News
SMEs signal strong appetite for face-to-face meetings, but are they spending?
New research from American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and Ipsos suggests small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on both sides of the Atlantic place a lot of importance on face-to-face interaction for growing their businesses. According to the survey of 500 senior decision-makers in the UK and US, 83% said increasing in-person engagement with clients and customers will be a key co...
Australasia’s ‘longest established’ PCO celebrates Diamond Jubilee
ICMSA, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Christchurch, and which claims to be Australasia’s longest-established Professional Conference Organiser, is celebrating 60 years in business. The agency was founded on 28 January, 1966, and current owner and CEO Emma Bowyer (pictured) thanked all previous directors, current and past staff, as well as the company’s clients, suppliers and stake...
The New Zealand ICC to host new ‘Helios’ artwork
SkyCity has welcomed the rising of ‘Helios’ to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC). It is the first time the large-scale artwork by internationally celebrated British artist Luke Jerram, will have been in New Zealand. Measuring six metres in diameter, Helios is a touring, internally illuminated sculpture of the Sun, featuring detailed imagery of its surface. Created using a fu...
Two new additions to Europe’s DMO alliance
Two new members have joined the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe – Malta and Wales. They joined on 1 January. The two additions take the alliance’s membership to 30 national convention bureaux, with the announcement made in Dublin during the group’s first annual meeting of the year. The alliance has also created a new Alliance Coordination Office to support joint pro...
Lisbon hosts Global DMC Partners’ 2026 Connection
Global DMC Partners (GDP), the international network of destination management companies (DMCs) and specialised event service providers, together with its DMC partner Emotionstore, brought together industry leaders to the Epic Sana Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal, for its annual Connection, 8-11 January, 2026. The invitation-only conference united clients and DMC partners for three days of data-driven ...
ICCA represents business events sector at World Economic Forum
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) represented the business events sector at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this month. The association used the forum to engage directly with policymakers and senior government figures, including Sri Lanka’s prime minister Harini Amarasuriya and Said Al Saqri, advisor to Oman’s Ministry of Economy. Discussions foc...
Identity opens new Dubai office at Expo City
Experience agency, Identity has announced the opening of a new office at Expo City Dubai. The agency is based in Sky Quarter A, Mobility District, which forms part of the Expo 2020 Dubai legacy development. Expo City Dubai was built to reuse the former World Expo site and now operates as a mixed use free zone for business and events. Expo 2020 Dubai attracted 24.1m visits during its six-month run ...
US launches priority visa appointment system for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders
The United States has made live a priority visa appointment system for international football fans holding tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The move is designed to ease entry bottlenecks ahead of the tournament in June and July 2026. The new ‘FIFA Pass’ will allow confirmed ticket holders to request earlier visa interview slots at US embassies and consulates around the world. FIFA has reported ...
INVNT appoints new creative director in EMEA
Global storytelling agency, INVNT has appointed Caspar Mason as creative director, EMEA. He will lead creative strategy and delivery across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, covering brand experiences, live events and integrated experiential projects. The role includes shaping creative direction for regional clients and supporting global programmes delivered from the EMEA business. Mason joins I...
Halifax Convention Centre stays on the AIPC Gold standard
Canada’s Halifax Convention Centre (Halifax) has again achieved AIPC Quality Standards Gold Level Certification, following a external audit conducted by the programme’s designated auditor. The re-certification reinforces Halifax’s position among an elite group of more than 30 AIPC centres worldwide that have attained and maintained this international benchmark of excellence developed specifically ...
Penang Roadshow to India takes business events momentum message to four cities
The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) is leading the 9th edition of the Penang Roadshow in India 2026. Flying under the theme ‘Simply Penang’, the roadshow signals Penang’s long-standing commitment to the Indian market and should strengthen bilateral ties in tourism and business events. Running 19-27 January, the roadshow covers four major Indian cities – Mumbai (19 January), New De...
Porto campaign signals shift to narrative-led MICE marketing
A new film-based campaign from Visit Porto and North of Portugal highlights the growing trend of destinations using narrative-driven content to attract meetings and events business. “The Big Trend, by Ofelia de Souza” represents a departure from conventional destination promotion, which typically focuses on venue capacity, infrastructure and accessibility. Instead, the three-minute fil...