Citizen engagement was the prime objective of this initiative by the European Network of Living Labs, who transformed Andorra la Vella’s main square into a conference space, earning them the Event Innovation Award at the European Association Awards 2026. A great example for other associations aiming to break out of their traditional “bubble”. From Boardroom…
With over half the population and rapidly evolving industries, Asia-Pacific is poised to shape the future of many sectors. PCMA’s Kelly Ricker (Chair, Board of Directors), and Sheriff Karamat (President & CEO) assert that APAC is entering a phase where it can redefine what associations and their meetings are meant to do. From Association Commons…
Organisers of Masterclass Zurich 2026 – Vaginal Birth, hosted by the Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Zurich, created a public-centred initiative designed to bring specialist knowledge into the city. while the congress gathered around 200 physicians, specialists, and midwives, mainly from the DACH region, the accompanying legacy project aimed to reach residents directly. From Boardroom…
The spike in the price of airline fuel has raised the stakes for international associations wondering where to hold their next annual congress. For organisations used to the familiar tread of rotation patterns and long-term planning cycles, the impact of higher airfares on budgets and congress attendance is another factor to throw into the mix.
In April, Lagos became a meeting point for the global childhood cancer community, hosting the CCI Africa Annual Conference 2026, held alongside the SIOP Africa 2026 Congress. Government representatives, civil society organisations, medical institutions, researchers, survivors, families, and strategic partners gathered to improve quality of care, quality of life, and childhood cancer outcomes. From CCI…
The congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis demonstrates the impact of Barcelona Convention Bureau’s Legacy Programme, where intentional impact planning helped bring the congress’s scientific advances closer to patients, encouraging their participation in research, whilst educating Barcelona’s business community about stigma around MS and building more inclusive workplaces.
Associations have only a few weeks left to prepare and submit entries for this year’s programme, with US$25,000 in grants on offer. Co-organised by BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA, Incredible Impacts encourages associations to share the innovative ways in which their meetings generate societal value, locally and nationally where the meeting takes place, or worldwide.
As geopolitical instability continues, organisers are under growing pressure to respond quickly, communicate clearly and reassure clients when disruption strikes. Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa interviews Kenes Group CEO Ora Lahav on why crisis readiness should no longer be treated as an occasional capability, but needs to become part of an international event organiser’s everyday operating mindset.
Boardroom’s Vicky Koffa and Remi Deve summarise the key issues, opportunities and challenges discussed at the recent EAS 2026, all of which provide vital insights for business events suppliers and destinations interested in better understanding the current thinking and priorities of their association clients. An important conclusion: collaboration has become a strategic necessity.
ICCA CEO Dr Senthil Gopinath argues that despite all today’s geopolitical pressures, associations can still remain both neutral and resilient. But what they have to accept is that disruption, uncertainty and ongoing threats are the “new normal”, not anomalies that will swiftly pass on by. From Boardroom…
International association meetings can find themselves in the frontline when geopolitical conflicts erupt. This Boardroom feature by Pamela Wilton explores the implications of key risk factors, illustrates why associations can no longer argue that they are “apolitical by nature”, and outlines how to build a geopolitical resilience framework.
This White Paper from MayvinGlobal association consultancy contains a case study on the journey undertaken by the Australian Business Events community to create a unified industry body, the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) in 2023, to ensure the sector had an authoritative voice that would be taken seriously by national government and other policymakers.
ASAE has released a free-to-download snapshot report on how associations are navigating a rapidly changing environment, drawing on a series of “pulse polls” conducted throughout the last year, and including trends in their meetings and international participation, helping association leaders connect data to strategy and identify where to focus for greater impact and resilience.
Former Events Director at International Gas Union Rodney Cox has strong views on the all-too-frequent under-utilisation of exhibitors at international association events, to the detriment of the event owner, the delegates, and the host destination. Far too many organisers build exhibitions as a matter of habit rather than intent. “I like the word intent,” states…
Is sustainability still relevant for international associations? In a shifting global landscape where policy commitments waver and priorities compete, this question has never been more important. We’ll examine the latest findings from ICCA x Destination Canada’s Association sustainability survey to understand where international associations stand now—caught between aspirations and the realities of implementation.
AMI’s James Lancaster analyses the geopolitical balancing act that helped UAE, particularly Dubai, become one of the most successful association meetings destinations, arguing that it’s premature to write the city off. With a long-term government vision centring business events, Dubai has the assets and the will to bounce back swiftly, provided the conflict is short-lived.
Plato designed the Academy around dialogue because he understood that knowledge advances through inquiry and exchange. Ksenija Polla questions whether modern associations still design their gatherings with that purpose in mind, and calls them to embrace their role as stewards of curiosity, welcome new voices, facilitate exchanges and intentional participant journeys, and measure intellectual outcomes.
Dr Emma Delaney analyses some key issues regarding subventions and other financial incentives, drawing from the perspective of PCOs. Amongst her conclusions: flexible, co-created incentive packages are more effective than rigid, conditional offers, and when aligned with a destination’s goals, incentives can facilitate sustainable, inclusive and high-quality conferences and stronger societal impact. From CEF…
Naomi Smith explores what events are revealing about association leadership this year in places where strategy becomes visible: association events. Naomi is joined by Ariane Brusselmans, Senior Nonprofit Executive and Director of Conferences at the International AIDS Society, and Professor Peter Van Daele, Secretary General of the International Union of Radio Science.
AMI’s James Lancaster examines a peculiar contradiction that sits at the heart of Europe’s convention bureaux: while they spend much of their time handing out money to compete for lucrative association conferences, they often struggle to secure their own funding. Could tourism tax up-end the rules of the game?
Powered by 
