Europe
EUROPE – Sibos, the giant global financial services annual conference and networking event organised by SWIFT has chosen London as the host city for Sibos 2019. The announcement follows a successful bid by Excel London and London & Partners to host more than 7,000 financial services professionals from across the globe. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “As London Technology We...
EUROPE – Hotel owners are staying tight-lipped over a cyber attack on their networks during top level meetings in the venues. Swiss authorities have searched a house in Geneva and seized computer material in connection with a possible cyber attack during nuclear negotiations between Iran and six other nations, including the US. Austrian detectives are also investigating the case, which came ...
EUROPE – Five years since the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP and the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron launched the Tech City Initiative, new research shows London has cemented its position as the most important tech hub in Europe and is forecast to boost its economy by £18bn in 2015. The research coincides with the launch of London Technology Week, a week-long celebration of the capital’s...
EUROPE – The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK, has reported a record level growth in 2014/15 for its conference and live events business. Conference revenue increased by 43% year-on-year, while revenue from larger experiential live events increased by 47%. The NEC, primarily known for hosting large-scale exhibitions, is also capable of hosting conferences and live events fo...
A convention bureau manager has taken up a key global marketing role. Ozgul Ozkan Yavuz, from the Istanbul Convention and Visitor Bureau, will use the city’s experience to help boost the performance of other destinations through the European Cities Marketing organisation. She said: “I’m delighted to become a member of the board of European Cities Marketing and look forward to sharing Istanbu...
EUROPE – The German Convention Bureau (GCB) will focus on digitisation and internationalisation to woo new customers. The strategy is the result of the GCB’s research into megatrends as part of its 2013 study “Meetings and Conventions 2030” which identified globalisation and technology as key factors set to impact the future of the meetings industry. The GCB’s new strategy will support th...
EUROPE – The future of the UK events industry’s voice in Parliament is in doubt after an MP ruled out involvement in taking a lobby group forward. Steve Brine, MP for Winchester, has said he is too busy with his new role as principal private secretary to the secretary of state for health to take up the reins of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the UK Events Industry. Mr Brine was treasu...
EUROPE – UK Leicestershire-based Ashfield Meetings & Events agency has announced its re-appointment to deliver healthcare giant Bayer UK’s event production services. Bayer’s global business includes competencies in the fields of agriculture and high-tech materials. The re-appointment follows the agency’s delivery of production and live event services to Bayer since 2012. Ashfield was also re-a...
FIFA – fraud scandal will not derail congress in Zurich
EUROPE – A scandal-hit football association has vowed to press on with its annual congress. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has cancelled speaking engagements in Zurich as he avoids appearing in public for a second day. The embattled boss of the global sports organisation is under pressure not to seek re-election as president at the 65th Congress, due to open at 17.000 local time today. A spokes...
IMEX Frankfurt 2015 attracts 9,000 visitors
EUROPE – This year’s edition of IMEX in Frankfurt attracted just under 9,000 visitors, including hosted buyers, said group chairman Ray Bloom at the show’s closing press conference at Frankfurt Messe. He said any loss in attendance from the rail strike in Germany during the week had been “minimal” due to the determination of visitors to attend. The show, Bloom said, h...
IMEX draws to a creative close in Frankfurt
EUROPE – The IMEX Frankfurt trade show moved into its final day with organisers claiming “magnificent support” despite the effects of a rail strike in Germany which had delayed some visitors and exhibitors. With creativity a key theme of IMEX 2015, chairman Ray Bloom said exhibitors had responded well, with 70 stands investing in new designs this year. He said: “We have see...
EUROPE – Once a year Vienna honours the conference organisers who have brought international congresses to the city during the course of the previous 12 months and this week marked the 26th time that this feature of the Vienna congress calendar has been staged at City Hall. Renate Brauner, president of the Vienna Tourist Board and vice-mayor of Vienna; Norbert Kettner, director of tourism, a...