As President of IAPCO, I read The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau and ESAE’s recent whitepaper with a sense of recognition – and encouragement. It captures a sector standing at a crossroads, grappling with complexity but also responding with clarity and commitment. For professional congress organisers (PCOs), this is familiar ground.
The inclusion of IAPCO’s own research in the paper is a welcome recognition of the role PCOs are playing in helping associations navigate today’s realities. Across our global community, we see firsthand how geopolitical shifts are reshaping where and how events happen – and, more importantly, why they happen. The stakes have changed. Event delivery is no longer just operational. It’s strategic, values-driven, and deeply connected to reputation, safety, and mission.
What stands out most in the whitepaper is not just the analysis – it’s the call to action. And it’s one the PCO community is ready for.
We are seeing associations reconsider destinations based on more than just logistics. They are asking: does this place align with who we are? Can it support the kind of inclusive, secure, and meaningful experience we want to offer our members? These are questions IAPCO members are helping answer every day.
We are collaborators in scenario planning, risk mitigation, hybrid strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Our role is not limited to execution. We sit alongside associations early in the process – translating uncertainty into opportunity, and complexity into confidence.
This alignment between the whitepaper and IAPCO’s findings is more than coincidence. It’s confirmation. It tells us that PCOs are not just adapting to this environment – we are helping shape the response.
Looking ahead, I believe three things are essential.
First, associations must continue embedding geopolitical awareness into the early stages of event planning.
Second, destination partnerships should be based on shared purpose, not just practicalities.
And third, PCOs must be recognised not simply as vendors, but as strategic allies in delivering resilient, values-driven events.
IAPCO is proud to stand beside associations as they meet this moment. Yes, the world is shifting. But with trusted partners and clear purpose, associations can continue to gather, lead, and thrive – no matter the climate.
