Pádraic Gilligan of Iceberg partner SoolNua is a expert in social media and its usage across the meetings industry. He often presents on the subject and did so with colleague Aoife McCrum at the recent IBTM World in Barcelona. He continues the session here with the audience’s Sli.do feedback. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
The Trump effect on the US’s standing as a destination is much discussed. But what about the actual meeting that helped elect him: the 2016 Republican National Convention? The RNC and its economic impact are at the centre of some thoughts about the real return on investment of face-to-face. From PCMA Convene…
Paris is riding high both on its new convention centre and on hosting the 2024 Olympics. But when one huge event is in town at a major destination, does that cause other large meetings to, erm… bottle out? There’s evidence this is the case, but good reasons why it shouldn’t be. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
The nature of venues and of how organisers use them is changing. If coffee shops are now suitable spaces, why not cinemas? The refurbished Stella in South Dublin – an Art Deco time capsule – is visited in this article, with some Bold ideas for small meetings featured as well. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Deborah Sexton, who has served as CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association for over 12 years, will stand down after the annual Convening Leaders meeting in January. She will be succeeded by current COO Sherrif Karamat. Under Sexton, PCMA more than doubled its membership and revenue. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Incentive Federation has issued an update on the Congressional proposal to repeal part of the US tax code which gives firms exclusion for employee service and safety awards. The House of Representatives has now passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but the Senate bill does not have a corresponding provision. From Meetings & Conventions…
Those travelling internationally to an event are more flexible than domestic travellers about journey times. While a Barbican poll recently showed that 58 percent of domestic delegates wanted journeys of less than an hour, the venue’s research also shows one third of international attendees willing to travel ten hours to a meeting. From Meetpie.com…
The International Congress and Convention Association has welcomed a record number of members to its 56th annual congress. Almost 1,300, including more than 40 association executives, travelled to Prague for four days of education, chapter meetings and networking. The destination for the 2020 ICCA Congress was also announced as Kaohsiung, in Chinese Taipei. From Association Meetings International…
This report gives an overview of the experience and intentions of exhibitors at trade shows across the world. It aims to give event organisers a deeper understanding of the patterns and trends that drive positive and negative exhibitor experiences and the objectives and behaviours that underlie them. This report has been created in two stages….
The Fall 2017 edition of Meeting Professionals International’s Outlook surveyed planners about their contingency plans for emergencies. 46 percent of respondents said they have specific contingency plans for natural disasters, 45 percent for active shooters, 43 percent for bomb threats, 40 percent for general illness/injury/death, and 31 percent for a cyber attack. From Meetings & Conventions…
Over the past few months, the need to prepare for unexpected eventualities has become increasingly important. Ken Kelling, MPRCA, Associate Director at meetings and events PR firm Davies Tanner, and a featured speaker at PCMA’s recent Knowledge Exchange in London, offers some essential tips for crafting the right message when a crisis unfolds. From PCMA…
As business event planners react to the changing outside factors that can disrupt their meetings, so also industry associations, including some partners of The Iceberg, are themselves considering how to educate and define best practice in risk management for their memberships. The call is being made for a collaborative approach. From Skift…
Wowing your audience without spending too much is hard. Here’s a guide to doing just that, by using the latest technology, giving away goodies, keeping your agenda energetic but focused, choosing a great venue… and also a destination people want to visit. From Simon Lockwood, creative director at The Brewery in London, and Successful Meetings…
Despite new technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, meetings and incentive professionals should expect next year to be all about “engagement”. That’s according to Pacific World, which has published a list of trends to watch for in 2018. Four in particular will drive engagement: localization, cultural immersion, community impact, and off-the-beaten-path destinations. From Successful Meetings…
Attendees are consumers: discerning travelers who may choose to attend conventions & exhibitions… or not. That’s why the mutual goal of both meeting / exhibition professionals and CVBs is generating positive word-of-mouth from attendees, resulting in repeat bookings and increased attendance. This report provides insight from the second Decision to Attend survey conducted in 2017, with…
Marriott has recently taken flak for hosting a convention of ACT America, which calls itself a ‘grassroots national security organisation’ but which has also been dubbed America’s ‘largest anti-Muslim hate group’. Marriott lists diversity and inclusion among its core values. ACT America has its own anti-violence, anti-discrimination policy. From the editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
It was a speech the embattled UK Prime Minister was hoping would go rather better than it did. First, a prankster breached security to hand Theresa May a fake P45 (a UK termination of employment form). Then she lost her voice. Even the set designer received an unexpected “F” (and later “E”). From CIM News Magazine…
The meetings, events and incentives showcase ibtm world is to go ahead as planned next month despite simmering tensions in Barcelona after the Catalonian independence referendum. More than 850 people were injured as riot police raided polling stations to stop the vote, which was declared illegal by a Spanish court. Photo: Robert Bonet. From Meetpie.com…
UK venues have tightened up on security over the last six months, and agencies booking hotels and venues are increasingly asking questions about it. An HBAA survey found that over 63 percent of venues had reviewed or changed arrangements in the past half year and 42 percent had carried out simulation exercises. From Meetpie.com…
After the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, the organisers of IMEX America moved swiftly to express shock and sadness, and to reassure those attending the event at Sands Expo the following week. “Both IMEX America and the Sands have very strong security in place” said IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer. From Meetings & Conventions…
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