GainingEdge Bulletin: COVID-19 Issue #1
Sector: Destination Management
Coronavirus: Expo 2020 Postponement Likely
Expo 2020 Dubai is almost certain to be postponed. Organisers said they wanted to show “solidarity” with the participating countries now fighting coronavirus. The event is likely to be put back a year, but a final decision should be made in June. Expo 2020 was hoping to attract eleven million visitors. From Association Meetings International…
Coronavirus: ISTH 2020 Milan Goes Virtual
A major meeting of blood doctors will be held virtually because of the COVID-19 crisis. The 28th Congress of ISTH (the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) was scheduled to take place in Milan this July. The USA-based association’s event typically draws over 3,000 delegates to the meeting. From Association Meetings International…
Coronavirus: IMEX CEO Reassures Las Vegas
After the cancellation of the major industry meeting IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer has been reassuring the sector that her company is “full steam ahead” for IMEX America in September. The Iceberg partner also discussed how staff are working remotely, and what is being learnt in that process. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Coronavirus: German Expo Losses €3bn
German trade fairs have already been hit hard by COVID-19 crisis cancellations and postponements. Organisers and service providers are already suffering significant financial losses. AUMA, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, has now forecast a total loss to the German economy of around three billion euros. From UFI…
Coronavirus: Olympic Games Postponed
No kind of event is immune from the devastation coronavirus is causing. After weeks of speculation and amid mounting criticism, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President of the IOC Thomas Bach both agreed to reschedule the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021, the first break in four-year cycle since World War II. From Reuters…
Coronavirus: AU$2.5bn Monthly Losses, BECA
Coronavirus event cancellations are wiping AU$2.5bn off the Australian economy every month. So say new figures from a major industry body. Shutting down large gatherings has effectively shut down the country’s meetings sector, with devastating results, according to the Business Events Council of Australia. From Association Meetings International…
Four Cities Linked: The Global Associations Hubs Partnership
Most ambitious destinations market meetings by targeting key economic growth sectors and by making good use of knowledge economy assets. GAHP, the Global Association Hubs Partnership, links up four such cities with strong association ecosystems and support. GAHP is also a partner of The Iceberg. From Association Meetings International…
10 September 2020
ECM 16th TourMIS Users’ Workshop & International Seminar 2020, Vienna
MODUL University Vienna will host two major events regarding tourism on September 10-11, 2020: 16th TourMIS Users’ Workshop and International Seminar. Both events are directed toward managers, academics, as well as consultants and representatives of governments and international organizations dealing with tourism. Participants are invited to register for both days or can choose to participate in…
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Coronavirus: Iceberg’s James Latham Talks Sector Recovery
In the wake of so many meetings cancelling due to the COVID-19 crisis, and the resultant economic losses, the Founder of The Iceberg James Latham has been discussing how event organisers are reacting, and why the sector could be leading the charge when business does start to return to normal. From Duetto…
Coronavirus: African Sector Also Suffering Under COVID-19 Crisis
Meetings Africa 2020 already seems so long ago. As the world struggles to tackle COVID-19, not only have major conferences and exhibitions in Asia, Europe and America been cancelled, but Africa is also feeling the crisis. Interviews include Gregg Talley, President and CEO of Iceberg partner Talley Management Group. From the Event…
Coronavirus: UK Events Industry Promised an Amplified Voice
The coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge ever faced by the events industry. Get ready for business as extremely unusual. In an editorial posted before the United Kingdom locked down, one Iceberg partner promised the UK meetings industry “to amplify its voice at every turn”. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Medical Associations: Demographics Change, So Approaches Change
The associations sector is vast and diverse, but one community dealing with particular challenges is that of the medical associations. Significant demographic changes are changing how healthcare professionals work and meet together. Ben Hainsworth, Managing Director at EASL (home of hepatology) explains what these are. From Boardroom…
Coronavirus: May’s IMEX Frankfurt Cancels
Iceberg partner the IMEX Group has cancelled meetings industry trade show IMEX Frankfurt 2020, due to take place in May. IMEX Chairman Ray Bloom and CEO Carina Bauer released a joint statement revealing the news, in which the pair said the decision had been made with “deep sadness and heavy hearts”. From Association Meetings International…
Toulouse Latest French City to Join GDS-Index
Toulouse is the fourth French city to join Iceberg partner GDS-Index (the Global Destination Sustainability Index). The Toulouse Convention Bureau intends to use membership to map and showcase its business tourism partners’ initiatives around sustainable development. Bordeaux, Lyon and Nantes have already joined the GDS-Index. From Boardroom…
M&IT Awards 2020 Salute Sector’s Finest
Iceberg partner M&IT’s 2020 Awards saw over 1,200 event professionals celebrating the industry at Battersea Evolution in London. For the 14th year in a row, Glasgow Convention Bureau was named the UK’s best. The former CAT Media Managing Director Martin Lewis was named “Personality of the Year”. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Convene Posts Annual Meetings Market Survey
What’s the number one challenge facing business events? When this question was posed in November 2019 by Convene as part of its 29th Annual Meetings Market Survey, just a few answers talked about dealing with the unknown. One respondent alone cited the management of risk, and specifically of epidemic risk, as a challenge. From PCMA…
Coronavirus: Behind IMEX’s “Devastating Decision” to Cancel
Iceberg partner IMEX has just taken the “devastating decision” to cancel IMEX Frankfurt. Citing the danger of the German health ministry forcing a last minute shutdown very close to the trade show’s opening this May, the meetings industry stalwart has just given the sector a textbook lesson in how to make a difficult call. From PCMA…
Coronavirus: Five Key Suggestions to Help Survive the Crisis
The meetings industry, very used to things “going viral”, is now dealing with a real virus crisis. One of this site’s favourite bloggers has distilled down five suggestions for survival. Stick with the facts. Postpone, don’t cancel. Make use of this “period of reflection”. Be kind. Remember, this too shall pass. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Coronavirus: Don’t Listen to the Voices of Doom or Complacency
Public views about COVID-19 have seemed to polarise around either very sensationalist panic or similarly dangerous complacency. Perhaps we should choose to hear neither of these extreme positions. The events industry is going to take a battering from this crisis. The sector should try to accept this. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
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