“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.

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.

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.

In-person events have seen a strong comeback all around the world as industries and communities have reunited after the challenges of the global pandemic. The global exhibitions industry is scaling up to meet demand, with investors and customers pushing the sector to grow and evolve. While the business model of exhibitions was challenged during the lockdowns, it has proven both its resilience and value proposition. GED 2023 will showcase the industry’s ability to adapt to the evolving landscape by creating marketplaces, leveraging digitalisation and delivering enhanced value in the pursuit of new customers.

Facilitated by UFI, in collaboration with the world’s leading exhibitions organisers Clarion, Comexposium, Emerald, Informa Markets, and RX; GED 2023 promises to be a day of advocacy, showcasing the businesses and people that run the meeting and marketplaces for everyone, and highlighting the transformative power of exhibitions globally in shaping the future industries and economies for our future audience.

“Bringing our communities together and providing valuable connections sits at the heart of what Clarion does. It is fantastic to see how resilient the industry has proven to be and how much it has been able to adapt in recent times. Clarion’s commitment to innovation is paramount as we explore fresh event formats and cutting-edge digital experiences. We do this with a singular purpose to meet the evolving needs of our communities and empower them to forge even deeper connections that drive economies forward. This is evident with our targeted acquisitions in the 1-2-1 event space and our expansion into digital, data and marketing service platforms that accelerate, enhance and provide unrivalled experiences for customers to thrive in today’s evolving world” said Lisa Hannant, Group CEO, Clarion Events.

“At Comexposium, we are determined to continue innovating and reinventing events, and are delighted to see that our events, strengthened by an omnichannel presence, continue to grow our communities. Once again this year, we have reinforced the power of our brands with new events (Vinexpo in Singapore, Imcas in Thailand), as well as new partnerships (Retail Big Show with NRF). This development goes hand in hand with the transformation of our business towards greater eco-responsibility and our attention to the environmental footprint of our sector. Global Exhibitions Day encourages us to foster collaborations and create experiences that meet the expectations and needs of our audience, with the support of our high-quality teams and the leadership of our brands” comments Renaud Hamaide, CEO, Comexposium.

“Global Exhibitions Day allows us to recognize, celebrate and amplify the pivotal role of the exhibition industry in facilitating meaningful connections and interactive moments for our customers and communities. At Emerald, our top priority is to embrace innovation and transformation as drivers of our business model as everything we do revolves around meeting the evolving needs of our customers. This, combined with our efforts to seamlessly integrate the power of Emerald’s content, connections, and commerce businesses to create dynamic, 365-day marketplaces, enables us to offer even greater value to buyers and sellers alike in both the wholesale and consumer sectors” says Hervé Sedky, President and CEO, Emerald.

Patrick Martell, CEO, Informa Markets & COO, Informa Plc said, “Exhibitions play a pivotal role in shaping marketplaces of the future. In addition to facilitating 500 billion euros annually in business sales, the exhibitions industry is a catalyst for innovation, creating a platform for customers to explore and interact with innovative products, technologies, and services, which enabling them to stay ahead in an ever-evolving world. Face-to-face experiences are irreplaceable; they create a fertile ground where ideas come to life, where products can be seen, touched, and tested, and where relationships are built and nurtured. At Informa Markets, our top priority is to maximise the opportunity we provide our customers, leveraging digital tools and data to add productivity and efficiency to the magic of the in-person experience, creating value for our customers, so that they can create value for their communities. Together, we are building a vibrant ecosystem that accelerates global trade, drives innovation and propels industries forward.”

“Last year we launched the RX Customer Mindset Tracking Study across four markets, the UK, USA, France and China. Reaching out to our exhibitors and visitors in this way, twice a year, every year, informs our actions going forward and ensures we are delivering genuine business value to our customers across all of our world-leading events. 78% of those last surveyed told us trade shows offer them something unique, an environment that cannot be created elsewhere and that’s what we do best – we build businesses for our customers. When we meet in person we are energised by our connections and the ability to see, hear, touch, smell and test drive the products on display. The sheer efficiency and economy of meeting with so many people, in one place, at one time, to learn, buy, sell and network is unsurpassed. Our events are where the magic happens, and Global Exhibitions Day is the time to celebrate our great industry and the pivotal role we all play in building communities” said Hugh Jones, CEO, RX.

Michael Duck, UFI President commented, “On this Global Exhibitions Day, we invite you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary comeback of the exhibitions industry, a remarkable story of resilience, transformation, and triumph. With the overarching theme, ‘We Run the Meeting Places and Marketplaces for Everyone,’ exhibitions have emerged as the driving force that propels economies, fosters connections, and ignites innovation. From zero to hero, our industry has raced out of the pandemic slump, defying all odds and confirming the strength of our business model. The exhibitions industry has not only weathered the storm but has emerged stronger than ever before. Our purpose has been reignited, and our colleagues have demonstrated unparalleled dedication, going above and beyond to serve our customers. We have witnessed the indomitable spirit of exhibitors, organisers, suppliers, and attendees who have collectively played a pivotal role in reigniting economic growth and shaping the post-pandemic world. Join us as we celebrate the exhibitions industry’s remarkable resurgence and its profound impact on industries and communities worldwide.”

The article Trade show organisers are poised for growth and evolving to develop emerging marketplaces and secure future customers first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

SITE Foundation officially published its newest report, Participant inSITEs, at IMEX Frankfurt last week. The report, produced in partnership with the Foundation’s research collaborators at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, features insights from a global body of 825 incentive travel reward-earners.

Broken into three sections, Participant inSITEs explores:

• What makes participants get ready to work toward incentive travel rewards
• How to set participants up for a motivating experience while qualifying
• Why participants enjoy going on trips they’ve earned and what activities and benefits stand out most

“This truly global study provides immensely valuable data for all segments of the incentive travel industry,” said SITE CEO Annette Gregg. “We know companies are eager to leverage the power of face-to-face connections to get the best ROI for themselves and for their teams. The insights presented here are key to helping drive all of that.”

SITE Foundation President Hamish Reid added, “Having the right data is crucial for driving our industry forward. I’m looking forward to working with SITE members and industry colleagues to bring this research to life and put findings into practice to drive demand and interest in incentive travel throughout the wider business landscape.”

Major headlines emerging from this research include the primacy of trip destination as a motivational factor; a preference by participants for increased communications (notable in an era of frequent over-communication on the part of companies); and some tensions between corporate leadership objectives and qualifier desires for unscheduled time at leisure.

The article New SITE Foundation research spotlights incentive travel qualifier views first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

In-Person Meetings are in Demand Again, Especially in Prague

Aggregated data, i.e. CZSO data from collective accommodation facilities supplemented by Prague Convention Bureau statistics from the key meeting venues in Prague, show that the number of delegates and events held in the capital city last year reached roughly the level of 2014. Compared with the record year of 2019, only 66% of events were held in Prague last year, but with a much higher attendance. “The number of congresses and conferences held at the beginning of 2022 was further affected by the fading pandemic and the related restrictions not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad, as well as by the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Although there were fewer events compared to the pre-covid years, we have seen an enormous interest in participating. Prague welcomed 616,597 delegates in 2022, which corresponds to 86% of event participation in the record meetings year of 2019. These numbers only confirm that personal contact is irreplaceable not only in business communication,” says Roman Muška, Director of the Prague Convention Bureau.

Prague is the Fifth Most Sought-After Meetings Destination in the World

Although the Czech capital has not yet achieved the results of previous years, in international comparison it has ranked the best in its history. It is fifth in the ranking of the world’s most sought-after meeting destinations, improving by four positions since 2019. The ranking is compiled on an annual basis, except for 2021 and 2022, by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and includes only the number of international association meetings held. Moving into the group of TOP 5 world destinations is a huge success for Prague, in 2010 it was only in 19th place. However, thanks to the conceptual approach of all organizations in the area of meetings industry development, it has improved by 14 places and the biggest challenge now will be to maintain its position at the top. Vienna topped the list this year, followed by Lisbon, Paris and Barcelona. The TOP 10 cities are complemented by Madrid, Berlin, Athens, Brussels and London. Compared with previous years, Asian destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul and Tokyo dropped out of the TOP 10 ranking. Prague must be able to compete with them, which is what the Prague City Hall is aiming to with its support campaigns.

Positive Economic Outlook: More Events for More Nights

The public health and political situation at the beginning of 2022 also had a significant influence on the distribution of events over time and on their structure. While the meetings season in Prague would typically spread mainly over the spring and autumn months, last year it was extended. The busiest months were June, and in addition to the traditional September and October, also November. At the same time, data from the Prague Convention Bureau show that there has been a significant increase in the segment of larger events. Before the pandemic, most events held were those for up to 50 persons, in 2022 the most common events were those with between 500 and 1,000 delegates. Most events last year had one-day duration, but multi-day events recorded a notable increase, which led to an increase in the average length of the event to 2.46 days.

“Prague is successfully rising in the ranking of the world’s TOP meeting destinations, which has a huge economic benefit for the capital. Congresses attract more affluent tourists to Prague, who spend three times more than the average international visitors. In addition, many delegates regularly return to Prague for leisure holidays. In the PCC, we perceive a rapid return of demand, which we want to meet adequately. Thanks to the Czech Presidency of the Council of Europe, we hosted a total of 262 events last year and documented a record year, which has also reflected in our business results,” explains Lenka Žlebková, CEO of the Prague Congress Centre.

309 Large Events a Year: Despite the Decline in International and Corporate Events

The uncertain international situation in the region has triggered changes in the ratio of the participants ‘nationalities. While the ratio of international and local events in Prague was usually balanced, in 2022 the local events still prevailed by a ratio of 2:1. Source markets remained similar to previous years, mainly the UK, the US, Germany and Belgium, but Europe gained even greater percentage dominance (96% of events vs. 87.8% in 2019) at the expense of North America (2.7% of events vs. 8.1% in 2019) and Asia (0.7% of events versus 2.7% in 2019).

Postponing the large association congresses and conferences has led to the fact that in 2022 Prague welcomed the most events of this type in the last five years. A total of 309 of them took place here. Almost every calendar day of the year a conference or a congress took place. On the other hand, the share of corporate events which was at 42% of the record year 2019, did not return to its original level. “Among the most frequently discussed topics at Prague congresses and conferences in 2022 were medical sciences, economics and finance and technology. We have seen a significant increase especially in the number of events dealing with ecology or with previously mentioned technologies,” adds Roman Muška.

Looking Ahead: New Hotels and Stronger Support for Tourism

In 2022, the largest number of events took place: traditionally in hotel facilities, which are suitable for holding smaller meetings and conferences. The hotel market is now undergoing significant expansion. In recent months, several larger hotels have opened, and more should be added by 2024, especially in the luxury segment. These new facilities will offer nearly 2,000 hotel rooms, in addition to the existing 45,000 rooms in 873 premises, with more than 1,700 m2 of meeting space.

“I firmly believe that the Prague meeting industry will also undergo positive changes thanks to the increase in the tourist tax from the original CZK 21 (ca EUR 0.8) to CZK 50 (ca EUR 2), which the capital city introduced at the beginning of last year. The funds obtained this way will flow into the cultivation of tourism and its sustainable development, including support for Prague as an important meeting destination,” adds Roman Muška.

“Thanks to the increase in the tourist tax and the reinvestment of income back into development, we are able, in cooperation with the Prague City Tourism, to support the Stay in Prague campaign, aiming to present Prague as a cultivated destination and to attract a solvent clientele. Prague is not interested in tourists travelling to Prague for drunken entertainment,” explains Jiří Pospíšil, Deputy Mayor of Prague for Culture, Tourism, Heritage Care and Exhibitions.

“Today, half of the revenue from the tourist tax is reinvested back into tourism, allowing us to plan marketing campaigns better, aiming at travellers with a deeper interest in the city. Moreover, these campaigns are paid for by the tourists themselves,” adds František Cipro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague City Tourism.

New PCC Hall will Allow Prague to Host Largest Congresses and Social Events

The support from the city is also welcomed by the Prague Congress Centre, which has long been struggling with the lack of exhibition space necessary for organizing the largest international events. Therefore, the Centre is preparing to implement the long-delayed project of expanding its capacities with a multifunctional exhibition hall. “Already in 2017, the management of the capital city was engaged in the architectural competition; covid interrupted our plans, but now we are reintroducing the project of a new hall. Meetings industry has a great potential, which Prague should use. Part of the project of a multifunctional exhibition space is also the revitalization of the public space around the PCC, which will allow us to revive the cultural and social life of residents in this locality,” concludes Lenka Žlebková.

The article Prague retained international congresses and conferences in 2022, ascending to the Top5 sought-after meeting destinations first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

As an official IAPCO Destination Partner, Fáilte Ireland will strengthen its relations with the international community of Professional Congress Organisers through IAPCO’s highly accredited network of PCO members. Fáilte Ireland will also leverage the partnership, via its Business Events brand ‘Meet in Ireland’, to showcase Ireland as a leading sustainable and socially conscious destination for international conferences.

Sarah Markey-Hamm, President of IAPCO, said: “We are delighted to have Failte Ireland as a new IAPCO Destination Partner. IAPCO’s global membership and community reach provides destinations with access to those that are at the sharp end of both destination and venue selection and congress delivery. Destinations that understand the strategic long-term social and economic value that can be achieved when working collaboratively with PCOs and their clients remain at the centre of our Destination Partnership programme and Failte Ireland exemplifies this commitment.”

Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development at Fáilte Ireland, said: “We are looking forward to collaborating with IAPCO and see this partnership as an important milestone and platform to share the strides that Ireland’s business events industry is making in the area of sustainability and in working towards net zero carbon events. As part of the partnership, Fáilte Ireland is sponsoring a series of IAPCO’s UNSDG Spotlight features, which will be focused on Ireland’s plans to support our client needs around Sustainable Development Goals including climate action, equity and inclusion, and ensuring that business events hosted in Ireland, have a positive and lasting impact on our residents, communities and society as a whole.”

Ireland is the 9th destination to form a Destination Partnership agreement with IAPCO, joining Hamburg, Melbourne, Toronto, Dubai, Hong Kong, Rwanda, Athens and Japan.

The article Ireland becomes Destination Partner of IAPCO first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The ICCA Global Influencer Award goes beyond the usual category confines of associations, sectors and meeting professionals to recognise a true influencer, a powerhouse, someone who has made a profound difference through the work they have contributed. This is certainly true of Ms. Bardinet.

In a glittering 35-year career, Isabel has gone from organising governmental congresses in Paris to senior Director at Palais des Congrès, CEO of the European Society of Cardiology and President of the AC Forum. She has been named one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry.

In her 18 years as CEO of the ESC, Isabel has always advocated for the importance of partnership with destinations, venues and the local ecosystem to organise successful events which forward the mission of the association. ICCA is proud to proclaim her as our ICCA Global Influencer 2023, for her role in leading the way towards more innovative events, which which leave a lower carbon footprint and a lasting impact on the cities who have hosted them.

Marta Gomes, ICCA President of the Board, said: “Isabel is an absolute inspiration not only to women, but to anyone who starts their working day believing they can – and will – make a difference. Congratulations… and on behalf of ICCA, our global community and wider industry, thank you for all that you’ve done, and all you continue to do.”

Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO, commented: “The ICCA Global Influencer Awards encompasses so many different attributes but they key is the ability to go ‘wow.’ One only has to study Isabel’s incomparable list of achievements, spend time with her, or hear what her contemporaries say to know we have a winner who represents the very best of us all.”

The article Isabel Bardinet is the ICCA Global Influencer Award 2023 winner first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

As a significant milestone in this partnership, ECTAA will hold its upcoming general meeting in Riga from June 7 to 9, 2023. This prestigious gathering will bring together travel industry leaders, decision- makers, and experts from across Europe, providing an ideal platform to promote Latvia and discuss strategies for mutual growth.

Riga, Latvia

Following the general meeting, a post-event FAM trip will be organized from June 9 to 11, 2023, allowing participants to explore the wonders of Latvia first-hand. This immersive journey will showcase Latvia’s picturesque landscapes, historical landmarks, authentic cultural experiences, and warm hospitality, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees.

Moreover, as part of this exciting collaboration, two informative webinars are scheduled for the year’s second half, tailored explicitly for German, Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These webinars will highlight Latvia’s hidden gems and unique selling points, providing valuable insights to travel agents and tour operators and enabling them to effectively promote the destination to their clients.

ECTAA and the Tourism Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia share a common goal of promoting sustainable and responsible tourism while encouraging the exploration of new horizons. This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term partnership to strengthen Latvia’s position as a must-visit destination among European travellers.

The article Latvia under the spotlights of the European travel agents and tour operators first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

It has been a long and complicated process, calling on the expertise and professionalism of many people working right across the ICCA and Simpleview teams. Here is a brief overview:

In 2021, the ICCA Board discussed how improving the AMD (Association Meetings Database) could facilitate other improvements; including new website, updated CRM platform, and new member portal. A Digital Transformation would allow ICCA to drive forward a strategy for post-pandemic growth. Simpleview emerged as the ideal partner, with the necessary industry experience, expertise, technology platforms, and teams to deliver on the vision.

In 2022, ICCA staff, members, and Simpleview worked together to scope and implement three projects: CMS/Website, CRM/Member Portal, and the ICCA database. Today, we can share phase one of our work.

The Digital Transformation

Database

The world-famous ICCA database will soon be known as ICCA Business Intelligence. It will provide exemplary analysis and intelligence about international associations, creating far more business opportunities for our members. The original database was an amalgam of several platforms. The new AMD is more sustainable, bringing everything together and featuring:

• Improved integration – seamless workflows, long-term stability, and more efficiencies in data management.
• Modern user interface – more intuitive functionality making finding new business leads easier to research and action.
• Meeting search tools – the customisation and saving of more specific search criteria is now possible.
• New notification system – any saved search will generate an automatic alert when new leads are added to the database, or when a new RFP is opened for a pre-selected region.
• New recommendation engine – smart intel going beyond the user’s search and reads pattern recognition and data science to predict the best possible meetings for a particular destination.

Website

The company website is the public portal into ICCA, especially for meeting professionals keen to know more about us. And this includes potential new members. The new website offers a cleaner, more user-friendly experience, with a particular emphasis on advocacy about how we can share what we do to connect and engage with the wider world. The new website acknowledges that ICCA – as an important heritage name with 60+ years in our industry – has a leadership role to play. We will continue to support and champion our global community at a global, regional, and local level.

Operational site changes mean the ICCA team can easily update and add relevant information about events, member news, industry news, sponsorship and promotional opportunities. It also clearly sets out our values, global reach, and explains the many benefits ICCA membership brings to associations and meeting professionals.

Next Steps

In Autumn 2023 – and as part of the motivation to rename the database as ICCA Business Intelligence – we will announce an additional database, which consists of (Inter)governmental meetings. The meetings identified for this database so far all have history/future information, and all rotate between at least 2 countries. This is a hugely exciting development and ICCA believes that by unlocking this information, we can provide more sustainable business opportunities for members.

We will also continue to curate our vast archive of white papers, articles, insights and information and make it easily accessible, much of it to non-members.

The ICCA Digital Transformation in quotes

ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath: “ICCA’s Digital Transformation has been a long time coming. The original website and database provided magnificent service to our members but the spirit of resilience born by the pandemic inspired us to shake things up. We have a wonderful story, and an incredible intelligence of – and understanding about – our industry. Our work with Simpleview means we can share both the story – and intel – with supreme confidence. The Digital Transformation will make ICCA the go to source for all things meetings and events.”

“We are proud to be ICCA’s technology partner and pleased to launch their new platforms,” said Rich Reasons, President of Simpleview. “This digital transformation journey and deep collaboration with ICCA demonstrates our mutual commitment to the continued success of ICCA’s global community now and for years to come.”

The article ICCA and Simpleview collaborate on new database and website to present ICCA’s Digital Transformation first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.