The event attracts 600+ business event leaders from over 40 countries to challenge each other and develop ways to move forward together. It is the platform to share knowledge, make meaningful connections, learn, do business, be inspired and to grow as individuals, teams and organisations. This is your opportunity to contribute to building a stronger…
The PCMA Business Events Summit is an advanced, members-only education experience — an immersive, skills‑based summit for business events professionals ready to sharpen their expertise, solve real‑world challenges, and elevate their impact. Formerly edUcon, the Summit has been reimagined as a pinnacle learning environment with longer sessions, hands‑on application, and peer‑driven problem solving.
ICCA is strengthening its commitment to sustainability and advocacy with the appointment of Alexander Alles as Senior Director, Advocacy and Sustainability. Alles, who previously served as Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, will join the ICCA team effective 1 April as part of ICCA’s ongoing efforts to advance these two core strategic pillars.
A study by the Barcelona Institute of Economics reveals that Fira de Barcelona generates over 49,000 jobs, contributes a GVA of €2.96bn (≈1% of Catalonia’s GDP), and produces an annual economic impact exceeding €6.1bn, with growth of 28% in the last five years, mainly in commerce, hospitality, transport, and local industry. From Meetings International…
AMI’s James Lancaster examines a peculiar contradiction that sits at the heart of Europe’s convention bureaux: while they spend much of their time handing out money to compete for lucrative association conferences, they often struggle to secure their own funding. Could tourism tax up-end the rules of the game?
Ottawa Tourism and Invest Ottawa highlight their growing partnership to attract high-value international conferences and events, supported by the Think Ottawa program and Destination Canada’s International Convention Attraction Fund. With Ottawa’s strengths across aerospace, defence and security, cybersecurity and AI, the destination team is building a future pipeline of business events aligned with these sectors.
Scotland’s capital is set to become the first city in the UK to fund its convention bureau through a mandatory tourist tax – or ‘visitor levy’ – in what could herald the start of major changes to how cities across the country attract business events and conference tourism. From M&IT…
From HQ Magazine: Since opening in 1996, Australia’s largest convention and exhibition venue has brought together the world’s forward thinkers, hosting more than 20,000 events ranging from international summits and global congresses to community celebrations, cultural gatherings and immersive art experiences. The centre has been a significant driver of economic activity and knowledge exchange, hosting…
Step into the global hub of the events community. IBTM World is where connections spark ideas, collaborations fuel transformation, and the business events industry shapes what’s next. Three days in Barcelona to meet, share, learn — and move the world forward. Meet 2,500 destinations, hotels, event tech providers, and suppliers from 150+ countries…
The 65th ICCA Congress in Panama will be a powerful celebration of connection, innovation, and shared purpose. Join us to explore new perspectives, forge meaningful partnerships, and shape the future of business events in one of the world’s most vibrant destinations. This is our moment to learn, grow, and lead — together.
Convening APAC is where multi-generational senior business event leaders and next generation professionals converge. Together, they shape the future of our industry and profession. Designed for corporate event marketing professionals, association meeting professionals, event owners, event managers, and business events leaders, this flagship event brings together a trusted community from across the region.
AIME has opened its 2026 edition, recording record growth in buyers and exhibitors and highlighting strong progress toward its long-term sustainability commitments under the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative. Exhibitors from 36 countries and territories are attending, with more than 25,000 meetings scheduled to take place between buyers and exhibitors across the two-day tradeshow.
ICCA has announce the host destinations for its next two Congresses. The 66th Congress will take place 24–27 October 2027 in Kigali, Rwanda, followed by the 67th ICCA Congress, which will be held 12–15 November 2028 in Muscat, Oman. ICCA is committed to collaborating with different regions for this flagship event, which strengthens local business…
The AIPC Operational Excellence Summit offers a high-level yet highly practical forum for convention centre professionals navigating increasing operational complexity, rapid technological change, and rising expectations around sustainability, security and customer experience. Designed as a hands-on, peer-driven event, the Summit focuses on what truly matters behind the scenes: how to deliver complex events smoothly, safely…
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Updates for meeting planners & MICE professionals: GCB Mailings provide you with everything you need to know about business events in Germany. Whether it’s their monthly newsletter, invitations to GCB events or information on new research projects. You can subscribe and / or access the Newsletter Archive here.
From Skift Meetings: ICE-related shootings and protests in Minnesota have triggered hotel closures, event cancellations, and attendance declines, forcing planners to weigh safety, attendee sentiment, and economic impact when deciding whether to proceed. The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on January 24 has intensified unrest in Minneapolis…
Where some destinations see only a glamorous sporting event, Singapore leveraged the most recent edition of its Formula 1 race to host and in some cases to originate and organise 25 strategic international business events. Carrie Kwik, Executive Director, Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel, Singapore Exhibition & Convention BureauTM (SECB), explains how Singapore’s advantages as…
IAPCO and PCMA have formalised a strategic collaboration through the signing of an MOU at PCMA Convening Leaders 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The agreement strengthens cooperation across thought leadership, professional education, research, and emerging leader engagement within the global business events industry, establishing a structured framework for collaboration between the two global organisations.
This summary report of highlights from the recent PCMA Convening Leaders event in Philadelphia, the city where PCMA was first founded in 1956, 70 years ago: Convening Leaders 2026 delivered a powerful celebration of leadership, legacy, and the future of business events—bringing together the global community at a moment of reflection and renewal.
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