As Canada’s capital celebrates winning URSI GASS 2032 (the 38th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science), Ottawa Tourism has reported, during IMEX America, a 50% increase in international association enquiries over the past year, highlighting the success of its long-term bidding strategy. From CMW…
What happens when an association’s impact continues long after we have stopped watching? Ksenija Polla explores how Women Deliver conferences have helped spark political commitments, mobilise communities and advance the rights and health of women and girls, and considers why the true impact of a meeting often unfolds months or years later.
Association leaders and meetings industry professionals gathered in Athens for the latest edition of ICCA’s Future of Healthcare Meetings, held 20-22 September at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, with a clear message: stop calling it sponsorship, use AI strategically and rethink supplier-buyer relationships. From Boardroom…
AMI’s James Lancaster poses an existential question for anyone involved in business events advocacy: what if the reality for most business event organisers doesn’t align with the messaging of the industry that supports them? If we place too much emphasis on the society-wide and host destination-specific benefits, are we failing to deliver sufficiently authentic messaging?
Senior executives from the global convention centre-community recently gathered in Bilbao for the AIPC Annual Conference, under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Venues Connecting Human Experience and Innovation.” But beyond the technology on display and the venues discussed, one question dominated: what is a congress now expected to achieve, and for whom? From Boardroom…
When a late scheduling change threatened to disrupt BSG LIVE’25, TFI Lodestar united with Glasgow Convention Bureau and the Scottish Event Campus to turn challenges into opportunities. Discover how destination collaboration boosted international attendance, enhanced accessibility, championed sustainability and extended health education into the local community, creating lasting impact beyond the congress. From IAPCO…
Organised by the Association of Association Executives, the Associations World Congress took place in Portugal this year, setting up camp at the Lagoa Congress Centre and the Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort for three days of debate, collaboration, and an industry doing some serious reckoning with its own future. From Boardroom…
Drawing on decades of experience representing associations, Thomas Reiser argues the most successful destinations are no longer simply selling venues and hotel rooms; they are becoming strategic partners that help associations advance their missions, connect with local expertise and create lasting impact. Stronger collaboration between associations and destinations has never been more important.
Held alongside the 2026 European Congress on Gynaecological Oncology, the ESGO Legacy event convened leading experts, policymakers, patient advocates and industry representatives in Copenhagen to advance sustainable improvements in women’s cancer care. “Imagine a Europe where your address no longer determines your survival,” outgoing ESGO Vice-President Associate Professor Maja Pakiz said as she opened the…
In conjunction with Gothenburg hosting the AC Forum Annual Meeting 2026, Gothenburg Convention Bureau and AC Forum collaborated to design a joint impact project. The initiative aims to strengthen the destination’s understanding of international associations and their meetings, build local capacity to attract and host international congresses more effectively, and foster stronger partnerships with associations.
Citizen engagement was the prime objective of this initiative by the European Network of Living Labs, who transformed Andorra la Vella’s main square into a conference space, earning them the Event Innovation Award at the European Association Awards 2026. A great example for other associations aiming to break out of their traditional “bubble”. From Boardroom…
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
In April, Lagos became a meeting point for the global childhood cancer community, hosting the CCI Africa Annual Conference 2026, held alongside the SIOP Africa 2026 Congress. Government representatives, civil society organisations, medical institutions, researchers, survivors, families, and strategic partners gathered to improve quality of care, quality of life, and childhood cancer outcomes. From CCI…
The congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis demonstrates the impact of Barcelona Convention Bureau’s Legacy Programme, where intentional impact planning brought scientific advances closer to patients, encouraging their participation in research, whilst educating Barcelona’s business community about stigma around MS and building more inclusive workplaces. From Boardroom…
Associations have only a few weeks left to prepare and submit entries for this year’s programme, with US$25,000 in grants on offer. Co-organised by BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA, Incredible Impacts encourages associations to share the innovative ways in which their meetings generate societal value, locally and nationally where the meeting takes place, or worldwide.
As geopolitical instability continues, organisers are under growing pressure to respond quickly, communicate clearly and reassure clients when disruption strikes. Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa interviews Kenes Group CEO Ora Lahav on why crisis readiness should no longer be treated as an occasional capability, but needs to become part of an international event organiser’s everyday operating mindset.
Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa and Remi Deve summarise the key issues, opportunities and challenges discussed at the recent EAS 2026, all of which provide vital insights for business events suppliers and destinations interested in better understanding the current thinking and priorities of their association clients. An important conclusion: collaboration has become a strategic necessity.
Former Events Director at International Gas Union Rodney Cox has strong views on the all-too-frequent under-utilisation of exhibitors at international association events, to the detriment of the event owner, the delegates, and the host destination. Far too many organisers build exhibitions as a matter of habit rather than intent. “I like the word intent,” states…
AMI’s James Lancaster analyses the geopolitical balancing act that helped UAE, particularly Dubai, become one of the most successful association meetings destinations, arguing that it’s premature to write the city off. With a long-term government vision centring business events, Dubai has the assets and the will to bounce back swiftly, provided the conflict is short-lived.
Plato designed the Academy around dialogue because he understood that knowledge advances through inquiry and exchange. Ksenija Polla questions whether modern associations still design their gatherings with that purpose in mind, and calls them to embrace their role as stewards of curiosity, welcome new voices, facilitate exchanges and intentional participant journeys, and measure intellectual outcomes.
Dr Emma Delaney analyses some key issues regarding subventions and other financial incentives, drawing from the perspective of PCOs. Amongst her conclusions: flexible, co-created incentive packages are more effective than rigid, conditional offers, and when aligned with a destination’s goals, incentives can facilitate sustainable, inclusive and high-quality conferences and stronger societal impact. From CEF…
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