23 local champions who have helped New Zealand win conference business to the tune of NZ$31m have been recognised by their country at an event. 13,500 international delegates have come or are coming to New Zealand because of these individuals’ efforts. They range from university academics to health sector professionals. From CIM News Magazine…
As destinations face pressure and even community backlash over visitor numbers, Rod Cameron, Executive Director of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) and the Joint Meetings and Industry Council, examines the effect visitors have on destinations, and how targeting business events can reap real dividends for destination communities. From CIM News Magazine…
The Iceberg has previously reported that ibtm world is proceeding despite the independence referendum tensions in Barcelona. Opinions has also already carried an interview with CVB Director Christoph Tessmar. But now evidence is emerging that Catalonia’s political uncertainty is already costing the region meetings business. Photo: Xfigpower. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
It’s not proving third time lucky for Trump’s Travel Ban III. As with his previous attempts to bar people from certain mainly Muslim nations from entering the United States, 3.0 has run into immediate challenges. Federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked it just before it was due to take effect. From Meetings & Conventions…
In preparing an upcoming feature on Birmingham in the UK, an Iceberg partner has rediscovered a destination marketing masterpiece also well known to the Iceberg team, which itself has reported from the city. It’s a vintage promo gem narrated by TV’s Kojak… Telly Savalas. Birmingham: who loves ya, baby? From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…
Christoph Tessmar, Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau, has been discussing the Catalonian independence referendum violence and how the situation affects events coming to the city. From 28th October to 1st November the 25th United European Gastroenterology Week will be bringing in around 15,000 congress delegates to the destination. Includes Turisme Barcelona’s official statement. From tmf dialogue marketing…
A landlocked nation offering many opportunities for safari, Botswana is an established incentive destination and growing conference hub in southern Africa. The country sees mostly mining and investment gatherings through its borders, although late last year Botswana also hosted a major ITU meeting: the 14th World Telecommunication / ICT Indicators Symposium. From the Event…
In the wake of the Las Vegas tragedy, Michael Susong of iJet International has been discussing the state of hotel security. Screening baggage is hard, but vigilance, noticing out of place details, protocols for warning security – and for leaving the area – are all crucial. Photo: C. Mendoza. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Bellagio fountains continue to spray. Showgirls again take money off visitors. Music and magic spectaculars have reopened their doors. Amid makeshift memorials and a large police presence, Tim Dahlberg describes a struggle for normality after the unthinkable, in a city built on both business and leisure tourism. Photo: C. Mendoza. From Meetings & Conventions…
As America reels from the grim mass shooting in Las Vegas – the deadliest in US history – the country’s meetings and events industry has been reaching out to a destination at its very heart. 58 people were killed and 489 injured by a gunman firing on an outdoor music event. Photo: S. Dizayee. From PCMA……
The meetings, events and incentives showcase ibtm world is to go ahead as planned next month despite simmering tensions in Barcelona after the Catalonian independence referendum. More than 850 people were injured as riot police raided polling stations to stop the vote, which was declared illegal by a Spanish court. Photo: Robert Bonet. From Meetpie.com…
After the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, the organisers of IMEX America moved swiftly to express shock and sadness, and to reassure those attending the event at Sands Expo the following week. “Both IMEX America and the Sands have very strong security in place” said IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer. From Meetings & Conventions…
Australia’s costly and complex visa system means the country loses large business events to Asian rivals, according to the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux. Visa costs are in particular making price-conscious incentive organisers look elsewhere, the organisation says. The AACB is calling for an approach favouring high-yield low-risk business travellers. Photo: Kgbo. From CIM News Magazine…
The White House has made the US seem “closed for business”, according to the Global Business Travel Association. After Trump Travel Bans I and II, 45 percent of GBTA’s European members said they were “less likely” to bring meetings to the US. Every one percent of business travel supports 74,000 jobs. From Meetings & Conventions…
As his last travel ban expired, President Trump issued a new unlimited order to bar citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and – as hostilities with Kim Jong-un escalate – North Korea. The US is also banning from October 18th some Venezuelan officials and their families. Photo: John Pavelka. From Meetings and Conventions…
With its Convention Bureau struggling to cope after Hurricane Maria, the reality of the storm’s impact on Puerto Rico is grim. After the strongest hurricane in more than eighty years, the US territory is without power and may be so for many months. Photo: Sergeant José Diaz-Ramos, Puerto Rico National Guard. From Meetings and Conventions…
The US Supreme Court has let President Trump’s restrictions on refugees entering the country stand, overruling a lower court. But grandparents and cousins of those already in the US can’t now be excluded. In October SCOTUS will examine the ban on entrants from six mainly Muslim countries, which expires in September. From Meetings and Conventions…
Key resorts and other infrastructure in Orlando have reopened relatively unscathed after Hurricane Irma’s pass. But other areas of Florida and the Caribbean have been more seriously affected with flooding and power outages. These destinations face much longer term issues repairing damaged properties. Luckily September is typically low season for the region. From Meetings and Conventions…
Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria have made 2017’s hurricane season one of the grimmest ever. Mexico City is reeling from an earthquake. With meetings cancelled and convention centres becoming mega-shelters, Iceberg partner Northstar has a request for Mother Nature on behalf of these destinations. Please just stop. Photo: Daniel Di Palma. From Meetings & Conventions…
European Cities Marketing (ECM) and Destinations International (DI) – two leading destination marketing and development associations – have extended their transatlantic collaboration in response to the radical changes in function of destination marketing organisations (DMOs) across both continents. At the annual ECM Summer School held this year in Dresden, ECM president Dieter Hardt-Stremayr explained the…
With cities across the path of Hurricane Irma braced for impact, major events were postponed as the storm neared. With a state of emergency declared in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, Iceberg partner Northstar put back Destination Southeast in Miami Beach to December. Meanwhile, the Caribbean is reeling from Irma’s pass. From Meetpie.com…
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