The research found that for event legacy to be truly achieved, it must lie at the heart of an association or not-for-profit’s mission and strategy, rather than be limited to a specific event. It also revealed that although destinations facilitate conferences and events, providing relevant local support, they cannot drive the achievement of legacy. Instead, it is up to the associations and not-for-profits coming to a destination to define their own goals, needs, and desires.

“Associations and not-for-profits are legacy organisations. They exist to provide long-term value to their members and the communities they serve. As such, legacy activities must relate back to the goals of the association, rather than being focused on the destination itself,” comments Bas Schot, Head of Convention Bureau.

“These organisations exist to drive the cure for diseases, resolve global social issues, improve education for millions and far, far more. The achievement of those goals and incremental progress towards them are how associations and not-for-profits measure their legacy. Delegates taking part in activities such as painting walls in a local scout hut or tidying a city are admirable and positive ways to help an event achieve its corporate social responsibility goals. However, despite how often it is suggested that such activities are a legacy, it simply is not the case.”

The research goes on to highlight the fact that The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau believes that association events are powerful tools that can bring people together and bring about global change. Destinations facilitate this by creating the perfect physical place for people to gather. However, the creation and success of an event legacy program must start with the organiser’s goals and aspirations.

Bas Schot continues: “Legacy is a term that is often discussed in the context of trade shows, conferences, and other events. However, it means different things to different people and organisations. We wanted to explore the meaning of legacy and how we can support clients in achieving their long-term impact. It was clear from the outset that legacy driven by a destination risks being selfish. If we are to support our association and not-for-profit clients, we must instead see legacy from their point of view and support their goals – not our own.”

The research concludes by demonstrating that the destination’s role is to facilitate the event legacy process by providing the necessary tools, resources, and even financial support.

“Ultimately, our industry should be focused on supporting legacy discussions within associations and providing them with the tools to make their own decisions. It is up to the organisers to define their own goals and aspirations and to create a legacy program that aligns with their mission and strategy. And we look forward to helping them achieve that,” concludes Bas Schot.

The research was conducted in two stages – quantitative research via a workshop with 11 leading international association conference professionals and quantitative survey data gathered from 70* event professionals from around the world.

*The 70 surveyed event professionals can be broken down as:

• 64% in house association PCOs
• 10% agency association PCOs
• 13% corporate conference planners
• 2% charity conference planners
• 11% other

The article The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau reveals research into event legacy first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Officially launched at ISE 2022, PPDS’ exclusive, by invite, Global Partner Alliance (GPA) programme, was created to connect multinational businesses with PPDS’ top tier of regional integration specialists, for seamless execution of hospitality projects, of any scale, anywhere in the world.

Announced to members during the third global meeting for the PPDS GPA, hosted in Barcelona, Spain, the Alliance has grown by more than 50 additional partners – almost doubling numbers from 60 to 118 and now covering China and India – delivering enhanced specialist knowledge and support.

Each Alliance partner is selected based upon their capabilities, certifications, and ongoing relationship with PPDS. All GPA partners are trained and certified to deliver the best knowledge and performance across PPDS’ portfolio of products, services, and solutions.

Heading up the PPDS GPA, Simone Gagliardi commented: “We have been thrilled by the continued success and unrivalled relationships being formed within our Global Partner Alliance since it was officially launched. We are delighted to welcome new members to the community, bringing even greater strengths and wider reach to deliver seamless and consistent services to customers almost everywhere on the planet. With the GPA, we aim to remove the pain points traditionally experienced with multinational integrations, reaching through regional barriers to ensure projects are completed consistently, quickly and efficiently. There is nothing quite like the PPDS GPA.”

Franck Racape, VP Global Commercial at PPDS, concluded: “At PPDS, we strive for excellence in everything we do, from the products we are making in our factories through to the support we offer for installation and beyond. A significant and crucial part of that process is unquestionably our relationships with our partners. The GPA, together with our International Key Account Management approach, have allowed us to develop even closer relationships with the channel, aligning to bring ever greater value to our mutual customers.

“Since launch, the GPA has advanced from being a list of valued partners to a true global community. Far from being competitors, many of our GPA partners are now in regular communication, supporting each other where needed and, as clearly demonstrated at our GPA dinner in Barcelona and at other exclusive GPA events, they have become close business allies in the process. On behalf of PPDS, I welcome all our new GPA members and thank everyone for their continued devotion. Here’s to expanding into another successful year.”

The article PPDS Global Partner Alliance expands to deliver regional support and international expertise to hospitality industry across six continents first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

An important triumph for the city as a whole, fruit of the dynamic work of CAAR (the Rimini Agri-Food Centre) and Rimini municipality, following the proposal of CAAR President Gianni Indino, whose farsighted strategic vision culminated in bringing the world food market industry assise to Rimini.

“I’m very proud” says CAAR President, Gianni Indino “of what we have achieved, and I speak on behalf of the CAAR Board and management. Not many had faith in a successful outcome, but CAAR pulled out all the stops and insisted on the feasibility of our local area, until we managed to clinch this, one of the most important international events in the industry. A great accomplishment for our Agri-Food Centre and naturally for Rimini”.

Last Autumn, the presentation of the bid during the WUWM conference in Abu Dhabi was a decisive factor, along with the participation of the Rimini Agri-Food Centre, Rimini Mayor, Jamil Sadegholvaad, and the support of Italmercati President, Massimo Pallottini.

From that day forward, the Event & Conference Division of Italian Exhibition Group, in collaboration with the local hospitality industry made sure everything ran smoothly: and now all that hard work has paid off, Rimini has been officially awarded organisation of the event.

“This success” affirms Mayor Jamil Sadegholvaad “further confirms the extraordinary entrepreneurial and organisational skills of IEG and Rimini Agri-Food Centre, as well as acknowledgement of our city as an international destination. It reflects the harmony and functionality of a coordinated team with a common goal – Rimini present and Rimini future has all that it takes to be a key player in hospitality and international events all year round. WUWM in our city, a bid driven by Rimini Agri-Food Centre, is yet another success story in the ‘23/24 calendar, already rich in crowd-pulling world events”.

“It is often our local ‘ambassadors’ explains Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG “in this case, CARR President Gianni Indino, who generate great, new opportunities for the congress industry. The choice of Rimini as the destination for this prestigious world conference reflects a strong, united local area: the participation of our mayor at the conference in Abu Dhabi was an example of such an approach. Our Event & Conference Division presented a competitive offer on a par with other international destinations, and winning this bid is a source of great pride. It’s another successful international victory for Rimini and IEG, that will definitely benefit the city’s economy”.

The conference has an average attendance of 400 operators from the four corners of the globe. After the 2022 edition in Abu Dhabi in 2022, this year will be the turn of Mexico City, followed by a Spring 2024 edition in Bangkok and then Rimini in the Autumn. The dates will soon be finalised, and it’s expected to be held on the first few days of October.

WUWM promotes the role of food markets to ensure food security and facilitate access to high-quality, healthy diets through a well-organised, safe, and sustainable food system. With 217 members, WUWM works in 40 countries worldwide, covering 5 continents.

The article Autumn 2024 Conference of the World Union of Wholesale Markets at the Palacongressi di Rimini first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Widespread anti-WFH propaganda has been reported in the media, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2022. Recently, many tech companies have required their employees to spend more days working in the office. This includes companies that had previously adopted a remote work policy but are now expecting their staff to be present on-site for at least a portion of the week. This is being met with resistance by some workers who have enjoyed the flexibility offered by the remote working. Interestingly, employers appear to be winning the battle, as the number of completely remote positions advertised on job boards such as LinkedIn and Indeed has decreased significantly.

During the early phases of the COVID-19 epidemic, there was an extensive transition to working from home. Opportunities for remote working boost satisfaction at work, some reports showed. According to Buffer’s 2023 State of Remote Work study, 91% of poll participants preferred working remotely, with freedom being the top benefit. Furthermore, in 2022, 25,000 employees from different sectors were asked by McKinsey about their remote job experience. The third reason individuals look for new employment, behind improved pay per hour and professional possibilities, is a desire for flexible employment settings.

A Flexjobs study found that workers could save as much as $12,000 annually by doing online work. Transportation costs like gasoline and maintenance can be reduced, as can the costs of purchasing business attire and dining at upscale places.

The rise of online work and the digital nomad culture has prompted serious reconsideration of the conventional office job and its potential benefits to individual happiness and freedom. 93% of those who work from home said they were happier in their jobs, and 90% said they were more productive in the Safetywing Research. In addition, 61% said they felt less stressed, and 44% said their emotional health had improved.

The lifestyle of digital nomads has been on the rise for years. Then, after the outbreak, this new working method became much more popular. According to a recent report by Qualtrics, 80% of employees seeking a new position rated the ability to reside anywhere as extremely essential.

Another example is Spotify, which promotes the notion that “work is not a place, but something you do.” Their work-from-anywhere model enables employees to choose where and how they’ll work within specified geographic parameters. If a position is situated in Sweden, for instance, the employee may be permitted to work remotely in Europe.

In response to the increase in remote work, countries such as Estonia, Barbados, and Portugal have implemented digital nomad visas, permitting foreign remote employees to reside and work legally for extended periods in these countries.

Concerns regarding productivity, collaboration, and the overall business operations were among the objections to working remotely. According to the findings of a survey of business executives that was carried out in 2020 by the World Economic Forum (WEF), 78% of respondents believed that distant culture would impact productivity. This notion perhaps explains why some employers are therefore against working remotely.

This has led to a dramatic drop in available remote work positions. This newest change in the employer-employee power relationship can be seen in the falling number of telecommuting job postings. After months of frantically searching for new talent, businesses are demonstrating that they can be more selective in their hiring.

The rapid rate of hiring and salary increase experienced throughout most of 2022 has cooled off. Although many formerly unemployed tech and non-tech employees are now working again, the time it takes to locate a new position is longer than it was in the spring. Since the beginning of 2023, remote working listings on jobsites have decreased by as much as 12%, according to a number of reports.

More than two-thirds of employers thought their workers engaged in high-value work for up to three hours per day in a remote setting, which is more than twice what workers thought they did. More than half agreed that making investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and other automation would increase productivity in a hybrid workforce. However, the fact that a comparable percentage office collaboration was essential to the success of their organisations in the future indicated a lack of readiness for new working practices.

Employers may be shifting toward hybrid roles in order to reap the benefits of remote work. The Harvard Business Review found that compared to workers in either completely distant or in-office positions, those in the hybrid workplaces reported greater levels of employment happiness and productivity.

The new hybrid working model is excellent news for the majority of employees who reside relatively close to their workplace but prefer to work remotely at least occasionally.

However, it may imply that opportunities for completely remote digital nomads are going to continuously decrease. Currently, many businesses require regular facetime from employees. And as these companies attempt to use employees’ physical presence to revitalise company cultures and foster creativity in the aftermath of the pandemic, will digital nomad employees become less desirable?

Sharing her perspectives on the issue, an immigration expert, Victoria Idia, stated that with over 50 countries issuing the digital nomad route and more in the process of doing so, the remote culture war for now will not limit or stop the movement.

“The fact that there are many countries offering this type of visa gives more choice for those of a working age who do not want to be tied down to traditional working cultures or roles. There is no doubt that there are more diverse ways of obtaining income which means individuals do not have to be in an office at all, such as those whose income is derived from social media platforms.”

Adapting to the hybrid model may present challenges for digital nomads, particularly regarding travel and visa restrictions. Some countries, such as Estonia and Barbados, have already introduced digital nomad visas that allow remote workers to stay for extended periods. As the hybrid work model becomes more prevalent, it is possible that countries may revise their visa programs to accommodate this new work arrangement, perhaps offering visas that allow for a mix of remote and in-office work.

Idia who is a casework performance manager for Immigration Advice Service, a UK based firm that specialises in immigration law, said given the advantages digital nomad offer, “it is more likely that global immigration policies will be adapted to this new way of work especially as countries see the financial benefits and boost it brings to their economies.

Olusegun Akinfenwa writes for Immigration Advice Service, a leading team of legal professionals that specialise in immigration law and represents businesses and individuals across the UK and globally.

The article Remote culture war and the digital nomadism movement first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Ottawa has secured the IEEE Sections Congress in 2023, the 2024 IEEE NSREC, and the 2025 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and CNC/URSI Radio Science Meeting.

In addition to these IEEE conference, in 2023 Ottawa is also due to host the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers and the 28th IAVSD Symposium on Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and on Tracks.

All of these events are set to bring together in excess of 5,000 experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in technology, share knowledge and explore new ideas.

“Winning bids to host these top technology events is a testament to Ottawa’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation,” comments Lesley Mackay, Ottawa Tourism’s Vice President, Meetings and Major Events. “We are looking forward to welcoming industry leaders from around the globe to our beautiful city to discuss the latest advances in these fields and to explore opportunities for collaboration and growth. These wins perfectly reflect our ongoing focus on key industry sectors where Ottawa is a world leader, providing the organisers with the knowledge we will not only deliver the necessary conference infrastructure, but they will also be hosted by a city that truly understands their industry.”

In addition to the main events, Ottawa will host many related conferences, side-events and workshops in conjunction with the upcoming conferences. These events provide a unique opportunity for attendees to dive deeper into specific topics, network with peers and explore the latest products and services from within the industry.

With its state-of-the-art conference facilities and vibrant technology ecosystem, Ottawa is well positioned to continue its success in attracting top technology events. The city’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of conference hosting ensures a seamless experience for attendees and organisers alike.

In recent years Ottawa has been chosen to host numerous prestigious IEEE events, including the International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference (IFETC) in 2018, the IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments in 2019, and the 2022 IEEE Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

The article Ottawa continues technology conferences winning streak with three major IEEE events in the next two years first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

“After three decades of doing what I love, there was never going to be an easy time to say goodbye and step away, but this is the right time,” Snyder said. “It was important to me to help get BCD well on the road to recovery, with the pandemic in our rearview mirror. As a testament to what a fundamentally strong company and culture we have here, we’ve maintained an extraordinary track record of client retention and sales success. We’ve rebuilt our teams with an eye on delivering the world’s very best travel solutions and customer service. And we have a clear path for our next phase of growth. I can say with full confidence that BCD’s best days are yet to come.”

A Wisconsin native, Snyder in 1992 joined what was then called WorldTravel Advisors. In various leadership roles, he helped guide the company through periods of rapid growth, including the 2006 acquisitions in Europe that led to the creation of the BCD Travel brand and established the company as a leading player on the global stage. In the years that followed the launch of BCD, Snyder oversaw acquisitions designed to meet the needs of a growing client base. In 2013 and 2019, the BTN Group named Snyder to its list of Top 25 Most Influential Business Travel Executives, citing his role in fueling BCD’s growth.

During Snyder’s time as president and CEO, he and BCD have earned numerous accolades that reflect the company’s core vision to be the world’s most trusted, innovative and sustainable travel management company. Among them, BCD has received EcoVadis’s top sustainability rating every year since 2016. In 2018, Corporate Responsibility Magazine named him “Responsible CEO of the Year.” In one of Snyder’s proudest achievements, readers of The Beat have recognized BCD as the “Most Admired TMC” a record 10 times.

Snyder turns the reins of BCD over to longtime friend and colleague Baars, a transition that speaks to the BCD culture.

“So robust is our culture that it lets us refer affectionately to ‘boomerang’ colleagues — people who leave for other opportunities but return to the BCD Travel family, drawn back by the strength of our values and our commitment to living them,” Snyder said. “Stephan has almost 14 years of travel industry experience, and I had the pleasure and privilege of working closely with him during his 11-year tenure as BCD Travel’s CFO. Stephan shares my conviction that client focus lies at the heart of a successful enterprise. He also believes in the importance of people and innovation, and in long-standing relationships with business partners. His track record in steering companies through times of change and growth speaks to his skill in aligning commercial, operational, technology and central service teams toward common goals.”

“In his more than three decades with BCD Travel, John has accomplished an amazing body of work that has benefited not only our company but the entire travel industry,” Baars said. “I’m honored to follow in his footsteps and build on that incredible success. Like John, I’m a ‘people person,’ and I believe that perhaps his greatest legacy is promoting and nurturing a strong company culture, guided by core values that feed long-term success.”

A native of Hanover, Germany, Baars has three decades of executive leadership experience in the telecommunications, oil and gas production, business travel and investment sectors. In 2013, he became chairman of the Supervisory Board for BCD Travel Germany, a role he still holds today. In 2017, Baars left BCD Travel to become CEO of BORON, the private investment company of BCD founder John Fentener van Vlissingen.

“As founder, I am grateful to John for his role in building BCD to what it is today. And I am confident that Stephan is the right person to guide our family company into the next, next generation,” van Vlissingen said.

The article John Snyder to step down July 1 as president and CEO after 30 years with BCD Travel first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Group Revenues as of 31 March 2023 stood at 77.0 million euros, an increase of 39.0 million euros from 31 March 2022.

The first quarter 2022 was still characterized by a limited operation caused by the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the postponement or the suspension of some of the Group’s main events, both in organized events and conferences. The recovery of turnover related to the post-Covid restart (‘Restart’ effect) with the scheduling of cancelled, suspended, or reduced events amounted to 14.2 million euros (+37.3%), while the incremental revenue for the biennial nature of some events contributed 0.3 million euros (+0.8%) to the first quarter 2023.

Organic revenue growth in the first quarter was 15.5 million euros (+40.6% compared to first quarter 2022), driven in particular by higher volumes and price effects.

In the first quarter 2023 a contribution to revenues growth was given by the increase of the scope of consolidation of 3.3 million euros (+8.4%), after the inclusion of the affiliate company V Group S.r.l., while the changes in schedule which have led to move up some events from the second and third quarter, contributed to the revenue’s growth of 5.4 million euros (+14.1%).

Revenues from Organized Events, which represented 69% of the Group’s revenues in the first quarter, were 52.8 million euros, an increase of 26.9 million euros compared to first quarter 2022. A standard pre-pandemic schedule of two of the most important events organized by the Group such as ‘Sigep’, ‘Vicenzaoro January’ and ‘T.Gold’ has been restored in the first quarter 2023. The incremental change in turnover represented by the “Restart” effect was 10.4 million euros (+38,5%), while the organic growth of the events was 8.8 million euros, marking +32.6% compared to the previous period.

‘Organized Events’ revenues in the first quarter 2023 benefit from the move up of some events, which were organized in the second and third quarters in 2022, with a contribution to the increase of revenues of 4.2 million euros. It should be noted the organization of the event ‘K.EY’ among the main events moved up in the quarter, at its first edition after the spin-off from ‘Ecomondo’, which has achieved particularly positive results by doubling its volume both in exhibiting terms and visit terms.

The variation in the scope of consolidation, through the inclusion of the event ‘My Plant & Garden’ contributed to the growth of revenues of 3.3 million euros.

Hosted Events recorded revenues of 0.4 million euros, up from the first quarter 2022.

Conferences hold the results from the operation of Rimini Convention Centre and Vicenza Convention Centre (VICC). In the first quarter 2023 a total of 25 conferences were held in the two locations, with revenues of 3.8 million euros, and an incremental change of 2.3 million euros compared to the same period in 2022 (when the amount was 1.5 million euros), thanks to the recovery of the on-site congress events, which were restricted in the first quarter 2022.

Revenues from Related Services in the first quarter 2023 amounted to 19.3 million euros (10.0 million euros at 31 March 2022), with an increase of 9.3 million compared to the same period in the previous financial year, driven by an organic growth of 6.2 million euros, the post-pandemic “Restart” effect contributed to the growth of revenues for 1.5 million euros, while the schedule move up contributed for 1.2 million euros.

Publishing, Sports Events and Other Activities, through the publishing activities carried out for tourism sector (TTG Italia, Turismo d’Italia e HotelMag) and for the gold sector (VO+ e Trendvision), the sports events and other residual revenues, have developed total revenues for 0.7 million euros, with an increase of 0.1 million compared to the first quarter 2022 result.

Operating Costs as of 31 March 2023 amounted to 41.7 million euros (22.5 million euros as of 31 March 2022) with the percentage of turnover decreasing from 59.1% to 54.1%. The recovery in volume allows for a 5.0 percentage point improvement in the percentage of sales despite inflationary increases in material and transportation procurement costs on related services and energy costs.

The Value Added recorded in the period amounted to 35.3 million euros, with an increase of 19.8 million euros compared to the previous period (15.5 million euros). The Value added improves by 5.0 percentage points compared to 31 March 2022, from 40.9% to 45.9% recorded in the first quarter 2023.

Staff Costs amounted to 10.6 million euros in the first quarter 2023, with an increase of 2.1 million euros compared to the first quarter 2022 (+24.4%), The percentage of revenues improves from 22.5% to 13.8% in the first quarter 2023, thanks to the recovery of volumes.

Adjusted Gross Operating Margin (Adjusted EBITDA) amounted to 24.7 million euros in the first quarter 2023, with an increase of 17.7 million compared to the same period of the previous financial year, when it amounted to 7.0 million euros. Adjusted EBITDA Margin at 32.1% of revenues, compared to the same period in 2022, when it was 18.4%. The margin recovery of 13.7 percentage points in the first quarter 2023, was encouraged by the post-pandemic recovery of the volumes (‘Restart’ effect), and by the organic growth, while the increase due the variation of the consolidation scope and the schedule variation was compensated for the higher structural costs.

Adjusted Operating Income (Adjusted EBIT) amounted to 20.5 million euros in the first quarter 2023, up 17.5 million euros compared to the same period of the previous financial year, with a percentage of revenues of 26.6%, compared to the 7.9% of the previous period in 2022.

The Financial Management decrease by 1.2 million euros compared to the first quarter 2022. The change is mainly attributable to the negative spread fair value spread of derivative financial instruments.

Income before taxes amounted to 19.5 million euros, an improvement of 16.2 million euros compared to the same period of the previous financial year.

Income taxes amounted to 5.6 million euros, with a tax rate of 28.6%. The Group’s Period Result amounted to 14.0 million euros, an increase of 12.2 million compared to 31 March 2022.

Net Invested Capital, at 199.1 million euros (189.5 million euros as of 31 December 2022), shows an increase of 9.6 million euros, of which 14.2 million euros as incremental change on Net Working Capital and 4.2 million euros as decrease in in fixed assets.

Fixed Capital (249.4 million euros as of 31 March 2023) marks an overall decrease of 4.2 million euros mainly attributable to the amortization of the period of 4.0 million euros and to the release of deferred tax asset of 3.0 million euros on past tax losses, partially offset by the recognition of goodwill for 2.2 million euros related to the acquisition of two events in Singapore through the participated company IEG Asia.

Negative Net Working Capital amounted to 43.0 million euros as of 31 March 2023, shows a decrease of 14.2 million euros compared to 31 December 2022, when it amounted to 57.2 million euros, mainly attributable to the release of prepayments accounted at the end of 2022 against advances from customers for the events held in the first quarter 2023.

The Group’s Net Financial Position as of 31 March 2023 was 91.3 million euros, an improvement of 4.1 million euros compared to 31 December 2022, thanks to an operating cash generation of 6.7 million euros.

The article IEG’s Board of Directors approve the Interim Management report as of 31st March 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Hosting the event for the first time, Aarhus Airport and VisitAarhus will welcome Europe’s aviation industry to one of Denmark’s oldest cities from 22-24 April 2024 for the 17th Routes Europe.

Aarhus Airport serves the Greater Aarhus metropolitan area which is the fifth-largest market in the Nordic region. Delegates attending Routes Europe 2024 will be able to experience the all-new Aarhus Airport boasting brand new terminal and an in-airport hotel. The airport also offers rapid access to the centre of Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, where visitors can experience cosmopolitan shopping boulevards, world-class museums and internationally award-winning tourist attractions.

The city has also had the fastest growing major inbound visitor economy in the Nordics for most of the last nine years, and it is still growing. Aarhus handles almost 70% of all Danish imports and exports as well as cruise ships in its city centre deepwater harbour, and has one of the largest freight capacities in Scandinavia at 12m tonnes annually. A fast growing and exciting major economy in Scandinavia, Aarhus is one of the happiest and most eco-friendly cities in the world.

Lotta Sandsgaard, CEO of Aarhus Airport; said “We are happy to have been chosen to host Routes Europe 2024 and look forward to welcoming delegates to Aarhus. We will do all we can to make sure all attendees have a unique and outstanding experience in our vibrant city, starting at our all-new airport terminal. After record breaking April passenger numbers, our market is fizzing with opportunity, underlining the fantastic development the city, economy and airport are going through. Delegates coming to Aarhus in April 2024 will discover our region’s beautiful nature, culture, rich history, innovation and of course a world class Routes Europe event.”

Steven Small, Director of Routes; said “We are thrilled to be taking Routes Europe 2024 to Aarhus, Denmark’s vibrant second city. Aarhus boasts a thriving economy and is committed to promoting tourism and enhancing direct connectivity. The city’s airport serves the fifth largest population in Scandinavia, and its modern new terminal has doubled its floor space, offering enhanced facilities for passengers. By providing a first-hand experience of the city and its surroundings to key decision makers from the region’s airlines and airports, Routes Europe will serve as a catalyst for future growth.”

Budapest Airport crowned Routes Europe Marketing Award winner

Budapest Airport was celebrating last night, after being crowned the winner of the Routes Europe 2023 Marketing Awards in Łódź. The Hungarian gateway beat off strong competition from other airports in the 4-20 million category to take the title at the ceremony, which took place in the monumental industrial and cultural structure of EC1 in the Polish city.

Budapest Airport’s message puts the gateway at the forefront of airline route development leading BUD to be crowned Routes Europe Marketing Award winner 2023 (4-20 million passengers category).

Uniquely judged and voted for by airlines, the awards recognise excellence in air service development globally. Budapest’s extensive B2B marketing efforts not only made a substantial impact with the judging panel, but also the airport’s growth and success over the last year seeing the capital city airport surpass 12 million passengers, which is 75% of pre-pandemic passenger traffic. Securing 13 new routes, including five new destinations in 2022, the airport has already announced 12 new routes for this year, among them seven new destinations.

Balázs Bogáts, CCO, Budapest Airport exclaims: “This is an extremely proud moment for everyone at Budapest Airport. We won the accolade back in 2019, and as this is the first European awards ceremony since then, it’s an added honour that we have retained the title.” He added: “Our innovative marketing activities and moving forward together are at the heart of what we do at BUD which puts us at the forefront of airline route development. This award shows that the global airline industry sees this too and is testament to the hard work of a fantastic team.”

The article Aarhus announced as host destination for Routes Europe 2024 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Her role will be to work with UFI’s Marketing and Communications team to strategically help it to create relevant content that delivers insights, thought leadership and news to and for the global exhibition and business events industry. Nidhi will enhance UFI’s reach in building and serving industry specific communities. She is also responsible for leading the Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Grant project and the Marketing Working Group.

Originally from India, Nidhi has been based in Paris for the past six years. She previously worked in the sports broadcasting industry under the Corporate Social Responsibility domain where she fulfilled the training and legacy needs around international sports events. Her responsibilities included project management, marketing and communication of the programmes as well as creating content to build positive stories around the parameters of diversity, gender equality and upskilling of the workforce.

Coming from an academic and research background, Nidhi holds a Doctorate in International Relations. Her articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals and newspapers and she also previously worked with international academic publishing houses in editorial and commissioning roles.

“I am thrilled to begin this journey and eager to work with the UFI team to develop the objectives of my newly created role. My primary focus will lie on crafting compelling and relevant narratives that meets the needs of our members and wider industry community,” says Nidhi Grelaud.

“We are excited to welcome Nidhi Grelaud as our Programme Manager for Content and Communities. This newly created role at UFI signifies the importance we place on fostering connections and building communities within the global exhibition industry. Nidhi’s expertise and leadership will be instrumental in our mission to both strengthen and also drive our industry forward,” adds Adeline Vancauwelaert, UFI COO.

The article Nidhi Grelaud joins UFI as Programme Manager for Content and Communities first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Armando Mastrapasqua is an experienced manager who has held key positions in such important companies as FIAT Financial Services, Hertz, General Electric, and other key players in the tourism and major events sector. He has an impressive track record of experiences in the field of sports events, including the Milano 2018 World Figure Skating Championships, the Cortina 2021 Alpine Skiing World Championships, and the 2022 Volley Nations League.

“We decided to invest in the sports management field by further developing our specialist division and making our offer more efficient and competitive,” explains Gianluca Scavo, CEO of AIM Group International. “We are delighted to have secured the services of Armando, a professional with solid skills, experience, and relationships in the industry, who we are certain will lead the division successfully, making it a reference point for the market.”

“We are excited to be bringing a new offering to the sports industry,” says Armando Mastrapasqua, General Manager of AIM Sport. “Our goal is to become a serious, reliable, and innovative partner for all stakeholders involved in the organization of major sports competitions, increasing the potential of sports to facilitate strong relationships between brands and their end customers via memorable and exciting experiences. Our ambition is to offer specialist expertise and to creative vision to both the Italian and European markets, supporting the flawless organization of sports events.”

The article Armando Mastrapasqua joins AIM Group International and strengthens the division AIM Sport first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.