Leading industry associations, publishers, and events respond to JMIC rallying call as The Iceberg announces Founding Partners.
London, 11th October 2016.
James Latham of specialist industry agency, Fred Productions, today announced the launch of The Iceberg – a 2-year industry campaign platform and distribution network promoting the value of meetings and business events to governments and business/professional communities worldwide.
The Iceberg and its fortnightly e-newsletter, Business Events World, will commence in January 2017. It will be crowd funded and distributed by strategic industry and non-industry partners.
Founding Partners were also announced.
Peng Ee Ooi of IT&CM Events (pictured left) and James Latham announce The Iceberg collaboration at IT&CM Asia in Bangkok
Providing access to co-existent case study archives, research, white papers, and economic impact data, the new channel will lead with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC)`s academically rigorous series of case study events titled: The Value of Meetings Case Study Program.
This series, to be published through 2017-19 by the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), will inform governments and their policymakers of the broader knowledge transfer, trade, professional development, healthcare, and other societal outcomes that derive from hosting business and professional events – the result of investments in meetings infrastructure and destination marketing on the part of government.
The case studies will also provide end user insight into business and professional outcomes resulting from meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions.
Joachim Koenig, President of JMIC, said of the announcement, “The communications component of the JMIC Case Study Program has always been seen as a critical element in the overall initiative. Successfully creating The Iceberg as a vehicle to promote program results will make a huge difference to the impact we achieve”.
JMIC is developing tools to support government and their communities
“Both our colleague James Latham, who initiated and promoted the platform, and JMIC members who have put their support behind this initiative are to be congratulated on stepping up to advance not just this specific program but the overall industry objective of demonstrating the extent to which meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions support a whole range of global economic and societal priorities”, he concluded
As a global resource, The Iceberg and Business Events World will further provide access to the industry`s leading information, association, education, and event resources whilst creating a shared global economy for the campaign partners.
The Iceberg provides a shared global economy for partners
Latham confirmed he had received overwhelming support from the channel`s Founding Partners as it prepares for launch in January next year.
Announcing the launch of The Iceberg and Business Events World at IT&CMA in Bangkok alongside head of IT&CM Events, Peng Ee Ooi (pictured), Latham confirmed; “the industry leadership has overwhelmingly rubber-stamped JMIC`s decision to proceed with its Value of Meetings Case Study Program by funding its hosting platform and collaborating to distribute the outcomes,” he said.
Industry collaborates to advance the role of business events
Speaking as an Iceberg partner, Ooi stated; “Every supporting partner is committed to positioning the value of the meetings and business events industry, including but especially beyond its contribution to travel and tourism.”
“There has been tremendous work supporting the economic impact of the industry since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 when the industry was unable to immediately pinpoint its value and relevance. The subsequent impact data – in terms of return on investment, sales tax, visitor spend, and employment have illustrated our importance, especially to business tourism and the hospitality and travel suppliers who help to facilitate these meetings. TTG Events applauds JMIC`s Value of Meetings Case Study Program which has galvanised support to move the industry further up the value chain and reveal the legacies it delivers – in trade, in healthcare advancement, and the transition to a knowledge economy. At IT&CM and CTW Events, we are delighted to be featuring in the supporting cast”, said Ooi.
Providing access to co-existent case study archives, research, white papers, and economic impact data, the new channel will lead with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC)`s academically rigorous series of case study events titled: The Value of Meetings Case Study Program.
This series, to be published through 2017-19 by the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), will inform governments and their policymakers of the broader knowledge transfer, trade, professional development, healthcare, and other societal outcomes that derive from hosting business and professional events – the result of investments in meetings infrastructure and destination marketing on the part of government.
The case studies will also provide end user insight into business and professional outcomes resulting from meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions.
Joachim Koenig, President of JMIC, said of the announcement, “The communications component of the JMIC Case Study Program has always been seen as a critical element in the overall initiative. Successfully creating The Iceberg as a vehicle to promote program results will make a huge difference to the impact we achieve”.
JMIC is developing tools to support government and their communities
“Both our colleague James Latham, who initiated and promoted the platform, and JMIC members who have put their support behind this initiative are to be congratulated on stepping up to advance not just this specific program but the overall industry objective of demonstrating the extent to which meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions support a whole range of global economic and societal priorities”, he concluded
As a global resource, The Iceberg and Business Events World will further provide access to the industry`s leading information, association, education, and event resources whilst creating a shared global economy for the campaign partners.
The Iceberg provides a shared global economy for partners
Latham confirmed he had received overwhelming support from the channel`s Founding Partners as it prepares for launch in January next year.
Announcing the launch of The Iceberg and Business Events World at IT&CMA in Bangkok alongside head of IT&CM Events, Peng Ee Ooi (pictured), Latham confirmed; “the industry leadership has overwhelmingly rubber-stamped JMIC`s decision to proceed with its Value of Meetings Case Study Program by funding its hosting platform and collaborating to distribute the outcomes,” he said.
Industry collaborates to advance the role of business events
Speaking as an Iceberg partner, Ooi stated; “Every supporting partner is committed to positioning the value of the meetings and business events industry, including but especially beyond its contribution to travel and tourism.”
“There has been tremendous work supporting the economic impact of the industry since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008 when the industry was unable to immediately pinpoint its value and relevance. The subsequent impact data – in terms of return on investment, sales tax, visitor spend, and employment have illustrated our importance, especially to business tourism and the hospitality and travel suppliers who help to facilitate these meetings. TTG Events applauds JMIC`s Value of Meetings Case Study Program which has galvanised support to move the industry further up the value chain and reveal the legacies it delivers – in trade, in healthcare advancement, and the transition to a knowledge economy. At IT&CM and CTW Events, we are delighted to be featuring in the supporting cast”, said Ooi.
Playing on the analogous image of The Iceberg, used by the industry to illustrate the enormity of what rests beneath the tip of its travel and hospitality dividend, The Iceberg will serve as a gateway to case studies, white papers, and research with complimentary access to the world`s leading industry information, education, and event resources.
“The Iceberg is an `open source` to share any example, or story, which places face to face communications at the heart of a sustainable city, business community, or wider knowledge economy,”
The Iceberg partners will distribute access to a fortnightly e-newsletter, Business Events World, via their online communications and social media networks.
“Our industry should be at the core of any strategy which targets the transition to a knowledge and creative society”, confirmed JMIC executive director, Rod Cameron.
“We must illustrate value beyond the immediate visitor economy – in collaborative research, in exports, in talent acquisition, in reputation management and business growth across all sectors of innovation”, he added.
By the time the initial 2-year collaboration concludes in 2019, it is anticipated that The Iceberg will host access to at least 24 academically rigorous case studies across every genre of business or professional event and across multiple industry and government sectors.
“The Iceberg is an `open source` to share any example, or story, which places face to face communications at the heart of a sustainable city, business community, or wider knowledge economy,” said Latham, “Trust and connectivity among knowledge based individuals and communities is where the growth curve begins. This is why business and professional events are such essential forms of connectivity”, he concluded.
Next steps: Industry to join The Iceberg
The Iceberg will be inviting partners from industry, intra-governmental agencies, and the wider business media to join the industry movement.
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