CWT M&E says the buoyant global meetings industry is poised for eight percent growth next year, despite looming geopolitical and economic headwinds. The 2020 Future Trends report notes these as the trade war between the US and China, Brexit and its wider impact, the protests in Hong Kong and climate change. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
St Petersburg is now doubling its subvention fund for 2019 to 50 million roubles (approximately €700,000), as part of an ongoing strategy to attract to the city major international congresses. The fund is available across all the city’s venues, but will have a significant impact on Expoforum, the Russian city’s main congress centre. From Meetings International…
Plans for the Galaxy International Convention and Exhibition Centre have just been presented at IBTM China in Beijing. Macau is getting the coming 40,000 square metre conference and business event facility, with 10,000 square metre exhibition and convention hall, as the third phase of the Galaxy casino resort completes in 2021. From Meetings International…
Through August, global meetings industry professionals were asked for comments and commitments about how the sector can support UN Sustainable Development Goals. Survey responses have now been analysed by Iceberg partner Positive Impact to form an “acceleration action” shared with the UN. CEO Fiona Pelham explains. From Positive Impact via YouTube…
In issues 18, 33, 53 and 60 of The Iceberg’s fortnightly Business Events World, the importance of meetings has been discussed in terms of President Trump’s rapprochement with Kim Jong-un. Their summit venue, the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ, is also a fascinating outing for incentive delegates. From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
When tourist visitors to a city greatly outnumber the resident population, it’s not hard to understand locals feeling crowded, some to the point of revolt. But is overtourism an issue for the meetings industry? What have selfie-stick wielding hordes that descend seasonally on top destinations have to do with business events? From PCMA…
The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation is about to host its 36th World Conference at La Cité Nantes Congress Centre. IASP consulting director Jean-François Balducchi, from Atlanpole (the science-based business incubator for the whole Pays de la Loire region), discusses the fit of event and destination. Photo: LisaRlld. From Boardroom…
With the aim of analysing Europe’s potential as a meetings destination, a recent report, supported by nine members of the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe, has identified economic, socio-political, technological and other industry trends that are now affecting the European meetings community. From Meetings International…
During the 2017 Dubai Association Conference, the impact generated by associations was a key theme. Two years on, the second edition of the conference this December at the Dubai World Trade Centre will focus on the larger roles played across global society and “the societal impact of associations”. From Boardroom…
A good first half of the year for UK meetings business is set to continue for the rest of 2019, according to the latest HBAA Meetings Barometer. Average spend per meeting and per delegate have both increased. Rising confidence is shown by reductions in lead and conversion times. Photo: James Petts. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Protests between demonstrators and riot police in Hong Kong, with flight disruptions at Hong Kong International Airport, have caused the cancellation of meetings and events. Asset manager BlackRock has postponed a forum scheduled for September. Games developer Capcom has also cancelled an event. Photo: Studio Incendo. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Iceberg is now identifying and celebrating the greater mass of hard-to-see business events legacies that lie hidden beneath the surface in a new podcast “Below the Waterline”. In the second of a series featuring significant meetings industry players, Iceberg founder James Latham catches up with the IMEX Group’s formidable CEO, Carina Bauer. IMEX…
Aberdeen’s economy may once have been powered by oil and gas, but Scotland’s third city is now becoming an all-energy hub, with major investment in renewables, especially wind. It’s a life sciences hub as well, with coming new infrastructure in that sector, plus in transport, digital and the P&J Live venue (pictured). From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Venue operator AEG Ogden has welcomed the formal Queensland Government announcement of the Cairns Convention Centre’s AU$176 million upgrade. The plans will see existing facilities refurbished, plus an expansion built creating a further 3,000 square metres of meeting, banquet and exhibition space. Work is due to start in June 2020. From Meetings International…
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has just supported the hosting of the International Dragon Award Annual Congress at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. About 7,500 delegates are expected to have generated revenue of 640 million Baht ($20.7 million) during the four-day event, the largest-ever Chinese convention to be held in Thailand. From Meetings International…
A study by the Austrian Institute of Economic Research has analysed the economic impact of Congress Messe Innsbruck on both the region and its people. The venue generates around €360 million in gross value added. It secures around 5,800 jobs, delivers tax revenue of €120 million, and contributions to social welfare of €62 million. From Meetings International…
The 12th European Pain Federation Congress in 2021 is to be hosted by The Convention Centre Dublin. The meeting will bring together 3,000 clinicians and researchers, and will generate over £3.7 million for the local economy. The bid from the Irish Pain Society was supported by both the Dublin Convention Bureau and Fáilte Ireland. From Association Meetings International…
Event industry professionals across the globe are being asked for their comments and commitments on how the sector can support UN Sustainable Development Goals. Survey responses will be analysed by Iceberg partner Positive Impact, and those completed before 1st September 2019 will form an “acceleration action” shared with the UN. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
At Meetings Africa 2017, South Africa launched a bidding fund to target international association meetings. Now at the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry congress, Deputy Minister of Tourism Fish Mahlalela has discussed its 2018-19 submissions. These total 108 event bids, with an economic impact of around R2.5 billion. From the Event…
Three big industry associations, all Iceberg partners, are dovetailing resources available to members: the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), together with the global association of the exhibition Industry (UFI). AIPC President (and UFI Board Member) Aloysius Arlando talks collaboration, standardisation and advocacy. From UFI…
The Africa Chapter of Iceberg partner the International Congress and Convention Association is small but active. ICCA’s annual statistics list how many association meetings are held in cities around the world. The Regional Director for Africa at ICCA, Esmaré Steinhöfel, explains what the latest rankings mean for the continent, and where growth opportunities lie. From the Event…
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