The next decade is set to bring increasingly rapid growth for the meetings, incentives, congresses and exhibitions (MICE) industry in Africa as the continent achieves higher economic growth, according to Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism for South Africa.

“The potential of Africa for the MICE industry is exponential,” Hanekom told delegates at ibtm world in Barcelona.

“The tide has turned, we can see that our growth opportunities are now also within the African market. There are 770 registered African Associations on the ICCA database. 178 of these are based in South Africa and 592 on the rest of the continent and 218 regional conferences were registered on the continent in 2014 resulting in 610 events over the last five years. South Africa only hosted 63 of these events in the past 5 years,” said Minister Hanekom.

South Africa hosted 124 international association conferences in 2014, which attracted just below 70,000 industry professionals. Of these 124 conferences, 81% were international rotating events.

Since its inception three years ago, the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) has successfully bid for 163 business events between 2016 and 2020, which are expected to bring over 150,000 delegates to South Africa and contribute approximately R3.1billion to the economy.

“South Africa offer the business events industry excellent value for money, deliver authentic, memorable and enriching experiences in one of the most captivating, safest and beautiful countries that I am proud to call my home,” said Hanekom.

It was also announced that the European Cities Marketing (ECM) programme has extended its reach to South Africa, hosting an ECM Academy in South Africa just before the 2016 edition of Meetings Africa.

“We are really thrilled to have our first ECM Academy organised in South Africa,” said ECM President Ignasi de Delàs at ibtm world.

“It’s a new landmark in ECM development to host the derived version of our successful ECM Summer School. The ECM Academy is a tailor-made course for partner organisations outside Europe. 

“We will do our maximum to guarantee the success of the ECM Academy in Johannesburg by maintaining the highest standard of course content, recruiting the best speakers, and giving the latest examples showcasing the most up-to-date trends in the Meetings Industry.”

Nashville is to host IBTM America 2016, the meeting place of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry, following IBTM America 2015 in Chicago. 

“The excitement behind delivering our event in different key convention cities in the US adds variety and new experiences for all our attendees,” said Jaime McAuley, Event Director, IBTM America.

“Nashville is one of the hottest convention cities in America right now and whilst its very roots are in music (the Country Music Hall of Fame) there is also history, the arts, food – the city recently was nominated in the top 10 best BBQ cities in the US – and of course a variety of venues to benefit this industry.”

IBTM America will take place from June 15 to 17 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center – the largest exhibition and meetings venue in continental US, with 2,882 guest rooms onsite, 6 ballrooms, more than 100 technologically advanced conference and breakout rooms, 600,000 sq ft of meeting, convention and exhibit function space and 4.5 acres of covered tropical gardens.

“We fully expect many will want to either arrive early or stay on to make the most of the facilities, whether it’s to spend more time in downtown Nashville or at the Gaylord as this resort is certainly one of a kind in the USA,” said McAuley.

In addition to its growing business events industry, Nashville is the world’s capital of country music with more than 120 live music venues.

Dutch event company Jaarbeurs has partnered with international media specialist Cavendish Group to organise the first RAID conference in Utrecht on 8th and 9th June.

RAID, which stands for Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Internet-of-Things and Data, aims to be Europe’s largest cross sector Disruptive Innovation Conference and Exhibition. 

The event will feature the highest level of conference content, with an accompanying trade show and marketplace showcasing technology solutions that will disrupt the way Europe’s largest companies operate.

As innovative technologies and solutions will emerge from, and be applicable across, multiple sectors, RAID is aimed at large established business sectors including insurance, automotive, pharmaceuticals, banking, energy utilities, logistics, and advanced industrial manufacturing. 

RAID will look at how C-level executives from different sectors can learn from each other about how Europe’s largest companies approach disruptive innovation. There is also a significant crossover of senior executives between different sectors and disruptive thinking must start first and foremost with Europe’s business leaders.

RAID will be an international event with a strong pan-European theme. Disruptive innovation is positioned as the logical and natural solution for kick starting the more productive economic growth that the EU needs, Cavendish Group said.

This event is about the impact of technology convergence and disruptive innovation on large cross sector companies.

RAID will take place in the Jaarbeurs Media Plaza and exhibition area in the heart of Utrecht, ranked by the European Commission as the most competitive centre for business across the EU. The venue is walking distance from the Utrecht train station, with the airport express train to Schipol, 30 km away and with direct links to many leading German cities. 

The aim for the first RAID conference and exhibition is to attract more than 700 attendees and exhibitors from Europe’s largest companies and most innovative technology and solution providers. 

Cavendish Group is the publisher and owner of a number of leading international media brands including HOST CITY, Oil & Gas Technology, Renewable Energy Technology, Automotive Manufacturer, the International Capital Conference and many more. 

More details of the event can be found on the RAID website. You can also keep up to date by following the RAID Twitter feed.

RAID Utrecht takes place on the 8th and 9th June, 2016. The conference agenda and event details will be announced in early September 2015.

For more information please contact: RAID@cavendishgroup.co.uk.

Durban has been announced as the host city of the XIV World Forestry Congress, the biggest meeting of the world’s forestry sector. 

Taking place every six years under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event is organised by the government of the host country.

The XIV World Forestry Congress, hosted by the Republic of South Africa, will bring together the global forestry community to review and analyse the key issues and to share ways of addressing them.

According to the FAO, the Congress is inclusive of people from all countries, regions and sectors including government organizations, NGOs, private companies, scientific or professional bodies, forestry societies and individuals.

The FAO is particularly keen that the 2015 event provides a platform for youth, students, professionals, women and local communities have a platform on which to voice ideas and concerns.

The congress is set to propose technical and policy approaches to boost the sustainability of the forestry industry and showcase the latest developments and innovations in global forestry, using multimedia platforms to illustrate practical applications and linkages, the FAO says. 

The venue for the congress, the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), is also set to feature in the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Global Entrepreneurship Network has awarded Johannesburg the hosting rights to its flagship event, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), in 2017. 

This will be the first time Africa has hosted the event, which typically attracts business professionals from more than 150 countries. The 2015 edition brought 10,000 delegates to Milan in March, according to organisers.  The Colombian city of Medellin is hosting the 2016 edition. 

Johannesburg’s bid to host GEC 2017 was a project involving the City of Johannesburg, Barclays Africa, the South African government and Sustainable Entrepreneur Accelerator  (SEA) Africa. 

Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said "GEC will help sustain the momentum of an entrepreneurial revolution which President Jacob Zuma set in motion last year when he announced the establishment of our separate department that would focus on small businesses and cooperatives. 

“I am confident that GEC 2017 will further thrust entrepreneurship and small business development firmly on the national agenda and the collective consciousness of our nation.”

The event will be co-hosted by Johannesburg and SEA Africa. Kizito Okechukwu, executive head of SEA Africa, said “This Congress will assist businesses and promote entrepreneurship across the African continent.

“We are therefore calling on entrepreneurs to leverage from various support structures and programmes being introduced by various partners. We are expecting leading global entrepreneurs and innovators to grace this occasion."

Craig Bond, CEO of Retail and Business Banking at Barclays Africa, said, "The GEC is a platform that can open doors for our youth, ignite entrepreneurship and put our youth in the global arena. It contributes to the overall Pan-Africanism objective by strengthening common perspectives amongst nations, creating partnerships and collaborative efforts, and encouraging inter-regional trade."

Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Network, which holds the rights to the event, said, "GEC 2017 is just one example of the Global Entrepreneurship Network commitment to helping the next generation of African entrepreneurs start and scale—rebranding the continent and permanently shifting perceptions around the world.

The World Education Congress (WEC) will be held in Las Vegas in 2017, followed by Indianapolis in 2018 and Toronto in 2019, the event’s owner Meeting Professionals International (MPI) said on Monday. 

The host cities were allocated through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process that considers factors such as location benefits, meeting venue facilities, pricing, hotel offerings, destination accessibility, unique options and local support.

"We are excited about each of these destinations and believe WEC attendees will enjoy them as well," said Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI during the opening general session of WEC 2015 in San Francisco.

"Each year, MPI strives to enhance the education and programming we deliver at WEC, so we look forward to working with our host city partners to enrich the attendee experience in the coming years."

MPI describes WEC as its signature event through which it delivers education, business and networking opportunities in North America, attracting more than 2,000 attendees including corporate, third party, and association planners, suppliers, students, industry faculty and more. 

From 2016, MPI will hold WEC during the June to early July timeframe, following membership feedback regarding scheduling conflicts with summer vacation plans, school breaks, Canada's Civic Holiday, and other industry events. 

The host of WEC 2016 will take place June 11 – 14, at the Harrah's Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City, N.J.

From July 9 – 12 2017, WEC will be held in Las Vegas for the fourth time at the MGM Grand. Las Vegas welcomed a record 41 million visitors including five million convention delegates last year. 

"We are honored to host WEC 2017 and excited to showcase the energy and excitement only Las Vegas can deliver," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. 

"There's a reason Las Vegas hosts more than 22,000 meetings a year. We offer an exceptional experience for delegates allowing them to conduct serious business and networking while also enjoying world class dining and entertainment found nowhere else."

On June 2 – 5 2018, WEC will be held at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis for the first time. Named America’s top convention city by the readers of USA Today, Indy offers a convention package unmatched in walkability and the number of hotels and hotel rooms connected by enclosed skywalks. 

"Indy has a well-earned reputation as a great event city, having hosted Super Bowl XLVI, numerous NCAA Men's Final Fours and, of course, the Indy 500, but it's also one of the fastest-growing convention and meeting destinations in the world," said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy. 

"As a first-time host of WEC, we're looking forward to welcoming many old friends and also introducing new ones to Indy."

From June 11 – 14 2019, WEC will go to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre located in downtown Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America. Toronto attracted 14.3 million overnight visitors in 2014.

"Our community looks forward to welcoming back MPI and its partners for another exceptional international meeting," said Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President of Tourism Toronto. 

"When World Education Congress brings the leaders of our industry together in Toronto, attendees will find inspiration both in the content of the meeting and the surrounding city experience."

The European Union (EU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday signed an agreement which enables Emiratis through Europe without applying for visas. 

Under the agreement, Emiratis can now stay in Schengen zone countries for 90 days in any 180-day period. 

The diplomatic breakthrough coincided with the first week of Expo Milan 2015, where the UAE has a national pavilion designed by Foster + Partners. Dubai is to host the next such “universal” World Expo in 2020. 

The UAE is the first Arab country to be granted free entry to the Schengen zone, which includes 26 European countries. 

“Our UAE citizens have the full right to feel proud of their leadership, which exerts every possible effort to take care of their welfare internally, as well as anywhere else in the world,” Sheikh Abdullah said.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the agreement. “Our UAE citizens have the full right to feel proud of their leadership, which exerts every possible effort to take care of their welfare internally, as well as anywhere else in the world,” he said.

The agreement will be a boost to business tourism from the UAE.

“It will also allow our students more opportunity to know European universities better and choose whichever suits them best in the pursuit of their education,” said Sheikh Abdullah.

UAE citizens now have visa-free access to travel without a visa to Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

They will also be able to travel to eight non-Schengen countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, the Vatican, Andorra, San Marino and Monaco.

Emiratis have since the start of 2014 been able to apply online for a visa waiver for travel to the UK.

Sheikh Abdullah also praised the UAE’s successful bid to host the 2019 International Energy Conference and Dubai winning the right to host the World Expo 2020. 

 Click here to see a list of countries that are in the Schengen area »

St James’ Park stadium in Newcastle, UK, has unveiled its newly refurbished Sir Bobby Robson Suite, designed and decorated in tribute to the late England and Newcastle United manager.

The Sir Bobby Robson Suite holds up to 80 guests and is situated on level 3 of the stadium.

“Sir Bobby Robson held a very special place in the hearts, not just of Newcastle United supporters, but of football fans the world over and this suite is a lovely and lasting tribute to him,” said Samantha Doyle, sales and marketing manager for Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events, which manages conferencing and events at St James’ Park.

Along with the Sir Bobby Robson suite, St James’ Park has one of the biggest banqueting suites in the north east of England, capable of holding up to 1000 guests. Executive boxes with views of the pitch are also available for smaller meetings.

The walls of the suite, which have been lined with images of Sir Bobby from his playing days and managerial career at clubs such as Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Ipswich Town, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Barcelona, England and Newcastle United.

St James' Park is the second biggest sports ground in England outside London. Home to Newcastle United Football Club since 1892, the stadium has also hosted international and 2012 Olympic football, as well as concerts from the likes of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. 

In Ocotber, St. James Park is hosting three matches involving New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland, Samoa and Tonga during Rugby World Cup 2015.

The Plasticity Forum will hold its fourth annual conference on 8 and 9 June in Cascais, on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal. The forum will bring together approximately 200 business leaders and experts to discuss innovative solutions to the growing plastic pollution problem facing land and marine environments.

A global event, The Plasticity Forum was launched in Rio de Janeiro, and has since been held in Hong Kong and New York, with the upcoming conference marking its first European event. 

The venue for this year's event will be the Pousada de Cascais - Cidadela Historic Hotel, an old fort facing the Atlantic Ocean that has been converted into a boutique resort. The event will also include a dinner for all attendees at The Presidential Palace in Cascais.

A recent study from the University of Georgia's College of Engineering found between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010 from people living within 50 kilometers of the coastline. That year, a total of 275 million metric tons of plastic waste was generated in those 192 coastal countries. Globally, some 280 million tons of plastic is produced annually, yet estimates suggest that only 10 percent is actually recycled. 

Capturing this waste stream presents a significant and untapped business opportunity, as does the redesign of packaging and the thought process around waste creation. The Plasticity Forum presents ideas and opens up discussions on how to harness this material in new ways.

"Companies are beginning to realize that environmental sustainability has a positive impact not only on the communities they serve, but also their own bottom line," said Doug Woodring, founder of Plasticity. “Managing the plastic ecosystem through recycling, reuse and closed-loop methods can make our planet healthier while also creating efficiency in corporate supply chains.”

[Source: SportAccord Convention] City Forum, one of the ‘go-to’ events hosted by SportAccord Convention is back stronger than ever and will assess the impact of sport on cities. Set to take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 19 April at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, this year’s City Forum sees the return of the legendary Don Schumacher to lead the event. A cities champion and supporter, and known to many worldwide, Don has worked closely with SportAccord Convention to put together a thought-provoking programme for delegates. 

"City Forum has always been popular and this year’s event has been given renewed focus following feedback from cities around the world,” said Don Schumacher, Executive Director and one of the Founders of the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC). “Packed with practical advice, key insights and case studies, the sessions will be more interactive, enabling cities to come away with fresh ideas and know-how, as well as providing a valuable learning experience.”

City Forum will begin with a session on The Current State of Affairs for cities presented by Sportcal. A Principal Media Partner of SportAccord Convention, they have developed an impact methodology to assist cities in valuing the various benefits of hosting sports events. Many of these benefits extend beyond economics, and each of the beneficial impacts will be examined and discussed. In addition, City Forum delegates will also receive an exclusive printed Summary. This will cover some of the highlights of the recently published Global Sports Impact (GSI) Report 2015, as well as gain some early insights from the next GSI Report due to be published on 1 June 2016. 

Delegates will also be able to share their insights, thoughts and know-how in this year’s Group Project challenge and given an event-bidding issue to examine and debate. Groups will determine a course of action, reporting back to the City Forum on their decisions, and the reasoning behind them.

As a precursor to the City Forum, the Convention will once again host the City-to-City gathering the morning of the City Forum. City-to-City is designed to give cities and regions a platform for free discussion on the needs and challenges faced in looking to host sport events.

To find out more about the 4-day Conference Programme including City Forum, or to register for SportAccord Convention, visit: www.sportaccordconvention.com

Source: SportAccord Convention