The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) is to return to Milan next year, to coincide with the Expo 2015.
The news was announced by event host and rap sensation Nicki Minaj at the 2014 EMA at SSE Hydro in Glasgow on 9th November.
The 2015 edition of MTV's star-studded awards show will be held at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan on October 25.
Sunday night’s extravaganza was the first time Glasgow had hosted the event, culminating an extraordinary year of events in Glasgow and Scotland that included the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.
This will be the second time that the major international music awards event will be held in Milan, which played host in 1998, and the third time Italy has hosted the show.
“The 2004 show in Rome was a huge success. Now, we’re looking forward to delivering an even bigger and better experience with the 2015 MTV EMA in partnership with EXPO, bringing thousands of people from around the world to Milan.” said Raffaele Annecchino, Executive Vice President and Managing Director VIMN South Europe, Middle East & Africa.
“We’re thrilled to bring the 2015 MTV EMA to Milan – an iconic city where art, fashion and music collide, and home to the World Expo,” said Bruce Gillmer, Executive Producer of the MTV EMA and Executive Vice President of Music / Talent Programming and Events for event owner Viacom International Media Networks.
“One of the world’s biggest cultural capitals, Milan will undoubtedly set the stage one of the biggest global music events of the year," he added.
The World Expo is the world’s largest city-based event, after the Olympic Games. The theme of the Milan 2015 Expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”.
According to Bob Bakish, president and chief executive of Viacom International Media Networks, the EMAs bring "a noticeable economic boost for the host city every year".
It has been estimated that Glasgow will have benefited by as much as £10m from hosting the MTV EMA.
The Higher Organising Committee for Expo 2020 signed an agreement on Tuesday that positions Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre as its Heritage Strategic Partner.
Under the partnership, the Centre will organise a wide range of events and activities to promote the UAE’s heritage and culture during Expo 2020, which will be held in Dubai over nearly six months.
“The appointment constitutes an important step in our efforts to promote this international exhibition, add a cultural and heritage dimension to the event and enrich the experience for visitors and exhibitors,” said Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Managing Director of Expo 2020 Higher Committee.
“As a credible and trusted source on UAE national heritage and cultural traditions, the Centre has played a salutary role in preserving the country’s heritage and passing it on from one generation to the next. We are fully confident that the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre will be able to achieve our goals for the Expo 2020, promote this international event effectively and highlight the heritage of our beloved nation in a befitting and honourable way.”
His Excellency Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmouk, CEO of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, said “We look forward to working together with the Higher Organising Committee for Expo 2020 and establish the heritage concepts of the UAE to create a unique experience for all visitors.
Up to 25 million people are expected to visit the Expo, of which 70 per cent are expected to be from overseas.
“The exhibition provides our country an opportunity to show the world its capability for innovation by staging a world-class event that combines state-of-the-art technology with a proud display of our cultural heritage and traditions.”
Expo 2020 will be held in Dubai from 20 October to 10 April 2021 under the slogan “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”. With three thematic concepts of “Mobility, Sustainability and Opportunity”, the exhibition seeks to nurture new partnerships for future growth and sustainability.
The event coincides with the UAE’s 50th National Day and as Dubai is taking the opportunity to celebrate and promote the host nation.
“We have been able to make huge progress in several areas, foremost among which is building a pool of globally competitive Emirati individuals, consolidating citizens’ sense of belonging to their homeland and strengthening the national identity among the youth, and generally deepening patriotic fervour among people all around the UAE,” said Bin Dalmouk.
The Asian Tour has agreed a three-year deal to host the ‘Dubai Open’ with Golf in Dubai, which has run the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic since 1989 and also organises the Dubai Ladies Masters tournament and the MENA Golf Tour.
Golf has become a key component of Dubai’s ambitious drive to host 20 million visitors annually by 2020 – the year in which the city will host the World Expo.
The Asian Tour said talks with prospective sponsors and different Dubai golf clubs are at an advanced stage, adding that Golf in Dubai will soon announce the official title, venue and dates of the newest tournament in the city.
Hailing the new event as an “important stop” on the calendar, Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “With so many prestigious tournaments, in particular the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, happening out there, the city is ideally placed to capitalise on its unique position as a diverse and high quality golfing destination.
“The Asian Tour is delighted to be coming to Dubai and I am sure our players will be very excited to compete in this new and exciting event in December. As a players’ organisation, the Asian Tour is represented by an eclectic mix of the finest players from across the region and internationally and we look forward to entertaining golf fans in Dubai.”
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and chief executive of Golf in Dubai, added: “Events like this will continue to strengthen our strong historical ties with Asia. Dubai’s economy benefits both directly and indirectly from golf tourism, and there is a positive synergy between golf and the key tourism sectors. Golf is just one of the many reasons that people visit Dubai to savour the experience of playing on courses of international standard.”
Today’s news comes after it was announced last month that a new tournament in Mauritius will become the first tri-sanctioned event to be endorsed by the sport’s European, Asian and Sunshine Tours.
The three Tours, which are all founding members of the International Federation of PGA Tours, confirmed that the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will take place at the Heritage Golf Club on the island from May 7-10, 2015.
The companies, which were involved in the UAE’s bid to host the historic exhibition, are currently undertaking site readiness activities, and will advise the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Preparatory Committee in a number of areas.
The Committee said that the two companies had been appointed due to their “successful involvement” with the original masterplan, their detailed knowledge of the project and experience of working on other major events.
The host location will be a 438-hectare site that stretches from Dubai Trade Centre to Jebel Ali and comprises a 150-hectare Expo area plus hospitality, logistics and accommodation facilities.
HOK and Arup will work on the Expo masterplan comprising the urban design and engineering, landscaping, signage, overlay, sustainability, transportation, logistics, facility management and event operations.
Construction work will begin when the Bureau of International Expositions, the governing body of the World Expo, approves the plan, with a decision expected by November 2015.
The plans will correlate with Dubai’s ‘Smart City’ agenda, with the Expo site being designed to serve as a prototype for information and communications technology innovations, particularly in education and entertainment.
The exhibition site is designed to accommodate up to 300,000 visitors, with average week-day attendance expected at 153,000.
“Expos have been home to some of the world’s most landmark structures, from the Crystal Palace in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris,” the Committee’s Managing Director, Reem Al Hashimy, said, according to Gulf Business.
“Dubai is committed to building on this tradition and making the entire site an experiential environment that fully embodies the essence of our theme ‘connecting minds, creating the future’.”
Committee Member Helal Almarri added: “The masterplan design and execution is driven by a clear vision for its legacy, integrating sustainable urban development with opportunities to foster economic and social development for the emirate, for the country and for our region.”
Dubai overcame Ekaterinburg (Russia), Izmir (Turkey) and Sao Paulo (Brazil) to secure the hosting rights in November last year.
The exhibition site will be designed to accommodate up to 300,000 visitors, with average weekday attendance at the six-month event, which will run from October 2020 to April 2021, likely to be about 150,000.
Cities around the world are currently expressing their interest in hosting future World Expos, with the hosts of the International Exposition in 2023 and Universal Exposition in 2025 expected to be determined over the next two to three years.
Cities around the world are expressing their interest in hosting World Expos, with the hosts of the International Exposition in 2023 and Universal Exposition in 2025 expected to be determined over the next two to three years.
The geographical location of the city and the sustainability of the project will be among the decisive factors, according to Vincente Loscertales, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
Speaking to HOST CITY about why Dubai was awarded the right to host World Expo 2020, Loscertales said “The policy of the organisation is to move Expos to new regions and particular regions which are the link between continents, between other regions.”
Traditionally, World Expos have either taken place in Western Europe, North America or Japan. However, in recent years, as with many major global events, the trend has been towards moving Expos to pastures new such as the Far East – in the case of Shanghai 2010 – and most recently, the Middle East.
Expo 2017 was awarded to the Kazak capital Astana whilst Expo 2020 will take place in the emirate of Dubai. “Moving the Expo to the Middle East is to take the Expo to a hub; to a place that is a link in trade, transport and financial systems between continents. From this point of view, Dubai is an excellent showcase,” said Loscertales.
“In the case of Dubai, it’s to bring it to a region which is sometimes better known because of conflict, and to show how an Expo in this area will contribute to a better knowledge of the whole region. It is the first time an Expo will take place in an Arabic, Muslim country.”
A whole range of cities from both East and West, are lining up to be considered for the 2025 World Expo. Whilst there are possible bids from Chinese, Russian and Iranian cities, the Expo’s founding fathers London and Paris are also in the mix.
“We are also in talks with some American cities – Houston and San Francisco. We have also received news from Azerbaijan that they would like to host an Expo in Bakuin 2025.”
With the cost of bidding for a World Expo running to as much as US$ 100m, the BIE is keen to make sure that interested cities proceed with their eyes open. Before a city formally bids to host a World Expo, the requirements of hosting the event are explained in a preliminary conversation with the BIE – what Loscertales describes as a “pre-dialogue”.
The result should be a handful of strong candidates. “I anticipate that we will consolidate three to five bids from all the applications,” says Loscertales.
Sustainability must be at the core of both the theme and the planned delivery of an Expo bid. “The duty of our organisation when we evaluate an Expo project is first of all to see how this Expo project is integrated with the environment.”
Loscertales also discussed the progress of Expo 2015 in Milan, which has been hit by construction delays and police investigations into alleged corruption in the awarding of contracts.
“The political environment is complicated,” said Loscertales. “We have to be optimistic and I am convinced that in May we are going to open the gates of a very beautiful exhibition in Milan.”
During the first lockdown, many people took to making their own worlds beautiful by growing plants to help cope with the uncertainty. A vast body of scientific research shows us growing plants enhances lives, advances societies, and will sustain our planet, for this generation and the next.
The International Association of Horticultural Producers: AIPH is a non-profit organisation that has been pursuing key activities to support the global ornamental horticulture industry since 1948.
AIPH approves the most exceptional horticultural exhibitions
In addition to being the world’s champion for the power of plants, we have a mandate by international convention to be the international body responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural exhibitions.
AIPH approval has been the pre-requisite for a horticultural Expo to receive the recognition of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) since 1960.
The most recent World Horticultural Expo was in Beijing, China, in 2019. It attracted over nine million visitors. Currently, we have approved seven expos between 2021 and 2027 in Europe and Asia.
Horticultural expos can vary from 25 to 500 hectares in size and last 5 to 6 months. Expos in Europe tend to attract 2 – 4 million visitors, whereas those in Asia tend to draw 5 – 10 million. The minimum number of international participants required is 10, but numbers at previous expos have been between 10 and over 100.
At our AIPH conferences, held twice a year internationally, cities seek AIPH approval to stage these spectacular events, often as part of a city development or regeneration programme. In September of this year, we hosted a virtual online conference, with delegates participating from every continent of the world made up of host cities, potential host cities, AIPH Members, horticultural industry representatives, major event service providers and the media.
AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe says: “The pandemic has created real challenges for organisers of major events like Expos but it has also highlighted the importance of green spaces and leisure experiences to improving quality of life. During 2020 Expo organisers have continued to prepare their events and new applications from cities around the world demonstrates the importance they attach to creating greener places to live and making better cities for the future.”
The following A1 World Horticultural Expos gave progress report presentations:
As part of their application process for AIPH approval, the conference also received presentations from Chengdu (China), Izmir (Turkey) and Quang Binh (Vietnam), all seeking to host B category International Horticultural Exhibitions in the coming years.
AIPH spreads awareness of the need for city greening
Green City is not just a faraway notion; there is a growing imperative to address climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, mental health, and social cohesion and the development of green cities will help balance these needs.
Horticultural Expos are significant events for the national and international promotion of a host city. These events boost tourism, culture, business development, sustainability and green credentials, as well as the local and national horticulture industry. They especially encourage creative green space development and the importance of plants in our society and for our well-being.
One of the pre-requisites for Horticultural Expo approval from AIPH stipulates the host city must demonstrate a genuine commitment to becoming an internationally recognised green city.
AIPH Technical Advisor, Dr Audrey Gerber, says: “AIPH Expos attract millions of people. When they visit an Expo people see how plants play an essential role in many aspects of life. Home gardens contribute significantly to urban greening with much of the land in cities being privately owned or managed. We need individuals and communities to contribute to urban greening to make sure that our cities are liveable and resilient.”
Horticultural Expos create a lasting and beneficial legacy for the host
In 2019, AIPH commissioned MI Associates, specialists in major events, to provide an event asset valuation of Category A1 and B Expos through a combination of research, economic modelling and strategic input.
MI employed a direct expenditure methodology to calculate the projected expo economic impact. The metrics used were from the following data to create these projections: Attendance; Visitors; Visitor spend; Visitor nights, and Valuation. Also, MI identified and performed an evaluation of the non-economic and legacy benefits provided by these expos.
In the concluding report, Blooming Economies, the following conclusions focused on the Institutional Capacity Legacy.
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AIPH Expo Support Programme
The AIPH has a support programme to help stage a World International Horticultural Expo and to bring together experts from different industries, often from outside the host city, to build together and deliver benefits for all before, during and after the Expo. Our Organiser’s Expo Guide is packed full of information. You can find many details, including our regulations and applications on the Exhibitions page on our website.
AIPH would be delighted to discuss the opportunity to host an expo, so please do speak to our AIPH Senior International Relations Manager treve.evans@aiph.org
[Source: AIPH] The AIPH Virtual Expo Conference on 30 September presents an excellent opportunity to learn more about hosting or being involved with an International Horticultural Expo and to network with expo organisers, city representatives interested in hosting an expo, urban developers, AIPH members, NGOs, international city and environmental organisations and suppliers to major events.
Billions are spent on developing these international spectacles that can have the ability to stimulate the development of entire cities and transform the international reputation of hosting regions. Each exhibition attracts many international participants and millions of visitors, lasts up to six months, with sites ranging from 25 to 500 hectares in size. Every Expo is carefully regulated, steered, and monitored by AIPH.
The period from 2021 until 2027 already includes AIPH approved expos in China, Turkey, Qatar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan with more to be approved in upcoming meetings.
These Expos will be submitting their progress reports on the 30 September. Rather than a physical international conference, AIPH is using a unique 3D system to host a virtual online meeting of delegates from around the world.
We are very grateful to PERA Event for their Headline Sponsorship of the conference. The company is also an AIPH preferred partner specialising in event management for International Horticultural Expos.
The registration price is just 55 GBP. Participants receive a link to create an avatar to enter this virtual environment. In this interactive form, they will be able to talk to other delegates starting from 8am (Central European Summer Time), and all from the safety of their device.
AIPH Secretary General, Mr Tim Briercliffe, comments, “We are delighted to welcome our Expo organisers and all delegates to the AIPH Expo Conference. AIPH approved expos are beautiful events, which are enjoyed by millions of visitors wherever they are staged. Cities around the world are looking more than ever to further develop their green credentials and urban spaces, as well as driving the appreciation and benefits of plants and flowers in the built environment. In addition to seeing the interesting progress of our approved Expos, attendees will be able to network with delegates and learn more about how staging an International Horticultural Expos can bring great benefits to the host city, not just during the Expo itself, but for years to come.”
[Source: AIPH] The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has reviewed upcoming International Horticultural Exhibitions, that falls under its approval, due to the COVID-19 pandemic repercussions. Considering the time it takes to prepare a high-quality A1 International Horticultural Exhibition and the difficulties in continuing preparations during the pandemic, AIPH has recommended that Expo 2021 Doha Qatar be moved to a future date.
With a theme focused on greening the desert and improving the environment, the Government of the State of Qatar has therefore agreed to postpone the Horticultural Expo which will now open in October 2023. The Horticultural Expo will be hosted at Al Bidda Park and is expected to attract millions of visitors in the context of climate water and soil being indispensable and scarce resources, in addition to a list of objectives that were set in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Commenting on the change, AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe says, “Although Expo preparations are well underway in Doha, it is necessary to postpone the opening to allow more time for international participants to visit Doha, select their locations and prepare the construction and activities they need. AIPH believe that this date change will ensure that the Expo can be delivered to the highest possible standards. This will be the first AIPH Expo to take place in the Middle East and we are very excited about what it will achieve to stimulate city greening and sustainable development in a desert region.”
The Minister of Municipality and Environment for the State of Qatar, His Excellency Abdulla Bin Abdulaziz Al Subai welcomed the revised dates and commented: “ Throughout the COVID – 19 Pandemic the State of Qatar implemented strategic measures to address the economic and social impact of the pandemic, having said that and as we recognise the severe impact of the pandemic globally, we welcome the revised dates suggested by the AIPH for the Horticultural Expo. The State of Qatar is always committed to delivering world-class events, and this will not change for the A1 World Horticultural Exhibition happening for the first time in our region. Qatar looks forward to welcoming the global horticultural sector to share knowledge and experience in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
As Expo 2021 Doha Qatar has been recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organisation in charge of Expos, the change of dates requires approval from the BIE’s 170 Member States. The Secretary General of the BIE Dimitri S. Kerkentzes indicated: “I welcome the AIPH’s recommendation and Qatar’s resolution to move Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha Qatar to 2023, and I am confident that the change in dates will be approved by our Member States. For the host country and all participating countries, the new dates will allow the necessary time to adjust and adapt their plans to ensure the Middle East’s first Horticultural Expo is a resounding success in 2023.”
The Secretary General of the Expo in Qatar Mr Mohamad Ali AL Khoury welcomed the decision of the AIPH and reiterated on the importance of hosting this event for the first time in the region by saying: “The State of Qatar has always been the hub for World Class International events, we are committed to delivering a one of a kind experience to the global community and the citizens of Qatar and the region. We are continually working to ensure the readiness of Qatar to host the A1 Horticultural Expo, and we will continue with these efforts to deliver a premier one of a kind event.”
International Horticultural Expos foster cooperation and knowledge sharing between countries addressing crucial issues related to healthy lifestyles, green economies, sustainable living, education and innovation.
Hosted in Qatar for the first time in the region, the A1 Horticultural Expo will last for six months starting October 2023. It will include participants representing countries and International Organisations as well as Cities, Companies, Civil Society and NGOs.
For more information about International Horticultural Expos visit http://aiph.org/
There is still work to do in the most challenging of times, but Expo 2020 Dubai is on schedule to open in October thanks to measures taken by the host nation.
“Putting on a World Expo, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic requires a global effort from the 192 countries taking part in Expo 2020 Dubai,” BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes was reported as saying in Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram on 19 March.
“We continue working with the organisers and are confident in the steps that the UAE has taken to manage the spread of the virus and protect all those involved in the Expo. Expo 2020 Dubai’s pragmatic approach offers both reassurance and assistance to those who need it, and will, I believe, contribute to the successful delivery of this mega event.”
A steering committee of representatives of countries taking part in Expo 2020 Dubai met virtually on 19 March to discuss the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on preparations.
“As hosts of the next World Expo, due to open in seven months’ time, we always knew that 2020 was going to be demanding. What we could not predict is that we would be doing so in the midst of the biggest global health crisis in generations,” UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai Reem Al Hashimy is reported as saying in al-Ahram.
“These are difficult, uncertain times, which makes it even more heartening to see communities around the world facing this challenge together and to witness the incredible resilience of the human spirit against a menace that does not recognise international borders or timelines.
“Our immediate priority is the health and well-being of everyone involved in Expo 2020 Dubai, and this will not be compromised. Our monitoring of ongoing developments means we will take all sensible precautions to manage and mitigate risk to all those involved.”
The UAE has taken a range of measures to control the spread of COVID-19. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces told government news agency Wam: “In the UAE, we have adopted rational and early advanced precautionary measures before other countries around us to stand up to the challenge… Therefore, the infection tally in the UAE is less thanks to our early response to contain the virus at its onset”
Construction by the organising committee is complete, with International Participant Pavilions being completed.
The value of World Expos cannot be understated. “For almost 170 years they have brought countries and people together to celebrate the best of humanity, and the fruits of our innovation and collaboration, around a theme addressing global challenges,” said Kerkentzes.
[Source: AIPH] On 2 March 2020, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) brought together key industry players in the beautiful city of Miami, Florida – the cargo gateways of America.
The three-day event, entitled ‘Growing The Industry’ was coordinated by the association as part of its Spring Meeting, and supported by AmericanHort, to enable knowledge exchange and facilitate discussion on growing the ornamental industry.
Day one, on Monday, was the Expo Conference and it gave the international delegates the latest updates on forthcoming AIPH-approved International Horticultural Expos. Delegates heard progress reports from representatives for A1 World Horticultural Exhibitions including Expo 2021 Doha (Qatar); Expo 2022 Floriade Amsterdam Almere (the Netherlands); Expo Horticultural 2024 Łódź (Poland) and World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama (Japan). There was also a progress report from B International Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Turkey).
On this theme, Ibo Gülsen, managing director of IGMPR, the Netherlands, gave a speech about How Garden Tourism can benefit Expo and Legacy development and operation. An AIPH-approved outdoor exhibition gathers breeders, growers, landscapers, governments, and other invested parties to host these events that are open to the public and help to promote floriculture and the image of the host country.
In his talk, Gülsen gave a history lesson about the ancient gardens in Turkey, Babylon, Venice, Italy, and many other cities and cultures that embraced the concept of grand landscaped spaces filled with local flora and fauna. He spoke about how the same awe and delight continues to this day with more than 100 garden destinations in the world.
In the afternoon, the focus switched from garden tourism to urban living with the AIPH Green City Reports. Keynote speaker, Dr Tim Beatley Professor of Sustainable Communities in the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, gave a fascinating presentation about connecting cities with nature entitled development of the Biophilic Cities movement in the USA. The biophilic cities organisation has 22 member cities globally that participate in the program, and they meet to share ideas, failures and successes.
Afterwards, there was an opportunity for members to share their latest Green City news and talking about the developments and investments. The speakers were from Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands, Brazil, South Korea and Canada. For example, Taipei is planting one million trees, Brazil has been tearing-up grey concrete spaces and planting foliage in its place, and have a community program that offers bus fares in exchange for recyclable materials. In South Korea, they are planting 10 million trees and want to turn “grey into green”.
