Europe
American Express Global Business Travel will acquire rival CWT for $540m after the US Department of Justice dropped its antitrust lawsuit on 29 July. The deal values CWT at $30m less than the original March 2024 agreement. The DOJ had alleged the merger would create an oligopoly in business travel management services. The lawsuit was dismissed weeks before its September trial date, clearing the fi...
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire broke out at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC). The fire broke out in the outdoor terraced area of the Bournemouth events venue at about 7:30pm on Monday 4 August. Dorset Police said the fire was believed to be suspicious and a 38-year-old man was arrested. He remains in police custody. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue crews...
After months in the making, A*live has announced that it has been appointed as the global flagship events partner for TM Forum, a global alliance of more than 800 telco and tech companies focused on building a sustainable future for the telco industry in connectivity and beyond. This appointment follows a successful first collaboration on Innovate Asia in Bangkok in late 2024. Impressed by A*live’...
Ramy James Salameh visits the German capital and reports on how BESTIVAL 2025 is continuing to redefine Berlin’s events future As part of my post-BESTIVAL tour, a visit to the Humboldt Forum’s ‘Berlin Global’ exhibition offered a fitting close to an experience that had already showcased Berlin’s remarkable blend of history, innovation, and creativity. Set inside the newly reconstructed Berlin Pala...
B2B global event organiser Hyve has welcomed (30 July) GSV Summit LLC to its expanding portfolio. GSV Summit comprises two flagship events: the ASU+GSV Summit and the AI Show. The deal marks the fifth brand to join Hyve’s portfolio in the last 12 months, following BHT, HLTH, POSSIBLE and Manifest. Hyve has been championing education for over 40 years through Bett, the world’s largest series of EdT...
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is calling on all members to submit 2025 governmental meetings data for a new ranking that claims to offer a more nuanced perspective of the global meetings landscape. The new ranking will recognise that governmental meetings also operate under different structures and processes compared with association meetings. To qualify meetings mus...
Thefts in Barcelona have dropped to their lowest level in a decade, excluding the years affected by COVID-19 restrictions, while street robberies are at an eight-year low under the same conditions. The decline forms part of an overall drop in reported crime in Barcelona, according to official figures released after a local security board meeting this week. Total recorded crimes in the first half o...
European city tourism has moved beyond recovery into a new phase of “recalibration”, according to the latest report by CityDNA. The new goal is not simply to grow the numbers, but to increase the value gained from visits. The report, analysing 128 cities, shows average bed night growth slowed to 5.8% in 2024, down from 13.7% in 2023. “This year’s report signals a new phase for city tou...
CMW checks in with VisitScotland’s Head of Business Events, Neil Brownlee, and hears about some fresh meetings momentum How is the business events sector in Scotland and what is the current economic impact according to your latest statistics?As in most countries, business events have rebounded strongly in Scotland. Our recent Scottish Association Survey confirms this, with the association meeting ...
Luxembourg minister delegate for tourism Eric Thill speaks exclusively to Paul Colston about the fresh strategy for the Grand Duchy’s national convention bureau Paul Colston: Luxembourg has a new convention bureau strategy. Tell us about this fresh direction and what it could mean for international conference organisers?Eric Thill: Absolutely. We’re in an exciting transformation phase. The recruit...
Exploring how to move from transactional to transformational event design, Destinations International suggests what to ask and what to share In an increasingly experience-driven events landscape, the role of the event planner is evolving. Success is no longer defined just by seamless logistics or high attendance, but by delivering experiences that resonate with attendees and reflect a meaningful c...
Theo Reilly catches up with Fredrik Lundgren at Gothenburg CVB about a new digital tool they’re offering – Virtual Gothenburg. Will it be a success? Does Gothenburg have an answer to the age-old destination problem?There are limited ways to get to know a location. You can look at digital brochures and website photos, take phone calls with sales reps, and – if you’re lucky – conduct a video tour. I...