The grand opening of Oodi, a new library, public space a centre for events, ties in with Finland’s Independence Day celebrations this week.

A hospitality tech event in Dubai is deploying a robot to launch proceedings, in what could be a first for the meetings industry.

Stockholm Arlanda Airport and United Spaces have unveiled a pop-up version of the flexible meeting spaces opening in 2019.

The Estonian Convention Bureau and Visit Estonia are launching a new campaign this week at IBTM.

A competition has been opened for architects to create an extension to Gothenburg’s Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre.

Convene says it is continuing to generate strong interest in the Baltic region, fuelled by a generous Hosted Buyer programme.

Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace is collaborating on five-star hotels at Bluewaters, a “revolutionary addition to Dubai’s luxury hospitality scene”.

The Swedish capital is named in the 2018 Global Destinations Index, while other markets are listed as trending for 2019.

The “great success” at the Danish-Swedish first edition will be followed up with a second event next October.

The complete modernisation of Helsinki’s biggest conference and events venue is part of a big vision for the area.

The Climatorium would “protect the asset of salt water”, host conferences and exhibitions and work with the area’s other tourist attractions.

Karen Østerbye transitions from Icelandair’s PR chief for Scandinavia to a new job at the region’s second-biggest expo venue.

Anki Sandberg of the Trollhättan Convention Bureau is excited about the future for Sweden’s network of convention bureaus.

The first Nordic MICE Summit, to be held in Malmö, is due in early November. “We think we’ve hit the spot,” say the organisers.

The large new conference hotel will be in an area earmarked for waterside urban redevelopment in the city.

Baltic cities do well in this ‘best meeting destinations of 2018’ roundup, although northern Europe is mostly ignored.

The CastaDiva Resort & Spa will be rebranded to complement the global group’s existing Milan hotel.

At the Cubex Centre Prague, it’s even possible to hang a car or heavy technology from the ceiling.

“A year’s worth of business and networking opportunities in just 48 hours” is promised at the AIR Convention 2018.

The tax should raise €2.28 million in its first year, to be reinvested in promoting business travel to the city.