A Reflection on the role of IBTM World in the supporting cast of Business Events:
IBTM World has always been a crucial indicator of success within the Business Events Sector. The 2024 edition validated post-pandemic barometer with a notable 15% year-on-year increase in visitor numbers.
The Significance of IBTM World
Presenting a flagship global event for event planners comes with a significant responsibility, claimed its exhibition director, Claudia Hall, who reinstated the association advocacy and association sector debating chambers of the event including a Forum for Advocacy in partnership with The Business of Events, and an Association Leaders Forum in partnership with ESAE (the European Society for Association Executives) and the Amsterdam Convention Bureau.
Igniting the Debate
With his opening keynote at the Forum for Advocacy, PCMA’s President & CEO, Sherrif Karamat, intentionally sparked debate suggesting that governments should be “coming to us”, to use the Business Events Sector to achieve their policies across all Departments and Ministries – and not just the Tourism Ministries, many of whom joined the meeting.
The Forum for Advocacy presented an opportunity to drive consistency of message
Defending the Sector
In response, Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI, robustly defended the sector’s representative organisations, including the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), over which he presided for four years.
Call for Consistency and Collaboration
Senthil Gopinath, ICCA chief executive and EIC chair, emphasized the need for a consistent voice and message through collaboration across all representative organisations and associations, a sentiment echoed by Jane Cunningham, Director of European Engagement at Destinations International as her organisation prepares to open in Dublin later this month.
Preparing for New Administrations at the ibtm world Association Leaders Forum
In conjunction with the Forum for Advocacy, IBTM World collaborated with the European Society for Association Executives (ESAE) and the Amsterdam Convention Bureau to prepare for new administrative bodies, including that of President Trump in the U.S. The Economist questioned potential challenges, highlighted by Andrea Doyle at Skift Meetings with her article on Medical Meetings and the NIH‘.
Foreboding and Resolve
Amy Hissrich, Director of International Affairs at the American Society of Association Executives, expressed a sense of foreboding but remained resolute. She reaffirmed that associations are non-governmental, mission-driven organisations dedicated to serving their members’ best interests, regardless of policy changes.
A sense of foreboding among association leaders prevailed in Barcelona
IBTM World 2024 not only demonstrated the resilience and growth of the Business Events Sector but also underscored the sector’s responsibility to influence and adapt to global governance and policy shifts.
Resources:
From Destinations International: Destination Professionals Day Toolkit
