The Athens Promise is a global industry pledge to strengthen advocacy, elevate the standing of the meetings and events industry and inspire a more united voice worldwide.
Meetings and events drive economic progress, advance professions, accelerate innovation and connect people. They create jobs, strengthen destinations and deliver lasting value far beyond the event itself.
The Athens Promise calls on professionals and organisations throughout the sector to stand together and ensure this contribution is recognised, understood and championed.
Where The Athens Promise began
The Athens Promise was born at the IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly 2026 in Athens, where IAPCO brought together its partners AIPC, AMCI and PCMA, alongside leaders from across the international meetings and events community.
Hosted in Athens under the presidency of Sissi Lignou, the gathering reinforced a shared conviction: if our sector is to strengthen its voice, visibility and standing, advocacy must be embraced collectively at leadership level and advanced locally across the industry.
The Athens Promise is the result of that moment.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support.
No funding, payment or financial contribution is required to sign The Athens Promise.
A shared invitation to act
The Athens Promise invites the global meetings and events community to speak with greater clarity, confidence and purpose about the value our industry creates.
Its strength lies in the professionals and organisations whose work gives the industry its reach, relevance and impact every day. By carrying this message into their own organisations, networks and communities, they can help build wider recognition and inspire meaningful local action.
What the Promise stands for
The Athens Promise reflects a shared belief that:
- The meetings and events industry deserves greater recognition and respect.
- Advocacy is strongest when it is coordinated globally and advanced locally.
- The strength of the industry lies in both its institutions and the people and organisations working across it every day.
- Greater alignment across the sector can amplify our collective impact.
- Grassroots action can extend and strengthen the advocacy already being led by associations and industry bodies.
Together, we can help governments, media and influencing bodies better understand the economic, professional and societal value our industry creates.
What the Promise aims to achieve
By supporting The Athens Promise, our global community is helping to:
- Demonstrate a shared commitment across the meetings and events industry.
- Unite professionals and organisations behind stronger industry advocacy.
- Encourage locally driven engagement with governments, media and influencing bodies.
- Build momentum behind the work of associations and industry leaders.
- Generate practical local outcomes that can inspire action across the global community.
What signing means
Signing The Athens Promise is a public pledge of support for a stronger, more visible and better understood meetings and events industry.
Every signature adds weight to our collective voice and momentum to meaningful local action. It signals a willingness to stand alongside colleagues worldwide and champion the value of our sector, its people and the outcomes it creates.
Before you sign
No funding, payment or financial contribution is required to sign The Athens Promise.
After signing through Change.org, you should receive an automated email asking you to confirm your email address. Your signature will only be valid and counted once you complete this verification. If you do not verify your email—or do not receive the verification email—your signature will not be counted.
Please check your inbox, including your junk or spam folder. Be aware that email filters or settings may prevent the verification message from reaching you. If you do not receive it, you may wish to sign again using a different email address.
Turn shared commitment into local action
Signing The Athens Promise is an important first step. Lasting progress will come from carrying its message into our organisations, communities and conversations with governments, media and other influencing bodies.
IAPCO provides its Members with version 3 of the JMIC Global Manifesto by the Joint Meetings Industry Council, a practical how-to guide for starting and strengthening these advocacy conversations.
The third edition was developed by a dedicated JMIC working group led by Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO and a Board Member of JMIC, who also chaired the Manifesto Working Group. Representatives of ICCA, UFI, IFES and Copenhagen Convention Bureau also contributed.
This direct IAPCO involvement makes the JMIC Global Manifesto a natural companion to The Athens Promise, helping Members turn shared commitment into meaningful grassroots action.
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Join the movement
A stronger industry voice begins with a shared commitment.
Add your name to The Athens Promise and stand alongside a global community working to ensure the value of meetings and events is recognised, understood and championed worldwide.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support.