Event Director David Thompson (pictured left), is a familiar figure around the show floor at Iceberg partner IBTM World. In this podcast, he talks through the experience of running IBTM World Virtual in 2020, and why he is certain there will be a live event in Barcelona this year. From Meetings & Incentive Travelā¦
Last September, the “Incredible Impacts” programme run collaboratively by Iceberg partners ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance selected three winning associations for the meeting legacy projects they submitted. Each of the three had shown a dedication to creating legacies that went far beyond the conference walls. The three winners were: Ecocity Builders and the BCIT Ecocity…
The Japan Convention Bureau, working under the umbrella of the Japan National Tourism Organisation, went all-online for its annual event targeted at event planners, Meet Japan. The educational familiarisation trip showcased the 2017 18th World Congress on Lung Cancer in Yokohama, plus a virtual tour of Osaka, set to host Expo 2025. From Boardroom…
In March 2020, the Iceberg partners AIPC and UFI released good practice guidance to help members manage the unfolding crisis, and in April 2020, further guidance on repurposing a convention or exhibition centre to serve as a temporary emergency facility. It is a role that many centres embraced to serve their community in a time…
During the past twelve months, marketing activities have been severely curtailed. This global report looks at both what channels destinations have been using to remain engaged with audiences and what is being planned for the future. PR agency Davies Tanner has now launched the second stage of research to ensure continued up-to-date intelligence for the…
The “Future Meeting Space” (FMS) innovation network was launched by the GCB (German Convention Bureau) in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. This research project focuses on trends, innovations and social developments, identifying their possible influence on the event industry. In this context, research questions focus on how future events should be…
A growing number of convention and exhibition sites across the world have started operating as temporary COVID-19 vaccination centres, getting anywhere from 500 to over 6,000 people vaccinated every day at each location. At the same time, an increasing number of markets around the globe have begun to reopen business events with varying COVID-19 protocols…
A slightly higher percentage of planners and suppliers described feeling exhausted and burned out in the February Dashboard survey than in Januaryās survey, but that can probably be chalked up to yet another month of enduring the COVID crisis. It’s coming up on a year now since the lockdowns began. Some especially harsh winter weather…
Global convention sector consulting firmĀ GainingEdge has launched the first annual report on leveraging the intellectual capital of convention destinations, based on an analysis of international association leadership. The research underpinning the IcebergĀ partner’s report identifies the relative strengths of 350 destinations via the presence of their local intellectual leaders in the governing bodies of international associations…
The European Society of Cardiology has said that its ESC Congress, the worldās largest gathering of heart specialists, will be back at ExCeL London in 2024.Ā The society ran its 2015 event at the venue, bringing in more than 32,700 participants from 140 countries, and leaving a legacy of public involvement. From Meetings & Incentive Travelā¦
Three event industry associations, AIPC, UFI and ICCA, have published a guide on how event venues can successfully operate as temporary vaccination centres. The Iceberg partners’ new āGood Practice Guide: Convention and Exhibition Centres as Temporary Vaccination Centresā contains good practice examples from February and March. From Conference News…
State officials in Nevada have relaxed restrictions while raising the capacity limits for large gatherings. The news means that major events can run on the Las Vegas strip at fifty percent capacity, up to 250 people, as long as organisers get approval for their plans and have a COVID mitigation strategy. From Conference News…
Rarely have signs of demand been more welcome than the announcing of the first exhibitors at November’s IMEX America, which will open in its new Las Vegas home, Mandalay Bay. Those already confirmed span all sectors of the industry. The Iceberg partner event will soon be posting safety guidelines. From Meetings International…
The GSM Association intends to welcome 50,000 attendees on site to Barcelona during Mobile World Congress at the end of June, plus many more digitally for the entirely hybrid event. The show welcomed over 100,000 visitors in 2019. Every physical attendee will need to give a negative COVID-19 test every three days. From Conference News…
The key role that conference ambassadors can play in a city’s fortunes has been highlighted by Dubai Business Events securing several international association events last year. TheĀ World Marinas Conference 2021, World Congress of Direct Selling 2023 and World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems 2024 were all secured by ambassadors.Ā From Association Meetings Internationalā¦
The World Congress on Railway Research will be taking place at ICC Birmingham, following a global bid process. On behalf of the UK’s rail industry, the RSSB and the University of Birmingham will jointly stage the meeting in June 2022. Birmingham is a key hub across both current and forthcoming railway networks. From Conference News…
A new report names London the “intellectual capital” of the world. The study ranks destinations by the number of international association board members living in them.Ā But the UK capital could attract more meetings by better “harnessing” its potential conference ambassadors. The report is from Iceberg partner GainingEdge. From Association Meetings International…
The Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium has marked the first return to live trade shows since the fourth wave of COVID-19 shut down operations there back in November 2020.Ā The meeting was attended by 3,000 delegates over three days, and held with distanced seating, face masks and temperature checks. From Association Meetings International…
Following on from the publication of two very different views on business events recovery, Juliano Lissoni, the Managing Director of MCI Group in Canada, makes a further and more academic argument for face-to-face meetings. The Iceberg partner chief makes his case around an in depth analysis of our innate “need to meet”. From PCMA…
As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere, there is a growing sense of hope. Some destination marketing organisations (DMOs) have been able to continue their association conference business through the pandemic. But others have faced severe budget cuts, as Sarah Fleming, the owner of Sarah Fleming Associates, explains. From Association Meetings International…
The UK government has announced a timeline for reopening business events, with all sizes of meetings able to run from June 21st. But according toĀ Meetings Industry Association Chief Executive Jane Longhurst, UKĀ event professionals need to manage their expectations around the certainty of the date and the necessary conditions for it. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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