Manya Koetse studied Japanese and Chinese at Leiden University. In 2013, she launched the English-language website What’s on Weibo, focused on analyses of trending topics in China. Last year the name changed to Eye on Digital China, and the format shifted from website to newsletter. She is an internationally sought-after analyst of developments in which China plays a role.

When it comes to international events, travel is by far the largest contributor to a high carbon footprint. At the MPI‑session ‘From A to Zero – The Circular Event Blueprint’, EY and ATPI reveal just how stark the numbers are when you truly start measuring – and how meeting professionals can make a difference step by step through data, design choices and conversations.

What makes someone a good client? Anita Nirandjan, project manager at the Dutch Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, knows the answer from personal experience. She advocates for clear objectives, long-term relationships and the courage to choose magic over a beamer and a sandwich.

After more than ten years, Willem de Kok is leaving Martiniplaza as one of the most inventive directors in the Dutch conference industry. He transformed a struggling company into a thriving organisation with a gross turnover of 25 to 30 million euros and an economic spin-off of more than forty million euros per year.

War in the Middle East and politically driven turbulence in the United States are forcing international associations to cancel, postpone or relocate. The conference sector faces a new operational reality.

With Donald Trump as the new US president, the world is facing turbulent times. What does his policy mean for the meeting industry in Europe, and is there anything noticeable yet?

The recent developments surrounding the Omnibus regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) have stirred up a lot within the events and conference sector. Due to the relax­ations, many venues are no longer subject to the CSRD obligation. Does this also mean that sustainability in the sector is going to stop? Absolutely not. Sustainability remains indispensable, driven by visitor and client expectations as well as the sector’s intrinsic motivation.

The past years, Royal Jaarbeurs has increased its activities on the international market, and this renewed focus is showing great success. With a growing number of international conferences, this Dutch venue is positioning itself as a major player. Account manager Corry Neggers talks about the steps the company is taking to achieve their goal of becoming Europe's most distinctive venue for international conferences & trade shows, the challenges involved and future plans.