Looking to hold a virtual conference to remember? What can you do to spice things up? Here are five rather unusual ideas for injecting fun into the mix, from sharing some musical experiences with karaoke or kazoos to the nonprofit animal sanctuary running a service called (I kid you not) “Goat-2-Meeting”. From Associations Now…
COVID-19 has slammed the brakes on the international expansion of associations, their big conferences having been essential to delivering such goals prior to the pandemic. International Advisor Martin Sirk, of Iceberg partner Global Association Hubs, says that association-friendly regional destinations are the answer. From Boardroom…
The first Exhibitions Think Tank has launched a report gathering insights from over 150 sector professionals and setting out ideas for the future of the global industry. Two surveys plus close to 100 online sessions have culminated in a resource that will support the sector adapting to future changes. From Exhibition News…
The PCMA Rocky Mountain Chapter just hosted an in person meeting for over sixty people with an additional online audience. Chapter leadership recognised planner members’ fears over hosting live events themselves, so made the call to take the plunge first with their “Six Foot Laboratory”. From PCMA…
When the Georgia Society of Association Executives held its annual meeting in August at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, numbers totalled 113. The event was the first in person meeting the hotel hosted since the pandemic began in early 2020, and for many attendees their first event in months as well. From PCMA…
Iceberg partner AIPC has recently published two video perspectives about how business events are now evolving. ICCA President and ExCeL London Executive Director James Rees (pictured) talks to IMEX CEO Carina Bauer. ICCA and IMEX are also Iceberg partners. The second feature is on the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. From AIPC…
Convention venues know that when meetings return they will often be in hybrid format. So many are installing amenities like broadcast studios. The Javits Center in New York has added a 30,000-square-foot studio with a private green room area, two studio cameras and a giant video wall. From Associations Now…
Germany has a more receptive attitude to business events than most nations. In some states now national association meetings are taking place once again, some with hundreds attending them. Congress Centre Leipzig has just played host to 600 doctors at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the German Society of Phlebology. From Association Meetings International…
The first UKickstart event brought together 1,419 event professionals both online and across twelve “in person” venues. It was the first live and virtual national gathering of the sector since lockdown. Illuminate at the Science Museum was one of the venues chosen to host a selection of physical attendees. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
As associations pivot their offerings to virtual or hybrid with the ongoing onslaught of COVID-19, so venues are also doing the same. President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal Robert Mercure spells out how the facility’s media services are adapting to address client needs through the sector’s new normal. From Boardroom…
The 59th ICCA Congress in Kaohsiung is to showcase a unique and hybrid hub-and-spoke model, with regional events across the globe coinciding with the main congress and sharing the experience for those unable to attend it. The locations include the main host destination, along with Kuching, Cape Town, Luxembourg, Malaga and Riyadh. An all-virtual option is…
After reader input, latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard survey has changed the wording “cannibalise face-to-face attendance” to “impact face-to-face attendance” in the survey questions. Both planners and suppliers expect digital tech will have a greater impact throughout the rest of this year: an average of 57 percent in August versus an average of 47 percent in…
Iceberg partner IBTM Events has said that IBTM World 2020, due to have taken place in Barcelona, will pivot to a fully virtual event now between December 8th and 10th. The move is a result of the unpredictable travel restrictions that still persist because of the ongoing pandemic crisis. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Manchester’s EventCity conference and exhibition venue has announced its closure and pulled the plans for its new centre. The UK venue had been planning to close and relocate to a new site (pictured). Owners Peel Group however now say EventCity will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. From Exhibition World…
The Indian Exhibitions Industry Association has urged the Indian government to allow exhibitions to be staged once again, to “ensure the survival of the industry and revival of the Indian economy”. India’s events industry has also asked government to organise an economic support package for the sector. From Exhibition World…
Collaboration and unity were shining through as 1,419 event professionals, including 305 on site across twelve venues, attended UKickstart. Started by etc.venues and with support from twelve sector associations, the new event for many was a first meeting face-to-face since the crisis began. Photo: Hosted by NML, via Twiitter. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The October 1st reopening date for UK business events is to be reviewed following a spike in the pandemic’s infection rate, the Prime Minister has announced. Boris Johnson also said social gatherings with more than six people will be made illegal and are punishable by dispersal, fines and arrest. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The Singapore Tourism Board will accept applications from organisers for events of up to 250 people from October 1st, up from today’s limit of 50 attendees. Planners piloting such events must demonstrate ability to implement new Safe Management Measures and to meet health and safety metrics. From Association Meetings International…
Meetings and events leaders in the Czech Republic have pleaded for government support and say that without it up to 114,000 jobs are at risk. An alliance of industry bodies has warned impact on conferences, trade fairs and cultural events from the COVID-19 pandemic will be “enormous”. From Association Meetings International…
Hong Kong-based destination and event management company Pacific World has announced it is to stop all meeting and event operations as of November after four decades in the sector. PW parent company TUI Destination Experiences said the decision was made as a result of impact COVID-19 is having. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Iceberg partner IMEX Group has donated $250,000 to MPI to help members facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. The MPI Foundation will receive most of the money, to direct funds to distressed members, with the balance going to eleven European chapters to assist the events industry to recover. From Association Meetings International…
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