As ICCA Congress 2026 comes to a close, the international meetings industry is celebrating the ideas, experiences, and connections that brought the world together in Panama. This year’s event drew 1,293 delegates from 80 countries, including more than 100 association executives and five Co-Curators, sparking countless partnerships and business opportunities across the global community. From…
The Autism Europe Congress 2025 has been awarded the 2026 Incredible Impacts Programme Main Grant of $20,000, recognising its outstanding commitment to driving positive change through international meetings. The winner was chosen by audience vote at ICCA Congress, held in Panama City, 8-11 November. The Programme is an initiative of ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance.
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…
BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA are marking 10 years of the Incredible Impacts Programme with a new report celebrating a decade of success stories and exploring how international meetings can deliver greater impact. New research highlights a gap between legacy ambitions and action, with only 14% systematically measuring legacy outcomes.
BestCities and ICCA’s research, marking their Incredible Impacts Programme’s 10th anniversary, highlights a gap between associations’ growing focus on event legacy and destinations’ perceptions. While 49% of associations prioritise legacy, only 18% of destinations recognise it as a key priority. Just 14% systematically measure legacy outcomes. Only 7% conduct follow-ups six months after events.
What happens when democracy, uncertainty and technological change collide with the future of human connection? As the world becomes less predictable, the events industry faces a defining moment. Discover why the future belongs to those who put people, purpose and meaningful connections at the heart of every experience. From Deep DAIV, by Jorge Eduardo Quiroz…
ICC Sydney has hosted over 5,200 events and welcomed 10.5 million visitors, during a decade of delivering on ICC Sydney’s ambition to be More Than A Venue, creating outcomes that extend far beyond the walls of the venue through business events, exhibitions, entertainment, community initiatives, sustainability leadership, and social impact programmes.
Collecting Case Studies of Impactful Business Events: The Iceberg invites you to share your story! Business events are no longer measured solely by hotel beds and delegate spend. Today’s premier destinations recognize them as engines for scientific progress, economic transformation, and soft power. Presented by JMIC, The Iceberg is the sector’s AI-enabled advocacy repository, providing…
From Boardroom, by Words Sven Bossu: A powerful campaign by Brussels Airport is a reminder that purpose can change how we see even the most familiar infrastructure. For convention centres, the challenge is to tell the stories that demonstrate how international congresses bring communities together and create lasting impact far beyond their walls.
A seemingly prestigious biotech conference in Boston promised Nobel Prize-winning scientists, major sponsors and leading researchers, but the event was entirely fabricated. The sophisticated scam exposes how criminals exploit professional credibility to deceive attendees, highlighting growing security risks and the importance of verifying conferences before booking, sponsoring or participating in events. From Skift Meetings…
Following ongoing review of the current geopolitical situation, Advanced EDGE Dubai 2026 is to be postponed to 2027. Register your interest to be notified when registration opens for this exclusive educational programme, designed for senior meeting professionals and previous EDGE Seminar attendees. We look forward to welcoming participants for an inspiring learning experience.
Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative conference, due to start next week, has been postponed until next year, according to a statement on the official website, in a decision said to come from a deep commitment to our partners, members, speakers and delegates”, as deadly strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis against the kingdom continue. From Aljazeera…
The theme for AIME’s 2027 Knowledge Monday program is “AIMEplify: People, Business and Impact” which explores where human connection meets technology. Industry leaders and subject matter experts will share collective wisdom and challenge conventional thinking, giving business events professionals practical insights to take back to their own teams and businesses.
What makes an event worthy of being a role model? David Adler reflects on IMEX America and the people behind its success, making the case for a different way to think about events. He introduces the idea of a “Lovemark Event” and explores what the industry can learn from one that gets it right.
From CMW, by Ankur Agarwal: An event going ahead tells us less about a market than we assume. During the 2026 disruption, a smaller gathering could sit alongside a cancelled international programme. Both belonged to the same economy. From my perspective in Dubai, the important question was which demand could still translate into a gathering.
ExpoPlatform’s The Meetings Engine explores how event organisers can move beyond traditional networking to create purposeful, measurable business connections. The e-book examines seven meeting formats and how AI-powered matchmaking can improve attendee experiences, lead quality and sponsorship revenue, while keeping human judgement central to successful event design.
Launched at 2026 IMEX America alongside innovation partners Business Events Montreal and the IMEX Group, the AI-powered platform and extensive toolkit help event organisations and destinations to prove the wider societal value their events create, build stakeholder support, and make better decisions. ImpactAIQ enables organisations to evaluate social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes, but even…
Developed by the IAPCO Sustainability Committee, with the support of Business Events Australia and the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development, the handbook provides IAPCO members with guidance, frameworks and examples to help them improve sustainability across two interconnected areas: their own businesses and the events they deliver on behalf of their clients. From CMW…
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