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…
London has just hosted the 33rd edition of the European Cities Marketing Summer School. This year’s event graduated 64 students from three continents, including four from the USA and Canada and five from South Africa. Brand new for 2019 was an innovative stronger connection between attendees and the host city. From European Cities Marketing…
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…
Flight-shaming, which many believe started in Sweden, has not reached the US yet, which basks in the glow of a demand boom. Greta Thunberg, the pioneering young eco-warrior (pictured), crossed the Atlantic in a yacht to avoid flying to two major climate summits. How realistic is idealism? From editor’s blog at Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Holland’s network of thought leaders plays a key role in attracting international association events and enhancing the country’s reputation as a knowledge hub. Here four key influential figures, instrumental in winning bids for Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, discuss the experience. The group includes Professor Peter Reiss (pictured at AIDS 2018). From Boardroom…
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…
Technology that mimics human behaviour and helps delegates to interact with each other is set to change the face of events, it has been claimed. The Tech Watch Award winners will be announced during IBTM World in Barcelona this November, and the experts on its judging panel have been discussing emerging trends. From Association Meetings International…
AMR International’s recently updated report, “The US Exhibitions Industry – Developments and Opportunities for Organizers”, points the way to the next generation of exhibitions. The white paper finds the US market still attractive, forecasting continuing compound annual growth rate of 3.5 percent through 2022. Of more concern is a decline in attendee numbers. From PCMA…
An ambitious engagement project, a strong national hosting team and an attractive destination were all deciding factors for the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology in choosing Copenhagen for its 2022 annual meeting. Bella Center Copenhagen will host the congress, with events all over the country in advance of it. From AMI Intellectual Capitals…
Paris is a meetings capital where things can get big, as they currently are for the European Cardiology Congress, being held now in conjunction with the World Congress of Cardiology. Over 30,000 delegates are attending 500 sessions during the five-day event. Public health legacies have been built into its planning. From Boardroom…
Meetings and event activity continue to increase faster than budgets, finds a new study from American Express Global Business Travel. Based on fifteen in-depth interviews with event owners in Europe and the US, the report reveals that ad hoc events with quick turnaround often have no set budget. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The She Means Business educational event at IMEX America will address issues surrounding economic and gender equality within the meetings industry. A joint event by IMEX and tw magazine, supported by MPI, She Means Business will launch in Las Vegas at the Smart Monday event, a pre-show day of education. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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…
NewcastleGateshead will host the annual meeting of a leading UK cardiac association in November. Working alongside Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals, the BCCA (British Congenital Cardiac Association) will hold its annual conference at Sage Gateshead, the concert music venue designed by Norman Foster. A gala dinner exhibition will bring art and medicine together. From Boardroom…
The UK government has launched a £250,000 competition to improve connectivity at conference centres that host international meetings. The funding will be awarded to venues across the UK to help them improve on-site broadband and attract more international business events. The competition is open for six weeks. From Association Meetings International…
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 Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has just hosted the 62nd International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress 2019. Supported by convention bureau MyCEB, the event was attended by around 2,500 delegates, including attendees from national statistical offices, statistical experts and other professionals, academics and policy makers. From Boardroom…
UK industry charity Meeting Needs has celebrated its 15th birthday with a vow to get bigger and better. The anniversary coincides with another milestone for the initiative: a total distribution of £1 million to more than 287 charities in the UK and 68 countries across the globe since its foundation. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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