Anna Look argues that the most important impact of conference subvention programmes such as Canada’s International Convention Attraction Fund (ICAF) comes from the conversations that can be initiated with local intellectual and business leaders, enabling them to understand how their bidding for and hosting of international meetings can exploit and showcase their expertise and attributes.
Bringing together the most highly qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the Caribbean, attendees participate in one-on-one prescheduled appointments with strongly vetted buyers, gain industry insights from our guest speakers, and network with this exclusive group.
The 10th Edition of the EsportsTravel Summit is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers—and the only event dedicated to the travel side of the esports industry. Launched in conjunction with the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2017, the EsportsTravel Summit quickly established itself as the industry’s leading platform.
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
The program is fully operational as of 10th April and replaces traditional passport stamps with a digital system, designed to increase security, and make border checks faster and more efficient. Border control agents will collect fingerprints, take a facial image and ask for travel information of non-EU nationals who are visiting European countries. From Northstar…
M&C Asia magazine examines the changing picture of global rankings in passport power (how easy it is for holders of a particular passport to visit other countries) and border openness (how restrictive countries are to holders of different passports), and explains the implications for destination competitiveness for international business events.
US Travel Association has published a helpful fact-sheet which not only provides key facts and figures related to travel and immigration, but outlines policy proposals (e.g. for visitors to provide social media histories) that would have a negative impact on visitor flows and the advocacy steps US Travel is taking to oppose them.
Oil prices have surged since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, but airlines face an additional threat: the price of jet fuel has risen far faster than crude oil. Even those using hedging contracts to protect against sudden spikes in oil prices are announcing fare hikes, fuel surcharges and capacity cuts. From Reuters…
As the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia F1 races face likely cancellation, the fallout is highlighting broader risk for live events across the region as trade shows, conferences, and corporate gatherings prepare for the post-Ramadan business rebound. The conflict is causing the most significant disruption in the Middle East since the Covid-19 pandemic. From Skift Meetings…
Regional instability is rippling across the global events industry, forcing organizers to make high-stakes calls with little certainty. Airspace shutdowns and safety advisories are prompting cancellations and postponements across the Gulf and casting doubt over upcoming trade shows, including IAAPA Expo Middle East, scheduled for 31 Mar–02 Apr in Abu Dhabi. From Skift Meetings…
Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes across the Gulf have triggered widespread business disruption leading to airport closures, a halt in port operations and major event cancellations. Emirates and Qatar Airways suspended all flights following major Middle East airspace closures, grounding two of the world’s largest global transit hubs in Dubai and Doha. From Exhibition World…
As US-Iran strikes escalate, business events across the Middle East are facing postponements, rerouted delegations, and operational disruption. The fallout is reverberating far beyond the region. President Donald Trump has indicated that the Iran strikes could continue for four to five weeks, signaling ongoing impacts for the business events sector. From Skift Meetings…
Following the killing of a major cartel leader on February 22, the US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place order for Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita, and Riviera Nayarit, triggering security concerns and widespread travel disruptions. The advisory has since been lifted, but repercussions are being felt across the events industry. From Skift Meetings…
Roy Ying says Hong Kong and cities across Greater Bay will reap benefits after visits by UK and Canadian leaders to Beijing. High-level diplomacy resulted in extending visa-free travel, leading to opportunities for MICE organisers, and marking the latest milestone in a sweeping national strategy to open China’s doors wider to the world. From MIX…
Industry leaders warn that new screening requirements for travelers to the US from countries in the Visa Waiver Program could mean higher costs, lost business, and meetings moving to other countries. Event planners remain hopeful that changes applying to business travelers will either be dialed back or get caught up in red tape. From Skift…
European city destination leaders gathered in Barcelona in February for the 19th CityDNA CEO Meeting. Hosting the meeting in Barcelona was symbolic – few cities have more visibly navigated the political, social and structural pressures surrounding urban tourism. European destination CEOs addressed a central reality: the role of the Destination Management Organisation has fundamentally evolved.
ECA highlights the impact of the latest (third!) DHS shutdown that started on 14 February, especially on critical Transportation Security Administration, who will be working without pay again. As many take up second jobs to pay their bills, security checkpoint lines are forced to close, leading to longer wait times and more missed flights.
Destinations International’s newly released The Impact of the Visitor Economy on Canadian Exports report brings the visitor economy and its impact into sharp focus at a time when Canada is engaged in a national conversation about competitiveness, productivity, trade diversification and evolving global market relationships. From Conference & Meetings World…
The visitor economy plays a critical role in Canada’s broader economic and trade performance. The Impact of the Visitor Economy on Canadian Exports, commissioned by Destinations International’s Canadian Destination Leadership Council and conducted in partnership with EY-Parthenon, provides new evidence of how inbound travel contributes to export growth and drives Canada’s international competitiveness.
From AMI, by James Lancaster: The US military’s blitzkrieg against the Venezuelan government and the arrest of its leader, the dictator Nicolás Maduro, was the most dramatic moment so far in Trump the Sequel – but, despite the action likely contravening international law, it is unlikely to have much effect on whether or not international…
It’s been a year since Destination North East England launched the first-of-its-kind Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework, developed in partnership with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement. Check out progress and the toolkit used to achieve a wide range of positive outcomes, relating to both business events and general tourism. Stories from North East England: Travel that…
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