Business Events | Host City: The greatest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events

Host City 2022 set for Glasgow, Scotland on 15-16 November

Ivo Ferriani, IOC Executive Board Member and President of GAISF, IBSF and SportAccord, is Keynote Speaker at Host City 2022 (Photo: IBSF)

Host City 2022 builds on the phenomenal success of recent digital editions and anticipates a welcome return to face-to-face content, exhibition and networking in the Technology and Innovation Centre, where Host City was staged from 2015 to 2019.
By 2019, Host City attracted 350 delegates and 35 exhibitors to Glasgow. Host City’s growth continued online through the pandemic, reaching 500 to 1000 attendees in 2020 and 2021. The brand is also expanding globally, with the second Host City Americas taking place online on 29 June.
Host City 2022 is supported by EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau Scotland and Glasgow for the eighth consecutive year.
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland said: "EventScotland has a strong partnership with Host City and we are delighted to be continuing our support of the conference as we welcome it back to Scotland and Glasgow in 2022.
"Over the last 22 months the global events industry has shown its ability to adapt, respond and innovate and as we move forward with optimism, Host City 2022 will once again provide the ideal platform for cities and sport event businesses to come together and share new ideas and best practice.
"We look forward to seeing everyone in person this November."
Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: "We’re delighted to welcome Host City back to Glasgow for the eighth time, and for the first in-person event since 2019.
"Like all other cities across the world, Glasgow is intensely focussed on our recovery from the pandemic and a key factor in that recovery is hosting major international events. We’ve got a strong track record in that regard and that’s why we’re, once again, the ideal hosts for the 2022 conference.
"We’re very much looking forward to welcoming all delegates and organisations to the city later this year."
In his opening address to Host City 2021, Ivo Ferriani, President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) and SportAccord said:
"After this invitation I am very much looking forward to come to Scotland. I will come to meet my great maestro Craig Reedie but also my great friend Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation. For sure I cannot wait to visit you in Glasgow, because you are role models for all of us."
Host City’s owner, Cavendish Group is also staging its second Host City Americas event online on 29 June, under the tagline Where Events and Tech Meet.
Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director of Host City said "Since its move to Glasgow in 2015, Host City has grown immensely, in both physical and online formats. Two Asian editions and our recent expansion into the Americas have also helped to increase our reach.
"There is immense pent-up demand for the events industry to meet face-to-face in 2022, and there is no better forum than Host City in Glasgow on Scotland’s perfect stage.
"We anticipate an extremely lively gathering on 15-16 November 2022. And with many pressing global issues on the agenda, we can look forward to important exchanges that shape the course of major events for good."
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About Host City
Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events.
Through its conference, exhibition and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events.
Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking.
For more information visit www.hostcity.com or email ben.avison@hostcity.com

Diverse events complete Host City 2021’s “incredible speaker programme”

Host City 2021 takes place on 7-8 December, hosted online from Glasgow, Scotland. Register here now for free.

The quality, quantity and diversity of the incredible speaker programme for Host City 2021 continues to grow.

Over the last three weeks, major event organisers joining the programme include: Bodour Al Meer, Sustainability Director, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; Georgina Grenon, Director of Sustainability, Paris 2024; Argyris Caridakis, Director of Games Services, Paris 2024; Russell Scott, Broadcast Lead, Rugby World Cup 2021, Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships, The R&A and Nadja Burkhardt, Event Supervisor, Eurovision Song Contest.

Additional rights holders added to the agenda include: Ivo Ferriani, Executive Board Member, IOC and President of GAISF, IBSF and AIOWF; Densign White MBE, CEO, IMMAF and Chair, Sporting Equals; Thomas Lund OLY, Secretary General, Badminton World Federation; Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball Softball Confederation; Mark Chay, Secretariat, Global Esports Federation; Michael Dhulst, Co-Founder & CEO, Super League Triathlon; Kris Gemmell, Head of Commercial and Marketing, World Triathlon; Kate Miller, Chief Diversity and Communications Officer, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB); Jennifer Arnold, Associate Vice President, U.S. Soccer Foundation; Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA - International Congress and Convention Association; Marco Mazzi, Vice-President, International Sports Travel Agencies Association (ISTAA); Zhanna Kovalchuk, Executive Director and Jenny Ennis, Congress and Events Manager, European Society of Sports Traumatology Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) and Martin Boyle, CEO, The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).

Host destinations joining the line-up include: Robbie Clyde, Head of EventScotland, VisitScotland; François Croquette, Head of Climate Department & Chief Resilience Officer, City of Paris; Grant MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer, Sport Tourism Canada; Peter Duthie, CEO, Scottish Event Campus; Claire McColgan MBE, Director of Culture, Liverpool City Council and Vice Chair, UK City of Culture; and Élise Smith, Senior Program Officer, Major Sport Event Coordination, Sport Canada.

Expert service providers added to the Host City programme include: Kevin Li, Head of International Sports Industry Department, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence; Kristian Gotsch, EMEA Director, Two Circles; and Sean Parry, Commercial Strategy Director, Zwift.

They complete an incredible array of speakers, including: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland; Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life; Sir Craig Reedie KBE, Honorary Member, International Olympic Committee (IOC); Lord Sebastian Coe KBE, President, World Athletics and IOC Member; Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games; Vincenzo Novari, CEO, Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; Octavian Morariu, IOC Member, Chair, Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, IOC and President, Rugby Europe; Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Federation; Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, Executive Board Member, IOC; Anita DeFrantz, IOC Member and LA28 Board Member; Michael Gunning, Jamaican swimming champion; Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, IOC Member; Andrew Ryan, Executive Director, ASOIF, Paul J. Foster, CEO, Global Esports Federation; Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, Rugby League World Cup 2021; Sam Ramsamy, Vice President, FINA; Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive Officer, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships; Jeff Foulser, Chairman, Sunset+Vine; Laura Lopez, Director, Conference Affairs, UNFCCC; Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events, Glasgow Life; David de Behr, Head of Sales, Aggreko Event Services; Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH - International Association of Horticultural Producers; and many more.

Host City 2020 welcomed 1,000 registrants from 60 countries and, with such an amazing agenda, Host City 2021 is set to exceed expectations.

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: "EventScotland has a strong partnership with Host City, having been a supporter of the conference since its inception in 2014, and we are delighted to be welcoming it back to Scotland and Glasgow for the 7th consecutive year.

“As we continue to navigate the return of events in this new normal, the conference is great opportunity for the global events industry to come together and learn from one another while also looking ahead to what the future holds for major events under the theme of refresh, regenerate and reconnect.

“The addition of these world-leading event organisers, rights holders and destinations to the incredible speaker programme already assembled will ensure an exciting and informative two days of discussion and debate.”

Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “As a proud supporter of Host City, we’re delighted to welcome the event back to Glasgow for the seventh year in a row.

“As one of the world’s leading host cities for festivals and major events, Glasgow has keenly felt the impact of Covid-19. As we begin to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, we know this event will be a key milestone for many of our colleagues across the world, and seeing how well last year’s Host City event was delivered on a digital platform was hugely encouraging and the global feedback was fantastic.

“We look forward to working with the Host City team once again in just a few weeks’ time to ensure that 2021’s event is even bigger and better than previous iterations, and to share best practice with our colleagues across the world as we all work to create the best possible future for events.”

Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “I am very pleased to be invited to speak once again at the Host City conference, to share with inspiring personalities my experience of organising the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the biggest sporting event on the planet. In a world of rapid changes and high expectations from citizens, we must succeed in organising an event that is both spectacular and sustainable, that monitor its impact while leaving a positive legacy on society. To achieve this, at Paris 2024, we have one watchword: creativity.”

Host City 2021 is delivered with supporting partners EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau.

Host City 2021 takes place on an AI-enabled digital platform under the banner of “Refresh, Regenerate and Reconnect”.

Event supporters include: Headline Sponsor, Aggreko; Gold Sponsors, Alibaba Cloud and West Midland Growth Company; Silver Sponsors, International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH); Super League Triathlon and Sunset+Vine; Branding Partners, Sport Event Denmark and FOAMHAND; Federation Partner, the International Sports Travel Agencies Association (ISTAA); and Strategic Partners, the Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) and Global Esports Federation.

About Host City
Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events.
Through its conference, exhibition and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events.
Launched in 2014. Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking
For more information visit www.hostcity.com or email ben.avison@hostcity.com

World event leaders line up for “even bigger and better” Host City 2021

Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games speaking at Host City 2020 (Photo copyright: Host City)

Taking place on an AI-enabled digital platform, this free-to-register conference is a fantastic opportunity for the major events sector to “Refresh, Regenerate and Reconnect”.
Following welcome addresses from Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life and Sir Craig Reedie KBE, Honorary Member, International Olympic Committee (IOC), delegates will be treated to an enticing programme of speakers and discussion.
Lord Sebastian Coe KBE, President, World Athletics and IOC Member gives a Keynote Address on the successful hosting of Tokyo 2020 and future trends in major events.
Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games brings a Keynote Presentation on “Paris 2024 Games: a new model bringing people around sustainable Games with creativity”.
His counterpart at Milano Cortina 2026, Chief Executive Vincenzo Novari also gives a keynote update on preparations for the Winter Olympic Games.
Looking further ahead, Octavian Morariu, IOC Member, Chair, Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games, IOC and President, Rugby Europe gives an exclusive insight into the process of engaging with future Olympic hosts.
Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Federation also gives a Keynote Address on Birmingham 2022 and beyond.
Host City 2021 also features Q&A sessions: IOC Executive Board Member Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski speaks to Host City on engaging with next generation audiences; IOC Member Anita DeFrantz and LA28 Board Member talks about the Games coming to her city and the power of sports and events to break barriers; and Jamaican swimming champion Michael Gunning shares his own experiences of “Turning the tide of prejudice”.
Panel discussions at Host City 2021 feature extremely engaging speakers and topics. Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, Member, IOC, Andrew Ryan, Executive Director, ASOIF, Paul J. Foster, CEO, Global Esports Federation and Jon Dutton, Chief Executive, Rugby League World Cup 2021 consider “How has the pandemic changed the events sector?”.
Sam Ramsamy, Vice President, FINA – and close friend of Nelson Mandela – joins the IPC’s Rita van Driel, the CGF’s Brendan Williams and David Grevemberg CBE to discuss “Diversity and integrity in leadership”.
Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive Officer, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK join on “Partnership approaches to event hosting”.
The question of “Broader casting – who owns the rights?” is taken on by Jamie Hindhaugh, Chief Operating Officer, BT Sport, Peter Hutton, Director of Sports Partnerships, Meta, Facebook and Jeff Foulser, Chairman, Sunset+Vine.
It’s not just about sports events either. Geoff Ellis CEO, DF Concerts, Francesca Hegyi OBE, Executive Director, Edinburgh International Festival and Susan Sawbridge, Manager, New Zealand Major Events share outlooks on “The return of live audiences, travel and tourism”.
Laura Lopez, Director, Conference Affairs, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau speak on “The meetings industry in the post-pandemic world”.
Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive, Culture, Creativity, Place chairs a workshop on “Cities of Culture – changing places forever” with Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Prof. Jonothan Neelands, Academic Director for Cultural Partnerships, University of Warwick and Angus Farquhar, Creative Director, Dandelion.
Iain Edmondson, Director, Legacy Delivery chairs a workshop of event hosts and rights holders on “Defining event impacts and promoting positive outcomes” in relation to ASOIF’s “Common Indicators for Measuring the Impact of Events”.
Other great speakers at Host City 2021 include: Shiny Fang, Secretary General, UIPM; Clare Briegal, Chief Executive Officer, World Netball; Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association; Sarah Lewis OBE OLY, Global Sports Leader; Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events, Glasgow Life; David de Behr, Head of Sales Aggreko Event Services, Aggreko plc; Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH - International Association of Horticultural Producers; Katie Traxton, Board Director, European Sponsorship Association; Daniel Cordey, Chair, Association of Global Event Suppliers and more to be announced.
Host City 2020 welcomed 1,000 registrants from 60 countries and, with such a stellar speaker line-up, Host City 2021 is set to exceed expectations.
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland, said: "EventScotland has a strong partnership with Host City, having been a supporter of the conference since its inception in 2014, and we are delighted to be welcoming it back to Scotland and Glasgow for the 7th consecutive year.
“As we continue to navigate the return of events in this new normal, the conference is great opportunity for the global events industry to come together and learn from one another while also looking ahead to what the future holds for major events under the theme of refresh, regenerate and reconnect.
"We look forward to working with the Host City team to deliver a conference that ensures a bright future for all events."
Dr Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, said: “As a proud supporter of Host City, we’re delighted to welcome the event back to Glasgow for the seventh year in a row.
“As one of the world’s leading host cities for festivals and major events, Glasgow has keenly felt the impact of Covid-19. As we begin to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, we know this event will be a key milestone for many of our colleagues across the world, and seeing how well last year’s Host City event was delivered on a digital platform was hugely encouraging and the global feedback was fantastic.
“We look forward to working with the Host City team once again in just a few weeks’ time to ensure that 2021’s event is even bigger and better than previous iterations, and to share best practice with our colleagues across the world as we all work to create the best possible future for events.”
Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “I am very pleased to be invited to speak once again at the Host City conference, to share with inspiring personalities my experience of organising the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the biggest sporting event on the planet. In a world of rapid changes and high expectations from citizens, we must succeed in organising an event that is both spectacular and sustainable, that monitor its impact while leaving a positive legacy on society. To achieve this, at Paris 2024, we have one watchword: creativity.”
Host City 2021 is delivered with supporting partners EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau.
Event supporters include Headline Sponsor, Aggreko; Gold Sponsor, Sport Event Denmark; Silver Sponsors, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), DB Schenker and Sunset+Vine; Strategic Partners, The Association of Global Event Suppliers (AGES) and Global Esports Federation.

For more information visit www.hostcity.com or email ben.avison@hostcity.com

SportAccord Summit conference to explore a ‘United Approach to Building Bridges’ in Ekaterinburg

[Source: SportAccord] Sport diplomacy, technology, virtual events, innovation and esports will be among the key topics tackled in a packed SportAccord Summit conference programme during the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

In announcing the theme of the conference as ‘A United Approach to Building Bridges in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport’, SportAccord has confirmed a series of unmissable addresses, panel sessions and presentations at the SportAccord Summit on Wednesday, 18 May 2022.

The SportAccord Summit will sit alongside SportAccord 2022’s other conference streams across the week of the highly anticipated gathering in Ekaterinburg, which will welcome global sport’s most influential decision-makers from 15-20 May 2022.

Numerous officials from International Sport Federations (IFs) will participate in the conference, alongside leading International and Russian figures from the sports governance, technology, and commercial sectors.

Expert speakers will explore topics as diverse as ‘The Power of Sport Diplomacy’, ‘New Approaches and Harnessing the Commercial Potential of Sport’, ‘Virtual Event Success Stories’, ‘How to Stay Connected and Engaged in a Changing Global Village’ and ‘Technology’s Role in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport’.

“With such a variety of topics on the agenda, the SportAccord Summit will provide a range of vital perspectives from different areas of the global sports movement,” Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President, SportAccord and GAISF, said.

“From sport diplomacy to esports and future commercial strategies, the SportAccord Summit in Ekaterinburg will offer an essential snapshot of the most pertinent challenges and opportunities facing International Sport Federations and the sports industry as a whole.”

The SportAccord Summit is one of several conference streams at SportAccord 2022. The established CityAccord, HealthAccord, LawAccord and MediaAccord streams will be of interest to a broad range of stakeholders in sport.

As the only global sports industry event attended by all IFs and their stakeholders, SportAccord brings together organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, as well as top-level experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, the 19th edition of SportAccord’s flagship annual event. Organisations interested in becoming an official partner or exhibitor can contact SportAccord to discuss these investment opportunities by emailing sales@sportaccord.sport, with SportAccord also offering an interactive exhibition floorplan and 3-D flyover of the SportAccord 2022 exhibition space.

You can follow SportAccord’s portfolio of events via Twitter @sportaccord or keep up-to-date via LinkedInFacebookYouTubeFlickrVK, and Instagram.

AIPH announces Virtual International Horticultural Expo Conference

Photo credit: AIPH

[Source: AIPH] For the past 18 months, people have faced isolation challenges worldwide as they cope with the Covid-19 Pandemic. Many have sought and found harmony interacting with nature and in open green spaces. It has become evident, too, in the face of climate action, that more than ever, cities need to develop green credentials and urban areas and drive the appreciation and benefits of plants and flowers in the built environment.

International Horticultural Expos are beautiful events that showcase nature, are enjoyed by millions of visitors, and leave environmentally positive legacies for the host city’s residents. The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has a mandate agreed by the 1928 Paris Convention and subsequent protocols. Since 1960, International Horticultural Expos have been approved and regulated by AIPH. A gallery of these expos can be viewed online www.aiph.org/expos/history/

On 19 October 2021, organisers from forthcoming AIPH approved Expos will be presenting their progress reports. This free online conference is an excellent opportunity to learn more about upcoming Expos as well as hosting or being involved with an International Horticultural Expo and 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.

Millions are spent developing these international spectacles that can stimulate the development of entire cities and transform the international reputation of hosting regions. Each Exhibition attracts many international participants and millions of visitors and lasts up to six months, with sites ranging from the smallest of 25 hectares to the largest of 500 hectares or more. Every Expo is carefully regulated, steered, and monitored by AIPH.

From now until 2027 AIPH has approved the following Expos in China, Turkey, Qatar, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Japan.

A1 World Horticultural Expos

Expo 2022 Floriade (the Netherlands)
14 April – 9 October 2022.
Theme – Growing Green Cities

Expo 2023 Doha (Qatar).
2 October 2023 – 28 March 2024
Theme – Green Desert, Better Environment

World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama (Japan).
March – September 2027
Theme – Scenery of the Future for Happiness

B International Horticultural Exhibitions

Expo 2021 Yangzhou (China)

Expo 2021 Hatay (Turkey)

Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Turkey)

Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo 2023 (South Korea).

International Horticultural Exhibition Chengdu 2024 (China)

Expo İzmir 2026 (Turkey)

There will also be news on progress from the organisers of the International Horticultural Show, Euroflora 2022, where organisers promise a voyage of rare beauty from 23 April until 8 May in Genova, Italy.

Putting Sustainability at the heart of AIPH-approved Expos

As the world’s champion for the power of plants, AIPH is committed to a sustainable future in which humanity, technology, and nature exist in a healthy and stable equilibrium.

To cement our dedication to a sustainable future, AIPH has developed a new Sustainability Policy. Independent Sustainability Expert Mr David Stubbs, formerly Head of Sustainability for London 2012 Olympics & Paralympic Games, will present the policy and Rules for AIPH Expos at the Virtual Expo Conference. These rules will describe the standards for the planning and staging of horticultural Expos to ensure they are the world’s most sustainable major events.

New AIPH Reporting procedures

During the conference, AIPH will reveal news on the new reporting procedures for approved Expos. Ms Elena Terekhova, AIPH International Relations Manager, and Mr Peter Ward, Managing Director of WeTrack, will introduce the WeTrack online programme that Expos will be required to use for reporting and the benefits of using this as an event management tool.

We are grateful to our Gold Sponsor PERA Event, and Event Partners AGES (Association of Global Event Suppliers), the Department for International Trade, and Major Events International. Including Media Partners Host City and FloraCulture International.

Registration for the virtual conference is free. For more information on this event, visit our website www.aiph.org/event/expo-conference-oct-2021/

AIPH Virtual International Expo Conference takes place on 19 October

Expo 2021 Yangzhou, China

[Source: AIPH] This conference 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.

Millions are spent on developing these international spectacles that can stimulate the development of entire cities and transform the international reputation of hosting regions. Each Exhibition attracts many international participants and millions of visitors and lasts up to six months, with sites ranging in size from the smallest of 25 hectares to the largest of 500 hectares or more. Every Expo is carefully regulated, steered, and monitored by AIPH.

The period from now until 2027 already includes AIPH approved expos in China, Turkey, Qatar, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Japan. The following Expos will be submitting their progress reports on 19 October.

A1 World Horticultural Expos

The World Horticultural Expos include:

• Expo 2022 Floriade (the Netherlands)

• Expo 2023 Doha (Qatar)

• World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama (Japan).

B International Horticultural Exhibitions

The International Horticultural Exhibitions include:

• Expo 2021 Yangzhou (China)

• Expo 2021 Hatay (Turkey)

• Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Turkey)

• Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo (South Korea).

• International Horticultural Exhibition Chengdu 2024 (China)

• Expo İzmir 2026 (Turkey)

There will also be news on progress from the organisers of the International Horticultural Show, Euroflora 2022. More Exhibitions will be approved in upcoming meetings.

Putting Sustainability at the heart of AIPH-approved Expos

Sustainability is now a high priority. As the world’s champion for the power of plants, AIPH is committed to a sustainable future in which humanity, technology, and nature exist in a healthy and stable equilibrium.

To cement our dedication to a sustainable future, AIPH has developed a new Sustainability Policy. Independent Sustainability Expert Mr David Stubbs, of Sustainability Experts Limited, will present the policy and Rules for Expos at the Virtual Expo Conference. These rules will describe the standards for the planning and staging of horticultural expos to ensure they are the world’s most sustainable major events.

New AIPH Reporting procedures

During the conference, AIPH will reveal news on the new reporting procedures for approved Expos. Ms Elena Terekhova, AIPH International Relations Manager, and Mr Peter Ward, Managing Director of WeTrack, will introduce the WeTrack online programme that Expos will be required to use for reporting as well as the benefits of using this as an event management tool.

WeTrack’s project management software has been used by organisers of some of the world’s most prestigious events, venues, and organisations, including World Triathlon, the FIA, Expo 2020 Dubai, Wimbledon, and the International Cricket Council. It enables teams and departments to track tasks and projects, collaborate better with stakeholders, and build, download, and share custom reports.

In the same platform, organisations can then integrate their sustainability, readiness and operational planning, providing consistency from the early stages of planning your Expo, to the final stages of delivery. Bespoke, automated reporting underpins every stage of this process.

We are grateful to our Gold Sponsor PERA Event for their support of the conference.

Registration for the virtual conference is free. For more information on this event, visit our website.

Host city application process launches for SportAccord’s industry-leading events

[Source: SportAccord] SportAccord has launched the host city application processes for future editions of the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit from 2023 and the Regional SportAccord from 2022.

Cities interested in hosting the global sports industry’s most influential annual gathering have been invited to submit a Bid City Application Form for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit. The next edition of the event will take place from 15-20 May 2022 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The inaugural edition of Regional SportAccord Pan America took place in December 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, USA, and those interested in hosting future editions can complete a Bid City Application Form. Applications will be considered to host a dedicated Regional SportAccord for Europe, Asia, Africa or Oceania, as well as Pan America.

Information about who attends both events, as well as hotel accommodation requirements, short- and long-term hosting benefits, the financial commitments and hosting terms, and the bidding and selection processes can be found by accessing the City Application Information Packages for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit here and Regional SportAccord here.

The SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit, first held in 2003, is the only global sports business gathering attended by all international sport federations and their affiliated umbrella organisations, as well as organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, plus experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

With more than 1,500 key decision-makers representing over 1,000 different organisations and over 150 cities and regions in attendance, the six-day event in March, April or May each year features high-level meetings, a conference programme split into multiple sector-specific ‘streams’, an exhibition and numerous social events.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, says: “We have been greatly encouraged by the significant number of destinations that have expressed an interest in hosting future editions of our industry-leading events as the global industry continues its recovery from the pandemic. We look forward to receiving formal applications in the coming weeks and months for these events, which will take place after the highly anticipated SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg marks a milestone in the global sports movement’s resurgence.”

Regional SportAccord was launched in order to bring together international sport federations and organisations involved in the business of sport for a specific region, with the 2019 Regional SportAccord Pan America event attended by international sport federations, cities and ministries, rights-holders and industry experts. Designed to welcome more than 500 delegates from over 50 countries representing well over 200 different organisations, Regional SportAccord, held over three days, also showcases a two-day conference programme and an extensive sports industry exhibition.

Click here to check out the City Application Information Package and here to access the Bid City Application Form for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit. For Regional SportAccord, the City Application Information Package can be accessed here and the Bid City Application Form can be found here.

Each Bid City Application Form should be submitted along with a formal Letter of Commitment that has been signed on behalf of the prospective host city.

For any questions regarding the Bid City Application Process, please contact SportAccord Managing Director Nis Hatt by email at nis.hatt@sportaccord.sport or by phone at +41 79 126 62 28. Every Bid City Application will be presented to the SportAccord Executive Committee for review, and each city will receive feedback in due course.

Registration is open for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2022 in Ekaterinburg, the 19th edition of SportAccord’s flagship annual event. Organisations interested in becoming an official partner or exhibitor can contact SportAccord to discuss these investment opportunities by emailing sales@sportaccord.sport, with SportAccord also offering an interactive exhibition floorplan and 3-D flyover of the SportAccord 2022 exhibition space.

SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg Rescheduled for May 2022

SportAccord in full coordination and agreement with the Russian Federation has announced that the World Sport & Business Summit in Ekaterinburg has been rescheduled to 15-20 May 2022.

The next edition of sport’s most important global gathering has been rescheduled to its traditional spot in the sport event calendar to maximise participation from the international sporting community, with expectations that travel restrictions worldwide will have eased significantly by then.

“The Russian Federation will host a momentous edition of SportAccord in Ekaterinburg, so it is important that as many friends and colleagues as possible can gather in person from across the sporting world,” SportAccord President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli said.

“The safety and wellbeing of our delegates has always been our top priority, and the measures developed by the Organising Committee in Ekaterinburg will still be as relevant and applicable when SportAccord takes place next year.

“However, with further vaccination roll-outs over the coming months, we are confident that global travel restrictions will have been relaxed by then to enable as many delegates as possible to travel to Ekaterinburg, ensuring the ultimate success of the event for the Russian Federation and SportAccord.”

The event has already attracted significant interest from the global sports movement, with the host destination providing a bridge between Europe in the West and Asia in the East. The IEC Ekaterinburg-Expo is an outstanding venue, providing numerous meeting and conference rooms within easy reach of the main hub of SportAccord, the exhibition floor.

Individuals and organisations who have delegate passes for SportAccord in Ekaterinburg will be contacted in due course about their options.

The annual World Sport & Business Summit is a six-day event attended by leaders of the global sports community. As the only global sports industry event attended by all International Sport Federations and their stakeholders, SportAccord also brings together organising committees, hosting cities and regions, governments and administrations, rights-holders, agencies and athletes, as well as top-level experts and organisations from the sports media, technology, investment, medical and legal sectors.

Host City 2021 welcomes events to Refresh, Regenerate and Reconnect in Glasgow on 7-8 Glasgow

(Photo: Host City)

Host City 2021, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, takes place at the Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow, Scotland and Online on 7-8 December under the theme of “Refresh, Regenerate, Reconnect”.

The conference tackles a wide range of pressing issues facing the industry: the return of live audiences; diversity and integrity in leadership; transformational models of event hosting; public versus private governance; digital transformation; esports and localisation.

The agenda has been developed with the input of the new Host City Advisory Board, namely: Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, VisitScotland; Sir Craig Reedie GBE, Member, International Olympic Committee; Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events, Glasgow Life; Sarah Lewis OBE OLY; Brian Lewis, President, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee; Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau; Dave Gordon OBE, Head of Host Broadcast, Birmingham 2022; David Grevemberg CBE, Chief Innovation and Partnerships Officer, Centre for Sport & Human Rights; John Langford, Chief Operating Officer, AEG Europe; Paul J. Foster, CEO, Global Esports Federation and David de Behr, Head of Sales Aggreko Event Services, many of whom are speaking.

Other speakers set to join include: Etienne Thobois, CEO, Paris 2024 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games; Kristin Kloster Aasen, Chair of the Future Hosts Commission (Summer) and Member, International Olympic Committee; Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life; Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive Officer, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships; Clare Briegal, Chief Executive Officer, International Netball Federation; Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark; Jason Ferguson, Chairman, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association; Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH - International Association of Horticultural Producers and many more to be announced.

Host City 2021 takes place with the support of: EventScotland, Glasgow Life and Glasgow Convention Bureau; Headline Sponsor Aggreko; Gold Sponsor Sport Event Denmark; Silver Sponsors AIPH – International Association of Horticultural Producers and DB Schenker; and Strategic Partner Global Esports Federation.

Sponsorship: adam.soroka@cavendishgroup.co.uk

Enquiries: ben.avison@hostcity.com

For more information visit www.hostcity.com

Host City Americas: events unite to embrace change and “bring back the joy”

The opening panel (L-R, top row first): Ed Hula, Founder, Around the Rings; Anita DeFrantz, IOC VP and LA28 Board Member; Al Kidd, Sports ETA CEO; Gabriela Ramos, Asst DG, UNESCO; Prof. Erdener, Chair of Medical and Scientific Commission, IOC; Ingmar Vos, President, FEI

A global audience, including IOC members, FIFA, sports ministers and leaders of event organizing committees and international federations, united for the first meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events for the Americas on 29-30 June.

The two-day conference opened with a keynote address from IOC vice president Anita DeFrantz. Speaking of a world ravaged by the coronavirus, she said the sports industry was forced “to examine everything” as events took a financial hit. But through virtual offices, new visions of how to produce and present sports had emerged.

Three weeks before the postponed Tokyo Olympics get underway, she said the execution of Games planning for event organizers and athletes had been hugely challenging against the backdrop of the pandemic.

“We may face similar issues with Beijing 2022. The good news is we will have the experience of Tokyo to make certain things go well. The Olympics and Paralympics can bring back the joy,” she told delegates.

Prof. Uğur Erdener, head of World Archery and Chair of the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Commission, said the global vaccination program led him to believe “we are approaching the exit of the dark tunnel”.

Gabriela Ramos, assistant director general of UNESCO, said it was vital for sport to be part of policies to help countries, cities and communities emerge from the pandemic.

Erin Bromaghim, director of Olympic and Paralympic development for the Mayor of Los Angeles office, said LA had been a game-changer for the Olympic movement in 1984 and was poised to do so again in 2028. “Sustainability and reuse are baked into our hosting model,” she said.

David Siegel, president and CEO of Los Angeles Sports Council, pointed out that with more professional sports teams than any city in world, and the Olympics, Superbowl, FIFA World Cup and MLB’s 2022 All-Star Game on the horizon, LA is “uniquely positioned to capitalize on this.”

Among several organizing committees present was Santiago 2023, who gave an update on what they described as “the most important event in the history of our country”, with CEO Felipe de Pablo saying “We have a lot of tasks but we are confident in delivering and meeting the expectations of visitors.”

Peter Hutton, Facebook’s director of sports partnerships, talked about how social media could harness the power to connect rights holders with fans in authentic ways. “Live sports need to be on platforms where younger audiences are… to create interesting experiences. It can really grow the sports for the future.”

Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services, said there was a shift among traditional broadcasters to embrace opportunities for ongoing engagement and interactivity with fans, which had led the IOC to create its own digital platform – the Olympic Channel. “It’s a great opportunity for all rights holders.”

Brian Sullivan, CEO of NEP Group, said technology had to catch up with changing consumer desires and trends. “It’s a very exciting time. There’s a huge amount of innovation coming in the next 5-10 years. The lesson is ‘try to reinvent yourself before you need to’.”

Karin Korb, Paralympian and a Para-Sport consultant, urged event planners and rights holders to bring Gen Zers and millennials to the decision-making table to get their perspectives on environmental, social and governance questions.

Angela Ruggiero, co-founder and CEO of Sports Innovation Lab suggested that gambling presented host cities with interesting possibilities to grow revenue streams. “The question is how federations and sport grapple with the sensitivities around it.”

On NFTs, she said: “It’s definitely the shiny new object right now. If you’re getting into it, be very thoughtful. It’s a big opportunity to allow fans to own something wherever they are in the world.

In his closing remarks, conference director Ben Avison said: “According to our audience polls, all the changes we’ve been discussing here over the last two days – managing the pandemic, digitalization, private investment, ESG criteria – are having a positive impact on live events.”

Host City Americas was staged in partnership with Event Delivery Partner NEP Group, Official Sustainability Partner Aggreko; Gold Sponsor Orange Sports Forum; Preferred Event Technology Partner OnePlan, Silver Sponsors Dallas Sports Commission and Iventis; Strategic Partners Edmonton Events, Global Esports Federation, Mailman, S2|FOAMHAND and World Championship Air Race.

Following the first Host City Americas, the eight global Host City 2021 event takes place in Glasgow on 7-8 December. Follow www.hostcity.com for updates.

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