Events, Organisations & Operators,

Travel trade association UKinbound is pleased to announce Amar Latif, broadcaster, entrepreneur and blind traveller as its keynote speaker for its 2022 Annual Convention, taking place in Aberdeen on 28 and 29 September.
Latif is the founder of Traveleyes, a touring company specialising in supporting blind travellers, and has presented a number of documentaries, including the BBC’s critically acclaimed Beyond Boundaries. He plans to deliver an inspiring keynote, with a focus on recovering from adversity.
Bookings officially open on Tuesday 7 June, for the event at P&J Live, which will bring together more than 200 travel trade professionals from across the industry.
Alongside the keynote, delegates will have access to two days of networking opportunities, seminars and workshops, one-to-one business meetings, and engaging discussions on the critical issues facing the industry.ADVERTISEMENTIn addition to a full day B2B workshop with one-to-one scheduled appointments and free-flow sessions, the association is excited to bring back its Awards for Excellence, to celebrate the resilience and innovation of the industry.
Joss Croft, CEO, UKinbound said “Amar is an inspirational leader that really understands the travel and tourism industry, and I’m incredibly excited he’ll be joining us in Aberdeen as our keynote address.”
Amar Latif commented “I am delighted to be attending UKinbound’s Annual Convention in Aberdeen and I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences, passions and insights with attending delegates.”
Post-convention, on the morning of Friday 30 September, delegates will also have the opportunity to join a half day Aberdeen fam trip, including a Street Art Tour and visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Additionally, buyers are invited to join an overnight fam trip from Friday 30 September to Saturday 1 October, which will showcase exciting Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, travel trade ready, bookable itineraries.

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ExCeL London has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Michelle Kemp as Director of Marketing & Communications.
With over 20 years’ of experience in the live event industry, Michelle joins the Royal Docks venue from her previous role at The ACC Liverpool Group, where she spent over a decade leading the marketing and communications team across conference, exhibition, sport and entertainment markets.
Michelle began her career working as an event organiser before moving into marketing roles for major international brands including Marks & Spencer and The Jockey Club.
As well as being responsible for growing ExCeL’s brand reach, she will also play a pivotal role in a number of upcoming major projects including the venue’s new 25,000sqm expansion programme.
Simon Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at ExCeL, commented: “With the recent launch of the Elizabeth line combined with our major expansion programme, Michelle joins us at a very exciting time, and I’m delighted to have someone of her calibre onboard. Michelle brings with her a wealth of experience – both in and outside of events – that I have no doubt will have a real impact on how we shape and grow our business over the coming years.” ADVERTISEMENTExCeL London is nominated as Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2022 by World Travel Awards.

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China National Convention Center, Phase 2 (CNCC-II) is situated in the Beijing Olympic Green Area, in north Beijing. CNCC-II is on track to begin its next phase as China’s premier international convention centre, opening in 2024.
Designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc, the centre features 420,000 square metres of gross floor area and 270,000 square metres of meeting and event space. It has a 7,300-square-metre divisible plenary hall and 30,000 square metres of exhibition floor space. The second floor has more than 35,000 square metres of function space with meeting rooms ranging from 100 to 2,000 square metres. On level three, more than 35,000 square metres of function space include three banquet halls and two gardens. 30 VIP lounges are spread across the three floors.
CNCC-II is expected to host conferences, forums, banquets, and other commercial events for up to 20,000 people, as well as exhibitions for more than 50,000 attendees. The centre complex comprises an office building, boutique retail outlets and two hotels.
The centre will have smart venue systems, from impressive LED walls to catering and cleaning robots. The centre is being built to LEED Platinum standard, and China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard or GBES 3-star, developed by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

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Destination DC attracts international groups at IMEX Frankfurt More

Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington, DC, has shared its ongoing commitment to attracting international groups at IMEX Frankfurt.
“As we continue to focus on selling DC differently, our ‘Connected’ sales positioning enables us to tap into international insights from DC’s numerous associations while providing experts and experiences that can elevate the profile of an organisation meeting in the city,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO, DDC. “IMEX Frankfurt is one of the world’s largest events for meetings and incentive travel, making it the ideal time to reconnect with planners and showcase all that we have to offer in increasing business potential and accessing new market opportunities for Washington, DC.”
DDC’s convention sales and services team attracts customers by focusing on the benefits of meeting in DC that no other city can claim – like access to policymakers, expert speakers and leaders in key industries including tech, sustainability, biotech/pharma, education and medical.
“Connected Capital continues to be an added value for groups coming to Washington, DC,” said Melissa Riley, vice president of convention sales and services. “Whether listening to a dynamic keynote speaker talk about advances in technology or being guided through meaningful experiences and hands-on workshops, corporate members benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the city’s intellectual capital.”
DDC is committed to growing the international meetings market. Among the activities, the organisation is partnering with Association World to engage the association community during the Washington Information Association Forum (WIAF) in Washington, DC Sept. 27-28. Representatives of international and American associations and non-profit organisations will gather for the first time outside of Europe to provide a peer-to-peer exchange, share best practices and design joint initiatives and strategies that result in greater impact. Aligning with DDC’s Connected Capital priorities, WIAF’s meeting will include expert speakers from DC’s associations. The event will also complement the organisation’s missions and values with a legacy project that impacts the local community in one of the world’s flagship host destinations for professional organisations.ADVERTISEMENTDC’s Convention OutlookIn 2022, there are 19 total citywide conventions (defined as meetings bringing 2,500 room nights to the city on peak), with an estimated 394,000 total room nights and an estimated economic impact of more than $265,000,000.
Sustainability is among DC’s leading sectors, as the city helps its businesses reduce their carbon footprints. Among many initiatives, the local government is committed to being the healthiest, greenest city in the U.S. with the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act, which sets a mandate of 100 percent renewable energy by 2032. As a participant of the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), DDC continues collaborating to drive recognition of sustainable practices across the global events industry. Washington, DC was named the first LEED Platinum City in the World in August by U.S. Green Building Council because of its environmentally-forward practices.
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC is the first convention center in the world to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating through the International WELL Building Institute. The designation focuses on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a Covid-19 environment now and into the future.
The ease of travel continues to add to DC’s appeal for business travelers. A $1 billion investment called “Project Journey” added new security checkpoints and a 14-gate concourse to replace busing operations at Reagan National Airport in 2021. Construction is nearing completion on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, connecting Washington Dulles International Airport to downtown DC. Plans for a $675 million 400,000-square-foot concourse with new amenities is set to begin in 2023. Dulles International Airport provides daily nonstop service from over 50 international destinations with new nonstop air service launching from Spain (Iberia), Togo (Ethiopian Airlines) and Jordan (United Airlines).

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For its silver anniversary in 2024, Grimaldi Forum Monaco is getting an incredible gift: an extension of its building that will increase exhibition space by 50% with an additional 6,000 square metres of indoor space.
Guests will also be able to enjoy more than 2,000 square metres of outdoor space, with views of the Mediterranean from the Ravel Terrace. Included in the project is a neighbouring eco-area of 6 hectares that is currently being built by the State of Monaco.
This extension, expected to be completed by 2025, will enable the venue to host larger events, have more events going on simultaneously and offer more flexibility for increasingly original event formats.

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ABTA LifeLine is looking for 10 volunteers from the travel industry to take part in this year’s Virtual TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October.
Those who sign up via ABTA LifeLine will be guaranteed a place for this year’s event and will also be helping to raise vital funds for travel industry colleagues who are in desperate need of financial, practical, and emotional support.
Volunteers of all abilities are welcome, whether they plan to walk, run or even skip the 26.2 miles. They are just asked to commit to raising £1,000 for ABTA LifeLine, with every pound going towards tailored support for an individual or family in need – whether that’s paying for a weekly food shop, covering unexpected funeral costs or providing vital mental health support.
Fundraising is easily done through Lifeline’s JustGiving page and there is lots of help and advice on the charity’s website to help support fundraising efforts.
Participants in the virtual marathon, which takes place on the same day as the main event in London, will still earn the coveted finisher’s medal and souvenir t-shirt, but can complete the race anytime on Sunday 2 October and from any location on the planet, as long as they’re outdoors.ADVERTISEMENTThey also don’t need to compete alone – if one person signs up, their work colleagues, friends and family are welcome to support them on the day. Last year Avis Budget Group’s International Travel and Partnerships Team collectively walked the marathon around Windsor Great Park and raised an impressive £2,000 for ABTA LifeLine.
ABTA LifeLine Director, Trudie Clements, said:
“If you’ve ever wondered about taking part in the London Marathon this is a great way to be part of this amazing event. It really doesn’t matter if you plan to walk, skip or wear a daft costume getting to the finish line, the most important thing is taking part and lending your support to a brilliant cause.”
Volunteers will be encouraged to share updates on their training and photos on the day on social media using the #RunForABTALifeline hashtag.
To find out more and sign up, visit the ABTA LifeLine website.

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The IAPCO Council Meeting is hosted this week by Tourism Northern Ireland in Belfast.
The international panel met with representatives from Tourism Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast, Visit Derry and ICC Belfast as well as industry professionals and key political stakeholders.  Securing conferencing and business events is deemed a critical driver in the region’s economic recovery post-Covid. 
According to Tourism Northern Ireland’s recently launched Integrated Strategy for Business Events in Northern Ireland, it is estimated that the sector could deliver £209 million in direct economic impact, and up to 2000 new jobs by 2030.
The busy programme of events, of which Tourism Northern Ireland was the Corporate Sponsor, saw IAPCO Council members sampling local hospitality and attractions including Titanic Belfast, a tour of the Cathedral Quarter and events at both ICC Belfast and the Grand Central Hotel.
Martin Boyle, Chief Executive of IAPCO commented: “The economic impact and social legacy that results from people gathering for business and professional events can never be underestimated.  It’s important for IAPCO and our members that we all work in close collaboration with destination stakeholders to ensure this remains a fundamental driver in the years to come.  “All of our attending Council members are delighted to have touched down in Belfast to connect with one another and share their experiences and insights.  We are looking forward to connecting to local event partners and to further understand the city’s capabilities for future events.  We very much appreciate the opportunity to explore Belfast and would like to thank Team Northern Ireland for co-ordinating the visit.”ADVERTISEMENTIn 2019, IAPCO members delivered 21,423 meetings and events worldwide with an economic impact of €13.8 billion.  Even through the pandemic in 2020, IAPCO members still delivered 13,300 meetings and events.
ICC Belfast hosted a business breakfast on Friday to showcase the venue as Belfast’s only purpose-built conference centre.  Ellvena Graham, Chairperson of ICC Belfast, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome the IAPCO Council to Belfast and to showcase our fantastic venue and citywide offering to our guests.  We recognise that business events are crucial to Northern Ireland’s economic development, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners, and organisations such as IAPCO to achieve the goals set out in the Integrated Strategy for Business Events.”
The Integrated Strategy for Business Events in Northern Ireland, launched by Tourism Northern Ireland in March this year, is seeking to double the number of international conferences hosted annually and attract three times the number of delegates from the UK and Ireland by 2030.
John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism NI said: “Conference and business events are a crucial part of Northern Ireland’s visitor economy and can play a major role in securing investment and job creation across the region. Our latest estimates show that the sector could deliver £209 million in direct economic impact, and up to 2000 new jobs by 2030. The Northern Ireland Business Events Strategy, sets out an integrated approach to achieve a significant increase in our share of the lucrative business events market and by partnering with IAPCO, we now have the potential to achieve this.”
He added: “As business events return, we look forward to working collaboratively with Visit Belfast, Visit Derry and ICC Belfast in rebuilding the sector. I wish all council members an enjoyable stay here and we hope you return again soon.”
Showcasing some of the city’s key venues, attractions and experiences, Rachael McGuickin Visit Belfast’s Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation said: “Business meetings, events and conferences generate vital mid-week business that helps to sustain and support hospitality and tourism businesses throughout the year.“Investment, dedicated and targeted sales and marketing and the passion and hard work of the entire industry has seen Belfast develop into a highly attractive international conference destination. Hosting such an influential group of industry leaders provides hugely positive exposure and a significant opportunity to further elevate Belfast and Northern Ireland’s presence in the global meetings marketplace. We’re confident that this landmark visit and future engagement with IAPCO by Visit Belfast and our partners will help the region win a greater share of business events in the years to come.”
Visit Derry’s Chief Executive, Odhran Dunne added: “We are delighted to welcome the IAPCO Council to Belfast and showcase Northern Ireland as a globally competitive destination for business tourism events. International meetings and conferences play an important part in the economic recovery and future growth of Northern Ireland and Derry/Londonderry. Collaborating with influential partners such as IAPCO plays a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of our business events sector and helps us achieve our ambitious goal of doubling the number of international conferences hosted annually and attracting three times the number of delegates from the UK and Ireland by 2030.”Following their departure on Sunday 29th May, the Council members will travel to IMEX Frankfurt, one of the largest trade events in the business events calendar attended by over 5,100 global decision makers with qualified buying power.

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