INTERNATIONAL NEWS12 . www.conference-news.co.uk . May 2012April GBTA partners with German business travel associationGERMANY - The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and VDR, the German business travel association, have entered into partnership.As part of the deal, Hans-Ingo Biehl, VDR's Executive Director, will fulfi l the role of lead advocate for GBTA in Europe.San Diego realignment of convention marketingUSA - The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is transferring its citywide sales and marketing efforts to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, effective 1 July 2012.The move allows the destination to be more effective in the national group meetings market by providing a unifi ed sales and marketing programme for the entire San Diego region.QNCC up and running with 52 events under its beltQATAR - The newly-opened Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), has hosted 52 events involving 30,000 visitors since its opening at the end of 2011. The estimated delegate spend from overseas visitors is already QR41m (US$11.2m).Major events booked in this year include the 25th Universal Postal Congress (UPU) in September and October 2012.MEA claims to be fi rst conference to ban PowerPointAUSTRALIA - Industry association Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) claims to be the fi rst organisation to ban the "traditional use of PowerPoint-style presentation at a major conference". The MEA says, given its role in advising clients how to communicate effectively at events, it has long questioned whether speakers who read out bullet points provide a useful experience. Regus expands into AfricaMADAGASCAR - Workspace provider Regus has opened its fi rst business centre in Madagascar, its 95th country.It will help businesses of all sizes to access new revenues in East Africa. The growth of the network is helping more companies to open up revenue streams in Africa's markets, without the high upfront costs. CIBTM research points to increase in outbound meetingsCHINA - Reed Travel Exhibitions' international meetings industry event for the Chinese market, CIBTM, has published research indicating a growth in outbound events from China.Nearly three-quarters (74%) of buyer respondents surveyed, and 52 per cent of suppliers, forecast an increase in the volume of outbound events they will organise over the next 12 months.EUROPEMIDDLE EASTAUSTRALASIAASIAAMERICASTap into www.conference-news.co.uk's sister website, www.c-mw.net for the latest international meetings industry news. AFRICA

Sanna Annukka has created the third in a series of commemorative artworks. Find out more at www.olympia.co.uk