The so-called “knowledge economy” facilitating informal information exchange during events is one of the silent sufferers of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Geoff Donaghy, CEO of Sydney’s International Convention Centre. Speaking to BEN last week, Donaghy while there were clearly tangible impacts on jobs and economic downturn pulverising the industry, also of concern was the lack of incidental encounters which come with in-person gatherings.

Communities have a wealth of knowledge and assets within themselves, which if understood and nurtured by practitioners and policymakers, has the potential to strengthen resilience and enable prevention-focused services

For those who are new to the industry, or not sure where to go for assistance or further information on running events and conferences during different levels, here is a link to the current information via each of the industry associations

In 2030 will we look back and wonder why, as a society, we ever let businesses produce, sell and distribute products without taking any responsibility for the environmental impacts once they left the factory gates? If you’re a conference or event organiser in Aotearoa New Zealand, what questions are you asking your suppliers to ensure future environmental stewardship?

Last year, we became experts in video calling, virtual conferencing, remote working, and health & safety. This year, we need to continue building capacity in our people to ensure they have the skills to tackle the significant challenges our events and conference sectors are facing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

While today's report 'Not 100% - but four steps closer to sustainable tourism' is new, the message is not. Tourism in Aotearoa New Zealand has created considerable environmental, social, and cultural pressures.

Reviewing and resetting our environmental impacts, working closer with communities and mana whenua, and financially investing in environmental mitigation will help ensure we have a sector that is viable and sustainable long term.

In December, we hosted a workshop on the Future of Hybrid Conferencing. The purpose, to understand the challenges of hybrid & virtual conference and how it has impacted the sector, share innovative ideas and technology, and develop a uniquely New Zealand destination experience for future hybrid & virtual delegates.

Montréal based Meet4Impact, and The Tenth Letter’s international collaboration partner celebrates their second anniversary with the launch of a brand new website. Meet4Impact’s founder Geneviève Leclerc has been the leading voice of impact for international associations and business events globally.