IAPCO AM&GA 2026: The Journey Back to Ithaca!

07 Mar 2026
by Manuel Fernandes
What does it mean for meetings to find their way “back to Ithaca” in a time of rapid change?

We are pleased to share this insightful article from Headquarters Magazine (HQ) of Meeting Media Company, written by Manuel A. Fernandes, following IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly Athens 2026.

For the first time at an IAPCO AM&GA, we were delighted to welcome a select group of Media Partners in Athens, including HQ Magazine.

In this piece, Manuel reflects on one of the defining themes of AM&GA Athens 2026: “The Odyssey Reinvented – A Very Human Journey Toward the Meetings of Tomorrow.” Drawing on the metaphor of Odysseus’ journey, the article explores how meetings must continue to evolve — balancing technology, governance, sustainability and innovation with the human qualities that give gatherings their true meaning.

From storytelling and leadership to AI, resilience, neurodiversity and belonging, the article offers a rich reflection on how our industry is navigating complexity while remaining grounded in purpose, dialogue and connection.

Thank you to Manuel and HQ Magazine for joining us in Athens and for helping shine a spotlight on the professionalism, expertise and impact of the IAPCO global community and the wider meetings industry.
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Global Socio-Political Impact Survey  Update 2026

A number of the leading organisations of the global meetings and events industry have joined forces again, to better understand the direct short- and long-term impacts of current global unrest, conflict and geo-political changes and to compare with results from a similar body of research conducted in 2025.

IAPCO, PCMA, ICCA, AIPC, IFES and AMCI have authored this survey to gather data from a combined global network of meetings and events professionals and organisations.

The survey results will be used to understand how geo-political policy changes impact our global industry and to assess their impact year-on-year.

Thank you in advance for your participation and support.