The DMC Network and Ovation’s 5th Annual Talent Search

The DMC Network and Ovation’s 5th Annual Talent Search ‘Raises the Roof’ at IMEX America
The DMC Network and Ovation Global DMC’s 5th Annual Talent Search kicked off on the Tuesday evening of IMEX America in Las Vegas last week. Taking place in the Marquee Night Club at The Cosmopolitan hotel, this year’s event drew its largest ever crowd ever, welcoming over 900 delegates from the show to celebrate Las Vegas as a destination.

‘’This year’s event was all about Las Vegas’’ shared Dan Tavrytzky, Managing Director of the DMC Network. ‘’The tragic events of the week prior were upsetting on so many levels. We as destination professionals know just how valuable tourism is for the Las Vegas economy, and how important it is to show support immediately after an event like this. We knew we wanted to acknowledge the victims and their families in a way that still supported the destination – cancelling our event would not have done that so we decided to change the format from our traditional talent search, where industry delegates from around the world compete for the title of best performance and travel prize, and use our already well established evening to showcase local Las Vegas talent -giving them the opportunity to shine and highlight that the city is open for business, while also partnering with the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada to raise much needed funds for the destination through a raffle for all attendees.’’

Guests were treated to an energetic show by three local Las Vegas bands, each showcasing their own unique take on popular music, with an esteemed panel of industry judges from Experient, Marriott International, Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Raffle tickets were sold to win a 5 night stay at the Westin Paris and air travel or a year’s membership with MPI, while the crowd was entertained with energetic covers into the morning hours. Local band ‘STATUS’ was ultimately crowned the winners at the end of the evening.

Speaking of the win, this year’s winning band said ‘’We are honored to receive the trophy at this year’s show. At a time when Las Vegas needs support more than ever before, it is wonderful to see companies continuing to come to the destination and host their events – it sends a real, tangible message to the world that we are here and we are open for business. Our city’s economy is built on tourism so there is nothing more valuable than this kind of support’’

Judge Darren Temple, Chief Operating Officer of MPI is quoted as saying: ‘’MPI has been involved in the Talent Search since its inception 5 years ago. The change in format this year was something we were very supportive of – MPI’s membership base is a global one, and we all travel as a part of our careers – any opportunity to showcase local destination support as a wider industry group is one that we are happy to support.’’

Following the event, the dates for the 6th Annual Talent Search were announced as Tuesday the 16th of October 2018, and as always, in conjunction with IMEX America.

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#DMCNetwork #Ovation #DMC #IMEXAmerica #LasVegas #MICEmedia #MICEnews

Die IMEX America 2017 – Diversität, White Space und ein neuer Erlebnisbereich

Die IMEX America 2017 – Diversität, White Space und ein neuer Erlebnisbereich
Die Welt ist in Bewegung – und in Bewegung ist auch die 7. Ausgabe der IMEX America, die in diesem Jahr so bunt und divers wie niemals zuvor sein wird.

Vom 10. bis zum 12. Oktober ist es soweit und Meeting-Planer aus den USA und der ganzen Welt treffen sich in Las Vegas, um die neuesten Trends und Entwicklungen der internationalen Veranstaltungsbranche zu erleben.

Hier einige Eckdaten zur diesjährigen IMEX America:

• Fast 50 neue Messestände und mehr als 44 erweiterte Messestände

• Die neue „Live Zone“ mit vielen Möglichkeiten zum selbst erleben und ausprobieren – vom selbst komponierten Lied bis zum selbst gemalten Event-Konzept

• Kostenlose Showeinlagen von Künstlern, die in der „Live Zone“ den Eventplanern auf spielerische Art und Weise neue Angebote der IMEX präsentieren

• Aufblasbare „Domes“ für Seminare und Workshops am „Inspiration Hub“, gesponsert von Maritz

• Der „IMEX Smart Monday“ am 9. Oktober 2017 präsentiert u.a. eine „Live Zone“ mit LEGO Möbeln, Spielen und weiteren Aktivitäten, die die Teilnehmer zu interaktiven Meeting-Erlebnissen animieren

• Die IMEX „white Space Area“ – passend zum Fokusthema 2017 „purposeful meetings“, in dem die Besucher und Aussteller der IMEX America sich entspannen und regenerieren können

• MPI Keynotes zum aktuellen Thema „White Space“ als Anregung für zukunftsweisende Unternehmenskulturen und zum Trend-Thema „the power of live“

• Die PCMA Business School am „Smart Monday“, unterstützt von MPI, an dem wieder über 1000 Teilnehmer erwartet warden

#IMEX17

 

Nützliche Links:

• www.imexamerica.com
• zur kostenfreien Registrierung: https://www.imexamerica.com/register
• Weitere Informationen: https://www.imexamerica.com/attendees

Exceptional education value will match full-force of business at IMEX in Frankfurt 2017

Exceptional education value will match full-force of business at IMEX in Frankfurt 2017

“We really value being able to offer inspiration, bringing people together to share ideas, discover new tools and learn new skills. We’re set to deliver this in abundance with our packed programme of education sessions at IMEX this year. Business is set to dominate – as always – but education is a vital force that gives each year’s show a unique personality and edge,” explains Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.

With over 200 education sessions taking place throughout the show, including a new dedicated day in the form of EduMonday, IMEX in Frankfurt taking place 16 – 18 May offers its biggest ever education programme. In terms of added value, over 70 per cent of all professional development education at IMEX is certified.

Introducing a brand new education experience – EduMonday
Planners can take part in high quality education the day before IMEX in Frankfurt begins with EduMonday, a brand new education experience taking place on Monday 15 May. With registration free of charge and open to all, this interactive day will provide insights into event design, future trends and hot new technologies, using informal, contemporary learning styles.

IMEX’s EduMonday will feature experts from the new Zeus Eventtech Academy, the German Convention Bureau (GCB), Meetology® Masterclasses and Play with a Purpose. IMEX is also offering the Event Design Certificate Programme Level 1 of Mastery as part of a three-year agreement with the Event Design Collective. This allows 30 English and 30 German-speaking event professionals to take their career to the next level by taking the certification free of charge on the day.

Exploring Purposeful Meetings with first ever keynote
The show’s first ever English language education keynote explores this year’s IMEX Talking Point, Purposeful Meetings. Janet Sperstad from Madison Area Technical College shares the preliminary results of a major piece of industry research into Purposeful meetings research: creating deeper meaning.

Janet Sperstad explains: “Purposeful meetings define planning that produces very specific outcomes and attendee behaviours, in addition to the normal meeting strategy and learning objectives. Delivering more purposeful meetings will help planners create experiences that drive deeper meaning and value for attendees and, of course, clients.” An interview with Janet Sperstad about her career to date and her profound interest in ‘Purposeful Meetings’ can be found here.

Carina adds: “This is the first substantial piece of industry research we’ve undertaken since our 10th Anniversary in 2012, and signifies our confidence in the Purposeful Meetings concept – a concept that’s making waves in the industry and one that we want to explore further with planners at IMEX. The full white paper, with the support of PSAV, will be available at IMEX America in October”.

Free show floor education
A wider programme of free education runs across the three days of the show. Participants can choose from 10 tracks including technology, business skills, diversity and marketing in order to create their own bespoke schedule. MPI is delivering a session on Exploring unique learning formats, IAEE explores The next 40 years of trade shows and Play With A Purpose addresses how to engage younger planners in Interaction for millennials. There are over 200 seminars, including workshops, campfires and bite-sized show-floor education- all designed to help planners at all levels keep a finger on the pulse of the industry.

This includes a session on the results of an exclusive survey into the roles and workplace experiences of women in the event industry run by trade magazines tw tagungswirtschaft and m+a report together with IMEX. Kerstin Wuensch from tw and other industry leaders will explore female leadership, career building and equality in women in the event industry – equal status or lagging behind?

IMEX in Frankfurt takes place at Messe Frankfurt from 16 – 18 May 2017.
EduMonday (separate registration required) is on 15 May.

Registration is free of charge and open online: https://portal.imex-frankfurt.com/register.php?login=1

EduMonday registration: http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/events/education/edumonday/

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#EduMonday #IMEX17 #MICEnews #PressRelease #IMEXgroup

IACC and Meeting Professionals International Form Global Alliance

IACC and Meeting Professionals International Form Global Alliance

CHICAGO and DALLAS, April, 2017 – IACC, the only association to certify conference and meetings-focused venues on a global basis, and Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the leading global association for meeting professionals, have announced a five-year global partnership for the mutual benefit of their members. The two associations will share event and learning platforms, including education delivered at annual conferences, regional events, and online as well as research initiatives.

In the last year IACC has delivered education at European and US MPI events, including more recently at the Southern California Chapter Conference and MPI Philadelphia Area Chapter Education Institute, and the two associations are exploring opportunities for additional MPI chapter events. In addition, MPI presented two workshops at the IACC-Americas Connect conference this week in Los Angeles.

IACC’s CEO Mark Cooper commented, “The leadership teams at MPI and IACC have been collaborating on several successful initiatives over the last two years and now seems the perfect time to bring all this great work together under one strategy to allow us to seize more opportunities and provide more for our respective members. Just as MPI is passionate about designing great meeting experiences, IACC is passionate about venues delivering an exceptional meetings experience. It’s the perfect marriage”.

One new project slated to roll out in 2017 will entail MPI conferences streamed live to IACC venues, where MPI members can come together, learn and experience valuable networking. The venues will all be IACC certified and capable of delivering a quality event with live streaming of content, supported by IACC member staff. MPI’s 2017 World Education Congress (WEC), which takes place June 19-22 in Las Vegas, will be the first conference featured.

“One of our top priorities at MPI is to continuously enrich our portfolio of professional development offerings and this collaboration with IACC will certainly help us deliver more value to our membership community,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “We are especially excited about the opportunity to live stream WEC to members that are unable to make it to the conference this year and in an environment, that encompasses peer-to-peer engagement and networking.”

MPI will also take part in the next phase of the IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ research project, which aims to transform the meeting experience through a global collaboration of leaders in conference and meeting space design, technology, hospitality, delegate collaboration, experience and conference management. The first phase surveyed meeting planners, including MPI planner members, and was published in 2016, and the second phase will focus on the venue buyer community and look to draw parallels with the initial research.

The results will be unveiled at MPI’s WEC 2017 this June, with IACC conducting a Research Showcase at the conference. A full copy of the initial report and infographic can be downloaded from the IACC website here.

Alex Cabañas, IACC president and CEO of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, comments, “This is the perfect project to use as an example of the power of the alliance, as it combines venue innovation and entrepreneurialism with the expertise of meeting industry professionals”.

Education, Education and More Education
With IACC leading the field in representing the top one percent of small-to-mid-size meetings-focused venues in 25 countries over four continents and MPI representing the largest community of meeting professionals worldwide, this alliance is a natural one and comes following many years of working together.

This is an era where the industry sees a significant increase in the number of part-time meeting planners, who with busy jobs look at professional development a little differently. IACC certified venues, which host smaller conferences and meetings, has a large number of part-time planners booking space and one objective of this alliance is to provide relevant education to this important group.

Additionally, IACC venues consist of many individ

 

#IACC #MICENews #MediaChannel #MPI

IACC Meeting Room of The Future

IACC Meeting Room of The Future Visionary Global Initiative Will Transform Meetings A dynamic new initiative from the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) is set to transform the meeting experience through a global collaboration of leaders in conference room design, audiovisual technology, hospitality, academia and conference management.  The project and initial global survey results are be unveiled at IACC-America’s Connect annual conference in New York City this April.  The IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ combines innovation and entrepreneurialism with the expertise of meeting industry professionals and planners. The program’s ambitious goal is to predict and showcase a clear vision of what is new for today and what solutions need to be sought for tomorrow’s meeting rooms, to deliver what clients want and need for maximum productivity. Collaboration, productivity and inspiration will be at the heart of the 2016 concept, with the plan to build on this annually. The initiative brings together the brightest minds and companies in the industry, to create both a physical and virtual meeting environment.  Contributors include leading universities in the US, Europe and Australia, several meetings and technology companies and leading designers of venue furnishings.  “As the only global organisation representing smaller meetings and venues, IACC is singularly-positioned to spearhead this initiative,” affirms IACC’s CEO Mark Cooper. Effective research is at the core of the initiative. IACC is surveying a broad spectrum of the industry to identify and understand needs, track current trends and innovations and determine the kinds of learning environments that foster collaboration, ideas exchange and relationship building. “These environments profoundly influence people, behaviours, companies, politics and ultimately economies.” Cooper notes. IACC will engage with planners, meeting hosts, delegates, operators and suppliers, and is partnering with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) on a survey involving 1000 of the association’s members. The project will address the most challenging issues facing the meetings  industry today while showcasing the most innovative and useful aspects of tomorrow’s meeting room.  Access to sufficient bandwidth is clearly a critical issue and one that demands thoughtful study and careful investment in equipment and training.  As the industry becomes even more global, conference venues must offer first-rate teleconference services. The rapidly expanding number of new mobile devices used by planners and attendees demands powerful, high-speed connectivity that can host any number of devices and any group or number of groups. “Connectivity affects every aspect of the meeting experience,” Mark Cooper asserts. “Super high-speed Wi-Fi is essential throughout the facility as part of security and privacy, critical communications within the meeting experience and with colleagues beyond, sustainability and guest services.” The results of the IACC Meeting Room of the Future™ survey will be published globally and at IACC-America’s Connect annual conference this April. Current contributors and research partners include Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Microsoft, Dianne Devitt.net, Corbin Ball Associates, Sli-do, Benchmark Hospitality International, MGSM Executive Hotel & Conference Centre and PSAV.

 

Gemeinschaftsumfrage von IMEX America und MPI

Gemeinschaftsumfrage von IMEX America und MPI: 40 Prozent aller Meeting-Experten wünschen sich Verbot für Smartphones und Tablets bei Veranstaltungen
Harvard Business Review ist gleicher Meinung

Die meisten Menschen sind der Meinung, dass der Drang, häufig auf das eigene Smartphone und Tablet zu schauen Gespräche massiv stört, vom Gegenüber ablenkt und die Konzentration beeinträchtigt. Aber in welchem Umfang haben mobile Endgeräte tatsächlich einen negativen Einfluss auf Meetings und Weiterbildungs-Events? Und sollte es tatsächlich verboten werden, diese in Veranstaltungen zu benutzen?

In einer aktuellen exklusiven Umfrage, die gemeinsam von IMEX America und MPI durchgeführt wurde*, befürworteten 40 Prozent der Befragten den Vorschlag, mobile Endgeräte während Konferenzen zugunsten einer erhöhten Aufmerksamkeit gänzlich zu verbieten. Sie wünschen sich, dass die Teilnehmer vor einer Veranstaltung gebeten sein sollten, die Geräte auszuschalten und zu verstauen.

Diese „no device policy“ spiegelt auch die Meinung einiger Experten wie die der Redakteurin des Harvard Business Review Amy Gallo wider. In ihrem Bericht „the Condensed Guide to running Meetings“ https://hbr.org/2015/07/the-condensed-guide-to-running-meetings empfiehlt sie, dass Eventorganisatoren mobile Endgeräte verbieten sollten, da diese unvermeidbar störend seien.

Das Hauptargument in diesem Bericht ist die Meinung der Harvard Business School Professorin Francesca Gino, die Multitasking für einen Mythos hält. Die meisten Menschen glaubten, dass Sie multitasken können, während sie einem Redner zuhören – allerdings bestätigten Studien, dass dies nicht funktioniere. „Wir können einfache Tätigkeiten wie Gehen und Sprechen gleichzeitig umsetzen, das Gehirn kann komplexe Herausforderungen jedoch nicht gleichzeitig bewältigen“ so Gino. „Studien zeigen, dass Personen, die mehrere Tätigkeiten gleichzeitig realisieren wollen nicht nur 50% mehr Zeit benötigen sondern auch 50% mehr Fehler machen“ erklärt die Professorin. Der Neurowissenschaftler Dr. Daniel Levitin bezeichnet in seinem Buch ‘The Organized Mind’ Multitasking sogar als ‘diabolische Illusion’.

Hinweise dafür, weshalb Konferenzteilnehmer so häufig auf ihre Telefone schauen könnte eine Studie, die Warwick Conferences in Auftrag gegeben hat, geben. Diese fand heraus, dass 81 Prozent der Studienteilnehmer während ihrer Anwesenheit bei Weiterbildungsveranstaltungen Mails erhalten hatten, die ein sofortiges Handeln erforderten – einige davon sogar von den Chefs, die sie zu diesem Kurs geschickt hatten.

Carina Bauer, CEO der IMEX Gruppe erklärt: „Der störende und ablenkende Einfluss von Smartphones und anderen Geräten ist sehr groß. Mächtig ist aber auch das Bedürfnis und der Druck – ob gefühlt oder real –, häufig die eigenen Nachrichten zu prüfen und auf Anforderungen schnell zu reagieren.

Die Frage ist nun, ob wir uns grundsätzlich gegen die Nutzung von mobilen Endgeräten während Events aussprechen oder diese akzeptieren und sogar Konzepte finden, sie zu integrieren. Es gibt eine Reihe von Apps, die bei Veranstaltungen nützlich sein können, sofern sie im Sinne der Eventorganisatoren eingesetzt werden. Beispiele hierfür sind Apps, die die Zuhörermeinung veranschaulichen (Sli.do) oder sogar Apps, die das Telefon in ein Mikrofon verwandeln (crowd mics). Außerdem ist die Frage, wie wirkungsvoll und nachhaltig ein Verbot auf geschäftlichen Veranstaltungen tatsächlich umsetzbar wäre.

Eventuell wäre ein vernünftigerer Weg, den Eventteilnehmern Zeit und Raum zur Beantwortung wichtiger Nachrichten zu geben, so dass diese dann wieder voll konzentriert den Veranstaltungsinhalten folgen können. Letztlich sollte das zeitliche und monetäre Investment, das eine Veranstaltungsteilnahme mit sich bringt, dafür sorgen, dass die Teilnehmer sich auf die Inhalte der Veranstaltung konzentrieren können – trotz des Wunsches mit ihrer E-Mail-Kommunikation auf dem Laufenden zu bleiben.“

* Die Fragen der IMEX Gruppe waren Teil der vierteljährlichen MPI Meetings Outlook Umfrage, die im Herbst 2015 stattgefunden hat.

AT IMEX AMERICA 2015

AT IMEX AMERICA

TODAY: Monday, October 12, 2015
AND TOMORROW: Tuesday, October 13, 2015

HIGHLIGHTS
Issued at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday, October 12

TODAY
Smart Monday, powered by MPI drew hundreds of participants to high class educational sessions on a diverse range of key topics delivered by MPI, IAPCO, ICCA, ASAE, HSMAI, DMAI, SITE, GBTA, GMIC, PCMA, IAEE and ECM. The feedback was terrific; people found value in the day.

Adrienne Tooley, Meeting & Event Manager, Koncept Events, said, “When you’ve been in the industry a few years, you want something new and more advanced. Smart Monday and IMEX offer very high caliber, high-level speakers that are in strong touch with what’s happening in the industry.”

“To have a whole day before the show to come in early and get education here at Smart Monday is great,” said Lanie Collins, Marketing Association & Event Manager at Nicola Wealth Management. “Since I‘m the only one in my company who does meetings, it is terrific to be surrounded by and talk to other people who just ‘get it’, and I also get credit for what I am learning towards my CMP.”

The first MPI morning keynote session of the week, which was sponsored by New Orleans CVB/New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, was presented by Lee Papa on “How to Live and Lead Mindfully.”

The second PCMA Business School at IMEX America, sponsored by Synchronicities, was presented and led by Bob Kulhan, a professor at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. It revealed how to leverage improv techniques in the office.

Gabriela Marquez, BCD Travel M&I, Mexico, “This session has really encouraged me to break from my comfort zone and prompted fresh thinking. It was also a fun way to network and the interactive nature of it helped to break the ice with fellow participants. I’ve learned to really listen, not to judge, and to take risks.”

Association Focus, the exclusive event presented by ASAE and ICCA and attended by around 180 association executives, provided a broad range of valuable tailored education and peer networking opportunities. This will be followed by Association Evening, sponsored by SLS Las Vegas, at the stunning Foxtail Nightclub where invited exhibitors will join the delegates.

Thelma da Sousa of the Pacific Coast Oto Ophthalmological Society said, “This is the third year I’ve been here because there is so much you can learn. The content and range of the sessions is superb. There are so many that I want to go to that I wish there was more time.”

1,200 buyers and suppliers are going to Site Nite North America at the new Omnia nightclub, Caesars Palace.

TOMORROW
New exhibitors: There will be more than 80 new booths with exhibitors from all corners of the world, including Guam and Taiwan from Asia, Hungary and Zagreb from Europe, Paraguay and Ecuador from Latin America, plus Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Wisconsin from the U.S., to name just a few.

New education features: Magician Tim David will be the MPI keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, he will explore the “Human Connection – A Lost Art in a Noisy World.”

The new Play Room, sponsored by Play with a Purpose, will provide short, hands-on “quirkshops” around creativity, a theme incorporated throughout the program.

A new resource on the show floor, TECHnexus, will provide buyers with hands-on experience of the latest technologies and is available every day in the tech area.

The #IMEXpitch Event Technology Startup competition will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Inspiration Hub. A short list of five companies will pitch their ideas to industry experts.

Meditation Room: New for this year, this device-free area hosts regular sessions on yoga, mindfulness and meditation as well as provides quiet spot to recharge.

Press Conferences: There is a packed program of press conferences taking place at the Press Center and covering a wide range of destinations, venues and initiatives.

PRESS CENTER – sponsored by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
The onsite Press Center is located on Level 1 – Casanova Room 501 – The Venetian® | The Palazzo® Congress Center.

It offers: free Wifi, laptops and work stations, latest news from the show, its exhibitors and partners, mobile phone charging point, complimentary refreshments.

You can reach the PR team during the show at the Press Center or on the following numbers:
Press Center Onsite – (702) 691-8608
Emma Ward – (214) 883-7586
Jen McNeil – (214) 587-3819
Chris Lewis – (469) 404-6690

Useful weblinks
Latest IMEX & Exhibitor news releases – www.imexamerica.com/press/news-releases/
Press images – www.imexamerica.com/press/images-audio-video/
At a glance schedule www.imexamerica.com/events/at-a-glance/schedule/

Pacific World enrolls 24 more staff members to participate in an in-house MPI CMP Boot Camp

Pacific World enrolls 24 more staff members to participate in an in-house MPI CMP Boot Camp

Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com), the integrated global DMC and Event Management organisation, has signed up 24 staff members, who represent four of its European destinations (namely Spain, France, Monaco and UK), to undertake the MPI CMP Boot Camp and help prepare their employees for the Convention Industry Council´s Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification. The Boot Camp will be held in Barcelona, Spain on February 23rd and 24th.

The event planning and management company is one of the first to sign up for the in-house boot camps that have been developed by the UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Beckett University on behalf of MPI UK and Ireland.

This European initiative builds on a similar initiative announced recently in Singapore for a further 22 of Pacific World´s employees, (based across the company´s Asia locations), to train for the CMP examination.

MPI UK and Ireland President, Miguel Neves, who recently gained his CMP certification has welcomed the move.

“It is great to see buy-in by the industry and in particular to see an agency committed to getting high level education to prepare their staff for the CMP examination. We are delighted with the content of the boot camp which covers not only the ten knowledge domains in two days, but also uses best practices, group activities and real-time scenarios, to provide an effective all-round learning experiences for planners.

Mark Barber, Regional Director for Pacific World Europe, explains: “Pacific World has acknowledged that the events industry is at a turning point and that today´s clients are looking for a reliable events partner, who recognises among other things, the importance of continued staff development, to deliver a world-class event experience. The CMP training and certification will provide our staff with important skills and know-how to deliver the needs of our clients and at the same time, we believe existing and new clients will recognise the value of working with a partner whose staff understand and all speak the same language.

The successful completion of the CMP training and certification in our European and Asian locations, will complement existing CMP professionals, within the team of our alliance partner, ACCESS Destination Services.

Together, the Pacific World / ACCESS global team of CMP qualified professionals will aim to ensure a consistent and compliant way of working, along with exemplary operational standards, regardless of the destination our clients choose from our extensive portfolio of possible event locations.”

VP for Education on MPW UKI Board of Directors, Jane Baker of Freeman XP comments: “The CMP has been a core part of our vision to support the professional development of our industry. There has been significant interest on the certification and boot camp from agencies, so this in-house solution adds to what we can offer in the UK and beyond, alongside the scheduled boot camps that will run twice a year.”

MPI will be running the next CMP Boot camp in London on 6th and 7th July 2015. More details on this and future boot camps can be found on the website www.mpiuk.org

For more information on Pacific World please visit: www.pacificworld.com

PREVIEW: GIBTM GEARS UP FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS IN ABU DHABI

GIBTM GEARS UP FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS IN ABU DHABI

New exhibitors, novel showcase features, major regional buyers, enhanced education programme, networking events and post-event fam’ trips – set the stage for GIBTM (www.gibtm.com) as the leading MICE exhibition in the Middle East.

The 2014 edition of The Gulf Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings is shaping up to be the most successful yet, with robust exhibitor and buyer interest in the event giving rise to new exhibition features, innovative concept areas, up to 300 hosted buyers, over 2,000 trade visitors and an expanded educational programme.

Kicking off at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 24-26 March 2014, GIBTM has piqued the interest of a truly international audience, with a number of first-time exhibitors attending from Spain, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, UAE, Korea, United Kingdom, Uganda, South Africa and Morocco.

Last year GIBTM tripled corporate meetings buyer attendance accounting for 35% of all hosted buyers attending the show, compared to 11% from the corporate sector in 2012.

The international pavilions have a new addition in the shape of the Africa Pavilion, which is being added in response to a surge in demand from exhibitors looking at targeting outbound business from the Middle East into the continent, with newcomers including Tips Tours and Rovos Rail Tours.

It joins the Asia Pavilion, with Korea and Thailand confirmed newcomers, as well as the European Pavilion, which this year will occupy a much larger area due to the addition of debutants such as L’way Express from the Czech Republic, Spain’s Iberostar Management, Serbia Convention Bureau, EPI Georgia, Arsenal Football Club and AYGUN TURIZM of Turkey.

GIBTM’s ‘Knowledge Programme’ has also been ramped up for 2014, with educational sessions conducted by some of the world’s leading meetings industry associations including MPI, ICCA and SITE, covering topics spanning industry trends, sustainability, issues impacting the corporate travel industry, and the challenges of staging international association meetings.

The seminar programme, sponsored by Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), has interesting sessions this year including the MICE Buyers report, in this session, Rob Davidson of the University of Greenwich in London will present the results of the Middle Eastern Meeting Planners’ Site Selection Survey – brand new research which demonstrates the factors that are most important to Middle Eastern meeting planners when they are deciding where to locate their events.

Another research study being presented by Sunil Malhotra, Director, Aviation Sector – Middle East & North Africa, Ernst and Young, is ‘The Habits of Middle East Business Travellers’. To view the full programme visit http://www.gibtm.com/knowledge

The GIBTM 20×20 Challenge, powered by PechaKucha is back for a second year running due to popular demand.

“The upswing in interest from a much wider audience of exhibitors than ever before has led the GIBTM team to introduce a number of exciting new initiatives at the 2014 show, enabling the event to reflect the demands and trends shaping the local and global meetings markets,” said Lois Hall, Exhibition Director, GIBTM.

“These new features include sourceme Pavilion in partnership with Nicholas Publishing International (NPI), which will showcase the leading event service suppliers from the Gulf region’s only annual events directory; the Technology & Services Zone, dedicated to the industry’s most technologically-advanced products and event planning services; plus Business Travel @GIBTM, featuring exhibitors in the Business Travel Zone. A dedicated Business Travel Knowledge programme and dedicated networking sessions.

“GIBTM will welcome up to 300 highly influential regional and international Hosted Buyers to attend this year’s show, all of whom have proven budget and sizeable business to place.” continued Hall.

Representatives from major industry players such as Kuoni Events, TE Connectivity, UHY International, Medicongress, Mary Kay, HelmsBriscoe, FEI Company, China International Medicine Exchange Association International Service Center, Contendam and Portigon Financial Services have all been accepted as Hosted Buyers.

“More than 8,500 pre-scheduled appointments are expected to take place between buyers and exhibitors at this year’s GIBTM,” said hall.

Additional value will be offered to Hosted Buyers through the launch of a series of post-event familiarisation tours to Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Jordan and Oman, giving these prime MICE destinations the opportunity to showcase their business and meeting facilities, hospitality portfolio and leisure attractions to global decision-makers.

To find out more about GIBTM please visit http://www.gibtm.com

Join GIBTM on Linked in, Twitter and Facebook.

GIBTM 2014 KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED

GIBTM 2014 KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
For full details visit http://www.gibtm.com/knowledge

GIBTM, the leading Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition in the Middle East, has recently announced the full outline for their 2014 GIBTM Knowledge programme which will be delivered at the show, set to take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 24-26 March, 2014.

Erica Keogan, Associations and Education Manager, IBTM Global Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions commented, “GIBTM Knowledge has been rebranded for this year and is set to offer professional education opportunities for MICE and Business Travel professionals at all levels. The programme, which will be delivered by industry experts, has been designed to cover key market trends and issues in the Meetings, Incentives and Business Travel sectors.”

Sponsored by Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), the GIBTM 2014 Knowledge programme will be supported by SITE, MPI, ICCA and Green Globe and will include Business Travel, Industry Knowledge, Association and Sustainability sessions, which will deliver cutting edge professional education opportunities for MICE and Business Travel professionals.

The GIBTM Knowledge programme will incorporate the following sessions and full details can be found via http://www.gibtm.com/knowledge

The GIBTM 20×20 Challenge – Powered by PechaKucha (26 March 2014, 10:30 – 11:30 Knowledge Hub). This session invites attendees to present in a PechaKucha™ competition (PechaKucha™ is a style of presentation: 20 slides shown for precisely 20 seconds per slide). The audience will vote for their favourite presentation and pick the winner. Those interested in presenting should email abi.cannons@reedexpo.co.uk with a brief overview of their intended topic.
Habits of Middle East Business Travellers (25 March 2014, 16:00 – 17:00 Knowledge Hub) – Sunil Malhotra, Director, Aviation Sector – Middle East & North Africa, Ernst and Young, will be discussing the travel habits of business travellers in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and will be addressing their travel needs and trends. This is a must-attend session for all those interested in discovering future Business Travel trends in the Middle East.
Using Content Marketing to Promote Your Event or Venue (25 March 2014, 13:00 – 14:00, Knowledge Hub) – This session, delivered by Jordan Boshers, Chief Digital Strategist and Founder, IstiZada, and Farah Isam Batarneh, Online Project Manager, IstiZada, will analyse how content marketing can be used to drive new business through utilising the creation and distribution of relevant and useful content.

To find out more about GIBTM please visit http://www.gibtm.com

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