness at congresses? According to new research from Iceberg partners BestCities Global Alliance and GainingEdge, working with Rehabilitation International, universal accessibility is now key to business growth, knowledge sharing and increased competitiveness for destinations. From PCMA…
The second round of grants from the International Congress and Convention Association and BestCities Global Alliance’s “Incredible Impacts” awards have just been awarded to associations whose meetings create longterm legacies. Jane Cunningham, Director of International Associations at BestCities, breaks down this year’s winning entries and discusses what the judges are looking out for. From BestCities Global Alliance…
Now companies have to respond almost immediately to bad publicity, overreaction is the danger. When the positive benefits of an activity aren’t understood, the damage can be even greater. Our incentive specialist looks at headlines the sector has weathered and what they say about the real value of incentive travel. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
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