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The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) is set to welcome the world’s leading mathematicians in 2030, when Glasgow hosts the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) for the first time.The Congress, which is held every four years and will see thousands of mathematicians and delegates from around the world gather in Glasgow, includes the presentation of the prestigious Fields Medal, which featured in the Oscar-winning movie ‘Good Will Hunting’.Often described as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics”, the Fields Medal is awarded to between two and four mathematicians under the age of 40 in recognition of outstanding mathematical achievement.The prestigious accolade was a central reference point in the classic movie which told the story of a mathematical genius hiding in plain-sight and received a slew of Oscar nominations in 1998 and saw Robin Williams win Best Supporting Actor and Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Best Original Screenplay.The successful bid to bring the ICM to Glasgow was supported by academics from the University of Glasgow, built around a broader and ambitious vision of accessibility, collaboration and global participation and the message: ‘People Make Mathematics’.For the SEC, securing the Congress enhances its reputation as a destination for some of the world’s largest and most influential academic gatherings. The Campus recently hosted the AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting in February 2026, attracting more than 6,500 scientists, students and policymakers to Glasgow. It was the first time the biennial event had been held outside the United States.Also in 2026 the SEC welcomed the 63rd European Renal Association (ERA) Congress, which set an all-time attendance record with 10,680 registrations and a record-breaking number of scientific submissions.Dawn Lauder, Director of Conference Sales at the SEC, said: “Securing the International Congress of Mathematicians is a fantastic achievement for the SEC and reflects the talent and determination of our team and our ability to deliver world-leading conferences here in Glasgow.“ICM is one of the most prestigious events in the international academic calendar, and the fact that it will be held in Glasgow for the first time makes this particularly special.”Dominic McKay, CEO of the SEC, said: “The ICM is a truly global event, bringing together some of the world’s leading mathematical minds. Our ambition has always been to put the SEC and Glasgow firmly on the international stage for major conferences, and this further demonstrates the strength of that ambition. From the AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting to the European Renal Association Congress, we have shown that Glasgow can host the very best in international science and academia and ICM 2030 will stand as another landmark moment.”Professor Michael Wemyss, Chair of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow, said: "It is a great honour to have been selected by the IMU General Assembly to host the General Assembly 2030 in Dublin, and the ICM 2030 in Glasgow. This brings a generational opportunity to game-change the profile of mathematics in the UK, Ireland and beyond, and to welcome mathematicians from all over the world to collaborate in 2030.“We are particularly proud that our message that People Make Mathematics resonated with the delegates, and that they shared our vision that international collaboration can be fostered in a compact city, where many informal interactions can occur. We passionately believe Glasgow and the SEC will be the ideal congress venue, with its warm and friendly atmosphere, and its values emphasising the importance of people and collaboration."Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism & Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau, Destination Glasgow, said: “Glasgow hosts more international conferences than any other UK city outside London, delivering over £200m in economic benefit from delegate spend annually. However, it's the beyond economic benefit that attracts prestigious academic meetings to our city, such as ICM 2030. Associations are keen to be connected in with the world-leading research from the city's academic institutions, such as the University of Glasgow, who led the bid with partners across the UK and further afield."
2nd September 26, Manchester, UK: As event organisers continue to balance tighter budgets, evolving delegate expectations and the need to deliver more with less, CHS Manchester is bringing together an exhibitor line-up designed to help them do exactly that.The inaugural show will welcome an impressive mix of international hotel brands, iconic venues, destinations and specialist suppliers, giving visitors the opportunity to compare options, discover new ideas and build relationships with the people behind them.Global names including IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Marriott Hotels UK, Meliá Hotels International, Treehouse Hotels and Dakota Hotels will be joined by renowned venues including Allianz Stadium, Magna, ODEON, The Jockey Club Venues and Renaissance at Kelham Hall.Meanwhile, destination partners including Destination Milton Keynes and West Midlands Growth Company will showcase their regions, while specialist organisations including Conference Works, Sterling Event Group, Bright Vision, Venues of Excellence, Axxiom Hospitality, Kingfisher Hospitality, RBH Hospitality Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Legends and Mad Swans complete a line-up that reflects the breadth of today's events industry.Emma King, CEO of CHS Manchester, said: "There is a real energy coming from our visitor community ahead of CHSA Manchester this year. They have events to fulfil, they want to do business, and they’re coming to the show to get things done. I’m so pleased that we have the exhibitors, the people and the personalities to meet this demand, to fulfil some big expectations from planners, and create real momentum in the industry. It’s a great line-up.”Alongside the exhibition, visitors can also take advantage of a packed education programme and networking opportunities delivered with industry partners including NOWIE, beam, mia, SITE, Fast Forward 15 and Evolve, ensuring every conversation extends beyond the exhibition floor.
1st September 26, UK: GES is launching a major creative activation at this year’s AEO Conference, designed to both celebrate and shine a light on the people, personalities and ideas shaping the exhibition industry.‘GES Live… from the AEO Conference’ will see GES create a fully functioning broadcast studio at the Vox, Birmingham, on 3 September, interviewing speakers, VIPs and industry leaders live from the heart of the event. The activation has been created in partnership with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and underlines the brand’s support for both the conference and the wider industry.The studio will have the feel of a sporting broadcast, a place where the action comes back to the studio, conversations continue, and the people behind the event get their moment on screen. Interviews and reactions will be captured throughout the day, with selected content broadcast across GES and AEO social channels during the conference and more released in the days and weeks that follow.Anna Golden, Chief Executive, AEO, commented, “GES is a great partner to the AEO and have really embraced what the conference is about this year. GES Live will give us another way to celebrate the brilliant people and thinking within our industry, while creating content that can take those conversations beyond the day. It’s a fantastic example of a partner bringing its ideas and expertise to the event and making the experience richer as a result. We can’t wait to see the studio go live.”GES Live GES Live has been created using VICO, one of the four designs within The Edit, GES's curated range of premium stand concepts launched last year. Designed to offer exhibitors a more considered, design-led presence, VICO has been reimagined for the AEO Conference as a live broadcast studio and content hub, extending its role beyond the exhibition floor to become a platform for content, conversation and industry insight.Penny Banks, Creative Director at GES, said: "We're incredibly proud to support the AEO Conference, not just through sponsorship, but by actively contributing to the event experience itself. The exhibition industry is built on great people, great ideasand great conversations, and GES Live is our way of helping bring those moments to life to share them with a wider audience. Using VICO as the foundation for the studio felt like a natural fit. It's a great example of how thoughtful design can be adapted to serve a completely different purpose.”GES are also planning one more reveal for the day too, with conference attendees the first to get a sneak peek at a new creative identity ahead of its wider launch post-event.GES Live… from the AEO Conference will broadcast from the Vox, Birmingham, throughout the AEO Conference on 3 September 2026.
1st September 26, London, UK: The days of conferences, networking receptions and gala dinners existing as separate event formats are beginning to fade, as organisers increasingly combine elements of each into a single programme.The trend is particularly evident among returning clients. Around 40% of repeat bookings at London Hilton on Park Lane have evolved beyond their original format, incorporating new culinary concepts, entertainment or production elements to refresh the delegate experience.Aaron Testo, director of groups, conferences & events at London Hilton on Park Lane, said: "Challenging the status quo of a conference, awards dinner or networking event has become a major focus for many of our clients."We're seeing a move towards events that achieve several objectives in one programme, rather than hosting multiple events with individual goals. Clients want delegates to learn, connect, celebrate and build relationships during the same event. That naturally creates a blurring of traditional event formats."The shift is also influencing how organisers approach catering and networking, with food increasingly viewed as a way to bring people together rather than simply provide refreshments."The more engaging and creative a networking opportunity is, the stronger the turnout and the longer people stay," Aaron said. "That's increasingly what our clients are trying to achieve."We're seeing growing demand for interactive food concepts and more social styles of dining because they naturally encourage movement, conversation and connection. It's often where the best conversations happen."Aaron adds that organisers are looking for ways to evolve traditional formats without losing the sense of occasion that makes face-to-face events memorable."People still value moments that feel special, whether that's an awards ceremony, conference or client event," he said. "But they also want those moments to feel more social, immersive and memorable."The most successful experiences aren't built around entertainment or catering for their own sake. Every element should have a purpose. Whether it's live chef stations, personalised food experiences inspired by the destination or interactive entertainment, they should all help people connect, collaborate and leave with something worth talking about."Ultimately, organisers aren't trying to reinvent conferences or awards dinners. They're looking at how every part of an event can contribute to the overall experience and help people get more from being there."