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Collaboration Versus Consolidation in MI Trade Associations

The meetings and events industry is served by manyĀ international trade associations, quite a few of them partners of the Iceberg. Some have formalised collaborations, the latest being The Global Alliance, a sharing of content between ICCA, UFI and AIPC. But are there still too many for the sector? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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The Dubai Association Conference Spotlights Impact and Legacy

How can associations grow in a manner that creates a positive impact on society? This is the key question the five-year-old Dubai Association Centre is aiming to address this December at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the second edition of the Dubai Association Conference. Impact and legacy will be centre stage. From Boardroom…

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Associations Differing with Destinations on Outreach and Legacy

The perspectives on outreach and legacy of associations, compared with destinations, have significant differences. So says a new study by MeetDenmark, the development association for business and event tourism in Denmark, and meetings consultancy and Iceberg partner GainingEdge. But the study also shows common ground to build on. From Boardroomā€¦

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Hong Kong: SAR Still Safe and Still Stable for Meetings and Events

Any manifestation of political instability can have a devastating effect on a destination’s perceived attractiveness for staging major events. Stuart Bailey, the CEO of a Hong Kong-based exhibition and conference organiser, believes that international impressions of the special administrative region’s recent protests are overblown, and should not deter either business or leisure visitors. From UFI…

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Tunnel Vision: Food and Community Housing Legacies at WTC 2019

The World Tunnel Congress 2019 was recently held in Naples, Italy. Over 2,700 attendees from more than 70 countries, an 80 percent rise in delegates, gathered at the Mostra Dā€™Oltremare Congress Center.Ā Trips included ancient and Renaissance archaeological sites, and legacy projects donatedĀ excess food and helped build community housing. From Boardroom…  

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Food Waste, and Managing FORO (the Fear of Running Out)

Food waste is a universal problem, a lesson in Moroccan manners clearly shows.Ā In the latest Meeting Room of the Future report from IACC, 62 percent of planners consider how a venue manages its waste before booking. 54 percent want to know if it buys from sustainable sources. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Exhibitions: Thoughts on Transformation for Sector Stakeholders

You don’t have to be a doctor to change people’s lives! On June 5th, Global Exhibitions Day brought the industry together like never before. GED 2019 also saw the sector trying to quantify the huge transformative power of exhibitions as a medium, for entrepreneurs, businesses of all sizes, and destinations. From UFI…

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The Medical Meeting that Changed the Course of a Life

Dr Lance Oā€™Sullivan certainly knows the power of conferences. Aged 17, the twice-expelled disruptive child from a deprived background was taken to a Māori medicine meeting by his aunt. A smart and charismatic doctor speaking there captured the teenager’s attention and started his career path as healthcare innovator. From Association Meetings International…

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The Canadian CVBs Seeking Business at London Tech Week

Five Canadian convention bureaux recently attended London Tech Week’sĀ AI Summit at ExCeL. Their aim was to attract tech-related business events across to their own destinations, along with the inward investment that follows. Among them was Virginie De Visscher, Director of Business Development for Economic Sectors, Business Events Canada (third left). From Association Meetings International…

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SITE Aims to Define Incentive Travel in Bangkok Manifesto

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence’s new Bangkok Manifesto aims to define the nature, purpose and directionĀ of the incentive travel sector. It was crowdsourced during the SITE Global Conference held in Bangkok this January, from essays written by ten sector professionals. CMO PĆ”draic Gilligan explains. From Northstar Meetings Group…

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“Women Deliver” Draws 8,000 to Vancouver Convention Centre

The Women Deliver conference has just brought 8,000 world leaders, advocates, academics, activists and journalists from over 150 countries into the Vancouver Convention Centre. The meeting aims to influence policy makers and politicians, and to drive investment into the lives of girls and women. Photo: Jon Benjamin Photography. From editorā€™s blog atĀ Meetings & Incentive Travelā€¦

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Elliott L. Ferguson II: “Connected Capital” Washington DC

Elliott L. Ferguson II, President and CEO of Washington DC’s official marketing organisation Destination DC, has been talking “connected capital”, inclusion and positive impact at IMEX in Frankfurt. His themes included which knowledge sectors the district is targeting, the legacies its meetings are leaving in their wake, and issues of diversity. From Boardroom…

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From Frankfurt to Las Vegas: IMEX America Themes Previewed

As IMEX Frankfurt wraps up for another year, the events industry is already looking foward towards IMEX America this September in Las Vegas. “Imagination” is IMEX’s talking point for the year, and this theme will inform content throughout the meeting, bringing with it exciting new experiences, exhibitors and educational sessions. From Boardroom…

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Three Questions: Singapore Tourism Boardā€™s Keith Tan

Keith Tan has been the Singapore Tourism Boardā€™s Chief Executive for about half a year. During IMEX he spoke about the city-state’s plans and approaches for continuing to attract international associations and their meetings, which include working alongside Iceberg partners BestCities Global Alliance and Global Association Hubs Partnership. From Boardroom…

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Enlightening the Sector Lack of Vision Around Event Accessibility

A legacy of awareness around visual impairment was created during IMEX in Frankfurt with the holding of a “Dialogue in the Dark” workshop. Hosted by industry association IAPCO, and the business events teams of both Dubai and Melbourne, it all started with a blindfold. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Don Welch: DI Helping Members “Do Battle” With Politicians

The head of tourism association Destinations InternationalĀ says his organisation spends a lot of its energy and resources doing battle with politicians around the world on behalf of members facing financial and legislative challenges. CEO Don Welch was speaking out at IMEX about issues like “over-tourism” and womens’ and LGBTQ rights. From Association Meetings International…

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