This report does its best to lean on both empirical evidence and highly credible opinion, that give a glimpse into both the immediate and long-term futures the industry faces. It looks at the past to predict the future, but also finds “grass root” trends that may grow to dominate how the sector goes about its…
The bad experience of an Israeli minister, unable to enter a COP26 venue because she is a wheelchair user, reveals the distance planners still have to travel on accessibility and inclusivity. Lizzy Eaton, the Founder of Oddity Events and Marketing, remembers her own mistake on accessibility. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Postponed a few times for obvious reasons after having been staged online in 2020, the GIAF (Geneva International Association Forum) was the first physical association event of the kind post-lockdown. Delegates were certainly happy to be together again seeing old friends and making new ones. But the event programme also did not disappoint. From Boardroom…
Business and Events Academy Creator Nadia Rubtsova once worked for the European Health Management Association. Back in 2019, the scientific conference of EHMA was taking place in Espoo, Finland. After a year of hard work, the organiser’s guiding Northern stars for the meeting’s three days and 350 delegates were legacy, community and impact. From Boardroom…
Much is said about serendipity at events. A recent gathering of the Membership Committee for the African Society of Association Executives, attended by Gary Grimmer of Iceberg partner GainingEdge, saw a chance encounter develop into a legacy collaboration helping Girl Guides to learn beekeeping. From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…
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…
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…
In all of the Dashboard surveys, PCMA Convene’s goal has been to get its arms around how the industry is handling the pandemic and moving forward. This time around, it decided to get more to the point, so simply asked respondents “what best describes how you’re feeling right now”? The most popular answer among the…
Malaysia has proved the show must go on after winning several major association meetings. Convention and exhibition bureau MyCEB has secured 46 bids for meetings and events over the last three months, including international conventions such as the Asian-Ocean Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2024. From Association Meetings International…
The overall objective of this survey was to understand how inclusive events are as an industry. The survey also considered education, career progression, perceived success and salary. Diversity and inclusion – Fast Forward 15 (Fast Forward 15 website) Diversity in Events Has “a Way to Go”, Reveals Report (Meetings & Incentive Travel article) Women in Exhibitions (Exhibition News…
Melbourne Convention Bureau has announced a hat-trick of significant congress wins taking place over the next eight years. These high-profile events will deliver AU$24.8 million to the state economy, and drive 3,750 delegates through the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s doors. From Association Meetings International…
Aberdeen Convention and Events Bureau’s Graeme Mackay, Senior Business Development Executive, sees collaboration as the best way to navigate the current pandemic. The Scottish seaport is part of the Energy Cities Alliance (along with Abu Dhabi, Calgary, Lausanne and Stavanger), an example of just such collaboration in action. From Boardroom…
Many of COVID-19’s implications, not least restrictions on travel and social distancing, cut to the heart of what incentive travel is and pose the question: will the pandemic in fact end incentive travel? It will not, and for now here are five avenues for the market to pursue. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…
A webinar has been held to discuss “Restarting Events in a COVID-19 World”. Chaired by Peter Sheahan, Karrikins Group Founder, speakers included Sherrif Karamat, PCMA President and CEO, Kati Quigley, Senior Director of Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft, and David Peckinpaugh, President of Iceberg partner Maritz Global Events. From PCMA…
Harrogate Convention Centre is the latest UK event venue to become an NHS Nightingale temporary hospital. Harrogate has joined ExCeL London, the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre and the Manchester Central Convention Complex, with the SEC Centre in Glasgow also set for use as a hospital. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Adelaide has been doubly hit by bushfires and coronavirus, causing unemployment and food poverty. So the Adelaide Convention Centre and other venues of its parent operator are now using their big commercial kitchens to make tens of thousands of meals for food charities to send out into the community. From Boardroom…
Once they relied on actors or even mannequins, but more and more medical associations now involve real patients in their congresses. Whether as speakers, panellists or co-designers, they add a different perspective. The result is meetings that are engaging, insightful and enlightening. From Association Meetings International…
COVID-19 has struck a blow to many associations by halting their key source of revenue: the massive annual meeting. With the timescales of lockdown uncertain, associations should try out new ways to support and connect members. So says the CEO of Iceberg partner TMG (Talley Management Group), Gregg Talley. From Northstar Meetings Group…
Globalisation, the world’s closer integration, is under attack. After nativism, terrorism and of course climate change, now a microscopic pathogen is even stopping us from gathering to meet. If globalisation does have a positive legacy though, international association meetings may be the best of what closer integration gives society. From Association Meetings International…
Māori culture gives New Zealand its distinct identity, but is also moving centre stage at meetings hosted in the country. This was very evident during the 2019 International Union for Health Promotion and Education Conference, which drew to Rotorua 1,185 attendees from 73 countries. From Association Meetings International…
Action to fight climate change is a growing part of CSR. But companies are starting to align activities around all the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Meetings contribute to quality education, or SDG 4. The industry’s engagement on SDGs has now been surveyed by Fiona Pelham, CEO of Iceberg partner Positive Impact. From PCMA…
Powered by 
