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…
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.
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…
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…
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?
For the fourth year in a row, ESAE (European Society of Association Executives) curated and organised IBTM World’s Association Leadership Forum in Barcelona last November. International and European association leaders explored ways to design their meetings strategy in a less transactional way, and instead to use these events to drive forward the Mission and Vision…
From AMI, by James Lancaster: The US military’s blitzkrieg against the Venezuelan government and the arrest of its leader, the dictator Nicolás Maduro, was the most dramatic moment so far in Trump the Sequel – but, despite the action likely contravening international law, it is unlikely to have much effect on whether or not international…
On this recent Boardroom Association Podcast, Alex Filicevas, Executive Director of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, and Charley Stoney, CEO of the European Association of Communication Agencies, put forward key steps associations of all sizes can take with relation to both Board best practices and conference diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) implementation.
In August 2024, Dublin became the global capital of geography. The 35th International Geographical Congress (IGC 2024) brought 2,654 delegates from 74 countries and five continents to Dublin City University (DCU) for a week-long celebration of research, collaboration, and connection under the theme “Celebrating a World of Difference.” The conference was supported by Fáilte Ireland,…
From Centre for Events & Festivals: Why do some international meetings keep circling the same regions, while others roam the globe? Behind every association event is a quiet game of geography, power, and preference — one that shapes who gets access to knowledge, influence, and economic return. While host cities compete aggressively to secure International…
Loren Christie, GainingEdge Consultant and Managing Director of BestCities Global Alliance argues that Destination Marketing Organisations are discovering that collaboration enhances resilience, amplifies impact and drives innovation. These partnerships should be more than operational, they should be visionary and meaningful, and DMOs should leverage their qualities to bring unique value when hosting international association meetings.
From Meetings International, an illustration of the growing, and vital, role of international association conferences as platforms for overcoming dis- and misinformation. Face-to-face events led by experts in specialised fields are uniquely positioned to provide this essential public service.
From Connection Awaits: In this new video series, we’re dropping golden nuggets we wish we’d known earlier or wish we’d practiced more — and you won’t want to miss what’s coming. We’re joined by none other than Rodney Cox, a true insider with 30 years of experience and insights from the International Association Events industry…
Boardroom sat down with Caroline Mackenzie from ISHA – The Hip Preservation Society, to discuss the association’s mission and its groundbreaking 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting in Cape Town. The event, which won the ABPCO Best International Conference Award – sponsored by Boardroom Magazine – set new standards in scientific excellence, sustainability, and long-term impact.
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