Newsletter – May 2024
Size isn't everything - it's what you do with your meetings that matters most
May always marks the return to Frankfurt of the meetings industry's most important trade show, IMEX, featuring destinations large and small from all around the world, every manner of supplier and tech start-up, as well as thousands of event organisers and decision-makers from agencies, companies and associations, and a crowd of executives from every meetings-related association under
the sun.
But size and scale aren't the big story this year: instead, the focus is on purpose, relevance, engagement, on maximising societally positive impacts whilst minimising negative environmental ones. The provocative theme of this year's IMEX Policy Forum is "Good Meetings not More Meetings", and "Impact" has been selected as the overall talking point for the whole of IMEX, something that is reflected in topic and speaker choices throughout the main education programme and in the hundreds of activities run by partnering organisations.
Because so many associations view their major meetings as the most important sources of financial surpluses to fund other activities, we often push unthinkingly for volume growth and maximum attendance, we cram schedules full to bursting point with content, we attempt to sell every square meter of exhibition space and every potential sponsorship package. But if associations haven't already radically reimagined and redesigned their events post-pandemic to refocus on what's truly important ("good" not "more"), for the association, its mission, and all its members and other stakeholders, 2024 is definitely the year to allocate some serious Board time, creativity and resources to this task!
I look forward to seeing many of you in Frankfurt for some fascinating and challenging discussions!
Martin Sirk
Global Association Hubs International Advisor
ms@associationhubs.org
Let's talk more seriously about group dynamics within our associations
Our latest article in media partner Boardroom magazine (an edition themed on Recruitment & Retention issues) makes the argument that the "individual member" is the wrong unit of account when analysing why members and organisations join, stay, or leave an association. Far more important are the relationships between the members themselves, their collective responses to association policy or commercial offerings, and the stimulation and facilitation of circles of trust and shared interest.
This implies that a more accurate and realistic model of how association recruitment and retention operates will be far more complex and dynamic than the transactional ROI model used by most associations.
Please read the article for lots of ideas on how to cut through this complexity and enhance your recruitment and retention performance.
Just a few days till we meet at IMEX!
Over 200 international associations are expected to attend this year's IMEX Association Focus programme on the afternoon of Monday 13 May, and Global Association Hubs partner cities will all be exhibiting at IMEX in Frankfurt this year from 14 to 16 May. Look us up on the IMEX website and arrange an appointment.
Brussels (visit.brussels Convention & Association Bureau) - stand E120
Dubai (Dubai Business Events/Dubai Association Centre) - D520
Singapore (Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau) - C360
Washington DC (Destination DC Convention Bureau) - C160
Coming to Brussels in just over a week: European Association Summit 2024
It's the last chance to register for this annual educational event organised by and for ESAE members, whilst also being accessible for non-member association executives, taking place on Wednesday 22 May, and followed immediately by the second edition of the European Association Awards evening, which Global Association Hubs is proud to be co-sponsoring. View the education programme and register here!
Brussels co-working options for associations with global remote-working teams
Having "boots on the ground" is vitally important for today's globally ambitious associations, and non-European associations can now easily set up flexible operations in the home of the EU's most important institutions, thanks to this wonderfully diverse collection of co-working venues.
From the former HQ of CBR cement company to start-up hubs, from creative industry specialists which include music and art studios alongside more traditional working space to remote-work stalwart Regus, there's a perfect venue for every type of association. Brussels even offers three co-working venues exclusively for women executives.
Dubai Association Centre's "Going Global" Roadshow hits the road!
DAC's roadshow is this week in Washington DC on 7 May and Montreal on 9 May, and will be coming to Brussels on 11 June and London on 13 June, with dates to be announced later in the year for Singapore and Hong Kong editions. International associations can now register to participate in peer-to-peer exchanges and topic-expert input on a range of key strategic issues and challenges, designed and curated by Tracy Bury from Operandi Consulting, and will have opportunities to meet the DAC team to learn more about association developments in the Gulf region and beyond.
Check out this LinkedIn post by Amy Hissrich, VP International Affairs at ASAE about her experiences at the first event in Washington DC. Proof positive that well-designed workshops with thought-provoking, critical-issue discussions are the ideal way for destinations to engage with association leaders.
Sustainable Singapore releases new standards
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) has officially released the GSTC MICE Criteria, developed with the support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). These criteria, tailored for Venues, Event Organizers, and Events & Exhibitions, aim to guide businesses in adopting sustainable practices within the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
The GSTC MICE Criteria represent a significant step towards establishing global sustainability standards for the MICE industry, aligning with the increasing emphasis on sustainable tourism. They are designed to provide a common framework for sustainable practices and are structured around four pillars: Sustainable management, Socioeconomic impacts, Cultural impacts, and Environmental impacts.
This dovetails Singapore’s MICE Sustainability Roadmap which was launched in 2022, demonstrating clear commitments towards sustainability goals and providing local guidelines for MICE stakeholders to enhance sustainability performance and host sustainable events.
Citywide transformations underway in Washington DC
It's easy to make assumptions about cities that you think you already know, and with its amazing roster of world-renowned landmarks, DC is particularly susceptible to outdated or inaccurate opinions!
To update your knowledge, please read this article on just some of the incredible new developments and major renovations that are currently underway or which have recently opened. In total over $93 billion is being invested in these projects!
Highlights include new museums and galleries, such as the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the more frivolous Museum of Failure (!); there's a new accessible electric shuttle downtown and massive expansions at Dulles Airport; reimagined industrial sites such as the historic McMillan Sand Filtration Facility will revitalise neighbourhoods and draw in visitors; and there are new parks and
public spaces being brought to life, such as DC's first elevated public park, built on the piers of the 11th St Bridge spanning the Anacostia River.
Many of the new developments will include dedicated spaces for association meetings and delegate networking events, of course, including the 1932 Folger Shakespeare Theatre reopening later this year, and global scientific institution the National Geographic Society's renovated HQ campus, reopening in 2026. Contact the DC team to learn how to use them!
We are proud supporters of The Iceberg, showcase for the societal and economic impact of international meetings, and their always thought-provoking newsletter, Business Events World. Click here to view the latest edition, packed with information about new studies on the impact of association meetings both within the host destination and more widely.
