The view from the House of J. C. Le Roux, Stellenbosch.
In issue 39 and 40 of Business Events World we’re turning the spotlight on Africa.
The Iceberg has just been the guest of Stellenbosch 360 for its inspiring Business Tourism Indaba. The South African university town is itself striking, and the wider area full of vineyard estate venues with incredible views, like the House of J. C. Le Roux (see above).
A tasting of J. C.’s signature sparkling wine was a particular highlight (see below). When there are five glasses per person, each housing something different – and not a spittoon in sight – you just know it’s going to be a good afternoon.
More from me on the actual Indaba next issue, but for now in Features we conclude our “Business Events” video series with a look at the opportunities for associations within Africa. GainingEdge’s Gary Grimmer and Gregg Talley of the Talley Management Group are joined by three significant African industry voices, including my fellow Indaba speaker, South African Tourism’s Chief Convention Bureau Officer Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo.
In News (click the right arrow)… Successful Meetings names its 2018 “most influential”. They include ICCA’s outgoing CEO Martin Sirk. ICCA says it’ll appoint Sirk’s replacement by March. VisitBritain is inviting grant applications for its Event Support Programme.
In venue News… the MCEC expansion has opened in Melbourne. The Valencia Conference Centre has snagged AIPC’s Apex Award. Ground has been broken on Caesars Forum, a $375 million conference centre in Las Vegas, and ACC Liverpool has confirmed six big conference wins.
In meetings News… Kuching is getting ready for the inaugural Business Events TriBE 2018 in August. Five artificial intelligence conferences have just co-located in Stockholm. Cape Town has won the SpaceOps 2020 conference. After two days at the Farnborough International Airshow, over $98bn of deals had been announced. And as per above, South Africa’s meetings industry – plus your humble Iceberg curator – gathered in Stellenbosch for the second Business Tourism Indaba.
There’s still more on The Iceberg itself (click View all News). Australia’s New South Wales Government will fund a total of eighteen regional event scholarships this year. In the UK James Heappey MP of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for events has floated the idea of a bed tax. Nick de Bois has stepped down from the Events Industry Board to take up a Brexit role. The 2020 UFI Global Congress will be in Oman, and Dubai is hosting the World Congress of Gastroenterology 2021. The 25th IPSA World Congress of Political Science attracted over 2,400 – nearly 1,000 more than expected – to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. And a survey finds that over half of companies’ simple meetings are booked through unmanaged channels.
In Opinions (again clicking the right arrow) you’ll find UFI’s Kai Hattendorf, the European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance, Calgary’s Energy Disrupters Unite, meeting design… and how business events might be seen by the UK as a Brexit remedy.
PCMA is honouring former President and CEO Deborah Sexton with a new scholarship. And don’t forget to enter your association legacy projects for ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance’s “Incredible Impacts” before August 1st!
Until the next time…
Robert Coren, Curator of The Iceberg
Enjoying the hospitality of J. C. Le Roux and Stellenosch 360. Curation is hard work.
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In the last of three insights on the value of business and professional events, GainingEdge CEO Gary Grimmer and Gregg Talley, President and CEO of the Talley Management Group, delve deeper into the role associations play as gateways to professional and sector development. They specifically tackle the opportunities that exist for associations within Africa’s transition…
Adelaide’s decision to build one of the largest life science hubs in the Southern Hemisphere has begun to pay dividends, with the city now winning a major international biomedical event. The South Australian capital will host the triennial World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering in 2024, bringing in over 2,500 delegates. From Intellectual Capitals…
The rich natural environment of Sapporo has much to offer when it comes to hosting meetings, as it did for the 5th International Wildlife Management Congress of July 2015. Japan’s fifth-largest city boasts academic institutions that lead in the fields of geosciences, organic chemistry, agriculture, forestry, energy, medicine, pharma, animal behavior and veterinary sciences. From Boardroom…
Frankfurt has just enhanced its reputation as a healthcare hub with wins of two big medical events. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the European League Against Rheumatism are both to hold congresses in the city. Frankfurt’s joint approach and quality of its scientific representatives helped seal the deals. From Intellectual Capitals…
Liverpool’s ongoing research into and support for improving quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis has helped the city to win a major international medical conference for the first time. More than 3,000 scientific and clinical professionals will converge on ACC Liverpool in June 2019 for the 42nd European Cystic Fibrosis Conference. From Intellectual Capitals…
In the second of three insights on the value of business and professional events, GainingEdge CEO Gary Grimmer and Gregg Talley, President and CEO of the Talley Management Group, analyse the crucial role professional associations and the broader “civil society” play across the whole of scientific and industrial development. Association meetings deliver the platforms and…
Brisbane has just reinforced its reputation as a powerhouse in robotics by welcoming 3,000 delegates from the sector to the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. The six-day event brought an estimated AU$10.5 million into Queensland’s economy and connected together the state’s substantial ecosystem of robotics institutions and academic departments. From Intellectual Capitals…
As politicians and policymakers gather at the IMEX Policy Forum in Frankfurt, key partners of The Iceberg are providing a timely reminder of the transformational contribution of business and professional events and their ‘beyond tourism’ benefits. GainingEdge CEO Gary Grimmer and Gregg Talley, President and CEO of the Talley Management Group, discuss what meetings actually…
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…
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ACC Liverpool has confirmed a series of six conference wins that will bring in more than 7,000 delegates and millions of pounds’ economic impact over the next five years. The first three will be the European Veterinary Dermatology Congress in 2019, and the National Osteoporosis Society and National Union of Students in 2020. From Meetpie.com…
The United Kingdom’s prominence in aviation and aerospace has been given a boost by high-flying sales at the Farnborough International Airshow. The 2018 event, opened by Prime Minister Theresa May, saw nearly 100 countries attend, and by the end of the second day over $98bn of industry deals announced. Photo: Rich Cooper. From Intellectual Capitals…
Stellenbosch 360 has just hosted its second Business Tourism Indaba at the Cavalli Wine Estate. Speakers included South Africa’s Minster of Tourism Derek Hanekom, Shadow Minister James Vos and South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona. The Iceberg also attended the Indaba and will soon publish its own report of proceedings. From the Event…
Stockholm has just hosted the Federated AI Meeting, the world’s largest scientific event on artificial intelligence. This was actually five conferences co-located under one roof. When the Swedish AI Society, with support from Visit Stockholm, won its bid to host one of them, a plan was hatched to create a larger event. From Boardroom…
More than 200 delegates will attend the inaugural Business Events TriBE 2018 meeting taking place this August in Kuching. The keynote speakers include Iceberg partner Corbin Ball, and the delegates include three more partners: the International Congress and Convention Association, the Professional Convention Management Association, and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers. From CIM News Magazine…
Ground has been broken on Caesars Forum, a 550,000 square foot conference centre. The $375 million project is all on one level, and features the first 100,000 square foot outdoor meeting / event space in Las Vegas, the Forum Plaza. The venue’s two pillarless ballrooms will be the largest in the world. From Successful Meetings…
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA), in partnership with the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, has won a bid to host the SpaceOps conference in 2020. The event will bring over 600 space specialists to the Cape Town International Convention Centre with an estimated economic impact of R11,520,000. From the Event…
The International Congress and Convention Association President Nina Freysen-Pretorius has issued a statement to members alleviating concerns about the departure of CEO Martin Sirk. In it she says the board has every confidence in acting CEO Dennis Speet and is aiming to appoint a permanent replacement by March 2019. From Association Meetings International…
VisitBritain is calling for grant applications for its programme to secure new international business events for the United Kingdom and to grow the economic value of existing events. The Event Support Programme, launched in 2016, has to date assisted 28 events and bids across the country from Aberdeen to Bristol with more than £500,000 awarded. From Meetpie.com…
The Valencia Conference Centre in Spain has just snagged AIPC’s Apex Award in London. The International Association of Convention Centres trophy is notoriously difficult to win, since it is judged by each facilities’ users. Client testimonials were analysed by market research firm Ipsos under rigorous evaluation criteria established for judging the award. From Association Meetings International…
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s expansion has been officially opened by Victoria Acting Premier James Merlino. The AU$205 million project adds 20,000 square metres, making MCEC at 70,000 square metres Australia’s largest conference and exhibition venue. The first event held in the new expansion was the 1st Malaria World Congress. From CIM News Magazine…
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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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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It is impossible to develop successful, sustainable long-term strategy without understanding the future in which your members will live and work. Whether through strategic planning or value proposition design, Association Laboratory’s research confirms that associations must develop strategy based on the anticipated future of their industry or profession if they want to be successful. Now in its…
If there’s one canon that can be considered unassailable in the meetings and events industry it is this: No two meetings are alike. There is no one size that can fit all, even two, engagements. Every project requires its own plans and those plans, budget in hand, often start with choosing the location. Destinations and…
When city convention bureau leaders at ICCA’s Scandinavian Chapter set up the first Scandinavian Destination Sustainability Index – the precursor to the Global Destination Sustainability Index – they had two primary objectives: to drive sustainability across the region through competition, collaboration and raised consciousness, and to differentiate the Nordic region to non-European markets as the most sustainable…
The ICCA Statistics Reports are based on the ICCA Association Database, which means the figures cover meetings organised by international associations according to this criteria: a meeting must take place on a regular basis, host at least 50 participants, and rotate between a minimum of three countries to be included in the Database. ICCA’s Association…
For the third 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 2018 IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ report brings together insights from over 50 venues across four continents, as well as suppliers including global meeting…
When an academic participates in a large conference, her or his likelihood of subsequently writing a paper with at least one participant at the conference increases by one-sixth (close to 18%). Moreover, it seems that conferences improve the quality of matching among co-authors, leading to papers that are published in higher-ranked journals. These findings are…
The days of isolating a convention centre on the edge of downtown are over. Today, cities are developing vibrant, walkable neighborhoods around their convention centres that are integrating the facilities more deeply into the culture of their communities. Learn how the redevelopment of convention centre districts are changing meetings and how planners, as well as…
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…
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The past month has revealed the turmoil the United Kingdom is in over the manner of its departure from the European Union. But might the UK exhibition sector provide some palliative relief from Brexit uncertainties? The sector’s global association takes a look at VisitBritain, along with the recent Farnborough International Airshow, for answers. From UFI…
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…
The inaugural edition of Energy Disruptors Unite in Calgary, Canada, joined together oil and gas leaders with the brightest minds of the renewable energy industry. With a diverse speaker lineup that included Sir Richard Branson, initial success indicates the event could become a driving force in solving the world’s big energy issues. From PCMA…
The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance was officially launched at the end of 2017. It’s a telling example of how international associations can expand their European and even global footprint by being more present formally in an association hub like Brussels. Thomas Reiser, Executive Director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, explains. From Boardroom…
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…
Tier 1 cities have much to offer meeting groups in terms of their connectivity and facilities. But all that bang takes a lot of buck. To make a big impact on a smaller budget, meeting planners should consider small and mid-sized cities. So how do you find big-city appeal in an affordable destination? From Successful Meetings…
Lyn Lewis-Smith is CEO of Business Events Sydney. She also devotes her energy to championing women’s rights. Here she answers three questions: about how bidding for conferences has changed and evolved over time, about emerging association meeting trends and creating value, and about hosting and participating in the Global Summit of Women. From Boardroom…
The Meetings Show has just drawn the UK events sector together at London’s Olympia in a brisker new two-day format. For one Iceberg media partner highlights included an interview with James Heappey, followed by an impromptu debate between the Member of Parliament and BVEP chair Michael Hirst. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
When IACC launched its Meeting Room of The Future report in 2016, it set out to predict and shape the future of events. Three years on, the series says as much about today’s meetings landscape as it says about tomorrow’s. Mark Cooper, IACC’s CEO, examines some key findings in areas like internet infrastructure. From Successful Meetings…
The glorious weather we are now enjoying cannot have escaped your attention. Simply being outdoors is healthy for both body and mind. But do event professionals forget sometimes the basic pleasures and benefits of getting out of the office? One Iceberg partner wants to take things outside. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Coffee in copious quantity sustains much of the meetings industry. Yet disposable coffee cups are in of themselves a major sustainability issue. As the sector aims to reduce its carbon footprint, one organiser successfully avoided the mountains of cups often left behind at events, while also helping fund clean water projects around the world. From PCMA…
In June officials ceremonially broke ground on the all-new Oklahoma City Convention Center. This is a $288 million venue, scheduled to open in 2020, that will offer acres of modern and flexible meeting space. According to Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, the building is set to become “a modern town hall”. From PCMA Convene…
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In good economic times and bad, funding for education development is always at risk. To mitigate the risk of losing resources, you need a shift in thinking that focuses on results rather than the activity of learning. During this virtual program, you’ll have an opportunity to network with colleagues and gather tips and practical tools…
Associations are facing an increasingly competitive continuing education market, and member-learner attitudes about what they want, when they want it, and how much they are willing to pay for it are shifting. Which next steps will yield the greatest impact? During this virtual program, you’ll have an opportunity to network with colleagues and gather tips and…
The session will attract internationally renowned speakers and global meetings industry experts, who will discuss global trends, the importance of destination teamwork and industry collaboration, and the competitiveness of Qatar meetings industry. Speakers will also share strategies on bidding for international meetings and conferences in what has become an increasingly competitive world, as well as…
Plan Your Meeting Live (PYM LIVE) is a cutting-edge, relevant and engaging event developed specifically for the non-traditional meeting professional – the person whose job responsibilities include so much more than planning meetings or events. PYM LIVE is a great way to hone your planning skills and connect with people who can help increase your chances…
This exclusive and unique networking and education experience is designed for experienced association executives, corporate business event leaders and event industry business professionals. If you’re ready to shed outmoded strategies and thrive in this chaotic digital age – register now and become your organisation’s leading change agent.
Our broad approach will include presentations and discussions on latest product developments, successful partnerships, innovating marketing strategies and much more. This event is open to ECM members only, specifically to tourism professionals working on city cards schemes (Product Managers, Project Leaders, Marketing Managers…) who are looking to improve – but also share – their knowledge with other…
ITSS aims to provide an innovative, practical and holistic view on destination marketing and image management in an era of security instability. The summit will focus on marketing preparedness for crisis, crisis communication, strategies for image restoration, resilience marketing, and reputation management in turbulent times. The summit is a meeting place for any travel and tourism…
For more than 30 years, Destinations International’s Membership Summit has supported the evolving role and the impact of the membership professional. This community of partners, inclusive of both membership and partnership roles, targets discussions about changing trends in the destination marketplace, redefining membership and partnership responsibilities to maximize impact, recalibrating the sponsorship value proposition and more.
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,…
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…
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The Workshop is organized by the ICCA Asia Pacific Regional Office annually, specifically catered to members in the Asia Pacific region. Client/Supplier Business Workshop is an intensive and focused two-day networking event between ICCA members (suppliers) and international association clients, offering the opportunity for both to meet face-to-face and discuss future co-operation in a tailor-made…
Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across the Southeast in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, three-night stay at PGA National. Invaluable business connections, targeted education, and unforgettable experiences—all while experiencing Florida’s Golf Capital and the Signature City of Palm Beach Gardens.
ibtm latin america, now ibtm AMERICAS, is the event for event organizers, the meeting point for the America Latina’s leaders and bridge with the major community of global business. When the business connects at ibtm latin america, great things happens. Connections mean everything.
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.
The Leaders’ Forum is a platform for industry thought leaders from the PCMA ICESAP Corporate, Agency and Partner membership base to gather and discuss key pressing issues within their segment through a moderated framework. This concludes with a joint session to present findings and agreement on an implementation plan or further investigation steps.
Connect in the Caribbean. A world-class networking event like no other, where planners and supplier attendees join to meet with regional suppliers as they showcase what they can offer this active, RFP-ready audience.
ibtm china is where meetings, events and incentives industry decision makers meet to do business. We unite global suppliers with highly qualified Chinese and international events and meeting planners for two inspirational days of business, networking and education. We look forward to welcoming you at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing from 12-13 September 2018.
This conference aims to be the most international gathering of industry leaders, attended by colleagues from across Latin America including Brazil, North America and beyond. This will be a one day event following a golf-tournament and evening reception on Tuesday 18th September, and will provide industry updates and insights from across the region, as well as…
Discover the wonders of Mexico. Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across Mexico in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, three-night stay at Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa. Invaluable business connections, targeted education, and unforgettable experiences—all while experiencing the natural beauty and magic…
The Visitor Services Summit offers professionals vested in the planning, development, and management of visitor experiences within their destinations an opportunity to: Exchange ideas and solutions; Learn new practices, opportunities, and resources; Network and connect.
ICCA venues invite a client to the Workshop to discuss their specific meeting requirements. 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.
If you influence or manage international or domestic meetings and events, then IMEX America is where you belong. Whether you’re a corporate, association or agency planner you’ll discover fabulous business, education and networking opportunities. This truly is the power source for the meetings industry. Productive appointments. Face time with key players. The knowledge to boost your…
