Events, Organisations & Operators,

Booking.com is kicking off the summer with a spectacular Pitch View Penthouse at Wembley Stadium, for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ Final. The football-themed penthouse will be bookable as a one-night-only sleepover experience, for two lucky guests, at the final on Sunday 31 July, plus best view seats to the game.
Booking.com is the Official Accommodation Booking Partner of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™, which takes place across nine cities in England, from 6 –31 July, with the final being played at Wembley Stadium in London.
With just nine days until the start of the tournament, stunning computer-generated 3D images of how the Pitch View Penthouse will look, have been released, to give both seasoned fans and those considering their first foray to a football stadium, a taste of this atmospheric apartment.
The Penthouse can now be viewed online, and will become bookable, at a reservation fee of just £20.22, on 6 July at 10am BST, the same day as England kick off against Austria in the opening match of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™.
On entering Booking.com’s Pitch View Penthouse, guests will be greeted by the sound of cheering crowds, emulating the adulation players hear when they are walking out onto the pitch. The space then opens up into an eye-catching pitch-themed bedroom and living area.  In addition, the amazing penthouse has its own private balcony, with the best seats in the house, giving guests a stunning vantage point to watch the final.  ADVERTISEMENTThe ultimate overnight football experience will kick off with a chauffeured drive to Wembley Stadium, where they will be met and taken on a behind-the-scenes stadium tour. Booking.com ambassador and former England player Karen Carney, will also be on hand to welcome the guests to the exclusive Booking.com Pitch View Penthouse.
The lucky guests will enjoy VIP hospitality at the Pitch View Penthouse, and all the live match action from their private terrace; before retreating for the night, surrounded by unhindered views of the pitch, in this once in a lifetime experience. The morning after the final, guests will be invited to an exclusive pitch-side breakfast.
Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com, said: “We’re so excited to be listing this incredible ultimate football stay experience for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ Final. Creating these memorable moments and first time experiences is so important to us at Booking.com. The Pitch View Penthouse at Wembley will be the perfect place for guests to enjoy a special night, at what is set to be a fantastic football tournament.  We believe travel enriches people’s lives, especially live sport events which inspire more people to experience the world around them, and I’m sure UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ will provide many unforgettable moments for football fans in Europe and around the world.”
Booking.com’s partnership with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ is part of the travel brand’s global strategic partnership with the Union of European Football Associations, in which Booking.com is the exclusive accommodation booking partner for all UEFA National Team Football events.

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The World Tourism Organization presented its initiatives in audio-visual tourism and its vision regarding the future of the sector. With the support of the World Tourism Organization, the 6th edition of Conecta Fiction & Entertainment was inaugurated, an event on the co-production and networking of series and entertainment content for television organised by the Government of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Turismo Castilla-La Mancha and the Castilla-La Mancha Film Commission.
The main objective of Conecta Fiction & Entertainment is to promote investment and high-quality audio-visual productions through the exchange of good practices, innovative projects and training workshops with experts in the sector.
During the event’s opening session, Ion Vilcu, Executive Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members, said: “Tourism and the audio-visual industry have a natural link. Travellers connect directly with the sites where films and television series are made, which gives these places added value to support the sustainable development of the tourism sector.”
For her part, the Minister of Economy, Business and Employment of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Patricia Franco Jiménez, highlighted the importance of strengthening the positioning of the region as an attractive destination for international production companies. In addition, she underlined that “the audio-visual sector helps us strengthen the tourism indicators we have in the region, such as the number of employees, which has reached the highest figures recorded, only behind 2019”.
Among the participants in this event of international significance in the audio-visual industry are companies such as Movistar, HBO Spain, RTVE, Netflix, Rai and Mediaset Spain.ADVERTISEMENT

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The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Finnish Nurses Association (FNA) have announced that they will co-host the 2025 ICN Congress in Helsinki, Finland.
The 2025 ICN Congress will be the organisation’s 30th Congress, and exactly 100 years since Finland hosted its last ICN Congress in 1925.
Dr Nina Hahtela, FNA President said: “We are extremely proud to co-host this remarkable Congress and to invite colleagues from all over the world for a few days of empowerment through learning, sharing and a common experience – to build long-lasting experiences and friendships. The Finnish Nurses Association highly appreciates collaboration with the ICN and we are thrilled to present the best in Finnish nursing and hospitality. We warmly welcome all nurses to beautiful Helsinki! Tervetuloa – welcome!”
ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano added: “ICN is excited to be returning to Helsinki 100 years after our last Congress in Finland! The Finnish Nurses Association is one of our oldest members, having joined ICN in 1909. We look forward to working closely with Dr Hahtela and her team to plan this event and unite the nurses of the world.”
ICN received some very strong applications from national nursing associations wanting to host the Congress. Following a rigorous assessment, the ICN Board of Directors selected Helsinki as the site for the 2025 Congress.ADVERTISEMENT

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Malaysia’s premier purpose-built venue, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has been voted as the Winner of EventseumTM Hall of Fame’s 2021 Global Innovation Award for Convention and Conference Centers for the region of Asia, at the recent IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Global Innovation Awards highlight specific innovation that differentiates one venue from another while celebrating the venue’s overall commitment to innovation. The Centre is one of the four global winners, each representing key regions in the business events industry.General Manager of the Centre, Alan Pryor, said, “Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is honoured to have won this inaugural award. This recognition strengthens our position as the perfect choice for international organisers and planners to host their major regional and global congresses, exhibitions and meetings. We are further motivated to keep pushing the envelope, as a venue and an important infrastructure of our city, in contributing to Kuala Lumpur’s and Malaysia’s 2030 and 2050 sustainability agenda.”
The Centre’s zero-energy rainwater harvesting systems leveraging the building’s architecture harvests up to 60,000 gallons of rainwater per year, its landmark partnership with URBANICE Malaysia, a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cities and Community Wellbeing, and its commitment to sustainability impressed the EventseumTM global judging panel.
This award comes on the heel of another global recognition that awarded ‘Muslim-Friendly Convention & Exhibition Centre of Year’ to the world-class venue by Halal in Travel Awards 2022, held in conjunction with Halal in Travel – Global Summit 2022 in Singapore. Aimed at celebrating the travel industry players’ efforts towards the growth of halal travel, these awards span four categories and recognise destinations, organisations, companies and individuals who have made a considerable impact on the Muslim travel segment.
“As a leader in the global business events industry and Malaysia’s premier venue, we are inclusive, sensitive and conscientious of our stakeholders’ and guests’ needs and this award is a testament to our commitment to providing quality services to all,” concluded Pryor.ADVERTISEMENTOne of the country’s most iconic mosques, Masjid As-syakirin or better known as KLCC Mosque, is within walking distance of the Centre while the venue itself houses a number of prayer rooms. The Centre’s vast customisable spaces can also be transformed into prayer rooms and ablution areas based on event needs. All of its five kitchens are Halal-certified and over the years the Centre has been the venue-of-choice for many high-profile Islamic events such as the 9th Muslim World Biz and the meeting of leaders of Islamic nations, the KL Summit 2019.
At the same awards where Malaysia is also named the ‘Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year’, H.E. Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture of Malaysia (MOTAC) delivered a keynote speech.

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Tourism leaders from across Asia and the Pacific have placed building resilience and embracing innovation at the heart of the sector’s restart and sustainable future.
The 34th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (34th CAP-CSA), was held as destinations across the region begin welcoming back international tourists. The region was hit first and hit hardest by the pandemic’s impact on tourism as many countries maintained strict restrictions on travel. Now, as UNWTO data confirms a 64% increase in international arrivals in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, the high-level meeting of sector leaders identified the key challenges and opportunities ahead.
UNWTO’s Work in the Region
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili provided an overview of tourism trends and statistics, both for the region and globally, followed by an update on the Organization’s work in the months since the previous Joint Commission meeting (hosted virtually by Spain in 2021). He stressed the importance of working together to lift travel restrictions, with coordination key to restarting tourism and for restoring confidence in international travel. “For many millions of people across Asia and the Pacific, tourism is an essential lifeline. Its return is vital and must be based around the pillars of inclusion and sustainability, for the benefit of all”, he said.
The meeting was the first in-person gathering of the CAP- CSA for two years and brought together representatives of 19 Member States, as well as from UNWTO’s network of Affiliate Members. Welcoming delegates, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism of the Maldives and Chair of the Joint Meeting, added: “Though the road to recovery is still uncertain and many challenges remain, global coordination through similar platforms will open up the opportunity to build back more comprehensively towards a sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector for the future.”ADVERTISEMENTResilience through InnovationThe 34th CAP- CSA was held in the Maldives as the country celebrated 50 years as an international tourism destination. Against the backdrop of the Golden Jubilee, the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives and UNWTO also partnered to host a Ministerial Roundtable on Tourism Resilience through Innovation and Digitalization in Asia and the Pacific. Recognising the vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic, the discussion explored ways in which new technology and new ideas can help better protect tourism against shocks including future pandemics as well as extreme weather events.
Concluding the joint meeting, Member States voted to hold the next gathering in Cambodia in the first semester of 2023. On the back of the high-level meeting, UNWTO will host a two-day Global Summit on Community-based Tourism, bringing public and private sector experts together to focus on the potential of gastronomy tourism, agro-tourism and community-based tourism for sustainable and inclusive development.

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Conference Leeds, the conferencing bureau for the city of Leeds, has announced a partnership with Professional Conference Organisers and Association Management Company, Mosaic Events.
The partnership will further strengthen Leeds’ conferencing proposition and the city’s ability to offer unrivalled support to organisers who are hosting their events in the city. Mosaic Events is based in York and has over 20 years of event management experience. Having worked on a huge variety of events, they have the skills to meet any challenge or objective from delegate management, to full virtual and hybrid event logistics management.
The partnership comes at a time which sees the conference and event sector go from strength to strength, as the city and its venues continue to work endlessly to ensure that organisers and their delegates experience exceptional in the city. As a result, the city has secured a number of conference successes for 2022 and beyond, including CHS Leeds which took place in May, The 8th International Conference on Concrete Repair, Concrete Technology and Durability, which returns to the city in June and the Pancreas society of Great Britain and Ireland Conference in November.
On the partnership Sarah Bryne, Director at Mosaic Events said: “Leeds is a city that is thriving across many key sectors and has huge ambitions as a leading UK meeting and events destination. Working with the team at Conference Leeds, we are committed to helping organisers deliver events that are well attended, well received by delegates and are commercially successful.”
Claire Heap, Head of Conference Leeds said: “Over the last 10 years Leeds has established itself as one of the UK’s leading conference destinations. The city has undergone a massive transformation and is rich with history and heritage. We are thrilled to partner with Mosaic Events. Their services and skills in the areas of event management and association management, as well as their knowledge of Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region, means they are perfectly placed to support event organisers choosing Leeds for their next conference.”ADVERTISEMENT

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Public and private leaders have been called on to unite behind the Jeddah Call to Action, a commitment to align with UNWTO’s approach to rethink tourism governance at every level to keep adapting to the challenges faced by tourism as a global driver for recovery.
On the back of the 116th session of its Executive Council, held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UNWTO set down a marker for the future of global tourism. With the pandemic having showed the systemic vulnerabilities of the sector, the United Nations specialised agency called for the construction of a new and reimagined system of governance and financing with the aim of building resilience against future shocks while also making tourism more sustainable.
Governance and visibilityIn Jeddah, UNWTO continued with its tradition of complementing the important deliberations of its Executive Council with an open discussion on the biggest challenges and opportunities for the sector. The Forum “Tourism Futures – New Governance and Advocacy”, featured two distinct sessions – “Towards a New Tourism Governance” and “Raising Tourism’s Visibility” outside of the sector.
“Now is the time to think big”, said the UNWTO Secretary-General welcoming delegates and speakers. Zurab Pololikashvili stressed the need to “realise tourism’s unique potential to drive recovery, provide opportunity and build resilience, through better and stronger governance and focusing on jobs, training and education”.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, commented: “We cannot recover backwards. Now is the time to capitalise on this heightened recognition and to position tourism as an essential pillar of transformation, development and opportunity.” The Minister also reiterated the Kingdom’s plans to invest US$100 million in training 100,000 young tourism workers.ADVERTISEMENTDiverse voices around a shared goalIllustrating the diversity of UNWTO’s Membership, the high-level Thematic Debate featured contributions from Ahmed bin Aqil Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism Saudi Arabia, Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism and Recreation Côte d’Ivoire, Carlos Peguero, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dominican Republic, Tomohiro Kaneko, Vice Commissioner of the Japanese Tourism Agency, Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism of Kenya, Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Greece, and Tonči Glavina, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, Croatia.
Similarly highlighting the broadness of the sector and UNWTO’s reach of influence, the Ministers were joined by high-level representatives from business, destinations, media and communications, namely from Euronews, PRM Global, Interbrand, Netcom, Amadeus and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGGA). Referencing the shared desire to get tourism moving again, Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the DGDA, noted, “We may not share the same ideology, we may not share the same theology, but we share the same biology”, highlighting a universal desire to travel and connect with other cultures.
Providing the perspective from the media, Ruth Wright, Head of Tourism and Lifestyle Verticals at Euronews stressed that viewers still demand certainty as the “perception amongst travellers is definitely still that travel is difficult and stressful.” As a result, content focused on rules and regulations remains relevant, even as human-led tourism stories becomes more popular. “Travellers are yearning to get back to the day when travel was fun, carefree and full of unexpected surprises,” she added.
From Jeddah to the worldWith the discussions emphasising the importance of taking a whole-government approach to tourism policy, with finance and interior ministries also part of the sector’s governance, Secretary-General Pololikashvili urged participants and all UNWTO Executive Council members advance this important agenda for positive change.
The Jeddah Call to Action recognises the vital need for more and better tourism governance, with targeted investments and a focus on building resilience, advancing sustainability and expanding education and training. It forms part of UNWTO’s wider work ensuring the recognition of tourism reflects the sector’s unique social and economic importance, including through making it a key part of the work of the United Nations and securing the cooperation of governments, international organisations and financial institutions.

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Organisers of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) have announced its full programme of seminars and speakers at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), 14-16 June 2022.
More than 30 aviation industry experts will come together at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) – the only global event dedicated to the cabin interiors industry – to speak at this year’s CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme. Representatives from Finnair, Inflight Dublin, Inmarsat, Safran Seats, Cirium, Polygiene UK, ATR Aircraft, Sustainable Aero Lab, Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance (IAMA), Deutsche Lufthansa AG and more will share their insights and expertise on the cabin of tomorrow and beyond from 14-16 June 2022.
Witness the latest innovations in cabin interiorsRunning over three days, the free-to-attend seminar programme will shine a light on the most pressing topics impacting the cabin interiors sector – from the implementation of retrofit projects; making sustainable aviation a reality; to designing a collaborative experience between seatback and personal electronic devices; streamlining connectivity; and the latest cabin interior hygiene innovations. Attendees will also learn of the current market challenges and outlook for the sector, with an exclusive market outlook briefing from Ascend by Cirium.
CabinSpace Live – Panel Discussion
The necessity of green businessAs a topic continuing to dominate the aviation sector, sustainability will be one of the themes covered in this year’s CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme. A panel discussion, led by Lukas Kaestner, Co-Founder, Sustainable Aero Lab will explore the road to becoming a net-zero industry, and how new technologies, players and mindsets will all play a role. Kaestner will be joined by representatives from Lufthansa CleanTech Hub, ATR Aircraft and the ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research and President of the German Aeronautical Society (DGLR).ADVERTISEMENTSustainability will also be discussed when experts from EH Aviation Advisors and AMAC Aerospace come together to discuss business and VIP jet interior trends. The session will delve into the latest ideas making waves in the most luxurious of aviation sectors, from sustainability to aesthetic trends and technology, and the potential for their application in commercial aviation settings.
Creating accessible air travelAccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the proportion of the world’s population over 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. Population ageing is a global phenomenon and its impact on the aviation sector will be examined in a session with experts from Flying Disabled, Acumen and Collins Aerospace. Together they will question the impact of a global ageing and less mobile population; if airlines should reconfigure the cabin to keep them flying; and the fiscal impact of removing just one seat to facilitate accessible lavatories.
New trends and IFEC capabilitiesThe use of digital technologies has skyrocketed over the past three years, having a profound impact on passenger expectations, and as a result, airlines’ IFEC offering. Two sessions at CabinSpace LIVE will examine these changes. Speakers from Finnair and Inflight Dublin will address how airlines can design a collaborative experience between seatback and personal devices to become more responsive to passenger needs. Meanwhile, a panel featuring experts from SmartSky Network, Inmarsat, SatCom, SES and One Web will reflect on passenger expectations for connectivity in the air, as they experience it at home, and what suppliers, airlines and business jet operators need to do to offer a streamlined connectivity experience whilst on the move.
Anti-microbial technologies and cabin hygieneWith passengers placing an increased focus on cleanliness and hygiene, the CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme will help attendees understand how to improve cabin interior hygiene with antimicrobial technologies. Experts from VX Consulting, Polygiene UK and MGR Foamtex will clarify what antimicrobial technology is and how it can be used to complement cleaning regimes, the difference between disinfectant and antimicrobial, as well as virus and bacteria. Furthermore, the session will highlight where the technology should be considered, with examples from material suppliers, including E Leather and MGR Foamtex, that incorporate the technology into their products.
CabinSpace Live 2019
A path of success for women in aviationA dedicated session at CabinSpace LIVE will celebrate the successes of women in aviation and reflect on the steps businesses can take to help create a better, smarter, more efficient and diverse industry overall. The panel, featuring speakers from ATR, SmartSky Networks, LLC, Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter (ICAA) and Safran Seats, will delve into the impact of traditional gender roles on women in the industry today, how companies can recruit more women and keep them, as well as creating a workplace environment that is inclusive and accommodating.
Celebrating the Crystal Cabin Awards winnersAttendees at the CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme can also hear directly from this year’s Crystal Cabin Award winners. Presenting their innovative winning concepts, attendees can discover the most innovative solutions recognised by the judging panel in eight categories, including Cabin Concepts, Cabin Systems, Health & Safety, IFEC & Digital Services, Material & Components, Passenger Comfort, Sustainable Cabin and University.
Innovation takes centre stageIn addition to a packed educational programme, more than 600 cabin interior suppliers will return to Aircraft Interiors Expo this June. Filling eight halls of the Hamburg Messe, it highlights the commitment from an industry excited for the opportunity to network and demonstrate their latest products.
Attendees at AIX will also benefit from its co-location with World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). Drawing a wider audience to the show, the co-location with WTCE and the Passenger Experience Conference offers attendees a 360° view of the industry, and a comprehensive platform to identify products and services from all corners of the industry.

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