Opinion

Generic World Cup image

July 15, 2026When the hosts start writing the rules ...James Lancaster asks what lessons international bodies can learn from the FIFA World Cup 2026Read More

How do we sustain a currently unsustainable industry

August 23, 2022A tale of two scenarios: How do we make an unsustainable industry, sustainable?A scenario-based report on has suggested that the global business events sector cannot return to a ‘business as usual' model if it’s to become a genuinely sustainable industry.

A road in the Rocky Mountains, USA

June 24, 2022Editor's blog: the rocky road to recoveryDuring the pandemic, uncertainty - and the stress it caused – was a daily torment of association meeting planners.

Coronavirus mannequins wearing masks

May 11, 2022Did Covid change everything? No. But don't bank on 'return to normal' just yetMeeting planners are hailing a return to in-person meetings. That's great news. But delegate behaviour has changed.

Why is the meetings industry so quiet on Ukraine

February 28, 2022Why is the meetings industry so quiet on UkraineIt’s been five days since Russia launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, a European democracy and the place 44 million people call home. A country that had done nothing to threaten its assailant.

‘Finally we start again’: Gastroenterology congress restarts Leipzig events

September 28, 2021‘Finally we start again’: Gastroenterology congress restarts Leipzig eventsThe Viszeralmedizin conference on the study of Gastroenterology marked the restart of large events for the east German city of Leipzig.

Flying in The Next Normal: the golden rules you need to know

September 28, 2021Flying in The Next Normal: the golden rules you need to knowThere has always been an element of stress to any international travelling experience, whether it’s forgetting to pack your phone charger, getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport or leaving your passport on the table at the over-priced terminal coffee shop.

Power of meetings: how a chance conversation led girl guides to become beekeepers

July 30, 2021Power of meetings: how a chance conversation led girl guides to become beekeepers

The IOC has revolutionised its bidding process: will associations do the same

July 22, 2021The IOC has revolutionised its bidding process: will associations do the sameIn the end it was a formality, but that didn’t stop the celebratory firework display or the spontaneous celebrations that erupted in the streets of Brisbane after the city was named host of the 2032 Olympics - joining the queue behind Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028).

Host cities: will the pandemic change the rules of engagement

June 25, 2021Host cities: will the pandemic change the rules of engagementThe relationship between international associations and the cities who host their meetings has never been entirely straightforward. Although generally a happy and fruitful one, it has been beset by the same thorny issues that crop up in any relationship that is essentially transactional in nature.

Smiling group of women

May 13, 2021Community is great so long as events don’t get lost in the mixOne of the peculiarities of the internet is how it has connected individuals across previously unimaginable orbits, while simultaneously leading people to lead more atomised, separated lives. This tension has forced us to rethink what we mean by community and what we have gained and lost in relation...Show More