Europe
Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony, is internationally recognised as a key location for trade fairs and events of all kinds. Its well-developed infrastructure, compact city layout, and excellent connections by road, high-speed rail, and air make it easily accessible. The city offers a broad range of venues and accommodation options, making it well-suited to the needs of both event organisers an...
Vilnius has opened an international architectural competition to design its planned Congress Centre. Submissions close on 16 March 2026, with a prize fund of €100,000. The winning design will shape a 31,500sqm venue on A. Goštauto Street – at a site that sits beside Lithuania’s Parliament. The building is scheduled for completion in 2031, with full opening expected in early 2032. A big step forwar...
The Danish capital, Copenhagen has launched DestinationPay – a global tourism model designed to reward tourists for doing good. Several cities have already joined the programme which was launched on the main stage of the European Tourism Forum in Copenhagen. DestinationPay expands on the award-winning CopenPay model, which lets visitors “pay” back to destinations through simple positive actions – ...
Illinois-based global event production and technology company Encore has announced the acquisition of global brand experience agency FIRST. With nearly 15 years of expertise in outsourced delivery models and a 30-year legacy in the industry, FIRST has a track record of managing dedicated teams working to elevate B2B event programmes worldwide. FIRST has offices in New York, London and Singapore an...
Live entertainment venue and services group, Oak View Group (OVG), has named Chris Granger (pictured) as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately. Granger had served as interim CEO since July 2025. Prior to his appointment as interim CEO, Granger had presided over growth in his prior role as president, OVG360. As CEO, he will lead all aspects of OVG’s global businesses. “Chris’s perf...
US-based meetings industry association PCMA has selected 20 emerging leaders from the next generation of global business events professionals for its annual ‘20 in their Twenties’ programme. Now in its 12th year, the programme honours young professionals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a clear commitment to advancing the global business events community. The Class of 2026 represents or...
The 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science, IAS 2027, will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, 11-15 July 2027, as well as virtually. The organiser, the International AIDS Society (IAS), announced the dates and said around 5,000 people from 130 countries were expected to attend. “IAS 2027 will bring together scientists, programme leaders, policy makers and communities in Geneva, long known as a hub for...
VitiNord 2025, the conference on cold-climate viticulture and enology, will be held in the Lithuania capital Vilnius and showcase more than 200 experts, researchers, growers, winemakers, and gather industry leaders, 3-6 December 2025. The event venue is Park Plaza Hotel Vilnius and it will be the first time VitiNord takes place in the Baltic States. Since 2006, VitiNord has rotated between Europe ...
Spain’s business events prowess extends far beyond its powerhouse capitals of Barcelona and Madrid, though both cities continue to dominate international rankings. Barcelona led global conference standings in 2023 (ICCA delegates and Cvent destinations), whilst 2024 saw 2,000 events with 734,000 participants city-wide. The EU-funded BEFuture Project allocates €4.2m to enhance MICE sustainabi...
BCD Travel has released its Travel Market Report dedicated to a 2026 Outlook on key risks and solutions, updates on the state of air travel pricing, hotel room rates and car rentals, and a summary of important sustainability trends. Key highlights from the report for corporate travel programmes to consider include: Risks and mitigation strategies In 2026, Oxford Economics believes the world may fa...
The results of IBTM’s latest Trends Report 2025, revealed at its IBTM World show in Barcelona this week, paint a picture of a growing and resilient industry, despite global headwinds. The new report examines the key forces shaping the global meetings and events industry, drawing on data from more than 140 sources. It reveals a high level of industry confidence, fuelled by factors such as events’ r...
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has announced, at IBTM World in Barcelona, a new strategic partnership with Business Events Australia (BEA), launching joint initiatives designed to accelerate sustainable practices across the global meetings and events industry. The partnership supports the implementation of IAPCO’s Sustainability Strategy and introduces tw...