Business Events World issues 1 to 25.
Welcome to issue 100 of Business Events World from The Iceberg! Notwithstanding the pandemic that brought the industry to its knees, and at a time when British Prime Ministers stay in office for just a single issue, The Iceberg and Business Events World are both still hard at work almost six years after launch, chronicling the legacies of business events. Across a hundred issues, this is hopefully now a legacy in itself.
Before getting to this issue’s content, The Iceberg is still making its call for partners and ambassadors through 2023 / 2024. Founder and Producer and James Latham asks you to join us in advancing the sector’s narrative. Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director and CEO of UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, also discusses on video the value of contributing to our platform at the same link.
Business Events World issues 26 to 50.
In News this issue, four major Iceberg partner events have taken place. The second Convening EMEA, organised by the Professional Convention Managers Association, has been staged in Vienna. Sustainability was a significant theme. IMEX organisers heralded the eleventh edition of IMEX America “the big comeback we’ve all been waiting for”. The show was 45 percent larger than last year due to easing of travel restrictions and also returning exhibitors taking more space. Association meetings are facing tough economic headwinds with a renewed sense of purpose, and also focusing on legacy, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. That was the unmistakable message from the 61st Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association, held in Kraków, Poland. IBTM World has come to a close with organisers claiming 100,000 business meetings took place at the exhibition. 10,000 attendees gathered in Barcelona during three show days. Plus, Strasbourg hopes the €200 million Strasbourg Exhibition Centre will improve the destination’s reputation in hosting global business events. Meeting professionals expect both on site events and budgets to rise in 2023, says American Express Meetings and Events. The Events Industry Council has posted the results of its 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study, which has uncovered broad diversity, equality and inclusion dissatisfaction among event professionals, minority groups and women.
Also in News, there is legacy aplenty. During COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative launched its Roadmap, designed to aid suppliers, venues and businesses in the journey to reaching Net Zero by 2050. Gothenburg is the world’s most sustainable events city for a sixth year running as the Scandinavian destinations once again headed Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index. A group of Edinburgh-based event professionals have launched a new tool to measure the societal impact conferences and meetings have in the city. This BEST (Business Events Shaping Tomorrow) tool has been developed to evaluate positive outcomes from the business meetings hosted in the capital. A series of case studies by the Copenhagen Convention Bureau will show what happens when associations prioritise long-term impact in the early planning stages of an event. Using a revised legacy methodology, the Iceberg partner Copenhagen Legacy Lab has studied five events hosted in the city in 2022. Malaysia’s Sarawak has published the first volume of a new academic journal to help the sector “reset and recover” and identify legacy opportunities. Business Event Sarawak joined with several bodies, including Iceberg partner ICCA, to create the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies.
Business Events World issues 51 to 75.
All twelve Opinions articles this issue are fresh. Eight directly tackle our core subject of legacy. In September, VisitBritain launched a legacy and impact toolkit together with Iceberg partner #MEET4IMPACT. Journalist Mike Fletcher looks at the business of legacy planning after the launch of this toolkit. Copenhagen Convention Bureau launched the Copenhagen Legacy Lab in 2019 to bridge international congresses held in Copenhagen with the local public, business and science communities. This Iceberg partner is aiming to create the world’s leading legacy hub. As preparations for COP27 were being made in Egypt last month, Glasgow Convention Bureau was showing how the Scottish city had benefited from hosting the UN’s Conference on Climate Change twelve months earlier. Also in Glasgow, how does environmental impact fit into a traditional Request for Proposal? This was the question asked by Guidelines International Network in finding a place to hold its 2023 international conference. The starting point was to consult another Iceberg partner, the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Also in Opinions, Jane Cunningham has worked for hotels, a convention centre, a destination marketing organisation and a professional conference organiser. Jane’s employers include two Iceberg partners, BestCities Global Alliance and Destinations International. This issue she offers thinking on legacy and Net Zero Carbon Events. One year since exhibitions returned after the UK’s COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, EN guest editor Phil Soar explores who the true “heroes” of the pandemic have been. Works by First Nations artist Jeffrey Samuels are part of ICC Sydney’s comprehensive art collection, and are also being adapted in other media, including digital signage. Plus, last year Goodfellow Publishers released “Business Event Legacies: Global industry case studies”, by Carmel Foley, Deborah Edwards and Karin Weber. Past work by Foley and Edwards includes the first JMIC Case Study published on The Iceberg, and this book cites all of those studies. We have an extract.
There are four further Opinions about advocacy. The workday of Tommy Goodwin, Vice President of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, is explaining the business events sector to policymakers. But are they finally starting to get it? More than forty percent of US meeting organisers said that state abortion legislation would influence site-selection decisions. But Iceberg partner Destinations International has been on a mission to convince groups that such travel boycotting simply does not work. The “Invisible Industry” was a label put on the meetings and hospitality sectors back in 1996 by broadcaster Charles Osgood. Now this title has become an advocacy roadshow with a 49-foot trailer stocked with interactive media, touring US cities. Finally, the CEO of Iceberg partner UFI, Kai Hattendorf has been gazing into a crystal ball yet again as the year ends. What are the key trends that will see business events through 2023?
Business Events World issues 76 to 100.
In Features this issue there is a bumper festive gift of four great video stories. Two are destination reports, from Guadalajara, which joined Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance earlier this year, and from Washington, D.C., where access to both political and corporate power is a major draw for associations and their meetings. Plus, we have extensive video coverage of two Iceberg partner events. First, the 36th City Destinations Alliance Summer School was hosted during August in Turin, Italy. Then, legacy was one of three main content streams at the 61st International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress, held last month in Kraków, Poland.
In Research you will find added the 2023 Global Meetings and Events Forecast from American Express Meetings and Events, mentioned above. There is also the IBTM Trends Report 2023 just released and The Business of Events Global Destination Report 2022, also recently launched at Iceberg partner IBTM World.
For issue 100 Business Events World is retiring its lengthy Parish Notices section which has served the sector through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Iceberg has big plans for this editorial section of Business Events World… but more on that in issue 101.
Season’s greetings, and until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
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The 61st International Congress and Convention Association Congress was held last month in Kraków, Poland. The four days of content programming concentrated on three key industry topics: diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability and legacy. Some of the legacy speakers also contributed to this Iceberg video Feature, here presented together with video of five of the legacy sessions….
The 36th edition of the CityDNA Summer School was hosted in late August. This year the Iceberg partner educational meeting graduated 43 students from Europe and South Africa. As well as video about the Summer School itself from Turin, Italy, this feature looks at participating medical associations and their meetings, sustainability and also hybrid meetings….
Washington may be the oldest, largest and busiest global hub of associations working in different professions, trades and social endeavours. Associations are at the heart of city strategy, both in hosting meetings in the capital, and in locating headquarters there. In this video feature, Destination DC explains how change is being made through business events….
This May the BestCities Global Alliance community of convention destinations welcomed Guadalajara, Mexico, as its twelfth member. The city earned its place through a shared commitment to support meetings that create a positive impact. Guadalajara went through a stringent process to join the Iceberg partner, including a detailed site inspection and tour of the city….
Virginie De Visscher is Senior Director of Business Development – Economic Sectors at Destination Canada. She is also an Iceberg ambassador. In two video viewpoints, she outlines Canada’s economic sector-specific approach to destination marketing and the increasing focus the organisation is now placing on both leaving business event legacies and on measuring their final impact….
The 2022 Annual Congress of Iceberg partner AIPC was held this July in Budapest. In a video triple bill, AIPC CEO Sven Bossu introduces both his association and its event. Two further videos explore the AIPC Future Shapers program, with two teams of emerging leaders presenting solutions at the congress to leave lasting legacies in the sector….
Australia is a hotbed of business event excellence, the country’s cities and states both competing and collaborating to win events for the destination. In this high-powered video double bill, The Iceberg hears once again from BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith, and also from Tourism Australia’s Robin Mack, about the role of meetings in diversifying destinations’ economies….
Located in the Beijing Olympic Green Area, the China National Convention Center, Phase 2 is on track to open in 2025. CNCC-II will host conferences, forums, and banquets for up to 20,000, as well as exhibition events for over 50,000. Rod Kamleshwaran, pre-opening international consultant of CNCC-II and partner at Iceberg partner GainingEdge, explains. From GainingEdge…
Iceberg partner European Cities Marketing has just staged its International Conference and General Assembly in Hamburg, rebranding during the event as the City Destinations Alliance. Visit Flanders and #Meet4impact presented a legacy collaboration there, and the latter’s Geneviève Leclerc now explains how the SDGs make a great framework around which to anchor the legacy of association meetings….
Glasgow, home of the famous Glasgow Botanic Gardens, will welcome over 2,000 soil scientists this summer for the quadrennial World Congress of Soil Science. Over the past twelve months, the city’s convention bureau secured 71 new conferences, expected to bring about 36,000 delegates to Glasgow and add £53 million to its coffers. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
A major conference on how people with cognitive, linguistic and physical impairments interact will be held soon in Newcastle, UK. The Atypical Interaction Conference, to be staged at Newcastle University, runs every three years and is attended by experts on dementia, autism, aphasia, schizophrenia, visual and speech impairments among others. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Iceberg partner European Cities Marketing has just staged its International Conference and General Assembly in Hamburg, rebranding during the event as the City Destinations Alliance. The meeting formulated policy on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also making a video of solidarity, and held a remarkable session hearing from two industry colleagues based in Lviv, Ukraine. Russia’s…
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IBTM World has come to a close with organisers claiming 100,000 business meetings were held at the exhibition. The Iceberg partner also reported that 10,000 attendees had collected in Barcelona during three days. Over 2,200 exhibitors from 150 countries attended the show, along with 3,500 buyers. From Exhibition News…
During COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative launched its Roadmap. This is designed to aid suppliers, venues, and businesses along their journey to reaching Net Zero by 2050. Net Zero Carbon Events, itself launched at COP26 in August 2021, now has 400 supporting organisations from 55 countries. From Exhibition News…
Gothenburg is the world’s most sustainable events city for a sixth year running as once again the Scandinavian destinations dominated Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Bergen in Norway clinched second spot, with Copenhagen in third. The 2022 GDS-Index list was announced at the 61st ICCA World Congress in Krakow, Poland. From Association Meetings International…
Association meetings are facing tough economic headwinds with renewed sense of purpose, while focusing on legacy, sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. That was the unmistakable message from the 61st Congress of Iceberg partner the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), held in the city of Kraków, Poland. From Association Meetings International…
A series of case studies by the Copenhagen Convention Bureau aims to show what happens when associations prioritise long-term impact in the early planning stages of an event. Using a revised legacy methodology, the Iceberg partner Copenhagen Legacy Lab has been studying five events hosted in the city in 2022. From Association Meetings International…
Sarawak in Malaysia has published the first volume of a new academic journal designed to help the sector “reset and recover” while identifying legacy opportunities. Business Event Sarawak joined with several bodies, including Iceberg partner ICCA, to create the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies IJBEL. Photo: Nicky Tay. From Association Meetings International…
IMEX organisers heralded the eleventh edition of IMEX America “the big comeback we’ve all been waiting for” in regard to the events, meetings and incentive travel sector. The show was 45 percent larger than last year due to the easing of travel restrictions and also returning exhibitors taking more space. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
A group of Edinburgh-based event professionals have launched a new tool to measure the societal impact conferences and meetings have in the city. The BEST (Business Events Shaping Tomorrow) tool has been developed to evaluate the positive outcomes from the business events hosted in the capital each year. From Conference News…
The Events Industry Council has published the results of its 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study, which has uncovered widespread diversity, equality and inclusion dissatisfaction among event professionals, minority groups and women. EIC appointed its Equity Task Force in 2020 to address systemic racism and all discrimination across the sector. From Exhibition News…
Meeting professionals expect on site events and budgets to rise in 2023, says American Express Meetings & Events. The twelveth annual Global Meetings & Events Forecast found that more than three quarters (77 percent) of respondents were now optimistic about the health of the industry heading into 2023. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The second annual Convening EMEA conference, organised by Iceberg partner PCMA (Professional Convention Managers Association), has been held in Vienna at Messe Wien Exhibition Congress Center. The omnichannel event gathered about 400 sector professionals in person and virtually. Sustainability was a significant running theme. From Association Meetings International…
City leaders in Strasbourg hope a striking new venue will improve the destination’s reputation in hosting international business events. The €200 million Strasbourg Exhibition Centre adds to existing venues in Strasbourg’s Parc de Expo which began in 1974 with the Strasbourg Convention Centre, also called Palais de la musique. From Association Meetings International…
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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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The Business of Events (TBOE) launched the second edition of its Global Destination Report at IBTM World in Barcelona. The report, conducted by specialist business events research agency, SFA Connect on behalf of TBOE, is looking to establish how the industry has changed since 2019. The research focused on six main areas, including funding, volume…
Last year, the IBTM World Trends report found itself looking at new frontiers. How had the meetings and events landscape changed in the wake of the pandemic, what behaviours had been adopted, how were other industries looking at this same landscape? Also, how was the global economy dictating the future welfare of our own market…
The 12th annual Global Meetings and Events Forecast is based on a survey of 580 meetings and events professionals from around the world and interviews with industry leaders. The survey ran in May and June 2022. Respondents represent corporations, associations, buyers and suppliers from five continents and 23 countries. The result is a statistically and…
ICCA has released its annual analysis of association meetings worldwide. The latest ICCA Ranking Report examines 8,000 meetings scheduled for the year 2021 and categorises them based on how the meetings were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also compares last year’s affected meetings with ICCA’s analysis of meetings in 2020. After a hiatus in…
Welcome to the 29th edition of the UFI Global Exhibition Barometer. This study is based on a global survey conducted in June 2022, and provides the latest insights on the status and outlook of the exhibition industry, both globally and within 28 specific markets and regions. The first edition of the UFI Global Exhibition Barometer…
Over 35 policy makers from nineteen countries gathered at the IMEX Policy Forum 2022, held on May 31st as part of IMEX in Frankfurt. The meeting takes place annually and provides a collaborative, global discussion platform to encourage policy creation that directly benefits the global meetings and business events industry. The aim of this year’s…
Global convention sector consulting firm GainingEdge has launched its second annual report on leveraging the intellectual capital of convention destinations, based on an analysis of international association leadership. The research underpinning the Iceberg partner’s report identifies the relative strengths of 350 destinations via the presence of their local intellectual leaders in the governing bodies of international associations that…
Legacy after a conference is an organic concept that grows over the years. The Daegu Metropolitan City and Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau have released a report on legacies from five business events, under the title Business Events Legacy in Daegu, Korea. The study starts from the International Solar Cities Congress 2004 (ISCC 2004), which…
Welcome to the 28th edition of the UFI Global Exhibition Barometer survey. This study is based on a global survey conducted in January 2022. It represents up-to-date information on the status and outlook of the global exhibition industry, as well as on 29 specific markets. UFI launched the barometer on the back of a global…
Two years into the global COVID pandemic, with much of the world’s population vaccinated against the disease, policymakers around the world are faced with the challenge of stimulating and managing their societies and economies. As COVID-related restrictions are rolled back and lifted, policy priorities are shifting. Business events will be a key driver of this…
The Hotel Management School Maastricht (HMSM) was appointed by IACC to research the impact that having a decentralised workforce may have on demand for external business events, specifically after COVID-19. With the rise of remote work in recent years, employees were forced to exchange meeting in person for virtual interaction. The research findings have been…
It is essential to rethink the relationship between meetings and events and climate change, according to BCD Meetings and Events. BCD M&E’s new sustainability report focuses on the impact the meeting, events and corporate travel industries have on the environment, and continues the discussion of how we move towards a more sustainable future together. The…
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The CEO of Iceberg partner UFI, Kai Hattendorf (pictured right!) has been looking into his crystal ball yet again as the year ends. With the pandemic lingering in some territories, Russia’s war in Ukraine, inflation skyrocketing and the climate crisis, what are the key trends to see business events through 2023? From Exhibition News…
Copenhagen Convention Bureau launched the Copenhagen Legacy Lab in 2019 to bridge international congresses held in Copenhagen with the local public, business and science communities. This Iceberg partner lets global associations both to achieve their objectives and solve societal challenges through events, and it aims to create the world’s leading hub for legacy. From Meetings International…
Jane Cunningham has worked for hotels, a convention centre, a DMO (destination marketing organisation) and a PCO (professional conference organiser). She has also worked for two Iceberg partners, BestCities Global Alliance and Destinations International. Here she offers her thinking on legacy and Net Zero Carbon Events. From Meetings International…
Meeting planners reacted strongly to the US Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights. Over 40 percent said state abortion legislation would influence site-selection decisions. But Iceberg partner Destinations International has been on a mission to convince groups that travel boycotts simply do not work. From Northstar Meetings Group…
How does a desire to minimise the environmental impact of events fit into a traditional RfP (Request for Proposal)? This was the question asked by Guidelines International Network when sourcing a place to hold its international conference in 2023. The starting point was with Global Destination Sustainability Index, an Iceberg partner. From Association Meetings International…
As preparations for COP27 were being made in Egypt last month, Glasgow Convention Bureau was showing how the Scottish city had benefited from hosting the UN’s Conference on Climate Change twelve months earlier. Sixty percent of city tourism businesses improved sustainability credentials as a result of COP26. From Boardroom…
The “Invisible Industry” was a label put on the meetings and hospitality sectors back in 1996 by broadcaster Charles Osgood. Now this title has become an advocacy roadshow, thanks to a 49-foot trailer stocked with interactive media. It launched a year-long “Invisible Industry Tour” of US cities last June. From PCMA…
Last year Goodfellow Publishers released “Business Event Legacies: Global industry case studies”, from Carmel Foley, Deborah Edwards and Karin Weber. Previous work by Foley and Edwards includes the first JMIC Case Study published here on The Iceberg, and this book cites all of those studies. Here the volume’s content is outlined. From Meetings International…
One year since exhibitions returned after the UK’s COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, EN guest editor Phil Soar explores who the true “heroes” of the pandemic have been. He looks in particular at the roles played by venues that became National Health Service “Nightingale” field hospitals, and finds some encouraging causes for hope. From Exhibition News…
The workday of Tommy Goodwin, Vice President of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, is explaining the importance of business events to policymakers. But are they finally starting to get it? Goodwin explains the purpose of the business events advocacy association set up in early 2021. From Association Meetings International…
ICC Sydney shows its commitment to Australia’s First Nations peoples with programming, a reconciliation plan, and in artwork and messaging around its campus. Works by artist Jeffrey Samuels have become part of the venue’s comprehensive art collection, and are now also being adapted in other media, including digital signage. From PCMA…
Legacy is an accelerator of culture, and events are an excellent catalyst for legacy. In September, VisitBritain launched a new legacy and impact toolkit in partnership with Iceberg partner #MEET4IMPACT. Journalist Mike Fletcher examines the business of legacy planning after the launch of this toolkit. From IBTM…
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AIME kicks off with the popular Knowledge Program. The 2023 theme: Your Industry. Your Opportunity. What is the opportunity for the events industry now? will focus on your wellbeing, your inspiration levels, your IQ and EQ development so you can leave feeling engaged, renewed and armed with new skills to take your events and your…
Work alongside industry peers and grow your global network; continue to stay on top of market trends and developments in the exhibition industry. The programme will cover a wide range of relevant industry topics; set to two hours per topic, the online UFI-EMS will allow you to take part in the training in addition to…
The event is designed for ICCA Africa members as an educational seminar and to informally network with the hosted association buyers. Deepen your knowledge of international and regional association meetings, build relationships and network with prospective association executives, hear first-hand the objectives, challenges and needs of associations.
The AIPC Academy is the only comprehensive professional development program specifically serving the needs of international convention centre managers! Designed to address the critical need for centres to maintain fully qualified staff in a highly competitive industry, the AIPC Academy provides a targeted, cost effective form of training and development along with the means to…
Global industry thought leaders will share their insights and knowledge with the participants in a campus-like environment and will be available throughout the duration of the programme to provide coaching and guidance when it comes to the team challenges, which aim to shape the future of convention centre management. Next to learning and shaping, connecting…
The UFI Operations & Services Forum is a one-day event targeted at senior exhibition industry professionals from around the world. The Forum is organised by UFI’s Operations and Services Working Group, a member-driven body comprising organizers, venues, and suppliers. The Forum will take place from 13–14 June 2023, at the MECC Maastricht and is open to…
EduCon’s energetic, immersive and provocative program attracts thought leaders, event marketers, experience designers and business events strategists from around the world. EduCon is known industrywide for its innovative approach to education — and the small-group learning that builds lasting relationships.
The Summer School provides great insights into the structure and functioning of the Meetings Industry. Our programme, filled with up-to-date and cutting edge examples of European best practice, lays out a comprehensive framework for you to build your expertise in one of the tourism industry’s most lucrative sector. It is perfect for those just starting…
The CDME program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
In this dynamic and fun Masterclass we will explore traditional communication strategies and how they can be applied to communicating sustainability and enhance its purpose. You will be introduced to remarkable examples of storytelling by destinations and brands that inspire and elevate sustainability and make it accessible to broader audiences. We will explore behaviour change…
The Professional in Destination Management (PDM) certificate program provides those new to the destination organization side of the industry (less than one year of experience) with cutting-edge education, offering entry-level personnel the critical skills and knowledge necessary to start their careers in the travel and tourism industry. The updated PDM certificate program is now online, available…
CCASkills delivers the only globally recognised certification for suppliers in every sector of the meetings industry. From juniors to executives, ICCASkills benefits meetings services professionals at any stage of their career. The two different certification tracks offer tailored learning paths and advanced course content. All instructors are industry experts with proven teaching abilities and international…
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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS – The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region. AIME is where industry decision makers connect, create and do business. We bring together international and local buyers to access the best exhibitors from around the world.
The summit is the preeminent gathering place of marketing, communications and public relations professionals dedicated to helping destination organizations thrive. This year’s summit will challenge you to think about your role within destination organizations as communities tackle new and diverse issues. Topics include social media and blog content strategy creation, building creative environments for your…
AIPC is proud to announce its first Africa Summit, which will take place on February 27th at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg (South-Africa), just before the start of Meetings Africa. During this one-day summit, which will be a combination of lectures and facilitated networking, we will touch upon both the global outlook for convention…
Over the years, UFI’s Asia-Pacific Conference has become one of the exhibition industry’s most important gatherings for learning and networking in the region. More information about the event coming soon; pre register here…
POP is an annual one-trip call-to-action for business events stakeholders everywhere to gather in Washington, D.C. — through a series of co-located new/existing experiences — as one global movement to do business, architect their future, demonstrate the power of inclusivity, showcase innovation and insights, and advance key policy initiatives.
This yearly Summit is considered THE standard for the industry’s who’s who and is attended by company owners, CEOs and Presidents who network with peers and are involved in creating the strategies that will map out the short and long term future for the Industry. Sessions are designed to include all aspects of the trade…
Opened to members, verified associations, and non-members, registration is open for the next ICCA UK & Ireland Annual Conference which will be held in Glasgow from 29th to 31st March 2023. View the provisional agenda and details of the registration fees.
The CEO Summit allows attendees to continue their transformational journey as they join forces with thought leaders and innovative thinkers who believe in collaborative inspiration and growth. Each segment of the CEO Summit is dedicated to a hot topic in today’s destination organization. In 2022, attendees experienced cutting-edge content including time to network and discuss…
IBTM Asia Pacific is the leading event for the meetings and events industry in the region bringing together a high calibre group of international, APAC regional and local meeting planners and exhibitors for two days of pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings, education and networking. The event is under-pinned by IBTM’s sophisticated, industry-leading Hosted Buyer programme which…
City Destinations Alliance is proud to announce that the next CityDNA International Conference & General Assembly will take place on April 19-22, 2023 in Sofia! We are so excited to work with Sofia Tourism Administration to welcome you in this wonderful city and can’t wait to discover its many wonders together. Pencil the date in…
We are pleased to announce that ICCA France Benelux and Central European Chapters will organise their annual meeting in a joint format. And what better city to bring together the members of our two communities than Strasbourg, a Unesco World Heritage Sites City? Did you know that the city hosting our event was batted back and…
leaders of the trade show and events industry in the Americas will gather to discuss common strategies for the different realities of the region and the world. The Conference will offer delegates two specialized matchmaking sessions, academic sessions led by 15 international speakers, insights into industry trends, sports and wellness activities, a city tour of…
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Tommy Goodwin is Vice President for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), a newly-formed association dedicated to the recovery and advancement of the business events industry. In this role, he leads ECA’s advocacy and member engagement work on behalf the interconnected ecosystem of exhibitors, show and event organizers, suppliers, venues, and destinations that comprise the…
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Anna is a business event and tourism professional with European and Canadian expertise. She studied for her career at the University of Brighton in the UK and subsequently worked for international tour operators Thomas Cook and Cosmosair group before emigrating to Canada in 2005. British Columbia was her home for the first eight years, honing…
Geoff Donaghy was formerly CEO of Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, ICC Sydney, which since its opening has been successfully attracting local, national and international visitors with its focus on high quality events, local produce and commitment to service excellence. He is also the Group Director of Convention Centres for leading venue management…
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A bona fide veteran of the MICE industry with over 25 years of experience building and managing some of the world’s biggest event, conference, and tourism organizations, Sumaira’s reputation precedes her. She has worked both as a destination practitioner (DMC, PCO) as well as an advisor consultant to Tourist Boards, Associations and Local Governments in…
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Senthil Gopinath has over 20 years’ experience in the meetings, association and leisure industry. He has held a wide range of positions, including CEO of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, and Vice President of Kuoni. In 2006 Senthil moved to Dubai to work for Congress Solutions International, the Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) arm of Emirates Group….
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Melissa Riley serves as the Senior Vice President, Convention Sales and Services at Destination DC (DDC), the official convention and tourism organization for the nation’s capital. A 26-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Riley leads a team of more than 30 who work in concert to generate a positive economic impact for the…
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Matt is the CEO and co-founder of Talk2 Media & Events. Talk2 ME owns and runs a variety of trade and consumer exhibitions throughout Australia. Every year Talk2 ME works with some of Australia’s best brands as partners on exhibitions that attract almost 200,000 highly engaged visitors through their doors. Talk2 Media & Events was…
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Heike Mahmoud was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CCH – Congress Center Hamburg from March 2018 to July 2024. As COO and a fully authorized officer, the business administration professional is also a member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress. The new CCH was officially opened by the First Mayor of the…
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Managing Director and owner of SFA Connect (trading name for Sarah Fleming Associates Ltd), Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the Meetings Industry. She was a board director of a leading UK PCO for ten years where she handled numerous large, high-profile events all over the world. Through this work she gained an in-depth…
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Lyn Lewis-Smith is CEO of BESydney and leads a global team of professionals spanning Europe, North America and Asia who are charged with securing global meetings of strategic, economic and social benefit to Sydney, Australia. The organisation works across sectors which include infrastructure, technology, professional services, advanced manufacturing, education and health. Lyn has led transformation…
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Having lived and worked in Asia, Africa and Europe before moving to Canada in 2010, Virginie is the Senior Director of Business Development – Economic Sectors for Destination Canada Business Events (DCBE), Virginie is responsible for leading the development and implementation of DCBE’s global economic sector strategy and team to increase overnight visitations to Canada…
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A founding member of ICC Sydney’s leadership team, Sam developed the communications and marketing strategies that have resulted in establishing one of the business events industry’s strongest brands. Storytelling, building emotional connection and strong stakeholder engagement have been core to ICC Sydney’s successful brand development throughout its pre-opening, launch and operational phases. Sam steered the…
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