A more structured and transparent RFP process empowers associations to compare partners on equal footing, identify the destinations that truly align with their mission, and make more intentional, impact-driven decisions. This session will explore how clearer criteria, phased approaches, and mission alignment can transform RFPs from procurement tools into strategic partnership frameworks.
Taking place at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, ICCA Business Intelligence Database Training offers members a quicker, smarter user experience; giving access to data, stats, reports, and analysis to uncover more business opportunities. Key features include: Improved integration, Intuitive modern user interface, Customised meeting search tools, Notification system, Smart recommendation engine.
The traditional pre-IMEX Association Expert Seminar has evolved into the Association Circle, designed to elevate and upskill the meetings and association community, strengthening its ability to remain future-proof and resilient. By focusing on complex, strategy-driven topics, the initiative challenges participants to deepen their expertise and advance their knowledge to the next level.
Exploring practical and creative approaches to embedding wellbeing into how teams work together and how events are designed, introducing simple yet powerful tools that help facilitators, leaders, and event planners create environments where people feel safe, engaged, and connected. You’ll gain insights into how intentional design can improve collaboration, reduce stress, and support meaningful participation
Not all booth conversations are created equal. Some lead to qualified opportunities. Others are polite exchanges that go nowhere. We’ll break down the art of strategic conversation at industry events — how to ask the right questions, listen for the signals that matter, and capture intelligence that informs your bid strategy and destination positioning.
Convene 4 Climate (C4C) is a global platform and movement aimed at accelerating the transition of the Business Events Industry (BEI) towards sustainability and regeneration. A collaborative initiative born in 2024 between PCMA in collaboration with The Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe (SANCBE), C4C has taken a structured, action-oriented approach, stimulating cross-sector…
This event attracts 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, be inspired and grow as individuals, teams and organisations. This is your opportunity to contribute to building a stronger future for the industry.
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.
Leading organisations of the global meetings and events industry (IAPCO, AIPC, AMCI, ICCA, IFES & PCMA) have joined forces again, to better understand the direct short- and long-term impacts of current global unrest, conflict and geo-political changes and compare with results from a similar body of research conducted in 2025. Submissions close 10th April 2026.
By Padraic Gilligan, Co-founder, SoolNua Consulting: In the last six years alone we’ve had Covid, Ukraine, Israel, tariffs, Venezuela, Greenland and now Iran. Layer onto that the existential debates around climate and AI and you begin to understand why the question keeps surfacing: should we be worried for our industry? The short answer is yes…
Ireland celebrated the success of 109 Conference Ambassadors at the most recent CARA (Conference Ambassadors Recognition Awards) gala evening in Dublin, recognising academics and business leaders who were responsible for attracting major international association meetings to the country during the years 2023 and 2024. Highlights of the evening were two Spotlight Awards, for Sustainability and…
PCMA CONVENING LATAM is a unique platform in Latin America that drives growth and innovation through a transformative experience, combining PCMA’s global vision with the creativity and passion of Latin event industry professionals to build a unique perspective, truly focused on the challenges of the region. Expand your network in a multi-directional way, build new…
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.
ECA announces a new era of advocacy, engagement and growth with a range of new tools, services and activities, and names Tommy Goodwin as President and CEO. Building on ECA’s success over the past five years, ECA 2.0 represents the next phase of growth as ECA deepens its advocacy work, and introduces new opportunities…
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.
From Boardroom: The first details of the IMEX Frankfurt education program reveal a learning lineup designed to meet the industry exactly where it is today—and where it’s poised to thrive in the future. The program is rooted in real-world examples and shaped by the here and now, as IMEX’s Head of Programming explains…
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…
Regional instability is rippling across the global events industry, forcing organizers to make high-stakes calls with little certainty. Airspace shutdowns and safety advisories are prompting cancellations and postponements across the Gulf and casting doubt over upcoming trade shows, including IAAPA Expo Middle East, scheduled for 31 Mar–02 Apr in Abu Dhabi. From Skift Meetings…
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…
Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes across the Gulf have triggered widespread business disruption leading to airport closures, a halt in port operations and major event cancellations. Emirates and Qatar Airways suspended all flights following major Middle East airspace closures, grounding two of the world’s largest global transit hubs in Dubai and Doha. From Exhibition World…
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