News10 / ConferenCe & Meetings World / issUe 66hosted buyers will benefit from Site organised education at AIBTM 2012REED TRAVEL EXHIBITIONS100PCMA Summit in GlasgowUK - The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced it will launch its inaugural Global Corporate Summit in Glasgow, 22-26 July 2012.The summit is an invitation-only event for senior global corporate planners and will be sponsored jointly by the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) and Visit Scotland. PCMA has 6,300 members worldwide and is headquartered in Chicago. It has 17 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with members in 35 countries.Connecting Venues launchEUROPE - A Dutch events agency, Connecting Venues, has launched an office in the UK to tap into the lucrative meetings and events markets in both countries. The agency includes venue finding, event and destination management in both The Netherlands and the UK.Connecting Venues hopes to take advantage of the trend for many companies to work with local suppliers or destination management companies (DMCs) directly instead of working with an organising agency in order to reduce costs.Jumeirah at Etihad Towers opens its doorsDUBAI - Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, Jumeirah Group, has opened its first hotel and conference centre in the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.Consisting of 382 rooms and suites, 199 fully-serviced residences, 12 restaurants, bars and lounges, Talise Spa and one of the largest conference centres in Abu Dhabi, the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers stands 280 metres tall.The conference centre can accommodate up to 1,400 delegates in a conference setting or 1,000 for a seated banquet dinner.In briefAUSTRALIA - Peter King has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). King joins the centre from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, one of the largest event and venue management organisations in Australia, where he was Chief Executive. In his role at the Royal Agricultural Society, King oversaw the Royal Easter Show and has played a leading role in securing Government investment for the new AU$65m (US$65.7m), 25,000-seat Main Peter King new Chief Executive of MCEClucky to attract an executive of Peter King's experience and quality to the crucial Chief Executive role at the MCEC," Trust Chairman Bob Annells said. "He brings great insight and a tremendous track record of achievement in venue management and international marketing amongst many other attributes. "With his valuable range of skills, Peter will be instrumental in providing higher level strategic planning and management input as the MCEC business grows," he added.Tokyo retains most expensive city spotWORLD - According to ECA International's annual Cost of Living Survey for 2011, Tokyo remains, for the second time running, the most expensive city for expatriates.The findings also saw all of Australia's major cities place in the top 30 most expensive rankings with Sydney in 15th place.UK - Two-thirds of business travel buyers are still not green, according to a survey by the UK Business Travel Show, organised by Centaur Media at Earls Court, London.The survey found that 68 per cent of UK business travel buyers do not have a green buying policy in place. Of the 252 business travel buyers surveyed, less than one third admitted to have a green buying policy, and only 12 per cent said they had plans to grow one. Of the buyers who don't have a policy, one fifth claimed they were planning to get one.Business travel ECA is a staffing and buyers not greenemployee management services company and bases its cost of living indices on surveys using a basket of day-to-day goods and services. The goods and services include food, drink and tobacco; miscellaneous goods; services; clothing; electrical goods and motoring; meals out.Olympic security fearsUK - The US has raised concerns about security at the London 2012 Olympic Games and is preparing to send up to 1,000 of its agents, including 500 from the FBI, to provide protection for America's contestants and diplomats, according to The Guardian newspaper, in London.American officials have reportedly expressed deep unease that the UK has had to restrict the scope of anti-terrorism stop and search powers.Arena Stadium. He replaces Leigh Harry, who left the MCEC to take up the role of CEO at Tourism Victoria in August. "The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust had been EUROPE - European Cities Marketing (ECM) has announced that Garry White will be its new Chief Executive Officer.ECM represents 125 city tourism office and convention bureau members across 100 major cities in 32 countries.He will take up office in March 2012 when John Heeley, incumbent interim CEO, will step down.White pursued a career in hotel management before joining Visit Britain in 1999.New CEO for ECM