On 4th February 2021, the EU CVB Network hosted a Virtual Happy Hour for a group of Professional Congress Organisers. It was one in a series of virtual networking sessions that the Network has hosted in the last couple of months. It was attended by some of the most influential people in the industry from AIM Group International, Kenes Group, K.I.T. Group and MCI Group.
\n\u2018\u2019I could feel the strong combination of collaboration and knowledge sharing of this new dynamic network. A group of valuable CVBs committed to exploring and enhancing innovation facing the new challenges of PCOs and associations,\u201d says Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, Vice President AIM Group International.
\nThe EU CVB Network consists of seven convention bureaux representing the cities of Florence, Gothenburg, Ljubljana, Lyon, Rotterdam, Salzburg and Val\u00e8ncia.
\n\u00a0Discussions about forming a collaborative convention bureau network started a couple of years ago, between a group of destinations sharing common characteristics. While the destinations sometimes compete for the same meetings, they recognised the benefits of working in collaboration with each other. It was with a community spirit they got together last year, and with a strong belief that by working together and generously sharing knowledge, experiences and best practice, they would all benefit, and so would their clients.
\n\u201cThe EU CVB Network is a great new initiative. Destinations are cooperating rather than competing which can create new opportunities for event planners. The small group allows for personalised interaction and can only add value when looking for future destinations.
\nIt already triggered a couple of opportunities,\u201d says Valerie Thiollet, Team Manager, Specialty Congresses Department, at the European Society of Cardiology.
\nThe Network offers organisers of international meetings the opportunity to get in touch with seven cities at once. The destinations share many common characteristics, not only when it comes to compact city centres and centrally located meeting facilities. They all have a strong collaboration with the local community, a focus on sustainability and innovation and they offer a personal approach and a commitment to engage with associations and PCOs in the process of redesigning meeting solutions in a post-Covid era. Their geographical spread means they can suit a European association\u2019s rotation pattern and be suitable for multi-hub events, as all destinations have invested in the technological infrastructure required to meet the needs of tomorrow.
\n\u201cI was very excited to hear about the new EU CVB Network. It is really fantastic to have such a collaboration between great meetings destinations that can support PCOs in the new norm of our meeting industry,\u2019\u2019 says Ori Lahav, Vice President Client & Operations Kenes Group and President IAPCO – International Association of Professional Congress Organisers.
\nThe Network’s first joint event took place in Brussels in March 2020. It attracted great interest amongst Brussels-based association representatives. With the corona crisis, the collaboration moved online. The destinations share experiences on a regular basis and the Network has been an important support system in a difficult time. Apart from hosting virtual networking events, the Network has held several virtual business leads exchange sessions, with successful outcomes.
\n\u00a0\u2018\u2019The EU CVB Network has provided great opportunities for me to exchange ideas and share experiences with other associations. The Network also opens new ways for me to get to know other locations better, to have a direct contact and built-in trust. It saves me a lot of time and communication in the research to find a suitable destination and venue for our events. The Network builds on experience and the destinations support each other without competing. The CVBs and convention centres are already informed about our association from past events in an EU CVB Network destination and can build their offer on it and, at the same time know what our focus is. For me as an event organiser, that is a big plus,\u2019\u2019 says Melanie Decker, Director Events & Exhibitions at Parenteral Drug Association Europe.
\nLike many others, the EU CVB Network has had to postpone some of its face-to-face activities in 2021, but it is planning to host another joint physical event for associations and join the main MICE events throughout the year. In the meantime, the Network is actively working on future association meetings and to create new business opportunities for international congresses.
\nTo get in touch with the EU CVB Network, please contact one of the convention bureau representatives:
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The post Collaboration Before Competition \u2013 Meet the EU CVB Network appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "The EU CVB Network introduces itself to the top players of the international meetings industry with a series of virtual events. An opportunity to present the benefits of the collaborative convention bureau network to associations and PCOs.\nOn 4th February 2021, the EU CVB Network hosted a Virtual Happy Hour for a group of Professional Congress Organisers. It was one in a series of virtual networking sessions that the Network has hosted in the last couple of months. It was attended by some of the most influential people in the industry from AIM Group International, Kenes Group, K.I.T. Group and MCI Group.\n\u2018\u2019I could feel the strong combination of collaboration and knowledge sharing of this new dynamic network. A group of valuable CVBs committed to exploring and enhancing innovation facing the new challenges of PCOs and associations,\u201d says Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, Vice President AIM Group International.\nThe EU CVB Network consists of seven convention bureaux representing the cities of Florence, Gothenburg, Ljubljana, Lyon, Rotterdam, Salzburg and Val\u00e8ncia.\n\u00a0Discussions about forming a collaborative convention bureau network started a couple of years ago, between a group of destinations sharing common characteristics. While the destinations sometimes compete for the same meetings, they recognised the benefits of working in collaboration with each other. It was with a community spirit they got together last year, and with a strong belief that by working together and generously sharing knowledge, experiences and best practice, they would all benefit, and so would their clients.\n\u201cThe EU CVB Network is a great new initiative. Destinations are cooperating rather than competing which can create new opportunities for event planners. The small group allows for personalised interaction and can only add value when looking for future destinations.\nIt already triggered a couple of opportunities,\u201d says Valerie Thiollet, Team Manager, Specialty Congresses Department, at the European Society of Cardiology.\nThe Network offers organisers of international meetings the opportunity to get in touch with seven cities at once. The destinations share many common characteristics, not only when it comes to compact city centres and centrally located meeting facilities. They all have a strong collaboration with the local community, a focus on sustainability and innovation and they offer a personal approach and a commitment to engage with associations and PCOs in the process of redesigning meeting solutions in a post-Covid era. Their geographical spread means they can suit a European association\u2019s rotation pattern and be suitable for multi-hub events, as all destinations have invested in the technological infrastructure required to meet the needs of tomorrow.\n\u201cI was very excited to hear about the new EU CVB Network. It is really fantastic to have such a collaboration between great meetings destinations that can support PCOs in the new norm of our meeting industry,\u2019\u2019 says Ori Lahav, Vice President Client & Operations Kenes Group and President IAPCO – International Association of Professional Congress Organisers.\nThe Network’s first joint event took place in Brussels in March 2020. It attracted great interest amongst Brussels-based association representatives. With the corona crisis, the collaboration moved online. The destinations share experiences on a regular basis and the Network has been an important support system in a difficult time. Apart from hosting virtual networking events, the Network has held several virtual business leads exchange sessions, with successful outcomes.\n\u00a0\u2018\u2019The EU CVB Network has provided great opportunities for me to exchange ideas and share experiences with other associations. The Network also opens new ways for me to get to know other locations better, to have a direct contact and built-in trust. It saves me a lot of time and communication in the research to find a suitable destination and venue for our events. The Network builds on experience and the destinations support each other without competing. The CVBs and convention centres are already informed about our association from past events in an EU CVB Network destination and can build their offer on it and, at the same time know what our focus is. For me as an event organiser, that is a big plus,\u2019\u2019 says Melanie Decker, Director Events & Exhibitions at Parenteral Drug Association Europe.\nLike many others, the EU CVB Network has had to postpone some of its face-to-face activities in 2021, but it is planning to host another joint physical event for associations and join the main MICE events throughout the year. In the meantime, the Network is actively working on future association meetings and to create new business opportunities for international congresses.\nTo get in touch with the EU CVB Network, please contact one of the convention bureau representatives:\n\nFirenze Convention Bureau Ilenia Pasi: pasi@conventionbureau.it\nGothenburg Convention Bureau, Ulrika Scoli\u00e8ge: scoliege@goteborg.com\nLjubljana Convention Bureau, Tatjana Radovic: radovic@visitljubljana.com\nLyon Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Faustine Maugat: fmaugat@lyon-france.com \nRotterdam Partners Convention Bureau, Maaike Hamann: Hamann@rotterdampartners.nl\nSalzburg Convention Bureau, Elisabeth Kassanits-Pfoess: pfoess@salzburgcb.com\nValencia Convention Bureau, Manuel Ferris: ferris@visitvalencia.com\n\n \nThe post Collaboration Before Competition \u2013 Meet the EU CVB Network appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2021-02-11T17:01:48+01:00", "date_modified": "2021-02-11T17:01:48+01:00", "author": { "name": "Mirjana Novitovic", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/officebs/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/slika-.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/EU-CVB-Network-Happy-Hour-PCOs-4.2.2021.jpeg", "tags": [ "convention bureau", "EU CVB network", "meetings industry", "virtual events", "Convention Bureaus", "Hot topics", "MUST READ", "NEWS", "News and events", "WHERE AND WHY" ], "summary": "The EU CVB Network introduces itself to the top players of the international meetings industry with a series of virtual events." }, { "id": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/eventex-connect-the-online-trade-show-for-live-virtual-and-hybrid-events-is-back-this-november/", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/eventex-connect-the-online-trade-show-for-live-virtual-and-hybrid-events-is-back-this-november/", "title": "Eventex Connect \u2013 The Online Trade Show for Live, Virtual and Hybrid Events is Back This November", "content_html": "For 11 years Eventex has been galvanizing the event industry with inspiration, knowledge and strong business connections. Now the team is announcing the next edition of their grand online trade show Eventex Connect, where they expect over 5000 participants from 80+ countries. The announcement is welcome news for exhibitors and buyers who wish to connect without the hassle of live events in the state of a global pandemic.
\nThe pilot edition of the online trade show was focused only on virtual event solutions and was conducted in June. Eventex Connect hosted participants from 70 countries and tons of highly productive 1:1 video meetings. Over 38% of all approved exhibitors were suppliers of event tech, more than 11% production suppliers, and another 9% representing various event venues and hotels across the globe.
\n\u201cThe feedback from the first Eventex Connect was so overwhelmingly positive that we felt inclined to make another iteration of the trade show. The new edition will be bigger and better in every way. We\u2019re eager to provide the platform for exhibitors from all over the world to feature their products and services on the biggest stage, in front of some of the biggest names in the meetings and events industry.\u201d – adds Ovanes Ovanessian, Co-founder of Eventex.
\nThe Eventex team are quite ambitious about Eventex Connect and promise to raise the bar even higher. Among the host of exciting changes are a brand new platform for b2b matchmaking and an enhanced format that improves on the winning formula from the first edition. The ultimate aim is to make it easier for businesses to connect with the right people, at the right time, in a safe environment.
\nRegistration for Eventex Connect is free. To find out more about the online trade show visit https://eventex.co/connect/.
\nThe post Eventex Connect – The Online Trade Show for Live, Virtual and Hybrid Events is Back This November appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.
\n", "content_text": "The leading online trade show for live, virtual or hybrid events Eventex Connect promises to create many new business opportunities for the global event community.\nFor 11 years Eventex has been galvanizing the event industry with inspiration, knowledge and strong business connections. Now the team is announcing the next edition of their grand online trade show Eventex Connect, where they expect over 5000 participants from 80+ countries. The announcement is welcome news for exhibitors and buyers who wish to connect without the hassle of live events in the state of a global pandemic.\nThe pilot edition of the online trade show was focused only on virtual event solutions and was conducted in June. Eventex Connect hosted participants from 70 countries and tons of highly productive 1:1 video meetings. Over 38% of all approved exhibitors were suppliers of event tech, more than 11% production suppliers, and another 9% representing various event venues and hotels across the globe.\n\u201cThe feedback from the first Eventex Connect was so overwhelmingly positive that we felt inclined to make another iteration of the trade show. The new edition will be bigger and better in every way. We\u2019re eager to provide the platform for exhibitors from all over the world to feature their products and services on the biggest stage, in front of some of the biggest names in the meetings and events industry.\u201d – adds Ovanes Ovanessian, Co-founder of Eventex.\nThe Eventex team are quite ambitious about Eventex Connect and promise to raise the bar even higher. Among the host of exciting changes are a brand new platform for b2b matchmaking and an enhanced format that improves on the winning formula from the first edition. The ultimate aim is to make it easier for businesses to connect with the right people, at the right time, in a safe environment.\nRegistration for Eventex Connect is free. To find out more about the online trade show visit https://eventex.co/connect/.\nThe post Eventex Connect – The Online Trade Show for Live, Virtual and Hybrid Events is Back This November appeared first on SEE Business travel & meetings magazine.", "date_published": "2020-08-05T11:11:02+02:00", "date_modified": "2020-08-05T11:11:02+02:00", "author": { "name": "Milica Novak", "url": "https://www.seebtm.com/en/author/milicanovak/", "avatar": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Milica-Novak.jpg" }, "image": "https://www.seebtm.com/wp-content/uploads/Eventex-connect.png", "tags": [ "Eventex Connect", "hybrid events", "live events", "virtual events", "Hot topics", "MUST READ", "NEWS", "News and events" ], "summary": "The leading online trade show for live, virtual or hybrid events Eventex Connect promises to create many new business opportunities for the global event community." } ] }