World
Millennium woos Asian and American markets with Beatles
WORLD – A hotel chain has snapped up a Beatles-inspired property. The Hard Days Night hotel, in Liverpool, is Millennium Hotels and Resorts’s 24th property in the UK and Europe. Opened in 2008, the hotel is housed in a Grade II listed building in the city centre. CEO of Millennium Hotels and Resorts Aloysius Lee said: “Liverpool is a leading tourist destination that continues to attract hund...
New AIPC survey confirms strong revenue and attendance growth at centres
WORLD – The International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) says growth in congress centre business is outpacing that of the overall global economy. AIPC’s conclusion comes from its annual Performance and Prospects Survey for 2015. The newly published Annual Survey shows member centres documented revenue increases for 2014 that are more than two percentage points higher than worldwide...
ibtm world to bring 2015 Knowledge Programme to the show floor
WORLD – Reed Travel Exhibitions’ ibtm world 2015 (formerly EIBTM), in partnership with ACS Audiovisual Solutions, is to deliver all of the show’s education content this year from a newly designed ‘Knowledge Village’. The section will consist of four purpose built theatres on the show floor. Erica Keogan, associations and education manager, ibtm events said: “Education is an important part of...
DoubleDutch secures $45m growth funding for expansion
AMERICAS – Mobile event technology and event performance company DoubleDutch is to push ahead with expansion plans following it securing a $45m round of growth financing led by KKR and existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Index Ventures. The company cites global expansion, sales and marketing, and targetting acquisitions as a primary strategy. “We are thrilled to team up with KKR to...
WorldSkills to take 2019 International Competition to Kazan, Russia
WORLD – The world’s largest professional skills competition, WorldSkills, will be held in the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan republic in 2019. Kazan was selected over Paris and Belgium’s Charleroi by an international jury from 57 countries meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 10 August. They were gathering for the 43rd WorldSkills opening ceremony. WorldSkills international is a non-profit associa...
ISES announces Giants Enterprises as global partner
AMERICAS – The International Special Events Society (ISES) has announced Giants Enterprises as its newest partner within in its expanding Global Partner Program. Hospitality, event, entertainment and sports consultancy, Giants Enterprises, hosts event experiences at AT&T Park, throughout San Francisco and across the country. The organisation is focused on revenue generation via non-baseb...
euromic expands into Asia with DMC Japan
ASIA – International consortium of event and destination management specialists euromic has added a new member in Asia, DMC Japan (by Kintetsu International). The company has over 50 years of experience and is active in arranging MICE travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and all other parts of Japan. “euromic is proud to have DMC Japan (by Kintetsu International) as our association’s partner in th...
UBM revenues rise and profits falls as company closes 37 events
WORLD – International event organiser UBM has announced it remains confident in its 2015 outlook, despite reporting the cancellation of 37 events and a first-half pre-tax profit fall of 37.2%. The UK-based company has posted a pre-tax profit of £47.6m (US$74.1m), down from £75.8m in 2014, for the six months to 30 June 2015. UBM reported its first-half revenue increased 26.3% to £456m, up fro...
Revenues down at Informa conference division, as European shake up expected
WORLD – Business publisher and events organiser Informa has reported adjusted operating profit down 2.6% to £190.4m for the first six months of this year. A shake-up of its European continental conference business is planned, where revenues and operating profits are down. Overall, Informa revenues were more or less static at £618.8m. The Global Exhibitions division was a stand-out performer ...
Japanese media firm bags FT conference arm in US$1.3bn deal
WORLD – A Japanese media giant has bought a major newspaper and conference business. Nikkei has snapped up the Financial Times group from Pearson for US$1.3bn (£838.4m), in a deal which includes FT Live, the global conference and events business. Nikkei beat Germany’s Axel Springer to the prize, which marks the biggest acquisition by a Japanese media organisation and is a coup for the ...
Tablecrowd’s Kate Jackson makes Top 5 women in event technology list
WORLD – Event app provider myQaa has launched an initiative to recognise female leaders in the field of event technology and Kate Jacskon of Tablecrowd has made the jury’s list in the top five. myQaa points out that, although in the global meetings and events industry most professionals are women, most conference panels and company boards are predominantly male. The situation is more severe ...
2016 Global Travel Price Outlook reveals six hot spots
WORLD – Demand for air travel is driving air travel price increases, according to new research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). India, China, Colombia, Mexico, Singapore and Australia are some of the hot spots where increased business travel demand is driving significant air price increases. “Business travel is a leading indicator of globa...