2 DAYS AGO - eTechSuite, the tech partner of Australian event management company Arinex, has launched a new virtual event platform, eMeeting. eTechSuite has been working alongside Arinex for 15 years, and is now launching eMeeting in response to the global pandemic. The company has also released a ‘101 of virtual and hybrid events’ report, which can be viewed here. eTechSuite CEO Nicole Walker said: “The marketplace has been bombarded with an abundance of new technology providers who all claim they have the best technology for delivering conferences or events but sadly many are likely to disappear just as quickly. “This highly competitive market has seen the rapid advancement of digital event technology with fabulous new tools, clever designs, interactive functionality and so much more. “Finding the right solution for your conference or event might appear extremely complex – but it doesn’t need to be. Our teams have tried and tested the best global digital platforms and developed criteria to Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has said it anticipated the Nevada governor’s announcement (reported by CMW 15 April) for a full, 100% reopening of the state’s convention facilities from 1 June, and is ready to run its annual North American signature event in Las Vegas. The association stressed it would maintain strict safety disciplines at its World Education Congress (WEC) event. MPI is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide and has  advised that it will continue to carry forward the Duty of Care attendee safety practices debuted at its November 2020 WEC Grapevine, which brought more than 600 in-person attendees and resulted in zero attributed Covid-19 cases. “Our state health officials are comfortable setting a goal for a full reopening to 100% capacity on 1 June,” governor Sisolak said at his press conference in Carson City on 13 April. “A safe and responsible reopening is a path forward to bringing back conventions and getting Nevadans back to Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - As some large events return in the US and in Florida, it seems those conventions with traditional and significant international travelling delegate contingents are still struggling to stage their events in person. The Global Business Travel Association has announced the postponement of its annual convention from the original July date to 17-19 November. The association will remain, however, at  the originally planned venue in Orlando. The GBTA, the world’s largest business travel association, said its decision to change the dates of the convention “was made after taking into consideration feedback from members, exhibitors and sponsors and in recognition of the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global travel sector”. The move will not change the dates of GBTA’s elections schedule and a virtual event will take place on 20 July, which had been the final day of the original convention schedule. “July was too early and too far ahead of international borders expected Collapse

4 DAYS AGO - SITE’s Incentive Summit Americas took place as a small in-person gathering last week, from 8-11 April. The event, which took place in Colorado’s Aspen Snowmass resort, focused on how incentive travel programmes can be successfully delivered in line with Covid-19 protocols. Health measures were developed specifically for the event by SITE in collaboration with event managers Unbridled. All participants were obliged to sign up in advance to “SITE Safe”, a health security framework. Mask wearing and social distancing were observed at all educational and social events, and all participants were given antigen tests on arrival and again prior to departure with 100% testing negative for Covid-19. Tahira Endean, head of events for SITE, said: “Incentive travel experiences are like a Swiss watch – putting them together takes skill, precision and attention to detail. This is even more the case when public health protocols come into play. “With event partners, Unbridled, and our wonderful host Collapse

4 DAYS AGO - SITE’s chief marketing officer Pádraic Gilligan on why it’s good to be an incentive travel professional in 2021.   Like all incentive travel professionals, I’m looking forward to better times in 2021. Realistically, it cannot get any worse as the pandemic, has thoroughly devastated the incentive travel industry.  This was graphically illustrated by the Incentive Travel Industry Index (ITII) which showed activity down in 2020 by as much as 85%. That only 7% of our industry businesses shuttered completely in 2020 is credit to the dogged resilience of our collective character and, depending on where we’re located in the world, on very welcome government support.  However, if ITII depicts an industry on its knees, it’s not there only in desperate, hopeless supplication. It’s also on its knees in active reflection, asking itself big questions around identity, meaning and purpose.  In fairness, our self-interrogation pre-dates the pandemic. For some time now, many incentive travel Collapse

4 DAYS AGO - International Confex has confirmed it will be partnering with Nextech AR Solutions, which will manage the event’s hybrid elements in 2021. The event, which will take place at ExCeL London, 22-23 June, will be the UK’s first major show once England reopens on 21 June. Organisers Mash Media expect to host more than 8,000 event professionals in person with a further 5,000 joining online. The event includes more than 100 speakers, 60 sessions and 300 exhibitors. International Confex has never before attempted a hybrid model in its 38-year history. Nextech said it would increase the event’s reach and global attendance by streaming the programme over its LiveX Digital Experience Platform (DXP). Augmented reality (AR) technologies such as holograms, digital destination portals, 3D models, MapX, and Ad Network will be employed to improve the in-person and virtual delegate experience. Duncan Custerson, International Confex’s exhibition director, said it was important that the show embraced Collapse

5 DAYS AGO - Africa Travel Week 2021 has just concluded, containing virtual versions of both World Travel Market Africa and International Luxury Travel Market Africa. The two shows were shifted to a hybrid format in the build-up to a planned return to live in September. They saw over 5,000 meetings take place, alongside 4,300 minutes of speed networking. The content programme featured over 40 panel discussions and presentations by 170 speakers on tourism-related trends in Africa and beyond. These included LGBTQ+ travel and responsible tourism, as well as business tourism and travel technology. Megan Oberholzer, Reed Exhibitions South Africa portfolio director for travel, tourism & sports, commented: “The feedback received from buyers, travel trade visitors, exhibitors and panellists has been overwhelmingly positive. “Recognising that face-to-face meetings remain important, but balancing this with the need for our industry to connect at this time, we took a blended approach starting with a Collapse

6 DAYS AGO - The pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in traditional learning methods in the classroom and in corporate events, accelerating the spread of EdTech, says Hosni Zaouali (pictured):   The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted many industries. And it was inevitable that corporate event planners were among the business sectors that suffered the most. To survive, these organisers had to adapt. They quickly adopted the latest remote meeting and learning technologies to offer clients as close to a live-event experience as possible. Some of these e-learning platforms were relatively unknown before Covid-19 made its unwelcome appearance. Now such names as Zoom or GoToMeetings gained protagonist status in a market that has literally gone viral in response to the pandemic. But, will these platforms secure the survival of corporate events by themselves? No. These platforms may allow for the temporary survival of corporate events, but they won’t allow the industry to grow. Indeed, if anything, Collapse

6 DAYS AGO - Global business events industry consultancy, GainingEdge, has announced its first round of instructor-led, online courses, beginning 10 May. The 90-minute courses will provide industry professionals an opportunity to upskill their expertise through practical and interactive learning sessions. The first courses offered will include: business events branding; bid process and strategy; and local host development. These are being offered in multiple time zones around the world. The courses are geared toward DMOs and convention bureau and the level is targeted to those with industry experience and in positions with managerial or project responsibilities. Jon Sivertson (pictured), CEO of GainingEdge, said: “GainingEdge is pleased to be bringing our extensive background in industry training to the online world on a course-by-course basis. We have been working virtually with our regular clients over the past year in helping them continue to learn and adapt in our ever-changing MICE industry, Collapse