While Hurricane Florence didn’t touch down in Charleston, the destination estimates it took a $63 million hit as a result of cancelled events. Some organisers postponed early to avoid potential issues, others tried to move forward right up until the governor issued the call for mandatory evacuation. Some groups even turned events virtual. From PCMA Convene…
Comments from planners surveyed by the biennial Watkins Report show that when convention bureaux go out of their way to make personal connections with them, it has a big impact on site selection. Making introductions, escorting planners round hotels, and demonstrating how well stakeholders will work together, all make an impression. From PCMA Convene…
Where meetings and events choose to go, and how they approach their content, are affected by many factors, not least the influence of political disruptors like Brexit or the 2016 US presidential election. So says Rod Cameron, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, which presents The Iceberg. From CIM News Magazine…
The retirement of Christian Mutschlechner from the Vienna Convention Bureau next year may, or may not, mean he is departing from the wider industry. But the fact Vienna consistently out-performed bigger cities, and has become one of the world’s top convention destinations, owes a great deal to him. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
A no-deal Brexit could be disastrous for Europeans in the events and hospitality industry, according to the UK’s Immigration Advice Service. It says the sector faces a shortfall of up to 60,000 workers if Great Britain crashes out of Europe without a deal. But any weakness in sterling could counteract some of the uncertainties. From Meetypie.com…
London venues have told MPs they need more support from the UK government to grow the events industry. Jeremy Rees, CEO of ExCeL London, said that the capital’s venues were competing with their hands tied behind their backs, while QEII Centre board member Simon Hughes said the sector needs its own representative in government. From Meetpie.com…
Last year Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Vancouver Convention Centre will be hosting the next Women Deliver Conference in June 2019. Held every three years, the last event was in Copenhagen in 2016, attracting 6,000 delegates. This time Women Deliver also wanted a host city matching its dedication to gender equality. From PCMA Convene…
Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, South African Tourism’s Chief Convention Officer, has received a prestigious lifetime achievement award. Also a previous winner at the Top 40 Women in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) awards, Kotze-Nhlapo was delighted by her achievement, and was congratulated publicly by South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona. From the Event…
Adelaide has just welcomed its largest incentive group from China, with a wave of 750 employees from Joymain, the science and tech direct selling company, enjoying the city over a five day stay. Assistance from the Adelaide Convention Bureau and cooperation from the Adelaide government were behind Joymain’s destination choice. From CIM News Magazine…
While the larger markets of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia will surely be the focus of the upcoming UFI Latin America Conference, the growing economy of Peru is also worthy of attention. Better known as a holiday destination and for Machu Picchu, a new convention center has been built in the capital city, Lima. From UFI…
Border security seems to be of increasing importance in a more nationalistic political age. But sometimes the business of implementing border security involves collaborating across borders. Tony Smith, Chair of the International Border Management and Technologies Association, discusses IBMATA’s recent inaugural conference, and why collaboration is a main focus. From PCMA Convene…
The Iceberg’s very own Phileas Fogg, Pádraic Gilligan, was recently asked to deliver a workshop about “how Malaysia can build & sell compelling incentive travel experiences”. He took advantage of his time there to explore some new, and also not so new, products and experiences for the global meetings sector. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
Korea now has 14 individuals from various professions helping to win international meetings for the country. The news comes just nine months after the launch of its MICE Ambassador programme. Already the 14 have been instrumental in bringing the International Diabetes Federation Annual Congress to Busan in 2019. From Association Meetings International…
The Club Melbourne Ambassador Program has celebrated its 13th anniversary with an annual dinner that saw the induction of five new Ambassadors and the awarding of a joint Fellowship. Since its inception in 2005, Club Melbourne has won 131 international conferences that have delivered economic impact worth more than AU$840 million. From CIM News Magazine…
Of the 1479 meetings tracked by Conference Monitor from July 2017 to June 2018, 433 were held in New South Wales, an increase of around 22 percent. A big part of NSW’s lead is the new ICC Sydney, which has now welcomed two million visitors and contributed AU$1.2 billion to the economy. From CIM News Magazine…
Vienna is the world’s most “liveable” city. That’s according to the annual Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Index. It’s also the first city in Europe to top the survey: Melbourne had lead for seven years previously. But what is the link between “liveability” and actually attracting conference delegates? From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
A recent report from the IMEX Policy Forum 2018 (see Research) outlines three areas of concern raised during the event by Gloria Guevara Manzo, the World Tourism and Travel Council President and CEO (pictured at IMEX with Group Chairman Ray Bloom). Her three concerns were: security and safety, crisis preparation and sustainability. From PCMA Convene…
The Mexican exhibition sector has certainly attracted major global players. But it’s still mostly smaller organisers or societies hosting regional or local events. UFI, the exhibition industry’s global association, has been talking to José Navarro, Chairman of its Latin American Chapter and General Director of E.J. Krause Tarsus de México. From UFI…
Opinions has already published Convene’s annual Best in Show list, celebrating industry excellence. But Convene also invited notables from across the sector to reflect on how the business of events is getting better. Nineteen contributed, among them Gregg Talley of the Talley Management Group and SoolNua and SITE’s Pádraic Gilligan. From PCMA Convene…
The Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program prepares senior executives, who want to advance their careers to blend theory with experience and application of knowledge to help industry leaders thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focus is on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies.
Stellenbosch 360 has just hosted its second Business Tourism Indaba, at which The Iceberg was invited to attend and speak. As well as gathering meetings industry players from across South Africa and wider, the Indaba shone a spotlight on both the university town’s own sector offering as host, and the approach it takes to fostering…
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