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Business Event Security: Lord Evans’ Sydney Keynote

The head of security for the London 2012 Olympics, former MI5 Director General Lord Evans, has given the keynote at a Sydney Speaker Series lunch in London. The event was organised by both Business Events Sydney and ICC Sydney, and hosted by the High Commission of Australia. The Iceberg was also invited. If there was any doubt…

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How Face-to-Face and Virtual Should Meet

Hybrid meetings can be very different experiences for different delegates. Face-to-face attendees discuss topics in session rooms, virtual ones online via chat forums. The two can remain very separate. But at a recent meeting, the American Academy of Ophthalmology debuted a new virtual-meeting ambassador program to create stronger interaction between the different worlds. From PCMA Convene…

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Westminster Bubbles: A Meeting of Minds

At a reception near Parliament ahead of the Business of Events Leadership Forum, UK tourism minister John Glen promised to help the meetings industry work directly with government to win business. And Michael Hirst, chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, thinks the sector’s standing with government has never been greater. From editor’s blog at Meetpie.com…

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Spanish Eyes: Bringing Home the Bacon

All good destination management companies have a tale or three about how far they have gone in serving their clients’ very specific needs. From Girona to Madrid, here’s an eye-watering tale of a DMC willing to go the extra mile to bring home the bacon. Warning: not for the squeamish! From editor’s blog at Association Meetings International…

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Communicating with Delegates in a Crisis

Over the past few months, the need to prepare for unexpected eventualities has become increasingly important. Ken Kelling, MPRCA, Associate Director at meetings and events PR firm Davies Tanner, and a featured speaker at PCMA’s recent Knowledge Exchange in London, offers some essential tips for crafting the right message when a crisis unfolds. From PCMA…

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Not All Visitors are the Same

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…

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SITE Index: Reading Between the Pages

The Iceberg has previously reported on the latest Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Index research report. Budgets are still growing and optimism is high, despite global events. Corporate buyers are understanding the effectiveness of incentives. Here’s some further analysis by the man who co-presented the study at IMEX America. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…

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Africa: Business Events Insights and Predictions

The Event, a partner of The Iceberg, has just produced a five part series of video interviews called “Business Events Insights and Predictions”. These examine Africa’s current meetings industry and its future opportunities from a number of differing industry perspectives. The series includes Gary Grimmer, CEO of The Iceberg partner GainingEdge, on business events as…

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Risk: Approaches to Best Practice

As business event planners react to the changing outside factors that can disrupt their meetings, so also industry associations, including some partners of The Iceberg, are themselves considering how to educate and define best practice in risk management for their memberships. The call is being made for a collaborative approach. From Skift…

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Catalonia’s Political Uncertainty Prompting Cancellations

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…

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Exhibition Security and the New Threat Reality

How has trade-show security changed over recent years, and what now goes operationally into keeping exhibitors and visitors at an event safe under the current threat landscape? One of the top five global car exhibitions, the LA Auto Show, lifts the bonnet and reveals just how safety is currently engineered. From PCMA…

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Birmingham: Kojak’s Kind of Town

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…

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Five Takeaways From IMEX America 2017

An experienced attendee puts IMEX America under the spotlight: from the grim realities of the Las Vegas shooting, to SITE Nite at the Brooklyn Bowl, to the changing hues of event design, furniture either with USB ports or made of LEGO, a musical Inspiration Hub, and a statement Irish pavilion. From SoolNua’s Pádraic Gilligan at Padraicino…

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Big Impact, Low Budget

Wowing your audience without spending too much is hard. Here’s a guide to doing just that, by using the latest technology, giving away goodies, keeping your agenda energetic but focused, choosing a great venue… and also a destination people want to visit. From Simon Lockwood, creative director at The Brewery in London, and Successful Meetings…

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Pacific World Forecasts Industry Trends of 2018

Despite new technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, meetings and incentive professionals should expect next year to be all about “engagement”. That’s according to Pacific World, which has published a list of trends to watch for in 2018. Four in particular will drive engagement: localization, cultural immersion, community impact, and off-the-beaten-path destinations. From Successful Meetings…

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Barcelona Update: CVB Director Christoph Tessmar

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…

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