Best Cities at PCMA EMEA Convening
The excitement continues to build for PCMA’s Convening EMEA happening on September 20 to 22 this year in Copenhagen. Preparing to connect with different teams, organizations, and professionals gracing the event is our very own Director for Business Development & Community Engagement, Tia Daniels, and our new Managing Director, Loren Christie.
Among the highlights of the event is the BestCities Breakfast happening on September 21 at 8:00 AM at the Royal Golf Club, located across the Bella Center Copenhagen. This is an amazing opportunity to network with fellow meeting planners, other industry professionals and of course with our twelve partner destinations.
If you are a meeting planner and not yet registered then you can join our hosted buyer group to enjoy a complimentary registration (conditions apply) and automatically join our breakfast on 21 September. Contact Tia for more information.
If you are registered already you can register for our breakfast here.
Nigel Collin to Lead and Inspire as Facilitator at the BestCities Global Forum Melbourne
Preparations for the BestCities Global Forum are underway as we lay the foundation for our theme, “Meeting the Challenge: Creating Connections with a Purpose”. We are stoked to introduce the facilitator for the Global Forum Melbourne:
Nigel Collin is a highly regarded MC/Facilitator in Australia, with a track record working with top organizations for over two decades. Specializing in the Tourism and Events sector, he has facilitated events and collaborated with prominent entities like ILEA, BEA, NT Tourism, IAPCO, and various associations.
An entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, Nigel founded his first business at 20 and sold it at 21. He later established one of Australia’s largest creative entertainment design companies in the Business Events Arena. Recognized for his contributions, he received the Meetings and Events Australia award in 2017 and served as Show Director for Australia’s largest-ever corporate event in 2005, as well as Chair of MEA during the Covid Pandemic.
In 2022, Nigel earned an MBA with high distinction from La Trobe University, where he now lectures MBA students. Recently, he accepted a full scholarship for a Doctorate of Business Administration, focusing on grassroots innovation for sustainability.
Empowering organizations and their leaders, Nigel emphasizes consistent small steps for sustainable growth. His message resonates: success is a ‘Game of Inches,’ not a one-off moment.
Traditionally held in December, we’ve decided to hold the Global Forum from January 18 to 21, 2024 to give everyone the chance to explore more of Melbourne while the Australian Open is also ongoing. This means everyone can extend their stay and take advantage of the number of exciting events in the area
One of the most-awaited annual events in the industry, the Global Forum aims to bring together industry leaders, partner destinations, international associations, and other industry professionals.
Stay tuned as we will reveal more details about the program soon!
Incredible Impacts Programme
We are thrilled to announce that the 2023 Incredible Impacts Programme is now accepting submissions! Join us in celebrating the remarkable legacy initiatives of international association meetings.
Once again, the Incredible Impacts Programme recognizes meetings that have delivered proven impact. Excitingly, we have revamped the awards, with one exceptional winner receiving the prestigious USD 20,000 Incredible Impacts Grant. At the same time, another association will kick-start its legacy programme with the USD 5,000 Incredible Impacts Seed Fund Grant.
Three finalists will present their entries at the 62nd ICCA Congress in Bangkok, where delegates can vote for the winner.
Submit your proposal or nominate an association for the Incredible Impacts Grant by 4 September 2023. The Incredible Impacts Seed Fund Grant submission deadline is 22 September 2023.
Don’t let this chance slip away to showcase remarkable legacy initiatives and shape the future of our industry. Visit IncredibleImpacts.com for more information and to access the submission portal.
Updates from our partner cities
It’s proving to be an exciting second half of the year as our partner cities continue to hold events that truly make an impact not just on the industry but also on the communities around them. Here’s a round-up of what’s happening in August and beyond:
Houston
Senate Bill 1057, a bipartisan measure signed into law last June, is ready to change the events landscape in Houston. According to the bill, a percentage of the excess collected from hotel-occupancy taxes for the next 30 years can be used to fund the improvement of the George R. Brown Convention Center as well as other key tourism areas.
A partnership between the city and Houston First Corp., these improvements could help attract even more event and meeting organizers to Houston.
Meanwhile, the hotel market in Houston continues to soar as over 2,700 rooms are added in a continuing expansion of properties that started in 2021. The 2,700 rooms come from 22 different properties, with more in the pipeline for the coming years.
Some of these properties include Blossom Houston Hotel, Hyatt Place Houston Downtown, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Two more properties, Moxy Houston and a Thompson Hotel, will be adding to those numbers in the months ahead.
The continuous growth and improvement around Houston has truly made a mark. In fact, Houston has been ranked 9th in the list of America’s Best Cities for 2023, the only city in the state to be included in the Top 10.
In the list released by Resonance, a placemaking firm, Houston was also ranked Top 4 for Restaurants, Top 8 for Attractions, and Top 4 for its Fortune 500 Community.
Dubai
Dubai’s performance continues to impress as H1 2023 numbers show a 44% growth in business event bid wins. This aligns with the growth goals outlined in the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
These wins include 143 conferences, congresses, meetings and incentives won in the first half of the year. These events slated to happen over the next few years will bring in an estimated 94,000 visitors into the city.
The city has also been urged to take more decisive action against climate change as Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber calls on stakeholders that “business as usual” just isn’t acceptable.
A four-pillar plan has been put into place based on a 6-month global listening and engagement tour with businesses, governments, NGOs’, activists, young people, and indigenous people to get an overview of potential opportunities. The strategy focuses on helping communities transition through proper budget allocation and making sure that the plans remain inclusive.
Tokyo
Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau is delighted to announce that Tokyo has secured the winning bid to host the ASME 2026 45th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE 2026) from June 7 to June 11, 2026, in one of the capital’s largest conference hotels Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba, located in Odaiba Waterfront area.
This annual conference has been held twice in Japan: in Tokyo in 1986 and Yokohama in 1997. OMAE 2026 will commemorate the second time Tokyo hosts this distinguished assembly in a 40-year period and is expected to attract 1,200 participants, including 1,000 overseas specialists from over 30 countries. It will provide exciting opportunities for participants to experience Tokyo’s intimate relationship with the ocean, especially through technical tours. The conference will also offer a substantial business opportunity for all delegates and exhibitors.
To help organizers to make a business event with unprecedented experiences a reality in the city of Tokyo, TCVB has created several exciting videos demonstrating unique content, including history, culture, nature, and cutting-edge technology, all adding value to business events organized in one of 9 Tokyo MICE Hubs areas.
Vancouver
Vancouver continues to appeal to different organizations across industries as more bids are closed and more meetings are scheduled. The 2024 World Opthalmology Congres is one such event, scheduled from August 16 to 19, 2024, at the Vancouver Convention Centre and expected to bring around 4,000 attendees.
Zonta International has also chosen Vancouver for their 2026 International Convention. Expecting 1,000 attendees, the event aims to reinforce their statement, “We believe in making the world a better place by empowering women.”
The International Association of Applied Linguistics also has an upcoming event with 1,500 attendees expected. More details about the event are expected to be released soon.
Dublin
The American College Football Series – Navy v Notre Dame takes place at Aviva Stadium Dublin on the 26th of August. Over 40,000 international visitors are expected to attend the game, including a whopping 39,176 from the USA.
The Dublin Horse Show is held from 9 to 13 August at the RDS and is considered one of the top equestrian events in the world, boasting one of the largest prize funds of any international equestrian event. As part of the Longines FEO Jumping Nations Cup Series, the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) awards the fabled Aga Khan Trophy, which was first presented back in 1926.
Soroptimist International Convention is took place in the Convention Centre Dublin from 27 to 29 July. Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls. This network of around 75,000 members in 122 countries works at a local, national and international level to Educate, Empower and Enable opportunities for women and girls. This conference will welcome over 3,000 delegates to our city with guest speakers such as Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Interspeech 2023, the world’s largest conference on science and technology of spoken language processing, takes place in Dublin, from 20 to 24 August, with over 1,500 delegates convening in the Convention Centre Dublin.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara’s Minister of Tourism, Claudia Vanessa Pérez Lamas, envisions Guadalajara continuing its rapid growth as one of the prime destinations in the MICE industry. The State of Jalisco has been tirelessly working with the Guadalajara Convention & Visitors Bureau, Expo Guadalajara, and the local government units to make this vision a reality.
The International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES) is set to hold the 2025 IFES World Summit in Guadalajara. The IFES is the largest global event for exhibitions and event services professionals and is always seen as a great opportunity to connect with potential vendors and partners.
Members of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) have also chosen Guadalajara as the host city for the 2027 World Congress of Dermatology. The event happens every four years and the Mexican Academy of Dermatology, the Mexican Society of Dermatology, the Mexican Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser, and the Mexican Society of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology are eager to put together a successful event.
Meanwhile, Travel + Leisure has named Guadalajara the 5th Best City in Mexico. As the 7th largest city in the country, it has less crowds but offers an amazing myriad of arts, culinary delights, and culture. Travel + Leisure readers have also voted Guadalajara as the 23rd in their list of Favorite Cities in the World mostly due to the delectable street food.
Madrid
The 4th Madrid Agency Forum organized by the Madrid Convention Bureau was a huge success, with 27 event and incentive agencies gracing the event. The gathering showed these agencies from eight European markets what they could experience should they choose Madrid as their host city.
The program focused on sustainability and provided a platform for industry professionals to once again commit to holding events that have a more positive impact on the environment. Watch this video to see the highlights of the recently concluded event:
In another video, Madrid shows the possibilities the city offers to the MICE industry:
Finally, Madrid is in the running to become “Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination” at the World Travel Awards! As a hub of business and culture, Madrid offers a perfect combination of modern facilities, fascinating history, and a world-class dining scene – click here to vote for Madrid to shine on the international event and convention scene!
Copenhagen
August brings Copenhagen in a jovial mood as festivals are scheduled throughout the month. Copenhagen Cooking is one of the most awaited of them all, a food festival happening over ten days from August to September dedicated to Nordic cuisine.
The Copenhagen Summer Festival is another classic since 1969, bringing together classical chamber music performed by young local talent in the art hall of Charlottenborg Kunsthal from August 6 to 17.
For those who prefer the opera, the Copenhagen Opera Festival is also happening from August 11 to 20. This festival was designed to bring a wide range of audiences, from opera afficionados to those who are yet to discover its wonders.
Berlin
The new Berlin Congress statistics for 2022 show market trends and important key figures for Berlin. Trends go towards shorter planning cycles, a change in seasonality (spring/autumn peaks may weaken), and further increasing relevance of sustainability in corporate decisions and, thus, in event planning. In Berlin, 26% of clients were interested in sustainable event planning in 2022.
Overall, Berlin is only 3% below the number of events in 2019. For 2023, face-to-face events are expected to significantly increase in event volume, leveling off from 2024.
In other news, there were more than 1,000 participants attending the international best practice festival of the Berlin tourism and event industry on July 6 and 7 – a new record for this business event. This makes BESTIVAL the most significant showcase event of any destination worldwide. For two days, the experts got to know the latest offers of the capital in lectures and workshops as well as on-site inspections.
In addition, the BESTIVAL convinced as a sustainable event. The independent auditing body “GUTcert” certified the event planning according to the internationally recognized standard ISO 20121 – a great recognition for the comprehensive concept of the event.
Find more photos at: https://convention.visitberlin.de/en/review-bestival-2023
The past month of July was all about “Pride Month” in Berlin. With many events, visitBerlin celebrated a special anniversary: As the first city worldwide with its own LGBTQ+ hotel collection, the “pink pillow Berlin Collection” celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The extraordinary initiative of visitBerlin and 65 Berlin hotels specifically targets queer guests with LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations in the tolerant and open metropolis of Berlin.
Lastly, IFA 2023 will take place from September 1 to 5 at the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds and presents the latest products and innovations from all over the world. It is considered the most important meeting place for major retailers, buyers, and experts from the industry and the media. Only IFA offers a comprehensive overview of the international market and attracts the attention of over 150,000 trade visitors from more than 130 countries annually.
Singapore
Singapore welcomes Wikimania on August 16 to 19 with over 1,000 Wikimedians celebrating the gift of free knowledge. The event is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, which includes Wikimedia Commons, Wikinews, Wikipedia, Wikibooks, and more. The will be happening at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre with online access for those who want to view the discussions, trainings and workshops remotely.
Meanwhile, the inaugural run of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific 2024 will be held on April 17 to 18 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The two-day exhibition provides learning and networking opportunities for the APAC inbound and outbound meetings industry. Attendees are expected from over 50 countries.
Cape Town
The Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) in Cape Town, South Africa from the 28th of July to the 6th of August is the first to take place on the continent of Africa.
16 teams will be battling it out across the 10 days, in the hope they will be crowned champions in netball’s most prestigious event.
The Netball World Cup is a prestigious international netball tournament organized by the International Netball Federation (INF). It features teams from various countries competing against each other to determine the world champion in the sport of netball.
The tournament is held every four years, attracting top national teams from around the globe. The participating teams must go through regional qualifying competitions to secure their spots in the event.
The Netball World Cup consists of several rounds, including group stages, knockout rounds, and the grand final. It provides an opportunity for netball players and fans worldwide to showcase and celebrate the talent and passion for the sport.
Melbourne
The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) with support from the Victorian Government has secured future events across a range of industry sectors, including the World Leisure Congress 2027, the 21st International Celiac Disease Symposium 2026, and the International Conference on Ocean Energy 2024. All to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
This November, Melbourne will also welcome the largest Indian delegation for a corporate incentive travel program when 3,000 delegates arrive for the Herbalife India Incentive 2023, thanks to support from Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.
Melbourne is highly adept at hosting mega international conventions and incentive programs.
Find out how Melbourne hosted 14,000 Rotarian members from 120 countries
MCB CEO Julia Swanson visited China in July as part of a Tourism Australia delegation. Julia met with major airlines and travel service providers in Guangzhou and Shanghai and participated in the launch of Tourism Australia’s Come and Say G’day campaign in Chengdu – a campaign that includes an amazing showcase of Victoria.
On the back of this trade mission, MCB has confirmed a 1,100 delegate incentive group from China for 2024 worth over $5 million to the local economy.
View our interactive journey to plan a conference or incentive program in Melbourne
MCB travelled to Kingali, Rwanda in July to attend Women Deliver 2023, along with a 70-person delegation from the Oceanic Pacific region led by the Victorian State Government’s Minister for Women. MCB’s CEO Julia Swanson and the delegation contributed to dialogue as part of a continuation from the Women Deliver Oceanic Pacific Regional Convening Event recently hosted by MCB in Melbourne.
On the other side of the world, the MCB US team represented Melbourne at the Lions Club International Convention in Chicago in July, with show flow presence in preparation for the Melbourne event in 2024. At the MCB booth, it was reporting that wait times to pre-register for the Melbourne convention exceeded 60 minutes!
Mandy Nicholson, a Wurundjeri-willam (Wurundjeri-baluk patriline) artist and Traditional Custodian of Melbourne and surrounds, is one of the latest inductees to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) Club Melbourne Ambassador Program.
Mandy Nicholson is a revered cultural and community leader. As the founder, singer and songwriter of Djirri Djirri, the only Wurundjeri female dance group, Mandy preserves and shares her culture through community ceremonies, dance, language and cultural workshops. Currently pursuing a PhD at Monash University, she is researching ways that Aboriginal people connect to Country, off Country.