IAPCO leaders and senior representatives from IAPCO Accredited Professional Congress Organisers met in Vienna on 28–29 September for a two-day Advisory Board programme focused on “Strengthening Vienna’s Competitive Edge.”
Hosted in collaboration with IAPCO Destination Partner Meeting Destination Vienna, represented by the Vienna Convention Bureau, the programme explored how Vienna can continue to convert the right international congress opportunities and maintain its competitive position as client expectations, incentive models and destination partnerships evolve.
The Advisory Board included IAPCO President Sissi Lignou (AFEA Congress), IAPCO CEO Martin Boyle, Council Members Ajay Bhojwani (MCI Middle East | MCI Group), Benoît Dubuisson (Downtown Europe | Europa Group) and Ginevra De Bellis (OIC Group), IAPCO Past President Ori Lahav (Kenes Group) and IAPCO members Patrizia Buongiorno (AIM Group International) and Delphine Baudouin (K.I.T. Group GmbH).
The Advisory Group forms part of a broader strategic relationship between IAPCO and Vienna that began in spring 2025, when Vienna hosted an IAPCO Council Meeting and stakeholder engagement workshop. The engagement established a strong foundation for continued strategic dialogue between IAPCO and Vienna, with the relationship evolving into a formal Destination Partnership agreed in late 2025 and commencing in January 2026.
The September Advisory Board meeting marked a further stage in that relationship, bringing together IAPCO expertise and Vienna’s destination stakeholders for focused discussion on the city’s future competitiveness.
Across the two days, participants considered Vienna from a congress, client and PCO perspective, examining the destination’s strengths, opportunities for differentiation, evolving organiser expectations and the factors influencing international congress decisions. The discussions generated practical recommendations to support the Vienna Convention Bureau and Team Vienna as they continue to develop the city’s proposition in an increasingly competitive global market.
Sissi Lignou, President of IAPCO, said:
“The development of our relationship with Vienna demonstrates the value of sustained engagement between destinations and professional congress organisers. What began with the Council Meeting and stakeholder discussions in 2025 has developed into a structured partnership and further opportunities for strategic exchange.
“The Advisory Board brought the experience of IAPCO members directly into discussions around Vienna’s future positioning, while also strengthening understanding between the destination and the PCO community.”
Anita Paic, Director B2B Management and Vienna Convention Bureau at the Vienna Tourist Board, said:
“Strengthening Vienna’s position as a leading international business events destination requires continuous evaluation and development. The perspectives of experienced IAPCO PCOs provide valuable insight into how organiser and client needs are evolving and where destinations can further enhance their offering.”
Longstanding relationships between Vienna Convention Bureau, Vienna meetings industry stakeholders and IAPCO PCOs have resulted in the successful delivery of many international and regions business events and conferences in the city. Recent examples highlight what can be achieved through collaboration and shared vision. Further insight into these collaborations will be shared through a forthcoming series of IAPCO case studies.
IAPCO and the Vienna Convention Bureau also thank Hilton Vienna Park for hosting the group during the programme.
The initiative demonstrates the value of sustained strategic engagement between IAPCO and its destination partners, creating opportunities for continued knowledge exchange, stronger industry collaboration and closer alignment with the professional organisers delivering international meetings worldwide.