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Thailand Launches New Transformational Campaign

December 11, 2018

Thailand Launches New Transformational Campaign

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched a new campaign Thailand: REDEFINE Your Business Events to transform the organisation’s role from a supporter and marketer of business events hosted in Thailand, to that of a thought leader, partner, collaborator, co-creator and enabler of future solutions within the industry. The campaign calls for collaboration between the Thai business events community and international event planners and will be underpinned by proactive marketing strategies and activities to attract more premium conventions from long haul destinations like Europe and the Americas.

Thailand is committed to establishing long-term relationships with international organisations keen to leave a sustainable legacy after their event. TCEB encourages and co-creates new MICE events that align with national economic policies including Thailand 4.0 – an economic master plan to transform the Thai economy into an innovation-led, high tech-based economy by promoting 10 S-Curve industries. As of September 30, 2018, Thailand won a total of 14 bids to host international conventions.

Thailand is working to strengthen its reputation as a leading international business hub and a business platform of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the development of new business precincts like the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Thailand Digital Park and Thailand Innovation Park. The Thai government is also investing in major infrastructure projects that will bolster ties and create new business opportunities with neighbouring CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam).

December 10, 2018

Copenhagen Creates ‘Tourism For Good’

As tourist numbers keep growing around the globe, tourism is seen as a problem since it poses a challenge to the planet’s sustainability. The city of Copenhagen has chosen to see tourism not as part of the problem but as part of the solution. Wonderful Copenhagen, the city’s official DMO, has, therefore, taken it upon itself to present a way towards responsible tourism by launching recently an ambitious strategy called ‘Tourism for Good’. The strategy views sustainability from an environmental, social and economic perspective while contributing to 8 out of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Wonderful Copenhagen’s ambition for 2030 is that tourism in the city and its surrounding areas positively impacts local and global sustainable development. This progressive strategy is aiming to do just that through four different focus areas. Broadening tourism to areas outside the city centre’s boundaries and, hence, offering tourists a much wider choice of activities and richer experiences is the first concern of the strategy. A second one will be to guide tourists towards responsible consumption and behaviour by promoting sustainable products and ways of transportation. Thirdly, as part of the strategy, partnerships are to be formed in order for information and measurements to get collected so that increased knowledge on sustainability is acquired and passed along. Finally, Wonderful Copenhagen has chosen to lead by example, taking the greatest possible sustainability considerations when it comes to its own operations.

‘Tourism for Good’ could not go unnoticed in the international scene. Secretary-General of UNTWO, Zurab Pololikashvili, praised the initiative when talking to Copenhagen’s Convention Bureau: “This strategy is designed to foster sustainability at local level, where both visitors and hosts can enjoy exploring, living and learning from each other. This is also one of the core objectives of UNWTO’s INSTO network. Through its strategic commitment to a holistic approach for destination sustainability, Copenhagen will contribute to realizing the potential of the Danish tourism sector as an agent of change.” Furthermore, the strategy received praise at the recent ICCA awards where Copenhagen won the Innovation Award. “The initiative marks a very positive approach to changing negative feelings surrounding the tourism industry and encouraging local communities to recognise the benefits of a thriving tourism scene,” said ICCA President James Rees.

Director of the International Sustainable Tourism Initiative, Megan Epler Wood, has worked in depth with sustainability in tourism and the effects of over-tourism and describes the strategy as “ahead of its time.” “The city has a grand plan that seeks to boldly expand tourism without harming their city’s culture or environment. Their effort will be facilitated through continuous consultation with locals and measurements of impacts via third party organizations. They seek to leapfrog over the problems of overtourism by emphasizing that a destination can and must be designed for visitors and locals alike.”

 

December 10, 2018

VisitBritain Sets New Partnership In Train

VisitBritain has partnered up with Eurostar and Virgin Trains to offer a united travel service for the meetings market and attract more international business events to the UK. The partnership gives international event planners the freedom to book multi-stop journeys from mainland Europe to British destinations on the Eurostar and Virgin Trains networks through a ‘one-stop-shop’ booking experience.

The new booking service provides easier access to new business destinations including Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, enabling groups to discover more venues, attractions, heritage and culture in cities beyond London. Event planners will also be able to book out carriages or trains for their events at discounted travel rates, and can change or transfer tickets between delegates.

 

December 7, 2018

Pharma Experts Choose Brisbane

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) will play host to the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2021 for the first time with an expected 2,500 delegates. Brisbane is an emerging hub of innovation in the health care sector, with a strong pharmaceutical sciences community at the forefront of research and education.

The five-day congress was secured through close collaboration of The Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA),Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) as well as key convention partners, Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing.

Consortium Chair, Professor Parisa Aslani, from the University of Sydney’s School of Pharmacy, said that the Congress will provide a platform to showcase global innovation in pharmacy as well as challenges and opportunities for a future pharmacy sector.

Future conferences heading to Brisbane include the 2019 International Symposium on Dental Hygiene, 145th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Conference 2019, 17th Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Asia Pacific Forum 2020, the 15th International Congress on Nursing Informatics 2020, International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) International Conference 2021, 35th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education 2022 and the World Congress of the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) 2026.

BCEC General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe, said Brisbane’s strengths in science, research and health care and the Centre’s strong collaborative partnerships with the local scientific community continue to play an important role in attracting key sector conferences to Brisbane.

December 6, 2018

Basel is Ready for a Busy 2019

The end of the year finds Congress Center Basel (CCB) once again able to host a number of top-class events, including the major international events of DIA Europe and the AMEE Conference. All in all, the CCB holds around 200 events each year, from press conferences, via meetings of national and international associations, specialist exhibitions and panel discussions, right through to special events in the field of music and showbusiness.

2019 will follow this rate of success as it is expected to be a record year for the CCB in terms of events and participant numbers. Various small congresses in the first quarter, including the 50th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers IAPCO, will start the year. As of May, one congress follows immediately after another, starting with the Annual Meeting of the German and Austrian Society for Epileptology and the Swiss Epilepsy League, followed by the congress of the Swiss Association of Nurses SBK-ASI and the 43rd ICCM World Congress on Military Medicine. The congress spring ends with the three-day congress of the European Society for Developmental Perinatal and Pediatric Pharmacology ESDPPP 2019.

The busy year continues with the 12th International Symposium on Pediatric Pain in the summer and the 29th Regional Congress of the ISBT. At the end of July, CCB will be hosting the Leading Professional Society for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics ISMB/ECCB 2019 and, at the end of August, the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference APCCC 2019. In the autumn, BASEL LIFE 2019 and ABIM come in strong, ending with the 17th European AIDS Conference in November.

 

Photo : Congress Centre Basel

December 5, 2018

ICC Sydney Legacy Program Reveals Its Creative Industries Stream

International Convention Centre Sydney’s (ICC Sydney) famous Legacy program continues on its successful course introducing a new dedicated Creative Industries stream, to showcase Australia’s home-grown talent on the global stage and support the next generation of creative leaders. This last addition is meant to complement the Legacy Program’s four core streams – Innovators & Entrepreneurs, Generation Next, First Australians and Sustainable Events and to drive long-term social, economic and environment outcomes, which are both meaningful and measurable.

The new focus will give the opportunity to event organisers and their delegates to collaborate with Sydney and New South Wales’ thriving creative economy, through a diverse range of stimulating and inspiring arts and cultural encounters. From providing support to Sydney’s already established artists to engaging new talent for event performances from Talent Development Project, the main goal remains a lasting legacy for the country and its people. The venue has decided to take client satisfaction and lasting impact even further as it will be connecting with festival programs including VIVID and Sydney Festival.

ICC Sydney has also formed a collaboration with Dinosaur Designs, maker of bold and instantly recognisable Australian homewares, in order to offer original Sydney gifts while promoting the local art scene. ICC Sydney CEO, Geoff Donaghy said expanding the venue’s support for creative industries will help invigorate client event programs, while accelerating opportunities for a broader segment of the community. “Our team is looking forward to formalising our connections to deliver tangible commercial outcomes for the creative industries while reinforcing Sydney’s reputation as a vibrant and diverse city and ensuring authentic, entertaining experiences for our clients and their patrons.”

Sydney Festival Executive Director, Chris Tooher also applauded ICC Sydney’s initiative for further promotion of the local region and its cultural scene. “ICC Sydney sits right on the doorstep of our city’s bourgeoning creative industries and plays an integral role in raising Sydney’s global reputation for artistic excellence. This initiative to build enriching cultural experiences into events programs will make a significant contribution to the sector.”

 

December 5, 2018

Monaco and Grimaldi Forum Keep Rising

In the context of this year’s ibtm World, Monaco Convention Bureau has announced its growing success over the years, reaching the 85th position in the ICCA ranking for conference destinations worldwide and the 40th in Europe. This is due to the turn the Principality is taking towards more diverse key sectors, with special focus on New Technologies, Finance, Automotive and Luxury Brands.

In an effort to establish itself as a ‘green’ destination, a new campaign has been launched focusing on Destination Sustainability. Furthermore, in cooperation with KLM, AirFrance and Monacair, the Monaco Convention Bureau provides special rates for delegates both for travelling and accommodation, as well as a number of transfer opportunities.

Grimaldi Forum, the Principality’s conference centre, works hand in hand with the convention bureau. This close relationship, the luminous setup and the Forum’s ‘green’ certification have resulted in a 4% increase since last year, bringing in events such as Cybersecurity and IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

December 4, 2018

Wales Sets the Stage for International Business Events

With the opening of the new International Conference Centre Wales in 2019, the Welsh Government’s Business Events team is drawing global attention to the country as part of Wales ‘Year of Discovery’, highlighting Wales as a centre of expertise and academic research, as well as its blend of natural landscapes, culture and heritage.

In October, the inaugural “The Business of Events Wales” conference was held at Celtic Manor Resort, Newport. The event brought together leading stakeholders and influencers from across the Welsh and international business events sector for the first time. With a focus on Wales’ key economic sectors including Life Sciences, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Creative Industries, Food and Drink, Energy and Environment, Financial and Professional Services and Technology the high-profile event highlighted Wales’ golden opportunity to earn a greater market share of business events from the UK and the rest of the world.

Heledd Williams, Head of Business Events for Visit Wales said: “Event planners are increasingly looking to countries like Wales with connectivity, expertise and wonderful places to explore. The “Year of Discovery” will be a great opportunity to highlight Wales’ pioneering history and innovation with a range of unique business events venues from Cardiff Castle to the Chateau Rhianfa just waiting to be discovered.”

December 3, 2018

Basel Gets Creative for DIA Europe 2018

A global association that mobilises life science professionals from across all areas of expertise to engage with patients, peers and thought leaders, the Drug Information Association brings its European meeting to a different location every year. For its 30th anniversary, it chose to stay close to its European headquarters and organised the event at Congress Center Basel (CCB). Some 2,000 participants from all over Europe convene to Basel from 17 to 19 April 2018, ‘at the crossroads of healthcare’, as branded in the theme of the meeting.

The DIA is the only organisation in the world with the aim of bringing together professionals in health-product development so that they can pool their findings and push ahead with measures for the development of health products and lifecycle management. Over the past 30 years, the association has been getting experts around a single table, with the objective of finding new, concrete methods and solutions for patients. Transparent cooperation is made possible by incorporating representatives from the life sciences landscape. In this regard, the industry, the cost bearers, the patients and the regulatory authorities all have an equal say. Whether politics and regulations, research and development, marketing or economic developments: all the different stakeholders of the value chain are represented and that’s what makes the DIA conference unique.

As written in the programme, DIA Europe 2018 is more than just a traditional meeting. It’s a chance to learn, engage, and grow as a healthcare professional. “At DIA Europe 2018, we provided our delegates with a neutral forum to discuss current issues, with the goal of uncovering new ways of working and new solutions for patients. We welcomed participants from across the entire drug development industry and we facilitated open collaboration,” said the committee in charge of the programme, which included more than 65 meetings with nine challenging and cross-functional topics, such as ‘Drugs of the future: What will innovation need and bring?’ and ‘How can we further promote clinical research in Europe?’

A new feature of the 2018 conference were the DIAlouge sessions – a dynamic and results-oriented format which brought together stakeholders in order to solve a specific problem. The three-day event came to a close with the rapid-fire meeting, which in the past has proven very successful, and during which the key contents and findings of the conference were presented.

The innovations that helped make the conference a genuine experience included some creative stage setups, as well as a large number of unique ideas in terms of material, signage, technology and furniture. For the branding, digital elements were combined with tangible features to form a convincing whole. In Hall 4U of the CCB, an exhibition featured state-of-the-art ePosters, which made a lasting impression on participants. “The Congress Center Basel is an excellent location. The infrastructure is ideal and the working relationship perfect. In future, DIA Europe will only be rotating between different locations, and one of these will be Basel”, said Magdalena Daccord, Head of operations EMEA. Cathy Persidis, Senior Conference Manager at DIA added: “My work was definitely made easier with the support and collaboration of the CCB team”.

This article was written by Boardroom Chief Editor Rémi Dévé. More info on Congress Center Basel: sales@congress.ch / www.congress.ch ; and on Switzerland as a convention destination: myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com / www.MySwitzerland.com/meetings

 

December 3, 2018

Gothenburg Receives Associations World Congress & Expo 2019

On 7 – 9 April 2019, Sweden’s second city, Gothenburg, welcomes the Associations World Congress & Expo (AWC) to the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre (SECC), for the first time in Scandinavia. The extensive programme was launched at IBTM World in Barcelona on Wednesday 28th November and it includes a number of different opportunities when it comes to following sessions. A richer educational program with six segments each with seven sessions to choose from will be offered under the theme ‘Knowledge and Enlightenment’.

“We are very excited to launch a new and progressive programme for the next congress and to have the opportunity to share an amazing venue and city with our delegates in Gothenburg next year.”,says Damien Hutt Director of Association of Associations Executives that organises AWC.

The city’s success is based on the ability to find new ways of providing services in strong relationship with planners. A fact that is greatly appreciated by visiting meeting associations. “Gothenburg is a rising star, but still less known than our competitors. That is why we must show ourselves to the meetings world and attracting Associations World Congress is a key step in that direction”, says Annika Hallman, Director of Gothenburg Convention Bureau at Göteborg & Co.

Recently the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre, presented the third phase of its expansion plans in launching a competition to design its fourth hotel tower. The aim is to achieve a total hotel capacity of roughly 1,600 rooms by 2025.

 

Photo : From right: Eva Flyborg, City council of Gothenburg, Annika Hallman, Gothenburg Convention Bureau, Damian Hutt, Association of Association Executives, Malin Erlandsson, Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre.