Changes in technology, and in its availability and cost, have greatly expanded possibilities for hosting events. So the debate between the advantages of traditional face-to-face meetings, against those of videoconferencing or livestreaming events, rages on. Here are six reasons why face-to-face still offers value for both delegates and organisers. From Maritz Global Events…
Vienna is the world’s most “liveable” city. That’s according to the annual Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Index. It’s also the first city in Europe to top the survey: Melbourne had lead for seven years previously. But what is the link between “liveability” and actually attracting conference delegates? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
A recent report from the IMEX Policy Forum 2018 (see Research) outlines three areas of concern raised during the event by Gloria Guevara Manzo, the World Tourism and Travel Council President and CEO (pictured at IMEX with Group Chairman Ray Bloom). Her three concerns were: security and safety, crisis preparation and sustainability. From PCMA Convene…
Opinions has already published Convene’s annual Best in Show list, celebrating industry excellence. But Convene also invited notables from across the sector to reflect on how the business of events is getting better. Nineteen contributed, among them Gregg Talley of the Talley Management Group and SoolNua and SITE’s Pádraic Gilligan. From PCMA Convene…
The 2018 IMEX Policy Forum (formerly Politicians Forum) featured significant changes in format in an ongoing bid to optimise interactions between government representatives and industry leaders and to make outcomes clearer and more actionable. The 2018 Policy Forum programme included four key parts: An advance discussion group of national level government representatives addressing policy issues…
This study is based on a global survey, concluded in July 2018. It represents up to date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry as well as on 18 specific ccountries and zones. Global Exhibition Barometer 21st Edition (July 2018)
UFI’s debut Latin American event in September is a chance to examine venue development both in the region and elsewhere. Venues tend to happen only after public sector buy-in, so it follows their development indicates governmental commitment to the virtues of a burgeoning exhibition industry. From UFI…
Iceberg partner Convene presents its annual Best in Show list, which again awards top venues and innovations and celebrates industry excellence. Winners include the most original off-site venue, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the best corporate social responsibility initiative, an Internet safety for kids programme. From PCMA Convene…
Why do we meet face-to-face when we also have email and video? Because it is the fastest way to gain shared perspective. That’s according to meetings author J. Elise Keith. So why is shared perspective rather like that old folk tale of people trying to describe an elephant by touch in the dark? From PCMA…
52 percent of global event planners have seen budgets increase year on year, after 32 percent in 2017. That’s according to the latest Cvent Global Planner Sourcing Report. The study also found a big increase in planners organising six to ten offsite meetings, and a major drop in planners arranging just one or two. From Meetpie.com…
Key industry trends have just emerged from Meeting Professionals International’s Meetings Outlook 2018 Summer Edition. The report highlights today’s seller’s market, that contracts and negotiations are getting ever more complex, a growing demand for experiential components, and a shift of seeing virtual meetings as a tool to enhance not replace live events. From Meetings & Conventions…
Cvent has just released its annual lists of top meetings destinations. New this year are top destinations in Canada (Toronto leads), as well as in the Caribbean and Latin America (Cancún). In the US Orlando leads, in Europe London, in the Middle East and Africa Dubai, and in Asia Pacific Singapore. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Eventex All-Stars Top 20 Destinations for hosting Meetings and Events has been topped by the US, with the UK and the Netherlands tied in second place. The rankings are a weighting that takes into account the wins from each destination in the Global Event Industry Awards over the past two years. From Meetpie.com…
For the first time in ten years, the exhibition industry’s four global regions have reported positive turnover growth simultaneously. That’s according to the industry global association UFI’s latest Global Barometer report. More than 40 percent of companies globally declared an increase of more than ten percent compared to 2016. From CIM News Magazine…
Simple meetings – those smaller, replicable gatherings with basic requirements – make up about half of corporate meetings globally. But 52 percent of them are being booked through unmanaged channels according to research from the Global Business Travel Association. This can end up costing companies money, attendee satisfaction and duty-of-care compliance. From Meetings & Conventions…
Planning meetings isn’t easy. So meetings about meetings remain popular and the search for new ways to improve the delegate experiences is never-ending. Meeting design has come a long way, but despite the innovative approaches available it pays to remember that content will always be king. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
What an extraordinary year 2018 has been so far in the exhibitions sector: from the merger of Informa and UBM and other players, to one Chinese organiser’s international ambitions, to changes to the trade show’s traditional format like the new CEBIT with its ferris wheel feature (pictured). From UFI Managing Director Kai Hattendorf via LinkedIn…
Twenty-five people have been named by an Iceberg partner publication as “most influential” in the 2018 meetings industry. The group includes Sherrif Karamat of the Professional Convention Management Association, Ben Goedegebuure of Maritz Global Events, the International Congress and Convention Association’s Martin Sirk. and Destinations International’s Jack Johnson. As chosen by Successful Meetings…
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