It’s a familiar problem. After a great start to the opening session, the room’s energy dips over a couple of hours. The morning break is supposed to revive and refresh, but somehow that initial dynamism never quite seems to return. Perhaps instead of tea or coffee, the secret sauce is an exercise break. From the Event…
Following the terror attack in Barcelona, the European Society of Cardiology Congress has been held in the city. Over 31,700 delegates attended from 153 countries. 4,515 abstracts were submitted. A three-day public health event was also staged. ESC President Prof. Jeroen Bax said attacks “only succeed if we allow them to succeed.”. From Association Meetings International…
With cities across the path of Hurricane Irma braced for impact, major events were postponed as the storm neared. With a state of emergency declared in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, Iceberg partner Northstar put back Destination Southeast in Miami Beach to December. Meanwhile, the Caribbean is reeling from Irma’s pass. From Meetpie.com…
One in three UK event industry workers experience a mental health problem. The national average is one in four. The findings are from a survey for the industry campaign EventWell, which starts on September 18. Three quarters of respondents suffered stress due to their workloads, and 13 percent were currently experiencing a problem. From Meetpie.com…
Rather than controversial name and shame blacklists, here’s a rather more creative solution to the problem of discouraging the attendance of FAM trip freeloaders. Charge an appropriate token entry fee… and then donate the proceeds to industry charity Meeting Needs. Some clever thinking at Cliveden House in Berkshire, United Kingdom, from the editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
For the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, compliance and regulation are a way of life. In this already complex environment, the ever-changing regulatory landscape has increased the pressure over recent years. These dynamics are having a profound effect on healthcare congresses, which represent the largest segment of educational meetings. The future of these events depends on…
Three quarters of event planners will not return to a venue if they receive bad service, according to a survey by the Victory Services Club. 84 percent think quality of service is one of the most important aspects of the overall experience. 61 percent base their booking decision on first contact and staff attitude. From Meetpie.com…
Following the anonymous email blacklist of 31 people alleged to be serially freeloading at business events – one of those named has now said he will no longer be doing so – familiarisation trips and the vetting of attendee lists will be debated at the next #EventPlannersTalk breakfast on 26 September in London. From Meetpie.com…
After the Barcelona terror attack, messages of international support for the city included one from the European Society of Cardiology, whose congress is bringing in 32,000 to the Catalonian capital. “Our sympathy is with the victims and their families.” its statement read. “Our solidarity is with all the people of Spain.”. Photo: Tiputini. From Association Meetings International…
Organisers of medical meetings are finding it difficult to deliver education to healthcare providers, according to a survey. More than 124 healthcare planners, congress organisers and meeting suppliers were surveyed, with twelve in-depth interviews conducted. The top trends identified included the intense time pressures imposed on HCPs by patients and practice management. From Association Meetings International…
As we switch from “business tourism” to “economic development” and “knowledge transfer” – and as we quantify the return on investment our events create – let us not forget the human values also at the heart of this industry. Let us not squeeze the joy out of meetings. From the editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
We all know what professional conference organisers want from speakers they engage in constructing content for meetings and events. But what do the speakers want in return from organisers? Consultant and Strategic Meetings Management guru Kevin Iwamoto offers a list of eight peeves and pointers from the speaker point of view. From Meetings & Conventions…
A Cvent study of 1,200 event professionals reveals some serious pet hates of planners in the process of selecting venues. Transparency and pricing failings – along with poor response times – are all bones of contention for organisers. The report also suggests that venues could improve their business by providing prompt answers to all requests for proposals. From Meetpie.com…
According to the Incentive Research Foundation’s 2016 Event Disruption study, 59% of planners in 2015 and 2016 and had to deal with outside disturbances to their meeting itineraries. One brave Iceberg partner journalist signed up to sample a unique dinner-in-the-sky experience in London. Sadly sometimes even a suspended event has to be… erm… suspended. From the editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Meet in Ireland has announced new services and subvention – and a new strategy – for business events visiting its shores. The Corporate Supports Programme offers customised assistance – financial subvention included – and facilitates access for organisers to Ireland’s key knowledge sectors. Incentives can even explore film locations and sets seen in Game of Thrones and Star Wars. From Meetpie.com…
“Uneasy lies the head of the PCO” to adapt Shakespeare. But what should a PCO’s guiding principles be in designing a conference or exhibition? What works really well and what really does not? Principles 1 – 5 are listed on the article page. Click through issue 7 of the full magazine at the bottom for 6 – 10. From the Event…
Whether it’s all about the cost of the airfare itself or of the transportation from the airport, whether it’s about the pricing of the meeting’s accommodation, food and beverages, Wi-Fi access or off-site venues, views on what constitutes affordability in the meetings industry are as many and varied as are the events themselves. From Successful Meetings…
The plague of bogus professional attendees who serially freeload at events has long been understood by the meetings industry. But an anonymous “name and shame” email listing 31 people alleged to have no real connection with the sector has also just caused controversy. The conference to whose attendees the list was sent has disowned it. From Association Meetings International…
If life throws lemons at you, you make lemonade. Lemon tea is a great alternative. And as any event planner knows, events outside your own control can cause chaos. According to the Incentive Research Foundation’s 2016 Event Disruption study, 59% of planners were thrown lemons in 2015 and 2016 and had to deal with them. From Meetings & Conventions…
The International Congress and Convention Association – a partner of The Iceberg – has published its 2016 country and city rankings. Paris – last leading in 2014 – has reclaimed the top city spot. The USA is the country holding the most meetings. International association meetings continue to double every ten years. Fuller data will be released in June. From ICCA…
At PCMA Convening Leaders in Texas, collaborative education by IAPCO (the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers) and the event hosts reinforced the need for global association education strategies to be applied locally. Having a professional congress organizer (PCO) that understands the importance of locally-sourced intellectual capital – and that is aligned to the mission of the association – can…
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