Opinion

Coronavirus mannequins wearing masks

May 11, 2022Did Covid change everything? No. But don't bank on 'return to normal' just yetMeeting planners are hailing a return to in-person meetings. That's great news. But delegate behaviour has changed.Read More

Why is the meetings industry so quiet on Ukraine

February 28, 2022Why is the meetings industry so quiet on UkraineIt’s been five days since Russia launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, a European democracy and the place 44 million people call home. A country that had done nothing to threaten its assailant.

‘Finally we start again’: Gastroenterology congress restarts Leipzig events

September 28, 2021‘Finally we start again’: Gastroenterology congress restarts Leipzig eventsThe Viszeralmedizin conference on the study of Gastroenterology marked the restart of large events for the east German city of Leipzig.

Flying in The Next Normal: the golden rules you need to know

September 28, 2021Flying in The Next Normal: the golden rules you need to knowThere has always been an element of stress to any international travelling experience, whether it’s forgetting to pack your phone charger, getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport or leaving your passport on the table at the over-priced terminal coffee shop.

Power of meetings: how a chance conversation led girl guides to become beekeepers

July 30, 2021Power of meetings: how a chance conversation led girl guides to become beekeepers

The IOC has revolutionised its bidding process: will associations do the same

July 22, 2021The IOC has revolutionised its bidding process: will associations do the sameIn the end it was a formality, but that didn’t stop the celebratory firework display or the spontaneous celebrations that erupted in the streets of Brisbane after the city was named host of the 2032 Olympics - joining the queue behind Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028).

Host cities: will the pandemic change the rules of engagement

June 25, 2021Host cities: will the pandemic change the rules of engagementThe relationship between international associations and the cities who host their meetings has never been entirely straightforward. Although generally a happy and fruitful one, it has been beset by the same thorny issues that crop up in any relationship that is essentially transactional in nature.

Community is great so long as events don’t get lost in the mix

May 13, 2021Community is great so long as events don’t get lost in the mixOne of the peculiarities of the internet is how it has connected individuals across previously unimaginable orbits, while simultaneously leading people to lead more atomised, separated lives. This tension has forced us to rethink what we mean by community and what we have gained and lost in relation...

Forget cocktail tables its time to get serious about networking

May 10, 2021Forget cocktail tables its time to get serious about networkingThe future of international association meetings could boil down to this single question: how will organisations measure return on investment when paying for their staff to attend conferences?

April can be cruel but there are reasons to be cheerful

April 7, 2021April can be cruel but there are reasons to be cheerfulThe sun has been shining on my little corner of rural England. When the wind relents the days already feel warm, long and easy. But when the wind blows, icy swirls of Arctic air jolt you back to the present and bring to mind that famous line from T.S. Eliot about April being the cruellest month.

Supplier view: bureaux are getting the crumbs from the table

March 15, 2021Supplier view: bureaux are getting the crumbs from the tableInternational associations like to think ahead. Some will issue a request for proposals (RFPs) from cities competing to host their meetings many years in advance. My consultancy is working on bids for conferences that are happening in 2032! But after a dreadful year for destination marketing...Show More

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