A number of high profile figures have confirmed to speak at the Association of Global Event Management (AGES) 2016 annual event, which takes place in St. Augustine, Florida, USA on 29 February and 1 March. 

Internationally recognised figures speaking at the conference on day one of the event include: Gilbert Felli, IOC’s Senior Olympic Games Advisor; 

Jerry Anderson, founder and Senior Principal of Populous; John Baker, VP Games Overlay and Broadcast Integration, Toronto 2015, José Quiñones González, President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee and Member of the board COPAL 2019 (Pan Am and ParaPan Am Games 2019, Lima) and Patrick D. Sandusky, Chief External Affairs Officer, United States Olympic Committee. 

AGES has also announced that former Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli is now an Honorary Member of AGES. 

According to AGES, a large majority of its members, associate members and partners have confirmed their presence at our event. 

AGES also announced that its membership is growing, with two new members joining recently: Pro Construction, a market leader in Poland and that delivers event infrastructure works at international level, and Unitec Systems, a leading event supplier in Korea specialising in seating. 

The AGES 2016 event is hosted by CAT ES, an AGES member and leading supplier of temporary power.

The second day of the event will include presentations from AGES partners EY and SOS Global, as well as working group activities. 

One working group is developing a state-of-the art contract template for the delivery of overlay works while another is elaborating a table showing temporary import and export provisions for all major large events until 2020. 

AGES members ES Global, GL events, Nüssli and MTD have delegated experts to these working groups. AGES says it will focus on finding suitable industry partners in the area of technology and sustainability in 2016. 

For more information visit www.ages.international

Cities are embroiled in increasingly intense competition for branding, with digital and social media having transferred marketing from city officials to citizens, according to the president of European Cities Marketing (ECM). 

“City branding is more complex than ever. CTOs (chief technology officers) have lost share of voice in the age of digital and social media. The city belongs to the people,” said ECM president Ignasi de Delàs in the run up to the next ECM meeting on 24-27 February in Madrid.

“And it’s definitely no longer just about the tourists. Cities compete more than ever for private investments, business conferences, world sports events, talents in research and science, film productions, political summits, international students, cruise ships, international headquarters and new airline connections.

“Ultimately, it’s all a battle for job growth, prosperity and quality of life. The winners get a global window and a place in the sun. The losers remain in the shadows among the non-places of globalisation.”

At the ECM Meeting in Madrid, February 24-27, ECM and Madrid Destino will present a parade of thought leading international experts highlighting European and North-American perspectives. 

Experienced city brand marketeers will share their most valuable insights and learning for a full two-day conference on the latest trends, the pitfalls and the upsides of a branding discipline undergoing rapid change.

Among key speakers, Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company and Robert Govers, Founding Chairman of the International Place Branding Association will provide opening notes with a seemingly joint message: “Leave the branding to the people”.

Copenhagen will discuss how it leaves its marketing voice and buzz to the people, while Nantes will describe how it uses culture to morph an old industrial port to a new global city. Other cities showcased include Munich, Istanbul, Hamburg and Paris, as well as small destinations such as Davos, home of the “The World Economic Forum” and Billund, the hometown of Lego Corp which aspires to be world’s “Capital of Children”.

A day of seminars will be coordinated by Peter Rømer Hansen, Former Executive Vice President – Strategy & Market Communications at Wonderful Copenhagen and actual Founder and CEO of Rømer Agency.

To find out more visit http://www.europeancitiesmarketing.com/ or contact Flavie Baudot, press@europeancitiesmarketing.com, +33 380 56 02 00

At a Soccerex press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, a panel of distinguished guests announced the plans for the Soccerex Americas Forum 2016 and confirmed the first selection of VIPs set to attend the event, including Carlos Alberto Torres, captain of the legendary 1970 FIFA World Cup winning Brazil team, lifting the trophy in Mexico’s famous Azteca Stadium.

The Soccerex Americas Forum, held in partnership with leading sports marketing agency Global W Mexico and the Mexico City Government (CDMX), will be taking place at the Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City on 11-12 May. The event will bring together over 700 senior decision makers from the global football industry, with international experts delivering over 10 hours of top level business insight through a programme of conference panels and presentations and over 24 hours of unrivalled networking opportunities provided through an exhibition, featuring over 40 companies and a series of networking and social events.

Duncan Revie expressed his excitement at holding the first Soccerex in Mexico in partnership with the team at Global W Mexico and announced that the Americas Forum will see David Dein, one of the founders of The Premier League, look at the secrets of establishing league growth alongside representatives from MLS, Liga MX and LaLiga, who are partners of the event.

Revie also confirmed that the Forum will include a star studded session looking at the development of players, both in Mexico and globally, which will feature Gerard Houllier, former Liverpool FC Manager and now Head of Global Football, Red Bull, alongside Gaizka Mendieta and Carlos Alberto Torres. Torres is an ambassador for Soccerex and confirmed his attendance at the Forum via a specially recorded video message at the press conference.

Some of the topics to be addressed at the Forum include digital marketing, international growth, player transfers and the Hispanic influence on football business in the US.

Other topics to be addressed at the Forum include the impact of digital marketing in football, the international growth of the game, player transfers and the Hispanic influence on football business in the US.

Rodrigo Lopez Jurado welcomed Soccerex to Mexico and announced that Movistar will be partners of the event. He also spoke with former players Kikin Fonseca and Gaizka Mendieta about their experiences of Soccerex events and the impact they felt it could make on Mexico’s football industry.

With the support of key figures like Fonseca and Mendieta and football clubs such as Inter Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Valencia already signed up to join leading international brands such as Telefonica and Fox Sports, the Americas Forum will be a must attend event for anyone interested in doing business in the football industry.

For more information on the Soccerex Americas Forum, please go to www.soccerex.com/americas, call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or email enquiry@soccerex.com.

Source: Soccerex

The very best of design in Asia-Pacific will be showcased at the upcoming MAISON&OBJET ASIA (M&O ASIA) from 8 to 11 March 2016 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore. In line with the salon’s targeted positioning as a curated platform offering high-end interior design concepts and solutions to property developers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, interior designers, and architects, the works by the 2016 Designer of the Year and the Rising Asian Talents are a reflection of the region’s driving force behind the compelling design scene.

Similarly, the 2016 Interior Design and Lifestyle Summit will feature topics ranging from award-winning hospitality projects, art of living, design thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration to country-focus discussion. Designer of the Year 2016 From Paris, Singapore to Miami Beach, MAISON&OBJET has created and offered an inter-connected worldwide stage for designers to shine. Every year M&O will present four Designers of the Year: two for M&O PARIS (January and September), one for M&O ASIA, and one for M&O AMERICAS. Designers of the Year are renowned personalities in the world of design creation and innovation, architecture and interior architecture.

M&O ASIA proudly announces André Fu as the 2016 Designer of the Year. One of the world’s most sought-after architects/designers, Fu is the architect behind major luxury hotels such as The Upper House in Hong Kong and the Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, as well as restaurants such as Kioku at the Four Seasons Seoul and Motif in Tokyo. One of his fortes is his ability to marry elements outside of architecture or interior design into a unified whole.

Fu is launching a new brand called André Fu Living (AFL), a lifestyle range that embodies his design philosophy within tangible objects. The first product in the AFL line is a scent called Fargesia, which he created in collaboration with cult perfumer Julian Bedel of Fueguia 1833 Patagonia. At M&O ASIA 2016, Fu will present his bathroom collection for Cooper & Graham. "M&O embraces the spirit of contemporary lifestyle and is a genuine celebration of modern artisanship," says Fu.

M&O ASIA’s Interior Design & Lifestyle Summit has been also extremely popular among the visitors, with a consistent turnout of around 2,800 attendees in each of the last two editions. Past speakers include Tom Dixon, Kelly Hoppen, Paola Navone, Neri&Hu, Kenneth Cobonpue, Joyce Wang and Kelly Cheng. The 2016 programme will put a strong focus on region-based speakers to provide the audience with an insider perspective on the intricate development of the Asia-Pacific market.

With this in mind, M&O ASIA 2016 has invited major design media including Architecture Media (Australia), Design Anthology (Hong Kong), FORM (Singapore) and Sina.com (China) to moderate talks and discussions with property developers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, interior designers, and architects. 

Zimbabwe is making good progress as it prepares to host UNESCO Africa Engineering Week from 14 to 19 September, according to a senior World Federation of Engineering Organisations official. 

World Federation of Engineering Organisations vice president Yashin Brijmohan met with a number of stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers, Engineering Council of Zimbabwe, UNESCO and government officials. 

"I'm quite pleased with the progress made so far," he told national newspaper The Herald.

"I believe in Zimbabwe and the country has shown a lot of potential in terms of hosting conferences of this nature.

"Zimbabwe is ready to host the event and I believe the local team will work hard to make this event a success."

Victoria Falls, the country’s leading resort, won the bid to host the second edition of the international event.

According to UNESCO, Africa Engineering Week aims to educate youth and the general public about engineering through outreach activities such as educational workshops, public awareness events, mentoring activities and university events that show how engineers are key players in the solutions to important global challenges, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

A conference on the theme of "Engineering Innovation for Accelerated Infrastructure Development for Africa", which aims to raise the profile of the profession, is expected to attract more than 500 delegates from outside the host nation. 

"Preparations are going on very well even though a lot of work needs to be done to promote the event," Eng Martin Manhuwa, president of the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers told The Herald.

Dublin has been selected ahead of a number of European cities to host a major international technology conference next year. 

The 37th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) will take place at the Convention Centre Dublin in December 2016, bringing up to 1,500 delegates to the city.

Dublin was announced as the host city at a meeting in Florida, beating rival bids from Istanbul, Munich and Vienna.  

Hosting the conference will add millions of Euros to Dublin’s economy.

According to Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, the Dublin bid team has been awarded a grant of EUR 50,000 from Science Foundation Ireland to the host the Conference.

Other organisations backing the conference include destination marketing agency Fáilte Ireland as well as Google, Intel, Microsoft, Realex Payments and SOS Ventures.

The theme of the 2016 conference is “digital innovation at the crossroads”.

ICIS, the international conference of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) was founded in 1980 at UCLA. The first conference was held at the University of Pennsylvania as the "Conference on Information Systems". 

The conference became known as “International” in 1986, through Canadian and European attendance and participation. ICIS was first held outside North America in 1990 when Copenhagen hosted the event.

HOST CITY 2015, which aims to become the biggest EU-based conference and exhibition for cities, cross sector event owners and event suppliers, is to take place in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November.

The first HOST CITY, held in London in 2014, brought world class speakers and delegates from IOC, FIFA, World Expo, MOBO, ITU (Triathlon), FIS (Skiing) and numerous cities. It was acclaimed as the optimal environment for cities and events owners to network with and learn from peers in the business of bidding for and hosting cross sector events.

HOST CITY 2015 will build on this unique dialogue between cities and rights holders of sporting, cultural and business events by creating a much larger platform.

A new platform for Cities, Event Owners and Suppliers to work together

Calls have been intensifying for a one-stop event where city representatives, destination marketers, event owners and suppliers can all meet.

HOST CITY 2015 addresses this need and Glasgow is the perfect destination for enabling the event to fulfil its ambition of becoming the largest conference and exhibition of cities and cross-sector events.

Matthew Astill, CEO of Cavendish Group, which owns HOST CITY, said: “In an increasingly competitive global market, a growing number of cities are hosting a wider range of events to attract a greater share of global trade, talent, tourism, and investment.

“HOST CITY 2015 provides the platform for cities, event owners and suppliers to work together to bid for and host the greatest range of events at any single gathering in the EU. We are especially delighted to commit to HOST CITY growing up in Glasgow over the next three to five years.”

Sir Craig Reedie, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and keynote speaker at HOST CITY in 2014 said: “I am pleased to see that the HOST CITY 2015 will be coming to Glasgow, building a platform for the growing marketplace of cities staging many different types of events. I enjoyed speaking at the inaugural 2014 conference and I look forward to doing so again in Glasgow.” 

A top events destination

HOST CITY 2015 will take place at the University of Strathclyde’s new state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in the heart of Glasgow. 

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: “We are delighted that HOST CITY 2015 will be held in Glasgow. 

“Cities need a forum where they can meet the owners of all kinds of events and plan their future hosting strategies. The market for sports, cultural and business events is growing at a rapid rate and we anticipate that HOST CITY will develop into a major conference and exhibition for cities and cross-platform events.

“Glasgow is one of the world’s top 10 sporting cities with a phenomenally diverse, annual cultural calendar and we’ve been named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau for the past nine years – a reputation that we’ve built through a strategy of attracting the best international events and conferences, continued investment in state-of-the-art facilities, the launch of a dedicated Major Events Charter and a powerful city brand.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted HOST CITY 2015 is set to take place in Glasgow, this November. Scotland, and indeed Glasgow has a strong track record and international reputation as the perfect stage for major events and I have no doubt this prestigious event will once again place Scotland on the map as a pre-eminent destination for major cultural, business and sporting events.”

What's it about?

The conference and exhibition will focus on how cities and rights holders can work together to bid for and host sporting, cultural and business events. These range from mega events such as the Olympic Games and World Expos to major business, scientific and cultural events. 

HOST CITY 2015 is set to include VIP speakers from event owners: IOC, CGF, FIFA, sports federations, BIE, MTV, EU Capital of Culture, Rock in Rio, major scientific congresses; city event leaders from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, USA and many more.

Speakers who have confirmed their intention to speak include: Dimitri Kerkentzes, Chief of Staff, Bureau International des Expositions (World Expos); Tessa Jowell, Former Secretary of State, Olympics, UK; Antonio Arimany Fernandez, Director General, International Triathlon Union; Louise Martin, Honorary Secretary, Commonwealth Games Federation; Alexander Koch, Corporate Communications Manager, FIFA.

Rights holders will announce plans for their events and share insights on bidding for and hosting their properties. Cities will share their experiences of building a portfolio of sports, business and cultural events that attract investment and benefit society. 

With a mix of panel discussions, keynote addresses and case studies focussed on mega events, transport, security, business and cultural events, HOST CITY 2015 highlights the issues and opportunities facing everyone in the business of city events.

Press coverage of HOST CITY Bid to Win 2014 included: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, O Globo, Bloomberg, Associated Press, ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, Huffington Post, Star Africa, Yahoo, China Sports, Indian Express, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sports Illustrated, Washington Times, Kyiv Post, La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Omnisports, MSN, beIN Sports, Eurosport, Fox Sports.

Media Partners for HOST CITY 2015 include Sportcal; SportsPro; Fcbusiness.co.uk; iSportConnect; Around The Rings and TheFootballStadiums.com.

Who Should Attend?

•City representatives, destination marketing organisations, national sports and event bureaus;

•Owners of all large-scale events and exhibitions (sports, business, science and culture);

•Suppliers of infrastructure, technology and services for events.

Cavendish Group looks forward to welcoming you to HOST CITY 2015 in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th of November, 2015.

For more information visit www.bidtowin-hostcity.net 

Book your place and discuss speaking, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities with Ben Avison at +44 (0) 7876 682072 or ben.avison@hostcity.net

Lisbon’s historic Patio de Gale has been selected to host the third edition of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Awards on 9 December 2015. 

The 2015 ITTF Star Awards, which will recognize and celebrate table tennis star players and coaches, will be held immediately before ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, sponsored by GAC Group.

"The ITTF Star Awards has grown into a yearly event with great stature and an important date on the calendar for all of the world's top table tennis players,” said Steve Dainton, ITTF Marketing Director. 

“This year, we head to the beautiful city of Lisbon, in conjunction with the World Tour Grand Finals, to recognize the Stars of our sport for what will be a classical and elegant evening."

Interest in the sport is high in Portugal, with the national team having won gold medals at the TMS 2014 European Team Table Tennis Championships in Lisbon and the 2015 European Games in Baku.

Eight ITTF Star Awards will be handed out in Lisbon, with the ITTF Star Breakthrough being a new award for 2015, in addition to awards for: Male Table Tennis Star; Female Table Tennis Star (presented by Nittaku); Para Male Table Tennis Star (presented by Tinsue); Para Female Table Tennis Star (presented by Stag International); Table Tennis Star Point (presented by DHS); Table Tennis Star Coach (presented by Butterfly); Table Tennis Breakthrough Star; and Fair Play Star.

HOST CITY 2015 Conference and Exhibition continues to attract top experts and key decision makers to speak at its event with Commonwealth Games Federation CEO David Grevemberg, Baku 2015 European Games Chief Operating Officer Simon Clegg CBE and Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events for VisitScotland, the latest big names to join the lineup. 

In only its second year HOST CITY, which this year will take place at the Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow on 9 – 10 November, is set to bring together cities, rights holders, event owners and suppliers to explore the challenges and benefits of bidding for major global events. 

Under the theme “Creative Innovation Connecting Cities with Sports, Business and Culture Events”, David Grevemberg, Simon Clegg and Paul Bush will join other influential stakeholders such as Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Mike Lee OBE, Chairman, Vero Communications, and one of the world’s leading sports architects, Christopher Lee, Senior Principal at Populous to examine issues concerning the bidding for and hosting of large-scale, multi-sport and cultural events. 

Other notable names already announced include:

- Sir Craig Reedie, CBE, Vice-President, International Olympic Committee;

- Louise Martin CBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation;

- Marisol Casado, IOC Member and President, International Triathlon Union;

- Dimitri Kerkentzes, Chief of Staff, Bureau International des Expositions (World Expos);

- Mário Andrada, Director of Communications, Rio 2016;

David Grevemberg, Chief Executive, Commonwealth Games Federation, who attended the inaugural HOST CITY event in 2014, said:

“I found HOST CITY: Bid to Win enlightening. The calibre of people that attended and spoke was excellent; it was excellent to meet so many experts with a shared perspective and passion and belief that the hosting of major events is a force for good.”

Matthew Astill, Chief Executive of Cavendish Group, owner of HOST CITY 2015, said: “In an increasingly competitive and highly scrutinised global market, cities are hosting a wider range of events to attract a greater share of global trade and investment from mega events such as the Olympic Games and World Expos to major business, scientific and cultural events. 

“HOST CITY 2015 aims to provide the platform for them to work together to attract, build and host the greatest events in the world, which is why we are delighted to be able to announce speakers of such a high standing in the world of major event hosting. We look forward to the expert insight and unique perspective they will add to the debate.”

HOST CITY 2015

Host City 2015 is the leading EU-based meeting of Cities and Sports, Business and Cultural Events. Under the theme of “Creative Innovation connecting Cities with Sports, Business and Culture Events” the conference is attracting the world’s leading cities, rights holders and suppliers.

Topics to be covered include:

• How Events and Cities Innovate to Thrive

• The Changing Face of Sports Governance

• Creative Marketing through Events, Brands and Media

• Tokyo 2020: Olympic and Paralympic Games Update

• Live Entertainment in the City

• The Strategic Influence of Business Events

• The Power of People: Engaging Citizens in Events

• Multi-City Events: Solution to the Sustainability Problem

• Transport and Security Strategies for Long Term Gains

• Innovations in Event Infrastructure

For further information on the panel sessions and other top class speakers confirmed for Host City 2015, please visit: http://www.bidtowin-hostcity.net

Join the conversation on social media by using the #HostCity2015 hashtag.

Dubai has won the bid to host the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) in 2019, as the city focuses on business events for its economic development.

The WNC is organised by the World Federation of Neurology, an association of national neurological societies representing 119 neurological societies in all regions of the world. 

 “Dubai has hosted several international conferences across all fields and is known for its hospitality, excellent infrastructure and world-class facilities,” said HE Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, speaking at the 22nd World Congress of Neurology in Chile in November 2015. 

“We look forward to hosting this conference in 2019 and we strongly believe that conferences are a platform that brings together experts from the region and abroad to discuss latest advances in the field. 

“Exchange of latest information and know-how is vital for growth and development, particularly in the medical field, which is ever-evolving.”

Business tourism is a large and growing global industry and an important cornerstone of Dubai’s economy.

“Conferences are big business and the number is growing worldwide, with a wider range of cities gaining market share,” said IOC Vice President Sir Craig Reedie in his opening address to Host City 2015, the leading EU-based meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events. 

Previous editions of the WNC have attracted more than 5,000 delegates. 

“Presently, in the region, there are 4000 to 5000 neurologists and this conference presents an opportunity to discuss the latest advances and treatment methods in the field,” said Dr Suhail Al Rukn, head of stroke unit at Rashid Hospital and president of Emirates Neurological Society.

“This conference will help foster collaboration and cooperation with neurologists and neurological societies in the region and abroad.”

The next World Congress of Neurology takes place in Kyoto in Japan in 2017.