When we last spoke at ICCA Congress 2023, you said the event was ICCA’s biggest project to date. Did your team work to beat that for ICCA Congress 2024 in Abu Dhabi?
Every year we strive to make the Congress the highlight of the business events community calendar, and we were so excited about the programme we had in store for Abu Dhabi.
We took input from last year’s event in Bangkok – where the Sharing Hubs gave a voice to every participant – and created sessions based on some of the main challenges shared by our community. The whole programme was based on what our delegates said they wanted, with topics tailored to meet attendees’ needs. Everyone had the opportunity to choose a Persona that best represented their identity and use this as a basis for choosing sessions that interested them the most.
We had a really interesting speaker lineup and exciting out-of-the-box sessions. It was going to be the best Congress yet.
What aspect of this year’s Congress were you most excited about?
I was particularly excited about the active involvement of young professionals this year, with content and experiences specifically designed for those starting out in the meetings and events industry.
We had several programmes tailored for newcomers, such as ICCAUni, which helped university students explore career pathways into the field. At the Congress, the Young Professionals Forum was a must-attend, offering a space where emerging talents could connect with seasoned professionals to build mentor relationships and gain guidance for their future careers in the business events community.
I was also looking forward to the Future Leaders Council presentation of the current project to the ICCA Board. Their work addressed key challenges facing our industry today, and it was always a Congress highlight to see their innovative ideas. The Council provided an incredible opportunity for younger members to voice their ideas, and we were always inspired by the valuable contributions they brought.
Meeting activity picked up in 2023 and the pace is even more vigorous in 2024. Has this presented a challenge for ICCA in engaging its busy members? Did ICCA have to adjust programming to make it easier for members to participate and benefit from ICCA activities?
Yes, the accelerated pace of meetings and events in 2023 and 2024 has certainly created a more demanding environment for our members, who are juggling multiple projects. Being busy is a good sign, as it reflects our industry’s vitality and growth.
However, it’s also important to take a step back and reflect on what we’re achieving, both as individuals and as a community. This allows us to ensure we’re not just moving quickly, but also moving in the right direction.
Despite the fast pace, our members have remained incredibly engaged and committed. It was an outstanding turnout for this year’s Congress, and the response from members about ICCASkills courses, the Future of Healthcare Meetings, and others has been wonderful. Their enthusiasm for participating in events has not waned, and they recognise the value of staying connected, learning from each other, and continuing to innovate.
Let’s talk about the ICCA Rankings Report for 2023, released in May this year. There is an increased continental diversity in the Top 20 country rank – why is this significant for ICCA and its members?
ICCA is a truly global organisation and professionals in over 100 countries use our data, education, events, and communication channels to improve the way they attract events to their destinations. This diversity in the rankings is a really positive sign, showing our contribution to collaboration and knowledge-sharing across borders. Meetings held in a broader range of cities and countries bring new business opportunities and investments to previously underserved regions, fuelling economic growth and development.
As secondary and tertiary cities compete ever more strongly for business events, we can expect competition to be quite fierce. What advice do you have for CVB and venue members who want to stand out in the crowd when speaking to association chiefs, and how can ICCA help?
We want to provide all our members with the tools, resources, and materials necessary to develop their bids and make their destinations attractive to associations. Often, it’s about showing how your city can align with the association’s mission and goals, creating a partnership between the association and all the local stakeholders to deliver a better and more impactful conference. It’s also important to focus on the events that play to your destination’s strengths, whether it’s a research institute or university or technology cluster and working together as team.
Lastly, I understand that you are running for another term as president. What about ICCA do you find most endearing?
ICCA’s strength lies in our members’ willingness to work together. Whether it’s addressing shared concerns, improving services, or building a sense of community, the progress we’ve made is a direct result of everyone’s involvement and commitment. I want to continue to create an environment where every voice is heard and where we can pool our talents, ideas and resources to create solutions that benefit everyone.
