The GDS-Index is a performance improvement programme to make the business and leisure tourism industry more sustainable. In a collaborative effort it supports destination management organisations and convention bureaux to adopt, promote and recognise responsible and regenerative practices. Iceberg partner the Global Destination Sustainability Movement evaluates four key areas that it believes are vital to…
Most destination marketing organisations are not measuring environmental impact of business events, or even including meetings in their “climate strategy”, an Iceberg partner report says. The GDS-Index for 2021 found 86 percent of cities had a climate strategy, but only 36 percent included “business events” specifically in it. From Association Meetings International…
After skipping a year because of the pandemic, IMEX America, the largest global meetings industry trade show, was staged once again in Las Vegas. The tenth edition of the show drew 3,300 buyers and more than 2,200 exhibiting companies. The numbers were down from 2019, but a joyful reunion even so. From Northstar Meetings Group…
Following months of planning, research and consultation, JMIC’s Net Zero Carbon Events, an initiative to radically reduce sector emissions, was presented at Glasgow’s COP26. At the time the pledge already had 109 actual signatories, including COP’s venue the SEC Centre, and 211 additional supporters. The Joint Meetings Industry Council presents The Iceberg. From Association Meetings International…
The NEC Group is to redevelop its Birmingham campus and create 14,000 square metres of new outdoor event space, to be run alongside its other venues on the site. NEC Group said the building work would create around 3,500 local jobs and also a greener and more sustainable campus. From Exhibition News…
UFI’s 88th Global Congress held in Rotterdam saw the association’s return to face-to-face gatherings. The Iceberg partner event drew 350 participants from about 40 countries and regions. The main theme of the congress, staged at the Rotterdam Ahoy and co-hosted by Rotterdam Partners, was “together again”. From Exhibition News…
Business Events Sarawak, the local region’s convention bureau, has just launched a scheme to help congress organisers to leave positive legacies through their meetings. The initiative identifies five key areas where legacy occurs, namely sectoral, economic, environmental, plus community and social, and political. BESarawak’s initiative was launched at TRIBE. From Association Meetings International…
A company of association executives, destination managers and meeting industry thought leaders is now gathering on site for the BestCities Global Forum. The Iceberg partner event taking place in Madrid, Spain, will focus on legacy and inclusivity, committing to a more “sustainable and socially equitable future”. From Association Meetings International…
More than 6,000 delegates from 110 nations gathered in Madrid for World Air Traffic Management Congress. Greener aviation was high on the agenda, solutions including more precise route planning and traffic management to reduce plane fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. From Association Meetings International…
Associations and the meetings sector have gathered across hub cities and via a virtual platform for the 60th ICCA Congress. Around 1,200 delegates from 83 countries attended the Iceberg partner event to enjoy 100 hours of live content. Hopes for one unified Congress in Colombia, were dashed by travel restrictions. From Conference & Meetings World…
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company has announced a plan to expand its centres in Abu Dhabi and London. These include building the largest exhibition hall in the MENA region at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, plus ExCeL London gets added space for exhibitions as well as new halls for conferences. From Exhibition News…
Copenhagen Legacy Lab, the project run by convention bureau Wonderful Copenhagen, has won the Global Destination Sustainability Movement’s Innovation Award for 2021. The trophy was presented at the 60th ICCA Congress’ Paris hub in recognition of CLL’s efforts to focus the industry on legacy work. All three are Iceberg partners. From Association Meetings International…
The third Global Recovery Insights 2021 report, conducted by Iceberg partner UFI with SISO (the Society for Independent Show Organisers), has been released. The study found that demand has returned to levels pre-pandemic for both exhibitors and visitors, with no signs of any fundamental shift away from in person events. From Exhibition News…
It is hard to think of a conference with higher stakes than the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties. As well as the future of the entire planet, it also could define that of business events. Net Zero Carbon Events from JMIC, and Iceberg partner Positive Impact, played their part. From PCMA…
The Farm at Javits Center, managed by urban farming company Brooklyn Grange, will produce 40,000 pounds of produce annually at the New York venue. The crops will be irrigated by rainwater gathered in an enormous underground cistern, and the space will also become the largest rooftop solar farm in all of Manhattan. From PCMA…
With recent sustainability initiatives in the event sector, including the signing of JMIC’s Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge at COP26 and others joining UNFCCC’s The Race to Zero, are this industry’s narratives around the climate crisis changing, and will net zero be enough to improve the global situation and safeguard our industry? From Event MB…
During the recent IMEX America in Las Vegas, Iceberg partners ICCA and the BestCities Global Alliance collaboratively staged a deep dive workshop that explored “Legacy for Association Meetings”. With the use of templates taken from the toolkit of Copenhagen Legacy Lab, also an Iceberg partner, attendees worked to develop tangible solutions for sector challenges. From ICCA…
The New York Times Climate Hub, a hybrid event held at the same time as COP26 in Glasgow, was a first for the legacy media brand. Staged less than a mile from COP26, the quartet of main venues included The Think Tank, where artist Es Devlin created a temporary forest as the setting. From PCMA…
In terms of legacies left for the planet, COP26 is surely the most important business event ever to come to the UK. But what does it mean for Glasgow to deliver this ultimate global climate meeting? Voices include Iceberg ambassador Aileen Crawford, Glasgow Life Head of Tourism and Conventions. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Joint Meetings Industry Council pledge over Net Zero Carbon Events is not the end of the events industry, as some alarmists have decried, but rather a new beginning. But the key will be measurement. Here is how assorted Iceberg partners worked together to make progress on the issue, including Positive Impact. From Exhibition News…
The global meetings industry took a giant step towards recovery with the USA reopening to air travel. But the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge at COP26 in Glasgow should also now focus attention on the challenge of industry environmental credentials. From Association Meetings International…
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