The impact of the pandemic on Australia’s business events is well documented. The Business Council of Australia has reported a loss of AU$35 billion in direct expenditure for Australia’s economy and over 230,000 jobs affected. But what about the country’s knowledge economy, asks ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy? From Meetings International…
In Barcelona, organisers of Mobile World Congress are counting on a comeback, and have booked their event to resume in late June. The industry association behind MWC, the GSMA, thinks it will draw less than half of its usual turnout, but the Barcelona Convention Bureau says the numbers aren’t important. From the Washington Post…
Proclaiming the industry is sick of virtual events, Group Chairman and Founder of Iceberg partner IMEX Ray Bloom has reaffirmed the signature trade show IMEX America will take place as scheduled this November. His confidence in the event makes welcome reading for all industry professionals eager to speed up recovery after COVID-19. From TSNN…
The trends expert and conference speaker Daniel Levine sees the near future of live events as “nothing less than spectacular”. For special events company owner Kevin Molesworth the picture is not quite so rosy and the sector has to be more realistic. The two have unique and rather different perspectives. From PCMA…
Confidence about recovery is revealed in Iceberg partner UFI’s latest Global Exhibition Barometer (see News and Research). But should rebuilding rely solely on rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, or also on advocacy that events can run safely and on “testing over quarantine”. UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf has been planning the months ahead. From Event MB…
This autumn the Global Forum of Iceberg partner BestCities Global Alliance returns in Madrid. Other major congresses are also heading to the Spanish capital, including World Blindness Summit, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and the Spanish Society of Stomatological Prosthesis. All are committed to leaving legacies. From BestCities Global Alliance…
US distribution of the vaccine in the weeks that followed initial rollout was anything but smooth, with vaccine shortages around the world, confusion around US distribution plans that vary state by state and challenges with registration systems. Those frustrating realities dampened the hopes of participants (491 planners and 219 suppliers) in this latest survey, conducted…
According to the COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard conducted between December 14th and 17th, eleven percent more suppliers and planners checked off “hopeful” when asked how they were feeling, nearly half of suppliers (49 percent) and 54 percent of planners. Planners in particular have come a long way since October when the were first asked to share…
An “ambitious” plan to create a carbon reduction target for the business events sector has been presented, with the intention of launching during COP26. Positive Impact Events, an Iceberg partner, is hoping to raise £30,000 for the project, to be delivered under UN Framework Convention on Climate Change auspices. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Iceberg partner AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) has cancelled its 2021 show, scheduled to run at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and online in March, due to the pandemic. The challenges of both domestic and international travel restrictions weighed against healthy interest from exhibitors and buyers. From Meetings International…
The Scottish government is to provide further funding for its events industry as part of a new £104.3 million package split into nine separate funds. These include a Pivotal Event Businesses Fund and wider Event Industry Support Fund. Businesses can apply even if they have drawn on previous funding. From Conference & Meetings World…
Organisers hosting their meetings in Vienna through 2021 and 2022 will be covered by Austria’s government if there are COVID cancellations or restrictions. The protective umbrella has been welcomed by the Vienna Convention Bureau. Other markets either have similar schemes or else are campaigning for them. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
PCMA’s Convening Leaders has been held as a global showcase of business events. Houston in Texas had initially been chosen to host, but the pandemic meant that PCMA connected delegates mainly via the Marina Bay Sands Global Broadcast Center in Singapore. The content was constructed around “Recovery Discovery”. From Conference & Meetings World…
IMEX Frankfurt 2021, due to have been held at Messe Frankfurt this May, has been cancelled. The news follows the cancellation last year of IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America. Iceberg partner IMEX Group said the industry’s resurgence would arrive too late to organise a successful show. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The events industry is worth £70 billion annually to the UK economy in terms of visitor spend, over half of all tourism expenditure. £165 billion further of trade is transacted during business events. The Chief Executive of ICC Wales, Ian Edwards, profiles the UK business events industry’s current state of play. From Celtic Manor…
Gregg Talley, President and CEO of Iceberg partner Talley Management Group, believes Africa’s attraction as a business event destination should remain clear-cut after the pandemic. The continent is still “an incubator for innovation and an incredible cultural experience that connects us all to the cradle of humanity”. From Conference & Meetings World…
The CEO of Iceberg partner IMEX Group, Carina Bauer, has discussed the decision taken to cancel IMEX Frankfurt 2021. The early call, she said, was “to give everybody clarity”. Bauer also discussed what’s next for IMEX, including her hopes for IMEX America in November and the future of PlanetIMEX. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Kenya’s conference tourism has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Cancellations have led to losses of over KS800 million, not to mention the economic ripple effect for the country of lost international conferences. Geoffrey K. Thande is Director of Business Development Services at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). From Conference & Meetings World…
To prevent catastrophic warming, humanity must get its act together. More and more industry sectors are committing to carbon reduction, but what about the agencies, PCOs and commercial event producers? Fiona Pelham, the CEO of Iceberg partner Positive Impact Events, feels a voice at the table is crucial. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
AMI editor James Lancaster talks to Damian Hutt, Executive Director of AAE (the Association of Association Executives), which runs Associations World Congress, about pricing for online events, engaging members, changing delegate profiles, as well as why resumption of international events will require a global vaccine passport. From Association Meetings International…
Incentive travel has a vital part to play in the legacy agenda. Graham Alderman, Owner and Managing Director of Ulterior Events, talks to journalist Holly Patrick about the changing landscape of the sector, why virtual incentives aren’t feasible long-term and also about the need to leave positive, lasting legacies. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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