Christoph Tessmar succeeds Marta Gomes as ICCA President.
The global business events community has sent a clear signal about its strategic priorities. At the 65th Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in Panama City, members elected Christoph Tessmar, Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB), as their new President. At a time when the business and professional events sector is fighting for recognition as vital social and economic infrastructure, Tessmar’s appointment represents a powerful alignment between ICCA’s global advocacy mission and proven, destination-level impact.
For years, ICCA and its fellow association partners of The Iceberg – the advocacy resource presented by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) – have worked to shift the narrative surrounding business & professional events, especially the association meetings sector accessed through the ICCA database. Rather than measuring success solely through hotel room nights and delegate spend, the movement has championed the concept of “beyond tourism” value.
International association congresses are catalysts for scientific breakthroughs, trade expansion, and societal progress. Through initiatives like the ICCA Global Advocacy Pathway and The Iceberg’s extensive library of impact evidence, the sector has built a compelling case for ambassadors of the sector to present to policymakers.
Now, ICCA has chosen a leader who has already turned that advocacy theory into measurable reality.
Under Tessmar’s stewardship, the Barcelona Convention Bureau has become a global benchmark for purposeful destination management. Formalised through its dedicated Legacy Programme, the BCB systematically embeds long-term community benefits into the DNA of incoming association meetings. By aligning congress objectives with local civic needs and rigorously evaluating outcomes, Barcelona has demonstrated how international associations can leave host destinations measurably stronger. In its initial year alone, the structured programme generated direct societal benefits for hundreds of local residents, fostered cross-sector partnerships, and engaged local schools with global scientific communities.
Perhaps no single initiative captures this synergy better than the landmark “Parkinson’s Ready” project, prominently featured in The Iceberg’s Barcelona case study. Ahead of the 6th World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona, the BCB partnered with the World Parkinson Coalition and local patient advocates to train over 300 customer-facing professionals – including police officers, airport staff, taxi drivers, and hoteliers – on how to recognise and support people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Evaluated alongside impact specialists #MEET4IMPACT and documented by The Iceberg, the initiative did far more than ensure a welcoming environment for visiting delegates. It dismantled public stigma, improved everyday accessibility for the city’s own residents living with Parkinson’s, and created a permanent civic legacy long after the congress concluded. It was advocacy in action: tangible proof for municipal leaders and global policymakers that international association meetings solve real-world challenges.
By electing Tessmar, the ICCA community has chosen a president who understands that the strongest advocacy is built on authentic, verifiable impact. Having championed legacy from the front lines in Barcelona, Tessmar brings both practical credibility and visionary leadership to ICCA’s global stage – ensuring that the transformative power of international association meetings is not just understood by the industry, but championed by the world.
By James Latham, Founder & Producer, The Iceberg
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