MICE Industry Archives - TravelDailyNews International https://www.traveldailynews.com/category/mice-industry/ TravelDailyNews International Tue, 06 Jun 2023 08:42:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://www.traveldailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/favicon-3.png MICE Industry Archives - TravelDailyNews International https://www.traveldailynews.com/category/mice-industry/ 32 32 Austria Center Vienna completes exterior renovation https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/event-venues/austria-center-vienna-completes-exterior-renovation/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 06:51:21 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=314085 Revenue from congresses almost back to pre-crisis levels.

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With the official opening of the new main entrance, Austria’s largest congress centre has now completed the last major phase of its multi-year, 7 million euros exterior refurbishment. The extensive modernisation work conducted over recent years is already having a positive effect: with around 13 million euros in revenue generated by events and almost 62,000 international participants welcomed to the venue, the 2022 figures were close to the totals reported in pre-crisis 2019. Further increases are expected for this year.

“We are very happy that we were able to showcase the new main entrance, complete with giant LED wall, for the very first time at the radiology congress in March. And the living green walls were ready in time for the Geosciences Congress in May,” confirmed Managing Director Congress Management and Management Board Spokesperson Susanne Baumann-Söllner.

“Extensive modernisations have been going on at the venue since 2019. We were able to carry out all the work without interrupting operations. And with the completion of the main entrance, we have now successfully completed all of the exterior remodelling,” added Michael Rotter, Managing Director responsible for Construction Services, Property and Project Management. The construction costs for the new main entrance amounted to 7 million euros.

LED wall, green walls, new stairways and lift groups

Besides completion of the new main entrance that connects the square in front of the main building with the entrance hall (completed in 2022), the stairways leading to the parking decks have also been renewed and four new elevators installed to facilitate smooth and barrier-free arrival and departure. The entrance area’s new trademark is a 90-square-meter LED wall, which can be used to display bespoke content that is tailored to the individual event. To the left and right, a pair of green walls – including automated irrigation system for the suspended plants – frame the entrance. “A glance at the new facade sums up our focus for the years to come: digitalisation is opening up completely new possibilities in the event sector, while offering sustainable events is at least as important. In the long term, our goal is to make sure that all of the events held at the Austria Center Vienna take place as green meetings,” Baumann-Söllner announced.

Events: closing in on pre-crisis level

A look back at the 2022 financial year also paints an encouraging picture. After very few ecoronavirus pandemic, things quickly picked up pace last year. In 2022, a total of 61,700 international participants visited the Austria Center Vienna, mainly due to a very strong summer and autumn season which saw totals recover to around two-thirds of the 2019 total (91,500 international participants). And at 13 million euros, revenue from events only just fell short of the 2019 result (13.2 million euros). “There is a very clear desire for in-person events that offer a genuine event experience and opportunities for personal exchange after two years shaped by the crisis. For this year, we expect fresh increases both in terms of participant numbers and revenue, and we’re optimistic about our chances of actually surpassing the figures for 2019,” Baumann-Söllner concluded.

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Marriott International, PCMA and CEMA release “Guiding Principles in Experience Design” findings https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/marriott-international-pcma-and-cema-release-guiding-principles-in-experience-design-findings/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 06:32:56 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=314132 Industry research cuts through the noise of traditional trend reports to identify evolving behaviors and motivators shaping the future of meetings and events.

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Marriott International, Inc. and PCMA and CEMA, the world’s leading business events associations, announced the release of their “Guiding Principles in Experience Design” study, which provides meetings and events professionals insights to help them forecast the consumer drivers and behaviors that will guide the future of experience design. The study is the latest in a series of in-depth industry reports between PCMA and Marriott International, that began in 2015, and was initially previewed at Marriott’s THE EXCHANGE: Association Masters Customer Conference, which took place May 30-June 1, 2023 at the reimagined Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.

“Business event professionals are looking to provide innovative experiences that break the mold for meetings and drive lasting results with their event attendees and clients,” said Tammy Routh, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Marriott International. “Consumer patterns, behaviors, and motivators are constantly evolving, and we are excited to provide insights our customers have been asking for through this new research.”

During the research process, Marriott, PCMA and CEMA conducted more than 60 one-on-one interviews. Each interview was followed by a series of global roundtables with experts and thought leaders in experience design, who assessed how these trends should be integrated into event strategies. The research, conducted by Storycraft Labs, was synthesized into six guiding principles intended to drive experience innovation for years to come:

  • Exploring Identities: Humans seek the ability to find their own individualized uniqueness but also to find where they overlap with others. These intersections are fundamental to one’s ability to connect and emphasize a need for connection to local communities. The role of the event designer will be to reimagine networking and create an environment where people feel open enough to stretch their minds and fully participate.
  • Architecting Choice: Audiences desire choice and want to be involved in selecting the various pathways available to them. They also want adequate support and resources to make clear and informed choices. These tools, when leveraged effectively, can help audiences reduce complexity and make confident, informed decisions. To develop the user experience, event strategists need to understand the problem they’re solving for from the perspective of the audience. Asking the audience why they are coming to an event may be a step in the right direction.
  • Designing for Belonging: A sense of belonging for attendees should be a central mission for the experiences that event strategists create. When all audiences are able to participate as they are and feel included for who they are, they can have more positive and impactful experiences. Event strategists need to design events for inclusion, considering different abilities and varying needs related to mental health. As part of Marriott International’s commitment to belonging, Marriott has collaborated with the Google Experience Institute (XI) on The Neu Project to enable more neuro-inclusive meetings and events.
  • Value of Values: Audiences search for experiences that provide value beyond the dollar, prioritizing elements like sustainability, inclusion, hybrid channels, community engagement, time and uniqueness. Distinct offerings and value propositions continue to be crucial in meeting audience needs. For the time-conscious, the virtual-hybrid experience will remain essential to be connected to their communities wherever they are.
  • Emotional Data: Understanding the emotional state of participants is key to driving loyalty and decision making. Event strategists need to discover how to leverage emotional data, measure it consistently and analyze it effectively. Audience segmentation tools use personalization to create dialogue and encourage preference sharing. When used pre-event as a vehicle for experience design, they can demonstrate how the emotional data collected has been used to create better experiences for the audience.
  • Power of Play: The process of playing with something, breaking it apart and putting it back together creates opportunities for ideation and collaboration. Developments in AI are opening new avenues for experimenting and playing with new tech tools that can facilitate connection. Event designers may want to create play-first spaces that celebrate testing and experimentation to help audiences better understand new ideas and synthesize learnings.

“Our ongoing relationship with Marriott International further underscores our commitment to deliver innovative education and resources for business event strategists around the world,” said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA and CEMA. “We’re proud of this work, and hope the insights gathered from the report help drive engagement, build community and foster better business relationships.”

This year’s THE EXCHANGE: Association Masters Customer Conference theme, “Step Beyond,” was centered on breaking away from the traditional and embracing the shift toward meaningful event experiences, bringing together 750 association meeting professionals, as well as Marriott executives and sales professionals.

The three-day event highlighted Marriott’s innovative approaches to social impact and inclusion, food and beverage design and sustainability with educational and informative talks. Marriott speakers included Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer, David S. Marriott, Chairman of the Board, Drew Pinto, Chief Revenue & Technology Officer, Tammy Routh, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, and Julius Robinson, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, U.S. and Canada, among others. Attendees also participated in experiential activations designed to educate and communicate the intention of each of the report’s guiding principles. Following these experiential activations, attendees went to a lab where they conducted exercises to synthesize these trends and discuss how they can be applied to future meetings and events.

Further activations at Marriott International and PCMA/CEMA events around the world throughout the remainder of this year will be used as case studies, with a final report on “Guiding Principles in Experience Design” to be released in early 2024. The study will also be featured at PCMA EduCon, June 25-28, 2023 in Montreal, and CEMA Summit, August 6-8, 2023, in Salt Lake City.

The article Marriott International, PCMA and CEMA release “Guiding Principles in Experience Design” findings first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers in Gothenburg celebrates 100 years as a venue https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/event-venues/swedish-exhibition-amp-congress-centre-and-gothia-towers-in-gothenburg-celebrates-100-years-as-a-venue/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:48:37 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313896 The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers will be transformed into a huge international knowledge hub for the month.

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In 1923, the Great Machine Hall was inaugurated for the Export Exhibition during the Gothenburg Tercentennial Jubilee Exposition on the site of what is today the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers. The centenary of that event will now be marked by prestigious international conventions in June, all dealing with major contemporary issues.

The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers will be transformed into a huge international knowledge hub for the month. The 6G network, the dams of the future, advances in research into urogenital cancer, blood transfusion and organic and medicinal chemistry will be among the topics discussed at the meeting place.

“Never before has our calendar been so packed with international meetings in June. We are proud to welcome these five prestigious international congresses to our venue,” said Malin Erlandsson, Director Congress & Events at the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers.

The events reflect the breadth of current issues that are frequently discussed at the meeting place. They include the EU-sponsored EuCNC & 6G Summit, focusing on the 6G network for a green and digital transition, and the annual meeting of ICOLD, which brings together almost thousands of international delegates to discuss the current state and future of the world’s dams.

Every year, two million people visit the Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre and Gothia Towers, a key part of the Gothenburg’s tourist economy. More than 30 trade fairs are organised annually and nearly 8,000 exhibitors participate in the events. Hundreds of major national and international congresses and events are held every year, and everyone from prominent scientists, royalty, Nobel Prize winners and politicians have taken part in various events hosted at the meeting place over the years. With 1,200 hotel rooms, 40,000 square metres of multi-purpose meeting space and five restaurants, there are opportunities for fantastic holistic experiences right in the heart of the city, with all of Gothenburg’s attractions close by.

The following international congresses taking place in June:

  • 6-9 June: EuCNC & 6G Summit, European Conference on Networks and Communications
  • 11-15 June: ICOLD, International Commission on Large Dams Annual Meeting
  • 17-21 June: ISBT, 33rd Regional ISBT Congress by The International Society of Blood Transfusion
  • 27-30 June: 23rd Tetrahedron Symposium
  • 30 June – 2 July: UROonco, A meeting steered by the EAU Section on Oncological Urology

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Huge increase in travel programmes providing for the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalised groups https://www.traveldailynews.com/special-interest-travel/huge-increase-in-travel-programmes-providing-for-the-lgbtqia-community-and-other-marginalised-groups/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:10:54 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313847 LGBTQIA+ community and neurodiverse people are the least well provided for, claims data. Business Travel Show Europe – 28-29 June 2023, ExCeL London.

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As we enter Pride Month 2023, new data from a poll of 262 European travel and procurement managers conducted by Business Travel Show Europe has revealed what looks like a sharp increase in travel programmes that now provide special consideration for LGBTQIA+ travellers when compared to last year’s research.

43 per cent of programmes (compared to 26 per cent last year) make provision for the LGBTQIA+ community and a further 23 per cent (8 per cent in 2022) plan to before the year is out.

When compared to other historically underrepresented groups, the data implies that only neurodiverse people are less well provided for than the LGBTQIA+ community.

Yes 2023 Yes 2022 No We plan to – 2023 It’s too expensive
LGBTQ+ 43 26 22 23 10
Solo women 45 42 30 21 3
Marginalised communities (faith, race, religion) 50 31 25 18 8
People with accessibility requirements 48 47 19 19 13
Younger people 54 30 21 19 2
Older people 47 31 21 25 6
Neurodiverse people 39 22 38 10

The Office for National Statistics estimated 3.1% of British people over 16 identified as LGB in 2022, compared to 2.2% in 2019. New Census data showed that a further 250,000 people in England and Wales are transgender. One in five British LGB people have experienced a hate crime in the last year and two in five trans people. (Stonewall).

“We’re glad to see a big increase in European travel programmes making changes to their policies to provide consideration for their LGBTQIA+ travellers, as well as younger and older travellers, those with accessibility needs, and people from communities marginalised by race and religion,” said BTN Group Executive President Louis Magliaro.

“We hope this trend toward supporting the diverse needs of all individual travelers will continue, and our conference content can help travel managers to learn about best practices to enhance inclusion and equity.”

Scott Davies, CEO, ITM: “It is encouraging to see the growing trend in travel programmes making provision for the diverse needs of individual travellers. Indeed, the results of this poll by Business Travel Show Europe echo the recent findings from a Pulse Check of ITM’s buyer members in which 50% of respondents said that their travel policy now caters for travellers with accessibility needs.

“At ITM we are also very aware of the need to support travellers and event attendees who have neurodiverse and mental health needs. We have stepped up our commitment in this area since the start of this year following a wellness survey among our members to gauge their level of comfort, enjoyment or anxiety when attending and meeting new people at events. This has led to several ITM initiatives to support the needs of neurodivergent people and provide practical strategies for travel managers.”

Donna Joines, General Manager, Corporate Traveller UK: “All Corporate Traveller’s customers’ needs are important to us, and we do acknowledge social injustice exists. We encourage our business travellers to be as open with their consultant as early as possible with any concerns regarding their destination and travel programme. As soon as we’re made aware, our team of experts can share their cultural knowledge of the destination and advise/book accordingly.

“Being aware that we must adapt and consider things that we may not have to consider in the UK is very important for our customers’ peace of mind. For example, if a traveller identifies as LGBTQ+ and needs to travel to a country where the local laws are different to the UK, we can ensure they’re booked into accommodation where they will be respected and supported with all the facilities our customer would need throughout their visit to reassure them of their safety.”

Business Travel Show Europe is hosting an open Fundamentals session called Safety and security – a best practice guide for beginners – on Wednesday 28 June with Stuart Birkin, General Manager Scotland – CTM and Beth Sarmiento, Associate Procurement & Travel Director – Global Payments.

The article Huge increase in travel programmes providing for the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalised groups first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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CTM expands Climate+ to create first end-to-end business travel sustainability platform https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/business-travel/ctm-expands-climate-to-create-first-end-to-end-business-travel-sustainability-platform/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:09:26 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313899 The additional features mean Climate+ is the first connected platform to support every step of a corporate’s business travel sustainability journey.

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Ahead of exhibiting at Business Travel Show Europe (28-29 June, ExCeL, London), award-winning global travel management company CTM has expanded its Climate+ platform.

The additional features mean Climate+ is the first connected platform to support every step of a corporate’s business travel sustainability journey, from forecasting and setting carbon budgets through to in-app booking nudges and total emission analytics. It is available for the exclusive use of CTM clients.

Climate+ now incorporates the following innovations:

  1. CO2 Calculations for flights, hotels, trains and car in Lightning OBT & App, including granular emissions in search comparisons from RDC Aviation based on aircraft, engine model, seat configuration, fuel burn, SAF investment and more.
  2. CO2 Forecasting. A new calculator that lets clients input an estimate or flight, hotel, train and car hire activity by location, route and class to create a carbon forecast to share with stakeholders to build realistic, actionable carbon budgets.
  3. CO2 Budgets in Lightning OBT, Mobile App, and CTM Portal – letting travel managers assign budgets by department, group & individual by year, quarter or month.
  4. Green Choice fare labels in the Lightning OBT & Mobile App, highlighting greener travel options at point of search and intelligently nudge them to make select more sustainable choices when booking, including electric and hybrid car hire options.
  5. Flight vs Train CO2 Comparisons let travellers switch to lower emission travel modes in one click with automatic dual searches on relevant routes in the Lightning OBT and App.
  6. Climate+ Reporting & Analytics give total visibility on a programme’s carbon footprint through at-a-glance dashboards, traveller averages, plus impact by route, travel type, or cabin class to help companies mitigate future emissions.
  7. CO2 Transfers between departments and travellers supports companies in better management of team-based carbon allowances.
  8. CO2 Approvals – A Carbon Approver can be assigned should carbon budgets be reached to determine if a trip is business critical.
  9. Carbon offsetting. CTM clients can offset their total travel programme’s carbon emissions by supporting a range of environmental sustainability initiatives chosen based on their company values and global footprint.
CTM Climate+ – the power of one sustainable platform

CTM’s EMEA CTO, Brian Sheerin says: “We frequently hear travel managers saying they are under extreme pressure to demonstrate progress in making their travel programmes more sustainable, but they don’t have the correct toolset in their travel tech stack to make a meaningful impact.

“Our internally developed online booking tool (OBT) Lightning already goes further than others on the market in terms of sustainability functionality, including displaying granular CO2 calculations per flight result based on aircraft age, seat configuration, engine model, fuel burn and other factors like airline sustainable aviation fuel investment to give customers the most accurate guidance in choosing more sustainable flights.

“At CTM, we’re in a unique position thanks to our agile, end-to-end technology approach and Climate+ really leverages that to the benefit of travel managers, their programme, their people, and the planet.

“As a connected suite of tools, Climate+ shares data seamlessly. This makes it easy to get started and removes the challenge many buyers face, using a fragmented approach with a standalone OBT with one calculation method, emissions reporting by their agency in another, forecasting via consultancies using bespoke approaches, and offsetting through yet another partner they must manage.

“Our ethos is simple – the easier we make it for clients to drive change, the bigger sustainable impact they can make – and that’s Climate+ in a nutshell.”

The article CTM expands Climate+ to create first end-to-end business travel sustainability platform first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Why truck dispatch services are important for your trucking business https://www.traveldailynews.com/column/featured-articles/why-truck-dispatch-services-are-important-for-your-trucking-business/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:07:53 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313908 Once developing a fleet of trucks, the owner accesses high-quality dispatch services by FleetCare to receive and oversee the requested shippers.

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Any cargo transportation involves a productive interaction between the cargo owner and the carrier which can be a transportation company or an individual entrepreneur. If the owner or lessee themselves are engaged in transporting one vehicle, then for obvious reasons, they don’t need to dispatch services. However, once developing a fleet of trucks, the owner accesses high-quality dispatch services by FleetCare to receive and oversee the requested shippers.

Why hiring truck dispatch services is a must 
Companies providing dispatch services aren’t just administrators because the scope of their duties is much greater. They constantly keep in touch with clients and drivers. They must have a good knowledge of the vehicle fleet, all the routes of travel, and the specifics of running a trucking business.

Companies which provide high-quality dispatch services:

  • know everything about their clients and the services they offer;
  • are familiar with the basic patterns of behavior in emergencies on the roads or at customs control;
  • know the nuances of the organization of multimodal transportation;
  • have an accurate picture of the company’s pricing policy for the services provided;
  • know the fleet of vehicles well and can select vehicles for different types of cargo transportation.

These companies are always aware of what is happening during the trip, what route the vehicle takes, and whether it meets the deadlines for cargo delivery. What’s more, they first receive all the information about problems that occurred during the trip, including various traffic accidents, vehicle malfunctions, road closures for repairs, and so on.

What truck dispatch services included 
Companies which offer truck dispatch services perform many functions, including:

  • forming and processing incoming requests;
  • forming a database of clients and carriers;
  • analyzing the current state of the market;
  • monitoring the implementation of shipments;
  • working with documents and maintaining reports;
  • developing routes;
  • arranging transportation financing, etc.

At the same time, depending on the specifics of work, the specific place of work, and the requirements of the client, companies can offer some extra services.

How to select the best dispatching service
It’s vital to choose a trustworthy truck dispatch service company to work with. All dispatch services provide similar functions, but all of them are different. Their staff’s skills determine the quality of services they offer. The perfect option is to select a dispatch company that offers the services that a company needs.

If a business operates in a certain area, it should seek a dispatch company that specializes in that field.

The prices of dispatch services don’t differ a lot. This factor helps businesses choose third parties with a higher reputation.

Saving more time
Whether a company is seeking to hire truck drivers or it’s already using third-party services to handle its freight dispatching requirements, truck dispatch services will simplify everything. Time savings manifests itself in two ways: improved customer services and more time available to concentrate on other business aspects. In any case, it’s something to think about while determining whether to try using truck dispatch services.

Negotiations with brokers
A trucking business must spend hours haggling with brokers to get high-quality cargo regularly. Companies which provide dispatch services are in charge of broker negotiations to find regular loads at high rates for their customers.

Keeping track of drivers 
Real-time driver location tracking improves transparency, leading to more efficient route management. Modern fleet dispatch software allows customers to receive real-time information from the field for each driver, truck, and order as a result.

In this case, GPS tracking helps choose the best routes and provides drivers with the best driving instructions. Driver productivity increases, and dispatchers are better prepared to handle last-minute modifications to deliveries. As a result, it’s possible to take immediate corrective action to salvage the situation before the exceptions cause the customer undue hardship.

Increasing efficiency and meeting deadlines
When using truck dispatch services, companies will see considerable gains in meeting deadlines. Business owners may concentrate on other elements of their company while benefiting from improved accountability, transparency, and ease. And, by delegating work to professionals, they can be confident that deliveries will be handled swiftly and properly, and that any delays or difficulties will be resolved before they damage that business.

Maintaining a steady flow of high-paying cargoes 
It’s well-known that the high-quality dispatching business can provide businesses with continuous lucrative loads to help them increase their earnings. Hiring professional dispatch services allows companies to concentrate on other elements of their business without worrying about obtaining loads.

Improving transportation 
Businesses that have in-house transportation staff frequently manage these obligations themselves, but others decide to employ a third-party company to assist. Hiring helps trucking firms delegate daily responsibilities, allowing internal staff to focus on what matters most: providing great customer support. Due to these services, it will be possible to boost the company’s flexibility and efficiency. It brings benefits to both parties.

Looking after clients
Professionals who provide high-quality dispatch services must be excellent communicators.

The finest dispatchers solve any problems in the best possible way. They can peacefully chat with drivers to assist them with a pickup or delivery while receiving and responding to emails from clients. This skill gets even more significant when they have to answer customer inquiries when a planned delivery is late or they don’t present for freight pickup.

By being sympathetic listeners, the best dispatcher helps resolve potentially angry client interactions.

Keeping customers and drivers satisfied
Because everything is linked, when one phase operates smoothly, the following procedure follows effortlessly. When orders are submitted and information is supplied to the driver at the right moment, this information is also sent to the customer, so false shipments are avoided. This guarantees that clients and drivers are satisfied in the long term.

Flexibility
When necessary, the truck dispatch business should be able to scale up to meet the carrier’s demand. Furthermore, it should be able to provide constant customer support daily to guarantee that any concerns are handled and resolved to satisfy all parties.

All in all, only real professionals in this field can save the driver’s time and optimize the company’s costs. They must see to the dispatch and delivery of cargo to the destination with no accidents and force majeure situations on the road.

The article Why truck dispatch services are important for your trucking business first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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DMC Network enters Middle East MICE market with newest DMC partner https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/dmc-network-enters-middle-east-mice-market-with-newest-dmc-partner/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:04:01 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313844 Welcoming Gulf Dunes to the DMC Network.

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The DMC Network continues to expand its global footprint with the introduction of its first Middle Eastern DMC partner, Gulf Dunes LLC. Gulf Dunes, the DMC Network’s newest affiliate member, has its main offices in Dubai, and operates across the Middle East, which includes Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and the rest of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as The Sultanate of Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar.

The destinations served by Gulf Dunes reflect some of the most in-demand MICE locales, with rapid developments and many exciting projects helping to grow the presence and influence of the region.

“It’s thrilling for us to venture somewhere that is attracting significant global interest in the business events community, especially on the part of North American buyers,” said Aoife Delaney, Vice President of Business Development for the DMC Network. “We’re excited to have the Gulf Dunes team as part of their Network, and for them to bring their talents in providing immersive experiences at any scale to our clients.”

Gulf Dunes is led by CEO Peter Payet and General Manager Sumaira Isaacs. Established 27 years ago, the DMC has built an enduring legacy in the region for delivering bespoke incentive programs and large-scale business events.

“We are thrilled to be bringing some of the most dynamic and interesting destinations in the world to the DMC Network’s portfolio,” said Sumaira Isaacs, General Manager of Gulf Dunes LLC.

“We have so much to offer in our destinations, from one-of-a-kind cultural experiences to record-breaking modern marvels, from breathtaking nature explorations to the sheer opulence of Arabian hospitality. We look forward to welcoming MICE delegates from USA and Canada to our incredible destinations and showcasing our expertise in creating stunning experiences.”

Any clients and other partners who are interested in connecting with Gulf Dunes can contact a member of the DMC Network HQ team for more information and introductions.

The article DMC Network enters Middle East MICE market with newest DMC partner first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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ECTAA and Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism conclude webinar series promoting Cyprus as a premier destination https://www.traveldailynews.com/meetings-events/ectaa-and-cyprus-deputy-ministry-of-tourism-conclude-webinar-series-promoting-cyprus-as-a-premier-destination/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:30:24 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313786 In light of the rebounding European tourism industry, travel agents and tour operators play a vital role in ensuring its continued recovery. The webinars served as a vital link between destinations and the travel agent and tour operator sector, enabling Cyprus to showcase aspects of its tourism offerings that deserve greater attention.

The article ECTAA and Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism conclude webinar series promoting Cyprus as a premier destination first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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BRUSSELS – ECTAA (European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations) and the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism announce the successful conclusion of their joint campaign, featuring a captivating webinar series aimed at promoting Cyprus as a premier travel destination. The webinars were specifically tailored for travel agents and advisors who are members of national travel agent associations in Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

These webinars provided advice and insights to travel agents and advisors, empowering them to deliver suggestions to their customers. In light of the rebounding European tourism industry, travel agents and tour operators play a vital role in ensuring its continued recovery. The webinars served as a vital link between destinations and the travel agent and tour operator sector, enabling Cyprus to showcase aspects of its tourism offerings that deserve greater attention.

Throughout the series, participants gained an understanding of the myriad experiences Cyprus has to offer, extending beyond its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism’s ambitious goal of placing Cyprus among the 30 most competitive countries in world tourism presents new business opportunities. Key aspects such as gastronomic tourism, health and wellness, sports and culture were prominently highlighted, providing a comprehensive perspective of the destination.

Dr. Maria Socratous, representing the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism, expressed delight at partnering with ECTAA, stating, “We were delighted to join forces with ECTAA in this campaign. Cyprus extends well beyond its stunning blue-flagged beaches and year-long sunshine. Embellished with a wealth of cultural heritage, genuine encounters, and a myriad of pursuits amidst picturesque mountain villages and rural landscapes, Cyprus presents an unparalleled retreat that seamlessly integrates sports and training opportunities. Our island serves as an enchanting intersection of flavors, harmonizing diverse cultures and spotlighting the harmonious convergence of geography and gastronomy.”

Eric Drésin, Secretary General of ECTAA, stated, “The webinars have provided invaluable insights and advice for travel agents and tour operators to enhance their customer service. We believe they hold a significant role in the recovery of the European tourism industry. It has been a pleasure partnering with the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism to showcase the diverse tourism offerings of this destination through our webinar series. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and supporting the promotion of the destination, further contributing to the growth of the tourism sector.”

The results of the webinar series were highly encouraging, with a total of 300 registrations and 119 unique viewers across all countries. The engaged participation from the travel agent and tour operator community affirms the significance of these webinars in generating interest and fostering connections between destinations and industry professionals.

The article ECTAA and Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism conclude webinar series promoting Cyprus as a premier destination first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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ICCA launches Global Advocacy Alliance in partnership with European CVB Alliance and IMEX 2023 https://www.traveldailynews.com/associations/icca-launches-global-advocacy-alliance-in-partnership-with-european-cvb-alliance-and-imex-2023/ Wed, 31 May 2023 07:27:20 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313668 How can National Convention Bureaux leverage their influence for Sustainability?

The article ICCA launches Global Advocacy Alliance in partnership with European CVB Alliance and IMEX 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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“Progressive Advocacy” is not a requirement but it’s a fundamental necessity for the business events industry to highlight and emphasise its relevance, importance to global enablers, policy makers, industry stakeholders and the global business events community. The ICCA advocacy alliance will become a trailblazing advocacy platform and will serve as a voice of our industry, with the contribution of all stakeholders across the globe.

ICCA’s Role

ICCA – being the global meetings industry association – has the outreach to initiate a purposeful and decisive advocacy platform which can serve the business events industry, support the members in every local, national and regional policy matter/s, and elevate the position of the industry as a global economic driver and socio-economic developer.

ICCA will serve as a platform, create dialogue amongst members at all levels. Get destinations to share their best practices and approaches regarding advocacy so the other destinations can learn and implement in their respective cities and countries. National CVB’s, Association community and industry leaders will serve as Ambassadors to widen the advocacy efforts. In other words, the ICCA community – wherever they are based across the world – will be part of this exciting initiative.

ICCA – working in close collaboration with IMEX and the EUCVB alliance – is delighted to share the next stage of our unique working partnership undertaken under the auspices of the Strategic Alliance of National Bureaux of Europe.

This marks a major step towards the sustainable growth of the global business and events industry and is something we believe National Convention Bureaux from across the world can share and utilise. The initiative advocates a strong leadership role for our industry and the National Convention Bureaux, that will help transform the local communities we serve.

The collaboration brings together a wealth of expertise and resources from a range of fields, including environmental science, technology, business and community development. By working in unison to share knowledge, we believe we will reach more people with our message and set a working framework for sustainability measures in our industry and beyond. All members of the alliance are excited about the next part of this project. Speaking at IMEX23, Frankfurt.

ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath says: “This is such important work and ICCA is delighted to bring our global influence to the Advocacy Alliance initiative. We are the industry who provide a link between business, the policy makers, and the people. The promotion of sustainability initiatives is fundamental for both our business and our world. This collaboration will keep this ongoing objective at the top of our working agenda.”

CEO IMEX Group, Carina Bauer said: “In order to make great strides in sustainability, collaboration and sharing best practice are both essential. This is where the Advocacy Alliance can make a real difference – all three organisations share a strong desire to step up and make the environment a key priority for our sector.”

MD, German Convention Bureau, Matthias Schultze commented: “We accept the responsibility our industry has and invite all to join us in our best efforts to promote sustainability at all levels to help make the world a better place. We look forward to sharing outcomes from the Advocacy Alliance is due course.”

The article ICCA launches Global Advocacy Alliance in partnership with European CVB Alliance and IMEX 2023 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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Tangerine Travel joins BCD Travel Affiliate program, strengthening program’s Northwest footprint https://www.traveldailynews.com/mice-industry/business-travel/tangerine-travel-joins-bcd-travel-affiliate-program-strengthening-program-s-northwest-footprint/ Wed, 31 May 2023 06:17:01 +0000 https://www.traveldailynews.com/?p=313636 The BCD Travel Affiliate program consists of a network of carefully selected agencies whose teams enjoy access to BCD’s executives and subject-matter experts, in addition to the facilitated exchange of ideas with one another.

The article Tangerine Travel joins BCD Travel Affiliate program, strengthening program’s Northwest footprint first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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ATLANTA – As part of BCD Travel’s ongoing growth strategy, Tangerine Travel has joined the BCD Travel Affiliate program, a network of leading regional travel companies that tap into BCD’s global reach and vast supplier network. Founded in Bothell, Washington, nearly 35 years ago, Tangerine Travel specializes in bringing a personalized touch to corporate, personal, luxury and meeting and events travel.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome a highly respected agency like Tangerine Travel into the BCD family,” said Kathy Bedell, Americas senior vice president and leader of BCD’s Affiliate program. “Tangerine is an entrepreneurial, successful, family-owned company that fits perfectly with our company values and culture. We look forward to supporting Angie and her team in their next phase of growth.”

“It’s an honor to become a BCD Travel affiliate,” said Angie Lepley, founder and CEO of Tangerine Travel. “The program allows us to offer the personal approach our clients value, while benefitting from the global presence, advanced technology and buying power of the world’s most admired TMC. It helps us strengthen the relationship with our clients and tailor travel programs that cater to their expanding needs.”

The BCD Travel Affiliate program consists of a network of carefully selected agencies whose teams enjoy access to BCD’s executives and subject-matter experts, in addition to the facilitated exchange of ideas with one another. Founded in 1988, the BCD Affiliate program boast a successful track record of providing partner agencies a comprehensive range of programs, products and services to help affiliate members increase productivity, grow market share, reduce costs and build revenue.

For affiliate members, BCD’s mega-agency status means more buying power, higher commissions and deeper discounts.

The article Tangerine Travel joins BCD Travel Affiliate program, strengthening program’s Northwest footprint first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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