PCOs Archives - TravelDailyNews International https://www.traveldailynews.com/category/mice-industry/pcos/ TravelDailyNews International Wed, 10 May 2023 08:08:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.traveldailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/favicon-3.png PCOs Archives - TravelDailyNews International https://www.traveldailynews.com/category/mice-industry/pcos/ 32 32 Event market in Germany gradually recovering: Quantitative growth and ongoing development of offerings provide opportunities https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/event-market-in-germany-gradually-recovering-quantitative-growth-and-ongoing-development-of-offerings-provide-opportunities/ Wed, 10 May 2023 07:20:15 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=311760 The number of international business trips to Germany more than doubled from 5 to 11 million in 2022 compared to the previous year. This means that the business travel segment is recording growth again for the first time after two years of Covid-19-related decline, reaching around 70% of the record level from the pre-crisis year 2019.

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FRANKFURT – The German National Tourist Board (GNTB), the GCB German Convention Bureau and the EVVC European Association of Event Centres present the results of the new “Meeting & EventBarometer 2022/2023”. The key figures on the German meetings, congress and event market in 2022 confirm that the number of in-person events has increased significantly, while hybrid and digital formats have decreased. According to the research findings, the market is recovering gradually and at the same time undergoing a progressing structural transformation.

Development of business travel in German incoming tourism

The number of international business trips to Germany more than doubled from 5 to 11 million in 2022 compared to the previous year. This means that the business travel segment is recording growth again for the first time after two years of Covid-19-related decline, reaching around 70% of the record level from the pre-crisis year 2019.

Compared to its international competition, Germany has further expanded its position as the number one business travel destination for Europeans with 9.2 million business trips and leads the ranking by a clear margin over France (4 million business trips) and Spain (2.9 million). Within the business travel market, the MICE segment is gaining in importance post-Covid. 60% of business trips from Europe to Germany in 2022 were promotable business trips, i.e., travel related to trade fairs and MICE. With 67 %, this share was even higher for business trips from overseas markets. At the same time, the recovery of promotable business trips is, at 74%, significantly higher than that of classic business trips.

Petra Hedorfer, chairwoman of the GNTB’s executive board: “The development of this market segment is extremely important for us, as the share of business travel in German incoming tourism from Europe is 20%, i.e., almost twice the European average (11%). Business travellers from overseas even reach a share of 33%. In order to continue to be a part of this recovering market in the future, we need to continuously adapt to the changing market demands as they occur in the course of the ecological transformation: More than half of event organisers state in the Meeting & EventBarometer that their clients expect sustainability to be considered. Many players in German tourism have adapted to these challenges: Almost two-thirds of supplier companies have already aligned parts of their offer portfolio with sustainability in mind, and around one-fifth consider sustainability in their entire supply chain. As the most important reasons for this, the respondents cite on the one hand the saving of resources and on the other hand client expectations , which is important evidence of how ecological transformation, service quality and business success are linked.”

Recovery of German meeting and congress market

The development of the German event market in 2022 underlines its transformative power in the face of multiple challenges as well as the ongoing relevance of business events in the communication mix of organisations. In 2022, the real volume of in-person events (in-person only and hybrid events) returned to 48.5% of the 2019 level. The recovery of the market is emerging with the end of the Covid-19 measures from the beginning of the second quarter until the end of 2022. During this period, event volumes return to 66% of pre-pandemic levels.

The number of in-person event attendees amounts to 172 million. Combined with in-person attendees of hybrid events, this figure is as high as 184 million. This means an increase of 246% in the number of in-person event attendance (2021: 50 million). In addition to in-person attendees, there were 28.5 million online attendees in hybrid events last year (2021: 36.3 million) and 53.4 million attendees in online events (2021: 327 million). While the number of online attendees declined, in-person events with digital elements (hybrid events) proved to be the driving force in the event market. In 2022, a total of 2.6 million events with a total of 266.4 million attendees took place in Germany across all event types (in-person, hybrid, digital).

Boost for role of business events as platforms for knowledge exchange

Business trips are increasing significantly compared to the previous year. Due to the lifting of Covid-19 regulations, congresses, meetings and seminars have become significantly larger (in relation to the number of attendees) in 2022 compared to the previous year. There was a strong shift towards larger events with 101 or more attendees and a correspondingly strong decline in very small events (up to 50 attendees). The need for in-person meetings has increased significantly and puts the relationship to digital and hybrid events into perspective.

“Business events are an essential tools for solving complex issues. People who come together in a professional context ensure knowledge transfer, form networks and thus provide the platforms for developing the answers to the big questions of our time. Particularly in an era of multiple, global challenges, they can support the necessary transformation processes and provide a stage for constructive dialogue on multiple levels and in diverse formats,” says Matthias Schultze, managing director of the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V.

The increase in business trips is also reflected in the numbers of international attendees. Their share in 2022 was 3.9% on average (2021: 2%). This means that although international demand is developing more modestly than the domestic market, there is a clear positive trend.

Sustainability increasingly in focus

The in-person attendees of hybrid events together with the attendees of in-person events only form a growing group of people who want to meet in person. These figures illustrate the need for a dual focus on face-to-face encounters and digital networking, which is confirmed in particular by the organisers surveyed with a view to market development in the coming years.

Particularly with regard to sustainability, the sensible use of digital tools is indispensable. In the current survey, the importance of sustainability is generally rated higher than in the last survey. Around one fifth of the supplier companies has already organised their supply chain sustainably throughout. The vast majority of suppliers surveyed are able to address various aspects of sustainability, while less than 10% of respondents are not actively engaging with the topic. For event organisers, sustainable event management has an importance in the upper range with an average rating of 7.1. Differentiated according to different aspects of sustainability at events, catering is just ahead of CO2 compensation and ahead of a certification system. Overall, sustainability is increasingly influencing corporate decisions and thus the entire event planning process.

Optimistic future forecast

Based on the turnover from 2022, the outlook for 2023 and 2024 is very positive. All suppliers (i.e., all types of event venues) expect a positive turnover development of around 20 % plus for the next two years. Event organisers confirm this positive outlook: 81% expect a good to very good booking situation in the coming months and anticipate budget growth of around 20% by 2023/24. These optimistic forecasts prove that the staging of events is once again in strong demand despite wide-ranging challenges.

Event market increasingly resilient to multiple challenges

Energy supply, inflation and price increases as well as staff shortages are the biggest challenges for the coming years. Among the most frequently mentioned consequences of the various challenges for suppliers are changes in how buildings are managed and greater price pressure from clients. For organisers, rising costs and budget cuts are among the most challenging consequences.

In addition, the demand for staff and skilled workers has increased compared to the previous year. The need for staff is most noticeable in conference hotels. Almost 70% of them state that they are looking for staff, which has an impact on the workload of existing employees. In order to counteract this situation, the focus is on diversity in teams as well as on the stronger promotion of women. Implementing flexible working time models is another step. “Addressing issues around diversity and equality are important approaches to solving the need for skilled staff and contribute to improving companies‘ competitiveness,” says Ilona Jarabek, president of the EVVC European Association of Event Centres.

Outlook

The results of the Meeting & Event Barometer 2022/23 show that the appeal of events is unbroken. In-person event attendance, which makes up the largest share of all attendees across all types of events, underlines the high relevance of in-person events as a communication tool for companies and organisations. Nevertheless, digital formats continue to be of great importance and will continue to play an important role in the communication mix in the future. Beyond the physical space, the digitalisation creates enormous opportunities to expand the reach of events and to include those who cannot or do not want to be present in person for a range of reasons.

Overall, the German meetings and congress market is resilient and fit for the future in the face of the current multiple challenges. In the future, business events will be characterised above all by short-term planning cycles, a higher influence of sustainability aspects as well as increased staff requirements. At the same time, these conditions create a considerable opportunity to drive new innovative solutions that are sustainable and future-proof.

Meeting & EventBarometer 2022-2023 Management Summary

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Gyder to increase revenues and improve attendee engagement through launch of bespoke branded apps https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/gyder-to-increase-revenues-and-improve-attendee-engagement-through-launch-of-bespoke-branded-apps/ Wed, 10 May 2023 06:30:36 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=311752 The app, which runs on both iOS and Android, improves the visitor experience through a fully configurable, universal platform.

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Gyder has launched an event mapping app to improve wayfinding and scheduling for visitors at large events, whilst providing additional revenue streams for event organisers.

“Gyder’s new, fully branded apps for event visitors not only improve the visitor experience but also increase revenue by up to 30% for event organisers through advertising and sponsorship” says Gyder CEO and Co-Founder Ben Pearce.

Gyder builds bespoke maps for events within a fully branded smartphone app, which is available for free to event attendees and audiences. The app, which runs on both iOS and Android, improves the visitor experience through a fully configurable, universal platform with functionality such as:

  • Live mapping and wayfinding tools
  • Comprehensive exhibitor directory
  • Exhibitor offers
  • Sponsorship and advertising across the whole platform
  • Programme and itinerary creation

This year over 500,000 people will download Gyder apps at events including The Game Fair, The Great Yorkshire Show, The Northern Shooting Show, and many others.

“We want to give all organisers the ability to digitise their events quickly without the traditional problems of building an event app from scratch or the unsustainable and costly need to print programmes,” continues Ben Pearce. “Apps are often seen as an expensive nice to have, our mission is to change that perception. Instead, apps should be an integral part of any event, engaging the attendees and audience not just for the time they are onsite but for days before and after, perhaps even 365 days a year.”

Gyder’s platform and apps include a wide range of integrated sponsorship, advertising and offer options, allowing both the Gyder and organiser teams to identify and create revenue generating partnerships. These effectively move the app from an event cost to a source of income.

“Printed programmes can be environmentally unfriendly, have a high cost, and are often outdated and inaccurate due to print lead times. As a result, printed programme sales have declined, reducing revenue from sales, advertising and sponsorship. Event organisers, using Gyder, can reverse the trend to increase income while also helping the environment,” adds Ben Pearce.

Organisers can also benefit from significant amounts of anonymised live and post event data, helping them better understand audience and attendee behaviour, allowing them to improve future events.

Ben Pearce concludes: “The app has been created following in-depth research amongst attendees and organisers to ensure it is not just fit for purpose but also meets the needs of all event stakeholders. This includes extensive functionality without compromising individual privacy concerns, whilst generating new revenues and reducing an event’s environmental impact. Ultimately, our app is a tool to improve the event experience and create value for all.”

Gyder was set up in 2019 by Ben Pearce and Stuart Jacklin. The Gyder app is available in both the iOS and Android stores.

The article Gyder to increase revenues and improve attendee engagement through launch of bespoke branded apps first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Events Club Forum 2023 opens on June 11th https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/events-club-forum-2023-opens-on-june-11th/ Wed, 10 May 2023 05:52:05 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=311706 The main partner of the event is the Czech Convention Bureau, part of Czech Tourism.

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Events Club Forum is the prime meet-up and deal flow platform for the meetings and event industry, coming up in just about a month’s time. The perfect combination of event essentials to reach a successful outcome will be delivered by Europe Congress at this final forum of the first half of the year. International event planners will flock to the Czech capital for an event experience in which
they get to meet the best of international convention bureaus, congress centers, hotels, DMCs, and other MICE suppliers. All within a fully catered event program, ensuring the best participant experience.

Sunday, June 11, will see the grand opening of the event at Cubex for an amazing networking dinner, while Monday morning, June 12, will see the start of the show with pre-scheduled and matchmade meetings at the exhibition and one-to-one meeting areas. Tuesday, June 13, will see many more business introductions. Both days include much more than startups of cooperation: the program contains a huge variation with keynotes, coffee breaks, lunch, the end of the day reception, and lots of music by the genius Song Division. The Monday evening program will bring all participants to the newest jewel of Prague’s event venues, The Pilsner Urquell Experience.

“We are thrilled to host the Events Club Forum 2023 evening at Pilsner Urquell Experience, the new Prague Brand home, which tells the amazing story of the world’s first golden pilsner in a unique and immersive experience. Our guests will enjoy the best of Czech hospitality with an unforgettable experience.” said the venue’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Ondřej Veselý.

Alain Pallas, Managing Director at Europe Congress, stated: “We’re looking forward to this new edition of Events Club Forum. Having an event where you can choose the type of promotion that matches your strategy best and meet with your most likely next business partners is a key value. We have added plentiful new experiences for all participants, such as an extra networking dinner evening, and will still be able to present many surprises at the forum. We can’t wait to show it!”

Events Club Forum’s core partners are the Prague Congress Centre, AV Media, AIM Group, DZK, and seven leading Prague hotels: Marriott, Radisson, The Julius, Holiday Inn, Vienna House by Wyndham, Lindner, and the newly opened Almanac X. The main partner of the event is the Czech Convention Bureau, part of Czech Tourism.

“We are truly excited about hosting the second edition of the Events Club Forum this June in Prague. Last year, the event turned into a great success, and we are happy to take advantage of the opportunity to present our unique MICE offer or our destination again. We see great interest from all the participants—suppliers as well as buyers—and we hope that the combination of networking and education will make the event memorable for everyone. This year we are focusing more on the presentation of regional offers that will be visible not only during the event itself but also during the following ‘Fam-trips’.” Tereza Hofmanová, head of the Czech Convention Bureau, mentioned.

The article Events Club Forum 2023 opens on June 11th first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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UFI LATAM Conference brings industry leaders together in Costa Rica https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/ufi-latam-conference-brings-industry-leaders-together-in-costa-rica/ Fri, 05 May 2023 05:49:15 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=311289 110 exhibition industry leaders from LATAM and beyond gathered in San José, Costa Rica. Countless sessions, matchmaking, and networking opportunities over three days

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PARIS/ SAN JOSE – UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, held its LATAM Conference in San José, Costa Rica this 25-27 April. More than 110 exhibition industry leaders from over 18 countries came together to share insights and expertise as well as participate in interactive workshops and networking opportunities.

Hosted by the Costa Rica Convention Bureau, the event was held at the Costa Rica Convention Center. In addition to the conference, attendees also had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of San José during a post-conference city tour.

“The recent UFI LATAM Conference held in Costa Rica was an exceptional event that gathered the major leaders of the exhibition industry in the region. We are honoured of having been chosen as the host of this unique experience and we are extremely grateful to the organisers for their tremendous hard work in putting together an event of this kind. We are very much looking forward to the next edition and we will remain committed to UFI in the promotion and growth of the exhibition industry in Latin America,” says Dennis Whitelaw, President of the Costa Rica Convention Bureau.

“As in the other markets around the world, Latin America has moved on from the rollercoaster events in the past 36 months. The focus is on growth and change, and that was very present throughout the sessions and meetings during this conference. UFI members came to compare where they stand, to look for partners and business opportunities, and to hear about the latest developments in the region and globally on issues from sustainability to talent development,” says Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO.

UFI LATAM Conference 2023

Over the course of the three-day conference, speakers from across the region covered a multitude of topics. Immediately setting the tone, the first panel zoomed in on the accelerating speed of change and envisioned how the industry will continue to change in the coming years. A highly rated session on marketing strategies with a renewed customer focus was followed by best practices from Mexico and Colombia on activating and using data insights and smart technology for the development of show portfolios. Updates on sustainability activities and the progress of the global “Net Zero Carbon Events” initiative were well received, as were the insights into global and regional trends on current innovations of public and events-related infrastructure.

The second day saw sessions dealing with the role of MICE industry associations and convention bureaus for successful shows, talent challenges and opportunities, and the fast-emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the future of events. Finally, the closing session was built around bridging the exhibition markets between Latin America and the US.

While the sessions are a key element of every UFI event, the LATAM Conference delivered a multitude of opportunities for matchmaking and networking. 412 meetings among participants were arranged during two specific matchmaking sessions, produced on-site by event partner “Two 2 Tango”. And besides networking breaks, a number of social events provide a multitude of networking opportunities – from the traditional UFI run to the dance floor at the closing night’s gala. There was also a special night out at the Parque de Diversiones, San José’s Theme Park area that opened exclusively for conference participants, providing a relaxed setting – and the opportunity to take rollercoaster rides, which proved very popular.

The third day of the conference offered the opportunity to go on a post-conference tour of San José. Attendees were able to enjoy the abundance of nature, culture and history that the city has to offer. They visited the Doka coffee plantation, which earned the ‘Historical and Architectural Heritage’ designation in Costa Rica, as well as the La Paz Waterfalls Park, one of the country’s natural treasures.

Last but not least, the conference provided an opportunity for the industry leaders who are standing as candidates in this month’s Chapter Leadership elections to introduce themselves to UFI members from across the region.

As usual, videos of all sessions will be made available to UFI members and conference participants in the coming days on demand.

As the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI organises annual regional conferences in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East/Africa, as well as the UFI Global Congress. The next event will be the UFI MEA Conference which will be held in Doha, Qatar this 9-11 May. The Global Congress will take place in Las Vegas, USA, from 1-4 November.

The article UFI LATAM Conference brings industry leaders together in Costa Rica first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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UFI announces winners of Next Generation Leadership Grant 2023 https://www.traveldailynews.com/associations/ufi-announces-winners-of-next-generation-leadership-grant-2023/ Wed, 03 May 2023 06:15:21 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=311029 Five NGL grant recipients selected by international jury, chaired by UFI President Michael Duck. NGL project to kick off in Maastricht at UFI European Conference.

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PARIS – UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has named the recipients of this year’s UFI Next Generation Leadership (NGL) Grant. The 2023 winners were selected from an overwhelming number of diverse entries by an international jury of exhibition industry leaders that was chaired by UFI President, Michael Duck.

Now in its 7th edition, the UFI NGL Grant is aimed at promoting the next generation of professionals trying to establish their place in the exhibition industry. Mentorship and networking with the leading exhibition executives make NGL the most prestigious talent accelerator programme in the industry.

To qualify, applicants must have a maximum of 10 years of work experience within the exhibition industry and must still be working in the industry. The programme is sponsored by some of the leading global exhibition organisers: Clarion, dmg Events, Emerald, Informa Markets, RX and Tarsus.

The 2023 NGL Grant winners are:

  • Otero Finiti – Business Development Executive, Expo Stars Interactive, UK
  • Elizabeth George – Sr. Lead, Content & Programming, HIMSS, US
  • Tehchad Kittiboonya – International Sales Manager, VNU Asia Pacific, Thailand
  • Aya Moatamed – Data Analyst, Informa Markets, Egypt
  • Amy Saleh – Operations Director, Hannover Fairs, Australia

The mission for the 2023 NGL project is to write a new blueprint on how to plan and operate events that help industries to evolve, help businesses to trade and learn and help every participant to benefit personally from their participation.

Spread over a period of 6 months, the grant winners are given the opportunity to develop their project under the guidance of UFI team, NGL alumni and industry leaders. The 2023 winners will kick off their project at the UFI European Conference in Maastricht this 13-16 June 2023. They will also be able to present their project at the UFI Global Congress in Las Vegas this 1-4 November 2023.

The Jury:
The jury was chaired by Michael Duck – UFI President and Executive Vice President of Commercial Development at Informa Markets – and included:

  • Daniella Antes – Director, Talent Acquisition, Emerald
  • Premila Braganza – Head of HR, dmg Events
  • Daniella Galante – NGL Grant 2022 winner and Digital Marketing & Creative Manager, RX Africa
  • Kurt Gamauf – Director of HR, Global Projects, RX
  • Nidhi Grelaud – Programme Manager, Content and Communities, UFI
  • Kai Hattendorf – Managing Director and CEO, UFI
  • Justine Kendall – Sr. Manager, HR and Employee Benefits, Clarion North America
  • Sean Ongers – Head of Global Learning and Performance, Informa Markets
  • Rachel Wimberly – EVP, Business Development and M&A, Tarsus Group, US

“The UFI NGL grant has aimed since its inception to foster the next generation of professionals who are looking to find an exciting career in the exhibition industry. The theme of the NGL Grant is carefully chosen keeping in mind topics that are of critical importance to the future of our industry […] The overwhelming global response received for the UFI 2023 NGL Grant has shown how special this programme has been for those who are finding their place in this industry. The quality of winners we have seen over these years has been impressive”, says UFI President Michael Duck.

The Jury adds, “We really enjoyed receiving so many fantastic applications again and would say that the bar is being raised every year! We were particularly impressed with the diversity of entries from all over the world and across a variety of stakeholders within our industry. We thank all applicants for their creativity and thoughtfulness in both their videos and letters, which were just outstanding. Given the great quality of the submissions, selecting our finalists was a very tough decision. We would like to thank everyone for their wonderful efforts, and of course many congratulations to our winners!”

UFI congratulates this year’s NGL winners and looks forward to supporting the five selected next generation exhibition industry leaders as they work together to bring innovative change across the industry.

The article UFI announces winners of Next Generation Leadership Grant 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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The Hague launches digital platform to build event programmes https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/cvbs/the-hague-launches-digital-platform-to-build-event-programmes/ Wed, 03 May 2023 05:23:17 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=310972 The system includes all the city’s major hotels and venues as well as a wide range of activities meaning an almost limitless number of possibilities.

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The Hague has created an online tool that allows event planners and conference organisers to easily identify potential hotels, venues, restaurants and activities. The simple tool takes basic information before recommending suitable solutions from amongst The Hague’s wide range of partners. Organisers can subsequently work with The Hague’s team of experts, local DMCs, venues and hotels to complete their perfect event.

The Create Your Event tool takes the organiser through a series of simple questions to refine their choices. This includes:

  • Programme elements – venue, activity, restaurants and hotel
  • Date – month and event duration (from 1 day to 5+ days)
  • Delegate numbers – from 10-300+
  • Style – sustainable, historical, modern, city centre, cultural and more
  • Theme – Hague highlights, hidden gems, adventurous etc
  • Comfort level – 3* to 5*

Once selected, the tool provides a range of potentially matches and itineraries for the event* as well as contact options to tailor the programme and recommendations from concept to fruition.

The system includes all the city’s major hotels and venues as well as a wide range of activities meaning an almost limitless number of possibilities.

“This tool provides a fantastic first step for individuals organising events in The Hague,” comments Bas Schot, Head of The Hague Convention Bureau. “It gives an opportunity to see what we have to offer and how all the different elements can be built into a truly inspiring programme using incredible venues and hotels. Backing up the new tool is our incredible team of experts, on hand to help turn the system’s suggestions into a reality.”

*All suggestions are subject to availability

The article The Hague launches digital platform to build event programmes first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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CityDNA & the GDS-Movement join forces to launch GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference 2-23 in Valencia https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/citydna-amp-the-gds-movement-join-forces-to-launch-gds-forum-amp-citydna-autumn-conference-2-23-in-valencia/ Tue, 02 May 2023 05:22:09 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=310852 The CityDNA Autumn Conference provides destination professionals with unique occasion to meet and network with colleagues from Europe and beyond, while sharing knowledge and insights on the latest trends and challenges.

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From 3rd to 7th October, destination professionals can enjoy an extraordinary event week, as City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA), the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), and Visit València partner to bring you two incredible, back-to-back events, and to jointly announce and celebrate the new home of the prestigious, annual GDS-Awards.

The CityDNA Autumn Conference provides destination professionals with unique occasion to meet and network with colleagues from Europe and beyond, while sharing knowledge and insights on the latest trends and challenges.

The GDS-Forum will convene destination leaders and sustainability champions from around the world. This is a dynamic and unconventional gathering to discuss sustainability and impact strategies and best practices, learn from GDS-Index journeys, and co-create new approaches and initiatives for greater regenerative destination management. It will follow a novel, non-conference format with a focus on peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and creativity.

The GDS-Awards Ceremony will bring both communities together in an entertaining and inspiring, evening-time celebration to recognise the winners of the 8th GDS-Index Awards. The larger platform enables greater reach and recognition for and aspiration around destinations whose sustainability contributions have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels in a global industry with a growing responsibility to “be the change we need to see in the world”.

Valencia, the city of arts and sciences, is a superb host for the inaugural GDS-Forum event. It is deeply dedicated to sustainable tourism, has best practices in reporting, is the very first participating city to calculate and certify its tourism carbon footprint, and is a long-term member of GDS-Index committed to continuous improvement. It’s also the proud recipient of the 2024 European Green Capital Award.

“I am absolutely delighted to extend our strategic partnership with CityDNA,” says Guy Bigwood, Chief Changemaker and CEO of the GDS-Movement. “They are one of our founding partners and it’s a natural and powerful next step to bring our events together with the goal of accelerating city regeneration and innovation. By uniting our efforts, we are also reducing the environmental impacts of these events, and maximising the ROI to attendees, Valencia, and sponsors.”

“We are very excited to bring our joint events to Valencia,” says Petra Stušek, President of City Destinations Alliance. “This new partnership beautifully expresses our shared values of accountability and innovation and Valencia’s status as the 2024 European Green Capital Award winner positions it perfectly as the host city. This is a chance to bring fresh energy, formats, and ideas to our industry and come up with new solutions together.”

The article CityDNA & the GDS-Movement join forces to launch GDS-Forum & CityDNA Autumn Conference 2-23 in Valencia first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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ABPCO focuses on the need to Survive and Thrive at its Festival of Learning https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/abpco-focuses-on-the-need-to-survive-and-thrive-at-its-festival-of-learning/ Thu, 27 Apr 2023 06:23:11 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=310637 Through panels and presentations, a wide range of speakers explored new and creative ways to run events, the technology needed to support them and the key issues organisers have to consider moving forward.

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The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers’ (ABPCO) second Festival of Learning welcomed more than 130 association event professionals to Telford International Centre. The event delivered education across a wide range of subjects as well as networking opportunities.

Entitled ‘Survive and Thrive’ the Festival’s content focused on the future of association meetings, including opportunities and threats. Through panels and presentations, a wide range of speakers explored new and creative ways to run events, the technology needed to support them and the key issues organisers have to consider moving forward.

Sessions included

  • The Association Meeting of the Future
  • Moving sustainable meetings forward: The next step in the journey
  • How can we improve the experience of attendees?
  • Accessibility and inclusivity is a must for all conference delegates
  • Award winner’s roundtable
  • Bridging the gap – the events industry and universities unite to shape the future of the next generation

The day concluded with a standing ovation for an inspiring and moving keynote session from Purusha Gordon, Ocean Sheroes Foundation, called “Survival to thriving – Why adopting a positive mindset is transformational.”

Interspersed throughout the day were fringe updates from Meeting Needs, the Event Apprenticeship Scheme and The Business of Events.

Emma Duffy, co-chair of ABPCO and Festival of Learning task force lead commented: “The event was an incredible success. The content was exactly what our delegates were looking for and we received a huge amount of positive feedback. The event would not have been possible though without the support of our partners and sponsors. Coming together to learn, network and share best practice is a founding principle of our association, the Festival is the physical embodiment of this ethos. This second event built on the success of the first and I look forward to seeing its continued growth as it delivers education to the whole of the association events sector.”

The article ABPCO focuses on the need to Survive and Thrive at its Festival of Learning first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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ABPCO Festival of Learning 2023 welcomed to Telford with tree planting ceremony https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/abpco-festival-of-learning-2023-welcomed-to-telford-with-tree-planting-ceremony/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 06:37:38 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=310332 Reflecting on the core values of ABPCO and their alignment to Telford & Wrekin Council, both partners marked the opening of the event with the planting of a cherry blossom tree in Telford Town Park this afternoon.

The article ABPCO Festival of Learning 2023 welcomed to Telford with tree planting ceremony first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Telford welcome the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) for the Festival of Learning 2023, bringing together the UK’s leading association event professionals.

The event, sponsored by Telford & Wrekin Council in collaboration with Telford International Centre and several national stakeholders, aims to provide opportunities for sharing, learning, and networking, with a focus on the theme of ‘Survive and Thrive’ in the ever-changing landscape of the association events industry.

Reflecting on the core values of ABPCO and their alignment to Telford & Wrekin Council, both partners marked the opening of the event with the planting of a cherry blossom tree in Telford Town Park this afternoon. The planting demonstrated the fostering of a new relationship between Telford & Wrekin Council and the association events sector and the joint commitment to support a sustainable, healthy, and thriving events industry.

David Sidaway, Chief Executive of Telford & Wrekin Council, said, “We are thrilled to welcome the ABPCO Festival of Learning 2023 to Telford. It is an honour to be a part of an event that brings together such talented and dedicated professionals from around the UK to share their expertise and knowledge. As a council, we are committed to supporting initiatives like this that promote collaboration, learning, and innovation, which align with our culture and values.”

Emma Duffy, Co-Chair of ABPCO, said, “The Festival of Learning is an important event for the association events sector, bringing the best of the industry together to learn from each other, share best practice and develop the long-term relationships that are vital to the success of conferences and business events. We are grateful to Telford & Wrekin Council for their support in making this event possible, and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.”

Alison Griffin, Managing Director of Telford International Centre said: “Telford International Centre already hosts some of the UK’s most important professional conferences and being able to welcome ABPCO and its members to Telford for the Festival of Learning this April, is a huge privilege. We look forward to hosting a successful event where attendees will leave inspired and energised.”

Telford is one of the UK’s leading events destinations, welcoming over 200 major events and 1 million delegates every year. Its collection of venues includes the award-winning Telford International Centre with its impressive 15,000sqm of flexible event space. Telford is also home to Lilleshall National Sports and Conference Centre, Enginuity owned by Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the 10,000 capacity Queen Elizabeth II Arena in Telford Town Park, which every year hosts some of the biggest outdoor music concerts as well as cultural and charity events.

Business events tourism is one of the top sectors for Telford, providing a platform for the destination to raise its profile nationally, to attract new investment and development and generate economic growth.

The ABPCO Festival of Learning will be a further opportunity for Telford to showcase the exceptional facilities and visitor experiences that event organisers can enjoy when choosing Telford as their host destination.

The article ABPCO Festival of Learning 2023 welcomed to Telford with tree planting ceremony first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Bizly joins Cvent App Marketplace and announces integration with Cvent https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/bizly-joins-cvent-app-marketplace-and-announces-integration-with-cvent/ Fri, 21 Apr 2023 06:23:51 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=310115 Bizly and Cvent integration allows for consolidation of event data and holistic event program view.

The article Bizly joins Cvent App Marketplace and announces integration with Cvent first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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PALO ALTO, CA – Bizly, a leading SaaS platform for small and simple meetings, announced its integration with Cvent and its new listing within the Cvent App Marketplace. The integration allows for a more seamless transition between the Cvent meeting request form and Bizly. It also enables users to consolidate all their event and meeting data – for both large, complex events and small, simple ones – into their Cvent account for a more holistic view of their organization’s total event program.

“In today’s hybrid workforce, small meetings are more important than ever and joining our Bizly solutions together with Cvent through this integration is a natural next step in our evolution as we look to best support our mutual customers,” said Ron Shah, CEO of Bizly. “The integration allows any Cvent customer to embed Bizly into their meeting request form process and consolidate data in a powerful way.”

Cvent users can enter Bizly from the meeting request form (MRF), import contacts, and consolidate and match Bizly data into their preferred tool. Business leaders can rest assured their meeting owners are following protocols; finance teams can capture data for better budget reconciliation and reporting; and users can build their own meetings with Bizly’s built-in guidance and concierge support. Cvent customers who opt into the integration can also easily extend Bizly access to their Cvent users.

Bizly customers will initially be able to link data from a Cvent instance directly into the small meetings platform through various APIs. The two companies will look to expand capabilities based on the evolving needs of the market.

“As a leader in the event technology space, our goal is to make it easier for organizations to engage and interact with their customers, prospects, or employees in a more meaningful way, and a big part of that is offering integrations with the technology providers our customers are already using,” said Cvent Vice President of Product Management, Brett Fitzgerald. “We’re excited to announce Bizly’s new Cvent Marketplace listing and our mutual integration as we work collaboratively to power a more well-connected workplace.”

The article Bizly joins Cvent App Marketplace and announces integration with Cvent first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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