Insight: Issue 169 | Wed 31 Jan

Month One – Done!

Yes indeed Event Profs, it’s been a long, lonely (and decidedly breezy) month, but it’s almost February and we’re almost at the back of that dastardly January. For all you Dry January-ers (new word) out there…..you made it – ching ching!

For this week’s Events news round up, we have; Olympia net zero action plan reveals emissions need to fall by 71%; How data & digital upskilling can help run successful exhibitions in 2024; World-first venue combines sliding roof, pitch and LED wall; AI focused research highlights need to upskill; and Industry Perspectives: Exhibit Pros Weigh In on CES 2024.

Olympia net zero action plan reveals emissions need to fall by 71%

Olympia London has published its action plan for achieving net zero by 2050, as per the terms of the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge.

After signing up for the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge in 2021, Olympia London took on environmental consultancy JRP Solutions to audit the venue and help plan the steps to becoming a net zero business.

Siân Richards, head of sustainability at Olympia London said: “We recognise we’ve got such a long way to go to meet our 2050 objective and we estimate we’ll need to reduce our emissions by 71% by 2035 to achieve it.

“We’ve learnt that our Scope 3 indirect emissions account for 63% of our carbon footprint so this will be a major area of focus. There’ll be lots of challenges and tough decisions along the way. However, our roadmap now sets us off on that pathway and gives us clear areas of focus.”

How data & digital upskilling can help run successful exhibitions in 2024

The latest episode of The Event Industry News podcast is now live, where James Dickson engages in a captivating conversation with Emily Clark from Informa.

This time, they unravel the secrets behind running a stellar exhibition in 2024, focusing on the pivotal role of data and digital upskilling.

Click below to check it out, or visit the Event Industry News website.

World-first venue combines sliding roof, pitch and LED wall

The world’s first fully integrated venue with a combined retractable roof, pitch and LED wall is set to be built in Saudi Arabia.

Designed by architecture practice Populuous – which also designed the Sphere in Las Vegas – the architectural innovation will be seen at the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium in Qiddiya City.

The design of the stadium was revealed last week by the board of directors of the Quiddiya Investment Company. Located in Qiddiya City, atop the 200-metre high Tuwaiq cliff and just 40 minutes from Riyadh, the stadium is expected to host some of Saudi Arabia’s biggest sports, entertainment and cultural events and will draw visitors from around the world.

Abdullah bin Nasser Aldawood, managing director of the Qiddiya Investment Company, commented: “Our ambition is for Qiddiya City to become a global destination for entertainment, sports and culture and this iconic new stadium will be at its very heart. The futuristic venue aims to reinvent the traditional stadium concept and embody the true spirit of Qiddiya’s Power of Play philosophy. It uses state-of-the-art technology and innovative, world-leading design to put the spectator at the centre of the experience”.

AI focused research highlights need to upskill

A comprehensive white paper authored by The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism has been released, highlighting the accelerating integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the global association conference and event sector.

It underscores the need for widespread upskilling in the use of the technology and a need to understand the ethical implications of its use.

As the article from Conference & meetings World highlights, the key findings are:

63% of associations and not-for-profits are already utilising AI in event organisation

A significant knowledge gap exists, with 72% not engaging in AI education

85% have no budget for AI training

The research was conducted, and Adam Baggs wrote the white paper from Soaring Worldwide on behalf of The Hague Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism.

Industry Perspectives: Exhibit Pros Weigh In on CES 2024

From show-stopping activations to AI-powered touchpoints, CES is the window into the future of experiential marketing and inspiration for the design, engagement strategy and wow factor for the rest of the year and beyond.

But what stood out? Event Marketer magazine asked experiential design and fabrication experts to provide the rundown on the event – click here to read more.

Another events news roundup comes to a merry end….

tip of the hat and we’ll catch you all next week.