News

IAPCO and its members continue to report growth year-on-year with the latest 2023 figures now available. Our annual reporting figures, based on data collected from all IAPCO members around the globe, show an increase in majority of areas including number of events delivered, number of meeting professionals employed and, importantly, the Economic Impact of the events delivered throughout the year. Specifically, Economic Impact has risen from €13.48 billion in 2022 to €14.2 billion in 2023, number of events from 16,359 in 2022 to 17,044 in 2023 and number of meeting professional employed from 8,457 in 2022 to 9,248 in 2023. Although these results are just a snapshot of of the past year, the growth trend is very encouraging for IAPCO, our members and our global meetings industry as a whole. When assessed, together with all other indicators, the impact that IAPCO members continue to bring to both our industry and cities within which their events are delivered is extremely positive and attractive and proof of the value of business events around the globe.

The conclusion of IAPCO's 2024 AM&GA in Ljubljana, Slovenia, saw the ceremonial passing of the AM&GA flag to Taipei, Taiwan, for the 2025 edition, stirring anticipation for the event scheduled for February 20-23, 2025. Meanwhile, Athens, Greece, was announced as the host for the 2026 AM&GA. IAPCO invites member PCOs to submit Expressions of Interest for hosting the 2027 edition, highlighting the association's commitment to fostering global connections and elevating the meetings and events industry.

There is now an opening on the IAPCO Council for a Next Gen representative from within our IAPCO community. The meetings sector and PCOs’ expertise is ever-changing and we need the next generation of leadership representation on the IAPCO Council. You can help shape IAPCO for future years to address the needs of the next generation of industry leaders and help IAPCO shape the future of education and skills needed for IAPCO Members and the meetings sector as a whole.

Stephen Noble, Manager (APAC) from The Conference Company, New Zealand and Australia has been appointed as Chair of the IAPCO Training Academy. The appointment follows the departure of Mathias Posch of ICS following his term as IAPCO President who had oversight of IAPCO’s education programmes since 2021. Stephen Noble has been involved in the Training Academy as a Regional Representative for APAC and is an experienced member of the IAPCO faculty with extensive involvement in delivering EDGE seminars in APAC.