The Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME 2026) is the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)’s flagship international platform, connecting meeting and incentive buyers with Thai suppliers, destinations and industry experts. In 2026, over 110 international hosted buyers, media and, for the first time, content creators joined a six-day programme in Bangkok and Khao Lak. HQ joined them on my first visit to Thailand and Southeast Asia. The programme moved from Bangkok’s dense business environment to Khao Lak’s slower resort life in Phang Nga Province, showing the range of Thailand’s business-events proposition. Across knowledge sessions, business exchanges and experience tracks, one idea gained ground: events can create value for delegates, companies, industries, communities and people who live in host destinations.

 

Author: Jesús Guerrero Chacón

Thailand Moves From Volume to Value

TIME’s Knowledge Exchange opened in Bangkok with sessions on changing markets, technology, sustainability, buyer expectations and event design. TCEB President Dr Supawan Teerarat used The Power of Possibility to define three shifts in Thailand’s direction: volume to value, destination promoter to economy connector, and MICE as a catalyst for transformation. 

 

“The future is not simply about bringing more people to Thailand. It is about creating more value because they came,” she told delegates. For Teerarat, that meant knowledge entering the country, Thai companies meeting global partners, investment conversations beginning and opportunities reaching cities and communities. TCEB now recognises 16 certified MICE Cities, following the addition of six destinations in September 2026, each with different industries, infrastructure and local assets. TIME 2026 also took buyers beyond that network to Khao Lak, showing that destinations can support business events when their setting and offer suit the event format. Teerarat’s Power of Possibility was visible in our itinerary.

 

Thailand seeks to connect international events with healthcare, technology, the digital economy, green industries and the creative economy. MaxiMICE Thailand, introduced at IMEX Frankfurt in May 2026, translates that concept into three key areas. Convenience covers connectivity, venues and organiser support. Experience draws on Thailand’s culture, local knowledge, wellness, creativity and destination settings. Impact covers the business, knowledge, sustainability and community outcomes an event creates.

 

Right Next Door: Unlocking the Power of ASEAN’s Repeat Business added a market perspective across the 11 Southeast Asian countries that make up ASEAN. Speakers working with Singaporean, Indonesian and Filipino clients described how culture, spending patterns and previous experience of Thailand create different expectations across markets often grouped under one ASEAN label. Repeat visitors may already know Bangkok’s main temples, shopping areas and city highlights, so returning groups increasingly seek a different way into the destination through food, wellness, neighbourhoods, local production or another part of the country. ASEAN is geographically close, but its source markets are far from interchangeable.

 

  

Bangkok Links Events With Jobs and Quality of Life

When governments understand the value of business events, their role can reach into jobs, infrastructure, public services and quality of life. Bangkok’s event capacity includes three major convention hubs: IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center (see HQ's recent interview here), Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) and Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). They serve events of different scales and sectors alongside convention hotels and an expanding transport network.

 

At TIME 2026, Dr Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok and head of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), presented Shaping Tomorrow’s Bangkok. A City Designed for MICE & Beyond. The opening slide made one change: ‘MICE & Beyond’ became ‘Everyone’.

 

“We need to improve the quality of life of our people and visitors, and increase productivity for businesses,” Sittipunt said.

 

More than 553,000 small and medium-sized businesses employ 3.6 million people in Bangkok, compared with 3.4 million across almost 8,000 large businesses. Business-event spending reaches both, from major hotels and companies to street vendors and smaller operators.

 

Those seven million workers share the transport networks, footpaths and public spaces used by delegates during major events. Bangkok’s rail network is planned to reach 11 lines, 297 stations and 466.1 kilometres by 2028. Work on 1,000 kilometres of improved footpaths aims to increase walkability and accessibility, while 530 15-minute parks have been completed and more than 2.7 million trees planted.

 

BMA vocational schools provide training from English for service to hospitality and traditional Thai massage for wellness. New hotel permit applications are moving online, open-data tools give businesses access to city information, and Traffy Fondue, a BMA digital reporting platform, lets residents report city problems and rate how completed cases were handled, giving the administration a way to track both response and resident satisfaction. Sittipunt’s TIME figures showed around 1.42 million reports, with more than 1.15 million completed.

 

“The 1.42 million complaints are not our weakness. They are trust,” Sittipunt said. Residents trust the city to respond, while organisers rely on many of the same systems to deliver their events.

 

  

Meetings Take a Different Route to Local Value in Khao Lak

After Bangkok’s fast-paced schedule of knowledge sessions, supplier meetings and urban venues, TIME took delegates by air to Phuket and then north along the Andaman coast to Khao Lak. Around 1.5 hours from Phuket International Airport, the resort destination in Phang Nga Province brought a different pace. Beachfront properties, wellness facilities, outdoor settings and more intimate meeting environments suited incentives, retreats and corporate groups with different briefs and a more relaxed rhythm.

 

International buyers met Thai and local suppliers at a second business exchange, while delegates chose among itineraries spanning temple visits, wellness, sport, adventure, nature and sustainability. TCEB coordinated those different routes within one group, putting the earlier ASEAN discussion into practice: a familiar destination can feel different when organisers offer new ways to experience it. 

 

Smaller groups, wellness sessions and shared activities created more space for informal conversation, while local businesses, community initiatives and environmental projects became part of the programme. Upcycling discarded fishing nets and plastic bottles offered one way to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability into the delegate experience.

 

Flexibility gives organisers scope to tailor meetings and incentives to varying interests, energy levels and objectives.

Explore more from TIME 2026

• Discover Bangkok’s Moment of Pulse: HQ’s picks for meeting hotels, venues and experiences in Thailand’s capital.
• Continue to Khao Lak: Discover HQ’s hotel, venue, wellness and experience picks from TIME 2026’s Moment of Calm.
• Read our interview with Dr Jaruwan Suwannasat: Thailand’s meetings economy, source markets, personalisation and the thinking behind MaxiMICE Thailand.

At FIEXPO Latin America 2026 in San José, Costa Rica, convention bureaux, venues and destination leaders examined the barriers they face in attracting international events and the actions they can take to address them. Discussions and survey findings from the Forum of Latin American Destinations, created and led by Juan José García, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Bco Congresos, and Santiago González, Director of MICE Consulting, led to the creation of the San José Declaration. The document sets out seven commitments designed to strengthen destination competitiveness and track progress over time. 

Based on the survey responses and discussions, what were the most common barriers, growth opportunities and recurring concerns across the region?

The discussions suggested that how destinations diagnose their challenges often shapes the solutions they pursue. What did the Forum reveal about how destinations are interpreting their biggest obstacles, and where are they missing opportunities to see the bigger picture?

You encouraged participants to focus on what destinations can influence directly. Why do some of these opportunities remain underused, and where should destinations looking to make progress start?

“A destination’s competitiveness no longer depends solely on its infrastructure, but on its ability to build partnerships,

anticipate opportunities and turn local assets into an internationally relevant value proposition.” Juan José García 

Many of the issues discussed ultimately came back to people. What skills do convention bureau teams most need to strengthen, particularly in advocacy, communication and stakeholder engagement?

Destinations already have access to data, training and industry tools such as International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Business Intelligence. Is there still a gap between having these resources and applying them effectively?

What are the most important commitments in the San José Declaration, and why are they relevant to destinations outside Latin America and the Caribbean?

1. establishing stable public-private governance, with clearly defined leadership, responsibilities, objectives and resources, while protecting the continuity of strategies for attracting international events from political, budgetary or leadership changes
2. turning data into intelligence to prioritise markets, anticipate opportunities, measure results and support continuous learning
3. developing a proactive strategy that identifies sectors, associations, rotation cycles and local leaders before bids are opened
4. developing active ambassador communities connected to universities, professional communities and strategic sectors
5. securing predictable funding and professional teams capable of researching markets, developing bids, managing relationships and using new technologies
6. measuring the full value of events, including knowledge, innovation, reputation, talent, investment, social impact, sustainability, inclusion, accessibility and legacy alongside economic contribution, with verifiable commitments, indicators, periodic review and institutional memory to track progress
7. strengthening cooperation between destinations through the exchange of methodologies, intelligence, training, tools and successful case studies.

The global business events industry has no shortage of ambition when it comes to sustainability. Organisations across the sector are committing to reducing environmental impact and creating positive social and economic value.

What the industry has needed is a shared way to translate sustainability goals into practical decisions across the event lifecycle. That is where the Sustainable Event Goals (SEGs) come in. Launched at IMEX Frankfurt 2026, the SEGs provide a practical, industry-aligned framework designed to help organisers, suppliers, destinations and partners embed sustainability into everyday event decisions.

A Practical Framework for Action

The SEGs are 13 interlinked goals designed to minimise negative environmental and social impacts while promoting positive economic outcomes. They translate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into clear, event-specific guidance for the business events ecosystem.

They are not a certification or a replacement for existing frameworks. Instead, they act as a shared language and practical tool that complements existing standards and can be integrated into current sustainability strategies without duplication.

For an industry operating across diverse markets and stakeholder expectations, this common structure provides clarity and direction where it is most needed.

Why the SEGs Matter Now

The framework responds to a clear challenge across the industry. While sustainability commitments are growing, alignment and execution remain inconsistent.

Sustainability is still often treated as an additional consideration rather than a core part of planning. The SEGs aim to change that by supporting decisions where impact is defined, including travel and logistics, venue selection, food and beverage, supplier engagement and community impact.

By embedding sustainability into these decisions, the SEGs help organisations move from intention to consistent, credible action.
 

A Balanced Approach to Sustainability

The SEGs are structured around three interdependent pillars: Environmental, Social, and Economic Governance.

The Environmental pillar focuses on reducing the ecological footprint of events through areas such as energy use, travel, food and resource management. The Social pillar addresses inclusivity, wellbeing, collaboration and community engagement. The Economic Governance pillar emphasises local impact, transparency, partnerships and innovation.

Together, these pillars reflect a holistic understanding of sustainability, where environmental, social and economic considerations are interconnected.

From Global Goals to Event Decisions

One of the key strengths of the SEGs is their ability to connect global sustainability priorities with practical event actions.

Every decision, from choosing a destination to selecting suppliers or designing participant experiences, becomes part of a broader, shared framework. This ensures that sustainability is considered early and consistently throughout the planning process, rather than addressed at the end.

A Collective Industry Effort

The SEGs were developed following Destination Canada’s Business Events Sustainability Roundtable in Montréal in April 2025, where industry leaders identified the need for greater alignment and practical implementation.

They are the result of a global, volunteer-led, cross-sector collaboration and are endorsed by organisations including Destination Canada, PCMA, Convene 4 Climate, the Events Industry Council, Kenes Group and Amex GBT Meetings & Events.

Importantly, the SEGs are designed as a neutral and widely adoptable framework that supports the industry as a whole.
 

Kenes Group Supporting Practical Implementation

For Kenes Group, supporting the SEGs reflects a broader commitment to advancing practical sustainability in events. As Ori Lahav, CEO of Kenes Group, noted: “Sustainability only delivers real impact when it is embedded into everyday decisions. The Sustainable Event Goals respond to a clear need within our industry for greater alignment and practical direction, helping organisations move from ambition to action in a consistent and credible way.”

This perspective aligns with the core purpose of the SEGs: making sustainability actionable and relevant at every stage of event planning.

From Ambition to Action

With the Sustainable Event Goals now established through this global, cross-sector collaboration, the focus shifts from framework development to implementation. The Events Industry Council (EIC) is now advancing the next phase of this work, as part of the EIC Centre for Sustainability and Social Impact, translating the SEGs into practical tools, resources and pathways that help organisations embed sustainability into everyday decision-making.

Working alongside industry partners and the founding partners, EIC will develop implementation guidance and align the SEGs with existing initiatives, including the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, ensuring they serve as a practical catalyst for action across the full event lifecycle. This next phase is designed to help organisations of every size and sector move from aspiration to measurable, scalable impact through the creation of pathways.

“The introduction of the Sustainable Event Goals represents an important step forward for our industry,” said Amy Calvert, EIC President and CEO. “For many years, organisations have been navigating a complex landscape of frameworks and expectations. The SEGs provide a shared foundation, one that helps translate global sustainability priorities into practical, everyday decisions, while aligning with established standards and practices.”
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has returned to a familiar face as it navigates a leadership transition, appointing Rebecca Wright (cover photo), CIS, CITP, as Interim CEO.

Wright succeeds Annette Gregg and will lead the global association while a separate search is conducted for a permanent CEO. Her appointment follows a process led by SITE’s Executive Committee and confirmed by the SITE International Board of Directors.

A long-standing figure within the SITE community, Wright brings more than 15 years of experience in incentive travel. She previously served as President of SITE Chicago and joined SITE’s international team as Head of Chapter Engagement in January 2020. She also held the Interim CEO role between October 2020 and November 2022, giving her direct experience of leading the association through a period of significant disruption for the global meetings industry.

That previous experience was central to the confidence placed in her return. SITE International Board President Hasan Dinç recalled working with Wright during her first tenure, when he was President of SITE Türkiye.

“Through the pandemic she kept our chapters connected to SITE, and I saw first-hand what that meant for them. She brings that same continuity now,” Dinç said.

For Wright, the immediate priority is to reconnect with SITE’s global membership while maintaining the momentum established by the association.

“It is a privilege to return to SITE and serve this community once again as Interim CEO,” Wright said. “My immediate focus will be on supporting the team, listening closely to our members and chapters, and building on the momentum already established across the association.”

She is expected to reconnect with members and industry colleagues at IMEX America and throughout the coming months as SITE continues its search for a permanent chief executive.

The appointment gives the association an experienced incentive travel leader at a moment of transition, while bringing a familiar understanding of its chapters, members and international network back into its executive leadership.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Business events are being asked to do more than fill venues and generate economic activity. In this issue, our Magazine Manager looks at the growing expectations placed on destinations, associations and organisers, from smaller, more purposeful meetings to the wider role of events in shaping knowledge, communities, innovation and places.
 

Author: Manuel A. Fernandes, HQ Magazine Manager
 

I have spent much of this year reading, interviewing and writing about what destinations are asking of business events. The most interesting answer, however, is that they are asking for more than attendance. The new UIA International Meetings Statistics Report (which I break down in this issue) provides the scale. In 2025, Europe accounted for 54% of international association meetings, across 1,445 cities and 173 countries. The longer view is equally instructive: 49.8% of meetings with known attendance between 2006 and 2025 had between 101 and 500 participants, while another 27.4% had 100 or fewer.

Those figures matter because they challenge the industry’s fixation with scale. A few years ago, during one of my press trips, I asked the host why there were no large convention centres in that city. The reply was telling: “Our strategy and profile within the sector do not rest on mega-events, but rather on smaller meetings where working groups can move forward their agenda. That is the direction our industry is taking!” Tallin was right about that. Today, the association meeting market is largely composed of gatherings small enough to fit comfortably within a specialist community, yet potentially significant enough to influence research, policy, professional practice or careers.

This is where IMEX’s new Place Leadership and the Business Events Sector white paper becomes particularly provocative. Its central thesis is that business events should strive to shape places, not simply selling them. The paper calls for closer alignment between event portfolios and economic and innovation strategies, co-designed legacy, stronger cross-sector partnerships, better intelligence-sharing with governments and a more credible role in public policy. A convincing argument with just one caveat: we should be careful not to turn place leadership into another lip service exercise. The test is whether a congress actually connects to something a city is trying to achieve.

Truth be told, that is where some of the work we have covered in our latest HQ #126 issue proves useful. visitBerlin is developing its role around government, science, business and civil society, while its Impact Programme seeks concrete social, environmental and educational outcomes. Its scientific ecosystem gives associations access to institutions and people who can shape the content of a congress. Elsewhere, the principle takes different forms. RAI Amsterdam has explored how a major scientific congress can engage with the city through experiences designed around ageing and public screening. Tokyo focused on what algorithms cannot provide amidst this information overload, drawing on the past to shape its future. IAPCO’s work with emerging professionals, on the other hand, reminds us that associations themselves are communities through which knowledge, networks and careers are built.

The IMEX paper argues for legacy programmes involving research partnerships, student participation, skills development, community engagement and innovation. That implies a broader definition of impact, when a meeting can leave behind people, relationships and capabilities, not simply projects or carbon figures. For associations, this could become one of the primary factors in destination selection. A congress that connects a young researcher with a laboratory, a professional with a future employer or a specialist with a new international collaborator has generated an outcome that will never appear in a hotel-night calculation. Something that runs through my talks with JMIC’s new director, Dorian Kronenwerth, and jwc Partner, Kai Hattendorf.

The sector has long asked governments to recognise its economic contribution. The stronger advocacy argument may be that business events provide governments with access to global networks, specialised knowledge, talent and investment intelligence. The white paper explicitly calls for this intelligence to become part of public decision-making. If we want a seat at the table where places decide their economic, scientific and social futures, we need the capabilities to move beyond the conference centre. The UIA numbers tell us how large the association meeting ecosystem is; the IMEX paper asks what that ecosystem could actually do!
 

Our September HQ continues the conversation with interviews and contributions on skills, education and professional development from across the meetings and associations sector. The September edition also looks at how associations, destinations and industry organisations are responding to broader changes in leadership, technology, sustainability, and the value expected from business events.

HQ #126, Skills That Travel: Building Trusted Credentials for a Global Workforce, is available now. Read and download the full September edition here
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

WorldBuilder Summit, a new conference focused on the rapidly expanding user-generated content (UGC) gaming economy, will make its first move into the EMEA market with a London edition at Olympia’s new International Convention Centre (ICC) on 11 November.

The event follows the summit’s inaugural conference in Los Angeles earlier this year, which brought together 260 creators, brands, IP owners and ecosystem partners. Its first international edition is expected to attract around 300 creators and industry leaders from the UK and wider European market to London.

The choice of London reflects both the city’s international connectivity and its established links with the UGC and wider creative industries. For Olympia, meanwhile, the combination of flexible conference facilities with hospitality and accommodation formed an important part of the venue proposition.

“We wanted the European summit to feel like a genuine meeting point for creators, platforms and partners, with opportunities to connect well beyond the formal conference programme.

“Olympia gives us the modern infrastructure and fluid connectivity between spaces to do just that. The ICC, hotels, restaurants and bars all sit within one connected destination, creating the kind of concentrated environment where a community like ours can spend more meaningful time together.”

For Scott Benzie, Founder of WorldBuilder Summit, the venue’s integrated environment supports an event model built around community as much as formal content. That approach also reflects the nature of the sector the summit serves, where creators, platforms, brands and other partners increasingly operate across overlapping creative and commercial ecosystems.

Operated by Olympia Events, the new ICC forms part of the wider transformation of the Olympia estate, combining purpose-built conference facilities with entertainment, hospitality and business. Its day-to-evening offer is designed to give organisers greater flexibility while allowing delegates to meet, stay and connect across the wider destination beyond the main event programme.

“WorldBuilder Summit represents the kind of ambitious, next-generation event we want to help grow at Olympia. It is entering a new market, building an international community and creating a format that extends beyond a conventional conference. We’re delighted WorldBuilder Summit has chosen Olympia for its first EMEA edition and look forward to supporting its growth in London.”

Adam Pollington, Sales Director at Olympia Events, said the summit’s international expansion and community-led format aligned with Olympia’s ambitions for its new ICC and wider destination.

WorldBuilder Summit is designed specifically for the creators building immersive worlds and experiences across platforms including Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft. Bringing together creators, studios, brands and platforms, it positions itself as the only dedicated global event focused on this emerging economy.

The sector is also challenging established definitions of what constitutes creative production. As platforms enable individuals to develop not only content but intellectual property, communities and commercial ventures, the summit aims to provide a meeting place for an industry developing at the intersection of gaming, technology and entertainment.

“Creators are no longer simply making content. They are building worlds, characters, communities and businesses inside digital platforms. If a young Shakespeare were working today, he might well be building games.

“Despite this, we still lacked a dedicated place for the people driving this rapidly growing creative economy forward to meet, learn and build relationships. WorldBuilder Summit was created to fill that gap, and bringing the event to London gives us the opportunity to connect this community across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the first time.”

With its London launch, WorldBuilder Summit is extending a conference concept first tested in Los Angeles into a broader international market, while Olympia’s new ICC provides the physical setting for a community whose professional relationships increasingly span gaming, creative industries, technology and digital platforms.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Labour Party Conference 2026 at Liverpool Experience Campus © Jono Symonds Photo & Video

Liverpool Experience Campus will host UKREiiF from 2028 and the Labour Party Annual Conference for a sixth consecutive year in 2027, reinforcing its role as a major venue for investment, political debate and events with significant economic impact.

Liverpool Experience Campus has secured the UK’s leading real estate, investment and infrastructure forum, UKREiiF, from 2028, while extending its run as host of the Labour Party Annual Conference into a sixth consecutive year in 2027. The two announcements underline the venue’s role in attracting major national gatherings and connecting the city region with investors, policymakers and business leaders.

UKREiiF, which launched in 2022 and now attracts more than 17,000 delegates annually, will move to Liverpool following its final edition in Leeds in May 2027. The event brings together investors, developers, local authorities, government representatives, occupiers and built environment professionals to discuss regeneration and investment opportunities across the UK. Since its launch, it has helped facilitate more than £4 billion in investment discussions and regeneration opportunities.

The move follows a joint bid involving Liverpool Experience Campus, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool BID Company. The partnership reflects a shared ambition to use the forum to showcase development opportunities across the city region and attract further investment.

Liverpool’s waterfront campus combines convention and exhibition facilities, an auditorium and an arena with extensive outdoor event space. Its interconnected layout offers organisers the flexibility to bring large audiences together while accommodating different event formats across a single site.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is a massive win for the Liverpool City Region and a real vote of confidence in everything we’ve been building together. UKREiiF is the UK’s premier real estate, investment and infrastructure event – and from 2028, it’ll call Liverpool home. That means thousands of investors, developers and decision-makers coming here and seeing first-hand the ambition, talent and opportunities right across our city region.

“I want to put on record my genuine thanks to Leeds and West Yorkshire. They’ve done a brilliant job hosting UKREiiF and building it into the major event it is today. Taking the baton from them is a privilege – and we’ll work hard to build on the foundations they’ve laid and take it to the next level.

“We’ve seen with Labour Party Conference how Liverpool can take a major national event and make it part of the fabric of the city – growing together and creating something that feels bigger than the conference itself. That’s the ambition for UKREiiF too. We want to make the whole city region part of the experience: opening doors, showcasing opportunities and giving people a proper feel for what is happening here. If we get that right, UKREiiF won’t just be hosted in Liverpool – it will become part of Liverpool.”

Helen Roberts, Member of Accommodation BID and Chair of Liverpool Hospitality, said: “We’re delighted to welcome UKREiiF to Liverpool from 2028 and to have the opportunity to showcase our city to thousands of delegates. Liverpool has a strong story to tell when it comes to regeneration, investment, development and our visitor economy, and this event will provide a fantastic platform to put that story in front of an audience that can help shape our future."

Hosting UKREiiF is expected to generate visitor spending and support businesses across the city region, while giving developers and policymakers direct exposure to Liverpool’s development pipeline and investment prospects. The event’s arrival also adds to the city’s portfolio of major business gatherings, with the campus providing the infrastructure to accommodate its anticipated growth.
 

From L-R Cllr Liam Robinson, Helen Roberts, Nathan Spencer, Faye Dyer and Mayor Steve Rotheram at Liverpool Experience Campus - Credit Jono Symonds Photo & Film

Faye Dyer, Chief Executive of Liverpool Experience Campus, said: "UKREiiF's move to Liverpool is a reflection of the event's remarkable success and ambition. Having been expertly developed and grown into the UK's leading real estate, investment and infrastructure forum, the event now requires scale, flexibility and capacity to support its next chapter.

Liverpool Experience Campus provides the experienced team and infrastructure to realise that ambition - a combination of conference, exhibition and arena facilities, alongside extensive outdoor waterfront event space, all seamlessly connected across a single campus. This enables organisers to bring together thousands of delegates in one location, while retaining the flexibility to expand and evolve year after year.

We are delighted to provide the platform for UKREiiF's continued growth, while showcasing the innovation, investment opportunities and ambition that define Liverpool City Region. We recognise the outstanding work undertaken in Leeds to build UKREiiF into the success it is today and are proud to take the baton from our northern industry colleagues."

Nathan Spencer, Co-Founding Director and Managing Director of UKREiiF, said: “UKREiiF has grown enormously since we held our first event in 2022, and the support of people and businesses in Leeds and West Yorkshire has been a massive part of that success – and I truly thank them for all they’ve done for us.

UKREiiF is now moving into its next chapter, with both domestic growth and international expansion. After reviewing our strategic direction, we believe Liverpool gives us a site and a city region that can support our continued growth. It offers a warm welcome for delegates and the space and flexibility to help the event continue to grow. Crucially, it also allows us to retain the things that make UKREiiF special, while pushing the event beyond the walls of a traditional conference."
 

Labour Party Conference returns in 2027

The announcement of UKREiiF’s future home comes as Liverpool Experience Campus prepares to welcome the Labour Party Annual Conference for a sixth consecutive year in 2027. The event has become a fixture on the city’s calendar, drawing politicians, party members, exhibitors, media and visitors to the waterfront.

The conference has been held in Liverpool on eight occasions: in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, as well as this year’s gathering, the first hosted under the Liverpool Experience Campus identity. The 2027 edition will extend that relationship, reinforcing the venue’s capacity to accommodate a major political event across multiple connected spaces.

This year’s conference attracted more than 20,000 visitors and occupied the entire campus, including the convention centre, exhibition centre, auditorium and M&S Bank Arena. Its programme featured more than 500 fringe events, alongside keynote speeches, exhibitions and networking opportunities. The four-day gathering is estimated to have generated around £30 million in economic impact.

The event’s footprint extended well beyond the venue, benefiting hotels, restaurants, retailers, transport providers and other local businesses. Its format also demonstrated how the campus can be adapted to meet the demands of a large, multi-part event: a 2,800-seat auditorium was installed in the exhibition centre for plenary sessions, while the arena was converted into meeting rooms, breakout spaces and event zones. The interconnected Pullman Liverpool served as the conference headquarters hotel.
 

Labour Conference 2026 © Jono Symonds Photo & Video

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP wrote in a handwritten letter to the LEX team: “I just wanted to say huge thanks to you all for looking after us so well and for making my first conference such a special one in my home city. See you all next year!”

Sustainability was another element of the conference’s delivery. The event marked the first Labour Party Conference organised in partnership with catering provider Levy, whose focus on responsible sourcing, waste reduction and sustainable food choices aligned with the ambitions of Liverpool Experience Campus and the Labour Party. Catering options were designed to reduce environmental impact, while a fully electric operational fleet supported activity across the site (see above). Visitors also encountered a plug-in solar-powered bar, illustrating how event infrastructure can incorporate lower-carbon solutions.

Liverpool Experience Campus has set a target of reaching net zero by 2030, two decades ahead of the wider events industry’s target, and continues to invest in low-carbon technologies and sustainable operations.

Faye Dyer, also said: "Being confirmed as hosts for the Labour Party Conference for a sixth consecutive year is a strong endorsement of Liverpool, our team and our partners across the city region. Over a number of years, we have built a proven track record of delivering one of the UK's most high-profile political events, creating a seamless experience for organisers, delegates, exhibitors and media. What sets us apart is the unique nature of our interconnected waterfront campus that gives organisers the flexibility to create an event that can continue to evolve and grow.

"The conference generates significant economic benefits for businesses across the city region and provides a valuable opportunity to showcase Liverpool to decision-makers, investors and visitors from across the UK. We look forward to welcoming the Labour Party back to Liverpool in 2027."
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

© Hilton Santa Clara

The Silicon Valley hotel has renovated its 280 guestrooms and suites, meeting facilities and dining venues, while introducing new spaces for corporate gatherings, networking and entertainment near the Santa Clara Convention Center and Levi’s Stadium.

Hilton Santa Clara has completed a multi-million-dollar renovation spanning its 280 guestrooms and suites, meeting and event facilities, dining venues and public areas, introducing a contemporary design inspired by Silicon Valley’s technology-driven identity.

Located directly opposite the Santa Clara Convention Center and within walking distance of Levi’s Stadium and California’s Great America, the hotel has repositioned its facilities around the needs of business travellers, meeting planners, sports fans and leisure guests. The refurbishment also introduces new venues designed to extend the possibilities for corporate events, informal networking and social gatherings.

“This renovation represents an exciting new chapter for Hilton Santa Clara,” said Farshad Mayelzadeh, General Manager of Hilton Santa Clara. “We’ve created a hotel that reflects the energy of Silicon Valley and gives guests and meeting planners new ways to connect, gather, and experience Santa Clara.”

A design inspired by Silicon Valley

The renovation draws on the relationship between people, technology and the Silicon Valley landscape. Design details throughout the property reference the patterns of electrical signals found inside technology, with warm metallic tones inspired by circuit boards and colour accents drawn from resistors.

The aesthetic extends across the guestrooms, meeting facilities, lobby and restaurant, creating a consistent design identity throughout the hotel.

All guestrooms have been redesigned with contemporary finishes and technology-focused details. Accommodation options include king or two queen beds, 65-inch HDTVs, ergonomic workspaces, digital key access and complimentary Wi-Fi. Additional facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, a 24-hour fitness centre and the new Circuit Restaurant & Patio.

The property’s eight suites, each measuring 684 sq. ft., offer separate sitting areas and additional space for relaxation or work. Selected suites feature views of Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Each suite includes a 75-inch HDTV in the living area and a 65-inch screen in the bedroom, alongside bathrooms with backlit mirrors, robes and premium amenities. Keurig coffee makers, mini refrigerators, handheld garment steamers and complimentary Wi-Fi are also provided.

Adding a technology-focused touch to the guest experience, the hotel has retained ToDe, its service robot. The property is approximately five miles from San Jose Mineta International Airport and offers access to the wider Bay Area through nearby public transport connections.
 

New spaces for meetings and networking

Beyond the refurbishment of existing facilities, Hilton Santa Clara has introduced several dedicated spaces designed to accommodate smaller meetings, team-building activities and informal gatherings alongside more traditional conference formats.

The Skybox, located on the eighth floor, covers 737 sq. ft. and accommodates up to 35 guests. With views of Levi’s Stadium and California’s Great America, the venue is designed for executive meetings, small receptions, VIP gatherings and intimate events.

For groups seeking a more interactive setting, the 1,512 sq. ft. Game Room can host up to 75 guests. Its facilities include a pool table, foosball, table tennis, darts and multiple televisions, making the space suitable for team-building activities, networking and post-meeting socialising.

Another addition is the End Zone, formerly known as TAILG8. The 7,500 sq. ft. outdoor venue sits adjacent to Levi’s Stadium and has been transformed into a year-round gathering space featuring permanent turf and a new End Zone Kitchen food trailer. With capacity for up to 450 guests, it can accommodate corporate receptions, team outings, networking events, branded activations and pre- and post-game gatherings.

These additions give meeting planners further options for incorporating social interaction and entertainment into corporate programmes, while making use of the hotel’s proximity to one of the region’s major sports and entertainment venues.

16,800 sq. ft. of flexible event space

The renovation also updates the hotel’s existing meetings infrastructure. Hilton Santa Clara offers 16,800 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event space for conferences, presentations, celebrations and corporate gatherings of different sizes.

The Sierra Ballroom, covering 2,835 sq. ft., can accommodate up to 300 guests for receptions. Additional meeting rooms provide settings for executive meetings, breakout sessions, presentations and networking.

Technology upgrades include 98-inch presentation screens, Logitech video-conferencing systems, electronic signage and interactive whiteboards throughout the meeting spaces. A large display in the lobby provides another way for organisers to welcome attendees and communicate event information.

The combination of established meeting facilities and newly introduced social spaces broadens the range of formats that can be hosted at the property, from formal business sessions to smaller collaborative meetings and informal networking.
 

Circuit Restaurant & Patio introduces new dining options

The refurbishment also brings Circuit Restaurant & Patio, a new dining concept serving California Mediterranean cuisine. The breakfast menu includes dishes such as eggs Benedict, avocado toast and French toast, while the dinner offering features appetisers, salads and main courses designed for individual dining or sharing.

Current menu highlights include chimichurri steak bites, pan-roasted salmon, steak frites and the Hilton Signature Burger, followed by desserts such as chocolate lava cake. A selection of speciality cocktails, wine and beer complements the food offering.

Guests can choose between the restaurant’s full-service dining area and an adjoining, more relaxed bar and lounge, both offering the same menu and beverage selection.

Two new private dining rooms, Link and Connection, provide dedicated settings for executive dinners, client meals, celebrations and smaller group gatherings. Connection also features a 1,600 sq. ft. patio designed for outdoor dining and events. An updated banquet menu provides further options for group meals and functions.

With the renovation now complete, Hilton Santa Clara brings together refreshed accommodation, upgraded meeting technology, expanded social spaces and new dining facilities within walking distance of the Santa Clara Convention Center. The property’s location and range of event settings position it to serve corporate groups and international visitors seeking accommodation and meeting facilities in the heart of Silicon Valley.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

The fifth ICCA Future of Healthcare Meetings brought together 160 participants and representatives from 30 healthcare associations across 15 countries in Athens, exploring how research, technology and patient-centred approaches can reshape international medical congresses.

The fifth edition of the ICCA Future of Healthcare Meetings (FHCM26) concluded in Athens last week, bringing together association representatives and meetings professionals to examine the forces transforming healthcare, medical, scientific and life sciences events.

Hosted by Develop Athens, the City of Athens and This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau, the fully booked event addressed topics including artificial intelligence (AI), medical technology (MedTech), accessibility, sponsorship, governance and the creation of long-term value beyond individual meetings.

Across the programme, discussions explored how healthcare congresses can evolve from transactional gatherings into strategic platforms for scientific advancement, collaboration and knowledge exchange, with the potential to contribute to improved patient outcomes. Key themes included transparent industry partnerships, earlier patient involvement in event design, governance frameworks for AI and measuring success through longer-term impact rather than attendance alone.

Research takes centre stage

A major development at FHCM26 was the launch of ICCA’s inaugural Wavelength Report, Science for Better Healthcare Meetings. Based on a review of more than 2,000 studies, the report examines meeting effectiveness, identifies gaps in the evidence base and explores how research can inform decision-making across the healthcare meetings ecosystem.

The report’s launch placed evidence-based planning at the centre of discussions about the future of medical congresses, highlighting the role research can play in evaluating meeting formats and supporting more informed decisions by organisers, associations and industry stakeholders.

Dr Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, said: “Healthcare meetings are among the most powerful examples of why business events matter. They are not simply gatherings of professionals. They are catalysts for scientific progress, innovation, collaboration, and better patient outcomes. By bringing together experts from across disciplines and regions, healthcare congresses help transform knowledge into action and create lasting value for healthcare systems and communities worldwide.”

The emphasis on evidence and long-term outcomes reflects a broader discussion about how the value of healthcare meetings can be assessed beyond delegate numbers, taking into account their contribution to professional collaboration, scientific progress and healthcare communities.
 

Athens positions itself as a strategic partner

For the host city, the event also provided an opportunity to engage directly with international associations and decision-makers while showcasing Athens’ capacity to accommodate specialist conferences.

Elissaios Sarmas (right side), CEO of Develop Athens, said: “Attracting high-value international conferences is central to our strategy at the City of Athens to strengthen our position on the global stage. Through Develop Athens, we’re actively investing in international outreach and attracting events that create real, meaningful opportunities for the city.

Events like the ICCA Future of Healthcare Meetings allow us to do much more than just showcase our infrastructure and capabilities. More importantly, they let us connect directly with the international decision-makers, associations, and industry professionals shaping the future of the meetings market.

Every event like this is an investment in Athens’ global standing, opening doors to new partnerships and strengthening our ability to attract major international conferences down the road. Ultimately, our goal is for Athens to be far more than just a great host destination; we want to be trusted strategic partners. By connecting events with our local knowledge, research, and innovation ecosystem, we ensure every conference creates lasting value that goes well beyond the event itself.”

The approach outlined by Develop Athens places destination expertise, local research and innovation networks alongside venue infrastructure as elements of the support offered to international associations. It also reflects the growing focus on the relationship between conferences and the wider ecosystems in which they take place.

Poznań and Coimbra announced as future hosts

As Headquarters has already had the opportunity to confirm here, ICCA confirmed that the next two editions of the Future of Healthcare Meetings will take place in Poznań, Poland, from 6–8 September 2027, followed by Coimbra, Portugal, from 11–13 September 2028.

The upcoming editions will continue the initiative’s focus on bringing healthcare associations and meetings professionals together to explore how congresses can deliver more effective outcomes for participants, the scientific community and patients.

The Athens edition was supported by local partners AFEA Congress, Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, the Government of the Hellenic Republic, All About Events Greece, Athens Urban Rail Transport (STA.SY SA) and Parthen Meeting Services.

Sponsors and international partners included EventsAir, FIEXPO Latin America, IBTM World, IMEX, AIME, Snapsight, LetzFair, MementoPhoto.AI, Granicus Destinations, MCI Group, Qatar Airways, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa Group.

Founded in 1963, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is a global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, providing data, education, networking and business development opportunities to support the sector worldwide.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Vilnius has appointed Lithuanian architecture studio IMPLMNT Architects to develop the design of its planned Congress Centre, a project intended to expand the city’s capacity to host large international congresses, conventions and high-level political meetings.

The Lithuanian capital has taken another step towards developing its first purpose-built congress centre, following the signing of a design contract with IMPLMNT Architects, whose concept, titled “THREE”, won an international architectural competition earlier this year.

Located between the Lithuanian Parliament and Geležinio Vilko Street, the planned venue will feature a 2,000-seat plenary hall and 17 flexible event spaces. The complex is designed to accommodate up to 4,400 participants across events of different scales, addressing a gap in Vilnius’ meetings infrastructure.

Under the newly signed contract, IMPLMNT Architects will oversee the project’s design development, from detailed design proposals and construction permit applications to the technical design, Building Information Modelling (BIM) model and supervision of implementation. Design work is expected to be completed by mid-2028, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2031.

Expanding Vilnius’ international reach

The Congress Centre is intended to strengthen Vilnius’ position in the international business events market, enabling the city to compete for larger association congresses, corporate conventions and government-level gatherings that have previously been difficult to accommodate under one roof.

“Vilnius’ ambition to become a centre for international conferences, business events and the exchange of ideas in the region is becoming increasingly tangible. The Vilnius Congress Centre will create long-term value for the Lithuanian economy, strengthen the international competitiveness of the capital and open up new growth opportunities for the city,” said Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius.

For the local meetings industry, the development is expected to broaden the range and scale of events that Vilnius can attract. The city already hosts a growing number of international conferences, but the absence of a dedicated venue for larger congresses has limited its ability to accommodate some events.

“The new Congress Centre opens a new chapter for Vilnius. It will expand the range of international events we can host, bringing more delegates, knowledge exchange and global connections to the city,” said Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, CEO of Go Vilnius.

The latest project parameters envisage approximately 22,300 sq. m of above-ground space and 15,500 sq. m underground. Halls of different sizes will allow the complex to accommodate events with varying attendance and spatial requirements.

Connecting the city with the Neris riverfront

Beyond its role as an events venue, the Congress Centre is intended to reshape part of the Neris riverfront and improve connections between the surrounding neighbourhoods. Situated next to the Lithuanian Parliament and a planned pedestrian and cycling bridge across the river, the development will form part of a wider network of public spaces linking Naujamiestis with the river and Žvėrynas.

The winning “THREE” concept divides the large complex into several volumes that step down towards the Neris and the Parliament. This approach is intended to integrate the building into its urban surroundings while limiting its visual dominance. The surrounding areas will remain publicly accessible, creating a new section of riverfront for residents, visitors and event delegates.

“This is a truly important project, not only because of Vilnius’ ambition to become a top-level conference and event centre, but also because of its urban and architectural significance,” said Aurimas Syrusas, architect at IMPLMNT Architects. “Through the building and its surroundings, the project connects Naujamiestis with the new pedestrian and cycling bridge and brings the city closer to the river.”

International competition selected the winning design

The architectural competition attracted 28 submissions, of which 17 met all procurement requirements and proceeded to jury evaluation. The winning proposal was developed by the IMPLMNT Architects team comprising Aurimas Syrusas, Greta Brimė, Aurelija Kniukštaitė, Jonė Virbickaitė and Giedrė Jurkuvėnaitė.

Launched in December 2025, the competition had a total prize fund of €100,000. With the design contract now signed, the project moves into a more detailed development phase, with the coming years expected to establish the technical and architectural foundations for construction.

For Vilnius, the planned centre represents both an expansion of its capacity to host international business events and a major urban development project, combining new event infrastructure with improved public access to the Neris riverfront.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

© Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB)

Philadelphia’s 2026 summer calendar put the city under an unusual level of international attention, combining FIFA World Cup matches, the PGA Championship, MLB All-Star Week and UFC 330 with a wider programme of meetings, conventions and civic celebrations. The effect was visible in the city’s hotel market, where Center City properties recorded $335.6 million in revenue between May and August — 20.6% more than during the same period in 2025.

The figures, released by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and sourced from Tourism Economics, offer one of the clearest measures yet of the economic effect of the city’s event strategy during what had been described as Philadelphia’s “Summer of Sports”.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) reached $188, an increase of 22.2% year-on-year, while average daily rate (ADR) rose 18.9% to $257. Philadelphia’s RevPAR growth was also the strongest among the 25 leading US markets, according to the PHLCVB.

The headline sporting events provided the most visible moments. Philadelphia hosted six FIFA World Cup 26™ matches, including a Round of 16 fixture on 4 July, coinciding with the country’s Semiquincentennial celebrations. The PGA Championship and MLB All-Star Week added further international and national exposure, while UFC 330 contributed another major event to the calendar.

Behind them was a much broader programme. The PHLCVB brought 112 additional meetings and citywide conventions to Philadelphia during the same period, illustrating how major sporting events formed part of a wider business-events strategy rather than operating in isolation.

“This summer gave Philadelphia an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our city to the world, and we proved that we could deliver exceptional experiences on a global scale,” said Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the PHLCVB, whose team lead the charge on bidding and securing NCAA March Madness, MLB All-Star Game, and FIFA World Cup 26™ events, some five to ten years in the making. “Major events also translate directly into business for our hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality partners, supporting the thousands of people whose work makes Philadelphia such a welcoming destination. For the PHLCVB, this summer is more than a moment. It’s a powerful proof point that we can leverage to drive visitation and economic impact for years to come.”

Measuring the event effect

Hotel performance provides a relatively direct way of assessing whether large-scale events are translating into visitor spending and overnight demand. The 20.6% increase in revenue across the four-month period suggests that Philadelphia’s event calendar generated a substantial uplift for the accommodation sector, while the simultaneous rise in both RevPAR and ADR indicates that the result was not simply a consequence of filling more rooms.

The visitor base was also unusually international. According to the PHLCVB, fans attending events in Philadelphia came from all 50 US states and 190 countries. Alongside the World Cup matches, visitors could attend the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Lemon Hill and the America 250 celebrations on 4 July, creating a broader programme around the headline sporting fixtures.

For the hotel sector, the performance provided evidence of the connection between event programming and the wider visitor economy.

“The strength of Philadelphia’s hotel performance illustrates just how valuable major events are to our hospitality industry,” said Ed Grose, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. “Increased revenue provides meaningful support not only for our properties, but for the thousands of people who work in them every day. A strong summer like this creates greater stability for our hotel community while reinforcing the value of continuing to attract events that bring overnight visitors to Philadelphia.”

That question of continuity is now central to Philadelphia’s event strategy. The challenge for a destination after a year of exceptional sporting exposure is not simply to repeat a single blockbuster summer, but to convert the resulting visibility, infrastructure and industry relationships into a sustained pipeline of business.

What comes after 2026?

The city already has another substantial calendar in place. In 2027, Philadelphia will host the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional Championship and the NCAA Division I, II and III Men’s Lacrosse Championships. The Army-Navy Game will also return to Lincoln Financial Field on 11 December 2027, with the PHLCVB expecting more than 69,000 visitors for the fixture.

The meetings and conventions pipeline is equally significant. The American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture & Design is expected to attract 13,000 attendees in May 2027, followed by the BIO International Conference in June, projected to bring 16,000. The International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference is expected to draw 20,000 attendees in October, while the AACR Philadelphia Marathon in November anticipates 35,000 participants. All four events are scheduled to take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The mix points to a strategy that extends beyond sport. Life sciences, architecture, engineering, public health and safety, and professional associations form a substantial part of Philadelphia’s forward pipeline, with the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Center City hotels providing the infrastructure for large-scale gatherings.

Caren added, "on the heels of 2026, the PHLCVB team and those across the hospitality and tourism industry in Philadelphia continue to set their sights on what's next for the city; how we can build on the momentum and energy of the year; and how we continue leading the way in bringing more meetings, more business, and more international travelers to Philadelphia."

The significance of Philadelphia’s 2026 summer may therefore extend beyond the record hotel figures themselves. The combination of major sporting events, international audiences and a sizeable convention programme has provided the destination with a measurable case for the economic role of events while its 2027 pipeline will test how effectively that momentum can be sustained once the global spotlight of the World Cup has moved on.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Thailand’s MICE offering ranges from the dense urban environment of Bangkok to the resort-led coast of Khao Lak in Phang Nga Province, providing a variety of options to suit different interests, preferences and event requirements. Many fam trips try to fit in as much as possible in a short amount of time, often moving everyone through one set itinerary. In contrast, the Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME 2026), organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and BIC Event, gave more than 110 international hosted buyers, media representatives and, for the first time, content creators several ways to explore both destinations. We shared the core business and social programme while regularly splitting into smaller groups according to interests and participant profiles. This first article follows Bangkok and the places, venues and experiences that stood out for meeting planners. Khao Lak is explored separately here.

Author: Jesús Guerrero Chacón

Bangkok and the Moment of Pulse

Hotels and meeting venues

Andaz One Bangkok

The 380 sqm Andaz Ballroom can accommodate up to 300 guests for meetings and events, and can be divided into two. It features a five-metre ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a 52 sqm built-in LED screen. Two smaller Atelier rooms provide daylight spaces for board meetings and breakout sessions.

The Peninsula Bangkok

  

The St. Regis Bangkok

Coming in HQ127: Our November 2026 edition takes a deeper look at the ideas discussed during the TIME 2026 Knowledge Exchange, from TCEB’s vision for Thailand’s business events economy to Governor Dr Chadchart Sittipunt’s plans for a Bangkok that works better for events, businesses and residents alike. 

Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel

Some of the new spaces that we saw during the hotel tour offer formats that go beyond conventional meeting rooms, ballrooms and boardrooms. A screening, podcast and studio room can support private screenings, interviews, recorded content, smaller presentations and media activities alongside a conference. For meeting planners who are increasingly producing content around their events, these facilities can enable them to keep more of that work in-house instead of requiring an external studio.

Experiencing Bangkok

BHAWÁ Spa and Prai Raya

  

Four Different routes through Bangkok

The Essence of Thai Beliefs explored the Erawan Shrine and shrines dedicated to Lakshmi and Ganesha around Ratchaprasong, Bangkok’s central shopping, hotel and commercial district, followed by a bracelet-making workshop at Gaysorn. The same area also hosted TIME’s Siam in Bloom welcome dinner at Raynue, Gaysorn Amarin, a contemporary Thai-led restaurant and social space with lounge, bar and terrace areas suited to private dining, networking and evening events. Thai Taste gave participants a hands-on introduction to Thai cuisine at Sompong Thai Cooking School, showcasing a culinary tradition that is already a major part of Thailand’s delegate experience. Meanwhile, Beyond the City focused on the capital’s latest hospitality offerings, with visits to Andaz One Bangkok, Chang Canvas and The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, followed by a tea ceremony.

Explore more from TIME 2026

• Continue to Khao Lak: Discover HQ’s hotel, venue, wellness and experience picks from TIME 2026’s Moment of Calm.
• Read our interview with Dr Jaruwan Suwannasat: Thailand's meetings economy, source markets, personalisation and the thinking behind MaxiMICE Thailand.
• Coming in HQ127, November 2026: Our print edition goes deeper into the TIME 2026 Knowledge and Business Exchanges, including TCEB’s vision for Thailand’s business events economy and Governor Dr Chadchart Sittipunt’s perspective on how Bangkok can develop for MICE and residents. Read the online version here. 

Phuket is one of southern Thailand’s best-known destinations and the main international gateway to the Andaman coast. Khao Lak lies on the mainland in Phang Nga Province, around one to one-and-a-half hours north of Phuket International Airport by road. The low-rise resort destination has beachfront hotels with substantial event space close to rainforest, wellness centres and locally run experiences, giving residential meetings, leadership retreats, incentive programmes and bleisure stays plenty of ways to use the destination throughout a stay.  

 

During the Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME 2026), the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and BIC Event brought hosted buyers, media and content creators from Bangkok to Khao Lak. Under the Siam Moment theme, Khao Lak became the Moment of Calm, with business sessions, resort stays, coastline, nature and wellness creating a more relaxed rhythm for the second destination of the programme. HQ explores Bangkok’s Moment of Pulse separately here.

 

Author: Jesús Guerrero Chacón HQ's Deputy Editor

From Phuket to Khao Lak

Phuket International Airport acts as the main aviation gateway, with the journey continuing north. The transfer itself can also become part of a group programme. TIME 2026 made a stop at Beyond Skywalk Nangshi in Takua Thung before reaching Khao Lak. The 180-metre glass walkway rises around 80 metres above sea level and opens onto the limestone formations and islands of Phang Nga Bay. The property has 58 accommodation units ranging from tents and pavilions to villas, and the 114-seat Rub Tawan Restaurant is ideal for group dining.

 

Our lunch featured Southern Thai dishes and seafood sourced through the nearby Khlong Khian fishing community. Beyond Skywalk also operates under its own sustainability policy and has received a five-star Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. For incentives or leadership groups, the viewpoint, restaurant and local sourcing give the journey from Phuket a genuine programme stop before arrival at the resort.

 

  

Hotels and meeting venues

Avani+ Khao Lak Resort

Avani+ Khao Lak Resort was our first residential base on the coast. The 272-room resort has seven event rooms and more than 1,000 sqm of meeting space, centred on a 588 sqm pillarless ballroom accommodating up to 550 delegates theatre-style or 600 for cocktails.

 

Much of the resort’s appeal for groups sits outside the ballroom. Spa treatments, Muay Thai, Thailand’s traditional martial art, climbing, yoga, personal training, padel and fitness activities were available during TIME, allowing participants to choose how they used parts of the afternoon without leaving the property. Beach access and outdoor spaces add further options for morning movement, team activities and informal gatherings.

 

The beachfront Beach House hosted the Ocean Soul welcome evening, moving the group from daytime activities into dinner and networking by the sea. Meetings, sport, wellness and a social event could all take place within the same resort, reducing transfers while still giving delegates different ways to use their time.

 

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa was our second residential base, with 476 rooms, suites and villas and six event rooms covering 1,281 sqm. Its newly opened 758 sqm JW Grand Ballroom accommodates up to 800 guests, while the 270 sqm Cher Fah Ballroom can host up to 250 and be divided for smaller sessions. Outdoor venues such as the Infinity Lawn add options for receptions and social events overlooking the Andaman Sea.

 

The resort’s 27-acre JW Garden adds a particularly distinctive element to its events offer. The Environment School is led by an on-site environmentalist and introduces guests to topics including mangrove conservation, Nipa palms, reforestation, organic farming and composting. The wider sustainability programme also includes the Bamboo Shark Nursery & Conservation Center.

 

The JW Grand Ballroom and adjoining meeting spaces were also used for Seeds of Tomorrow, a team-building activity that brought together hosted buyers, media, content creators and local hosts around practical challenges linked to sustainability. The session also introduced some of the environmental programmes available through JW Garden and the Environment School, giving groups ideas that can be incorporated into future meetings, incentives and team activities. Produce grown in the garden also enters the resort’s kitchens, creating links between environmental education, food and the guest experience. Group programmes can build on the same infrastructure through garden tours, planting and conservation activities or farm-to-table experiences.

 

The resort also offers plenty of room to adjust the pace around meetings. TIME participants could start the morning with beachfront yoga, a beach run or a cultural bike ride to a nearby temple, while the extensive pool, beach and spa create obvious options for delegates adding personal time before or after an event.

 

The beachfront became an event venue itself for TIME’s final Lasting Moment. Inspired by Thailand’s Full Moon Party culture, the evening took place on a night without a full moon, so production created one through a large illuminated installation, accompanied by neon elements, music, dining and entertainment. The result showed how event production can transform a beachfront setting around a dedicated theme.

 

  

Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa

While JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa served as our residential base, TIME’s second Business Exchange took place at the separate Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa. Hosted buyers met Thai suppliers through one-to-one appointments in the Andaman Ballroom, before the programme took us through different activities including floating meditation, an herbal-bag workshop, sustainable mocktail mixology and craft sessions. Dinner at Lido Beach Restaurant & Lounge completed the evening by the coast, showing how business appointments, smaller group experiences and a social function could all be accommodated within the same property.

 

Opened in December 2024, Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa has 283 rooms, suites and villas. Its 531 sqm Andaman Ballroom accommodates up to 560 delegates theatre-style or 550 for cocktails, complemented by smaller meeting rooms, a boardroom, function lawn and beachfront event spaces. That mix gives groups options for conferences, breakouts, outdoor receptions and incentive activities without having to move between multiple venues. 

 

  

Experiencing Khao Lak

A Different Kind of Bonding

Khao Lak’s outdoor programme gave delegates opportunities to try unfamiliar activities together, with Sky Rock Khao Lak and Salt Surf offering two very different versions of the same idea.

 

Sky Rock Khao Lak runs through the rainforest with ziplines, sky bridges, bamboo towers, suspended obstacles and climbing elements. The operator follows internationally recognised safety standards, carries out daily equipment checks and designs the course around the forest without damaging the trees. It was also where I tried a zipline for the first time. The shared nerves, encouragement and sense of achievement became part of the experience itself, which is exactly what can make this kind of activity useful for groups spending several days together.

 

At Salt Surf, the challenge moved to the sea. Beginner-friendly lessons introduced participants to balance, wave movement and the basics of surfing, with some delegates also trying it for the first time. Surfing and ziplining require very different skills, but both create space for people to encourage each other, build confidence and connect outside a conventional networking environment.

 

Nature, Care and Local Connections

Komol’s Corner Bamboo Rafting offers a much gentler way into Khao Lak’s natural environment. Two guests typically share a small bamboo raft poled through a freshwater stream near Wang Kieng Koo Waterfall. The family-run operator has been working in the area since 2004, linking nature-based tourism with local employment and community income. TIME combined the rafting with a waterway clean-up, adding an environmental action to the experience. 

 

Another route visited Khao Lak Elephant Home, where BIC Event and TCEB framed the activity around elephant welfare, nutrition and conservation. Participants prepared natural vitamin balls for the elephants and learned about their care, offering a different kind of connection with the destination through nature and animal welfare.

 

  

Wellness and Recovery 

La Vita Sana Wellness Center sits within the wider La Flora Group, a family-owned Khao Lak hospitality collection that includes several beachfront resorts and villas. This gives groups the possibility to combine meeting space, accommodation and structured wellness programmes within the same local portfolio, with options ranging from larger resorts such as La Vela and La Solaya to the 34-villa Casa de La Flora for smaller executive or premium incentive groups.

 

La Vita Sana itself combines traditional Thai medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine with contemporary wellness treatments and two event spaces. The 160 sqm Vanilla Sky Meeting Room accommodates up to 80 theatre-style, while the 875 sqm Marquee Grand Hall can host around 600 theatre-style or 800 for cocktails. Multi-night wellness programmes can also be incorporated into stays at several La Flora Group properties, creating scope for retreats where meetings sit alongside nutrition, sleep and stress management, movement and treatments.

 

During TIME 2026, our programme began with a Food as Medicine lunch and a workshop making Ya Dom, the herbal inhalers commonly used in Thailand. Participants then chose between sound healing, hot-and-cold contrast therapy or a consultation combining Thai and Chinese medicine followed by a head and shoulder massage. The range showed how wellness can be built into a group programme at different levels, from a single afternoon to a multi-day retreat, without asking every delegate to follow the same path.

 

An active morning, a focused business session, time to reset and dinner on the beach can all fit into the same day. In Khao Lak, the Moment of Calm came from having the freedom to change pace.

 

  

Explore more from TIME 2026

• Discover Bangkok’s Moment of Pulse: HQ’s picks for meeting hotels, venues and experiences in Thailand’s capital.
• Read our interview with Dr Jaruwan Suwannasat: Thailand’s meetings economy, source markets, personalisation and the thinking behind MaxiMICE Thailand.
• Coming in HQ127, November 2026: our print feature looks deeper into the TIME 2026 Knowledge and Business Exchanges, TCEB’s wider strategy and the role business events can play in Thailand’s destinations and communities. Read the online version here.

 

Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME 2026) brought more than 110 international hosted buyers, media and content creators to Bangkok and Khao Lak, giving participants a view of two different MICE environments, from the capital’s urban business setting to a resort destination in southern Thailand. Dr Jaruwan Suwannasat, Senior Vice President (International Marketing and Partnerships) at the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), where she is responsible for international marketing and partnerships, spoke to HQ about the meetings economy, local expertise, sustainability and the role of business events in Thailand’s wider economic strategy.

Author: Jesús Guerrero Chacón, HQ’s Deputy Editor

Thailand is already an established leisure and business events destination, ranking 24th globally and first in ASEAN for international association meetings in 2025. What do you want delegates to remember differently?

We are looking increasingly at what we call the meetings economy. A meeting brings people together to exchange ideas, and the experience surrounding that exchange should give them something distinctive to remember. Every country can provide meeting rooms, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The question is how someone attends an event and goes home remembering they were in Thailand, whether in Bangkok, Khao Lak or another destination.

That is why we work with destinations to understand their character and local assets. Different parts of Thailand offer different experiences, and we do not want to provide a one-size-fits-all product. When we receive an RFP, we look at the purpose of the event and how the destination can meet those needs. For a site inspection, for example, we may shortlist several venues for the planner to assess.

We also use tools such as social listening to understand what business travellers from different markets are looking for. We want the product and experience to fit the business purpose. For a convention, that may mean knowledge exchange and networking. For an exhibition, it may be trade and investment within a particular sector.
 

What makes Thailand’s MICE proposition different?

I would divide it into three elements. The first is the destination itself. We work with cities and regions to identify their local assets and connect them with the focus of an event. If a destination is strong in agriculture, for example, a related conference can incorporate visits to farms, production facilities or other parts of the industry’s supply chain.

The second is experience, and much of that comes from people. Service and hospitality are important, as is the ability to adapt and solve problems.

A good example is Buriram and MotoGP 2027. A major international event can put pressure on accommodation and infrastructure in a smaller destination. Working with neighbouring cities can provide additional capacity while spreading the economic benefits more widely.

Communities also need to understand an event’s purpose and potential benefits. Large events can affect traffic, noise and the environment, so involving local people is important.

The third element is the industry behind MICE. Events can add another economic dimension through investment, innovation and international networks, creating opportunities for Thai businesses and local people to meet counterparts from around the world.
 

How do you connect business events with Thailand’s wider expertise and industries?

We collaborate with other government organisations that are already developing those sectors.

One example is the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), which works with cities and local clusters in fields including culture, gastronomy, design, arts and crafts. Another is the National Innovation Agency (NIA), which connects research and innovation with products and services in each city cluster. This helps amplify city DNA and creates unique experiences the destination can deliver to delegates. [Editor’s note: TCEB works with agencies including CEA and National Innovation Agency to connect business events with Thailand’s creative and innovation sectors.]

Our role is to find the connections between those strengths and MICE. Money20/20 is a good example. It brings together the region’s fintech and financial services sector, but the delegate experience can still include recognisably Thai elements. Something as simple as serving fresh fruit from a traditional fruit cart brings local character into an international business event without distracting from its commercial purpose.

That is the balance we are looking for. People come primarily to do business, exchange knowledge or build networks. The destination experience should complement that.
 

Where does MaxiMICE Thailand fit into this approach?

TCEB launched MaxiMICE Thailand at IMEX Frankfurt in May 2026 as a national framework built around three pillars: convenience, experience and impact. How do those ideas translate into what organisers and delegates experience on the ground?

For convenience, we look at how people can access the destination and how easy it is for them to organise their event. That includes connectivity, venues and the support available to organisers.

Experience is about understanding what Thailand and each destination can offer. We want to tailor that experience according to the event and the people attending it.

Impact is also very important because we need to look at the results. For an exhibition, that could be trade and investment. For a convention, it could be knowledge exchange or connections between people. Sustainability is also part of that impact.
 

How do standards and sustainability support this strategy?

When we work with destinations, we also need to ensure that planners can identify facilities that meet their requirements.

That is why TCEB developed the Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS), which gives planners a framework for assessing venues. It covers physical characteristics, technology, service quality and sustainable management, giving buyers greater confidence while helping suppliers improve their operations.

Sustainability has increasingly become a licence to operate for MICE events. Many international organisers now ask whether a destination has sustainable venues and event practices. We have been working on this with the supply side for many years.

Organisers can use tools to assess carbon reduction and decarbonisation measures at their events, with third-party auditing and verification available. TCEB can provide financial support towards those costs within certain limits. For international events with sustainability requirements, having those systems in place can strengthen Thailand’s proposition.

Asia remains Thailand’s largest source region. Where do you see opportunities beyond it?

Meetings and incentives represent a significant part of the market, and Asia remains dominant, but Europe, North America and Australia offer further potential.

The government is increasingly interested in the value business travellers generate, as well as visitor numbers. That makes higher-spending long-haul markets particularly relevant.

In the UK, for example, major exhibition organisers already use Thailand as a regional base for events serving ASEAN markets, giving them access to a wider regional business audience.

Australia is also important for meetings and incentives. Distance is a consideration, but when the business case is strong, people will travel.

We see that with major international events. Participants come to meet their peers, understand developments in their industry and conduct business.

Is broadening the perception of Thailand beyond its leisure appeal part of the challenge?

Yes. Thailand has traditionally been strongly associated with leisure and broadening that perception takes time. One of the ways we are doing that is by selling the industry rather than simply selling the destination.

If someone works in energy, for example, the reason to come may be Gastech, a major international energy industry event. In financial technology, it could be Money20/20 Asia. The business reason comes first, with Bangkok or Thailand adding another layer to the experience.

Major international events also build confidence among organisers. The events industry is very connected, and organisers talk to one another. Successfully delivering one major event can influence others considering the destination. Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group is another example of the scale of international gatherings coming to Bangkok.

The objective of MICE is ultimately business, with the destination experience making the event more distinctive.

How does TCEB measure whether these business exchanges actually create value?

We look at both the immediate outcomes and the longer-term business potential. At the TIME Business Exchange in Bangkok, for example, Thai suppliers met international MICE agencies to explore opportunities, and we follow up to understand whether those connections develop into genuine business leads and future events in Thailand.

As a government organisation, it is important for us to demonstrate not only how many meetings we facilitate, but also the value and business opportunities those connections can create for Thailand.

We apply the same principle in Khao Lak, working with local suppliers and stakeholders to build stronger connections with the international market. Ultimately, success is not measured by the number of meetings alone, but by whether those meetings create a meaningful pipeline of business and contribute to the long-term competitiveness of the destination.

IBTM Asia Pacific will launch in Bangkok in 2027. What role do you want the event to play?

IBTM Asia Pacific gives us another platform to connect Thailand with the wider regional market.

The focus will primarily be on Asia-Pacific buyers, while maintaining some long-haul participation to create an international mix. We also want to reach buyers we are not currently reaching.

Another important element is inclusiveness. We are working with other government organisations that support SMEs because we want international business events to create opportunities for businesses of different sizes. Not every buyer is looking for a large supplier; some are looking for specialist, niche or more personalised products and experiences. We want qualified SMEs to have the opportunity to participate alongside larger companies and connect directly with international buyers.
 

IBTM Asia Pacific will make its Asia-Pacific debut at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) on 9 and 10 June 2027, with TCEB as Official Host Destination Partner. The event offers a practical test of the strategy Suwannasat outlined during TIME 2026, connecting international buyers with Thai industries and suppliers, including smaller businesses seeking access to new markets. It also brings her idea of “selling the industry” into focus: the event creates the business reason to travel, while Thailand’s destinations, local expertise and experiences shape what that exchange can deliver.

Explore more from TIME 2026

• Discover Bangkok’s Moment of Pulse: HQ’s picks for meeting hotels, venues and experiences in Thailand’s capital.
• Continue to Khao Lak: Discover HQ’s hotel, venue, wellness and experience picks from TIME 2026’s Moment of Calm.
• Coming in HQ127, November 2026: our print feature looks deeper into the TIME 2026 Knowledge and Business Exchanges, TCEB’s wider strategy and the role business events can play in Thailand’s destinations and communities. Read the online version here.

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

All pictures taken from www.aimgroupinternational.com

AIM Group International closed 2025 with €88.99 million in revenue, more than 2,000 events delivered and 410,000 participants engaged. Behind the figures, however, the company’s latest annual and sustainability report points to the integration of event management, communications, consultancy and technology into a single operating model.

The Italian-headquartered group, which now operates 13 offices across nine European countries, recorded EBITDA of more than €3 million during the year. Its activity covered live, digital and hybrid events, with more than 22,500 scientific abstracts managed and 26,500 square metres of exhibition space handled. More than 150 corporate clients and 150 international associations were among those served during the year.

The revenue mix also illustrates how diversified the business has become. Conference Management remained the largest segment, accounting for 30% of revenue, followed by Healthcare Meetings at 20%. Corporate & Sport Events and Communication each represented 15%, while Continuing Medical Education accounted for 10%. Association Management and Incentive & DMC Services each contributed 5%.

That spread is important in understanding AIM’s current direction. Rather than relying exclusively on the traditional congress and conference model, the group is positioning different capabilities around the same client relationships from scientific meetings and association management to communications, corporate events and destination services.

"2025 was a year of execution, transformation and growth. We strengthened our financial position, accelerated our key strategic initiatives and laid the foundations for the Group’s next stage of development. Artificial intelligence, digitalisation and innovation are powerful enablers, but it is people who turn technology into value and shape our future,” said Gianluca Scavo, Chief Executive Officer of AIM Group International.
 

Sustainability moves into operations

The report also provides a more detailed picture of how sustainability is being incorporated into that operating model.

During 2025, AIM published a Sustainable Supply Chain Protocol, extending its sustainability framework into relationships with suppliers and partners. Its EcoVadis score increased to 59/100, while the group maintained its “Committed” rating, and it submitted its Near-Term Commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative.

ISO 20121 is similarly presented less as a certification exercise and more as an operational framework, covering areas such as risk assessment, supplier coordination and impact reporting. The report cites several congresses where these principles were applied to mobility, venue selection, procurement, food recovery and resource management.

At the SIR National Congress in Rimini, for example, rail travel was encouraged through an agreement with Trenitalia, while the ISO 20121-certified Palacongressi di Rimini and the Food for Good programme formed part of the event’s sustainability approach. In Vienna, OSSEO 2025 became the first event in its field to receive Austria’s Ecolabel for Green Meetings.

These examples point to a wider change in the way sustainability is being treated within the meetings industry: less as a separate reporting exercise and more as a series of decisions made during the design and delivery of an event.

The people behind the numbers

The report places considerable emphasis on the workforce supporting that transformation. AIM employs more than 300 people, with women representing 82% of its workforce, 76% of management positions and 70% of senior leadership. More than 9,400 hours of training were delivered during 2025, including programmes focused on leadership, digital capabilities and sustainability.

“We operate in a world where technology, innovation and globalisation are reshaping our industry. Yet we remain convinced that our greatest differentiator is people. The ability to build relationships, create trust and work together is what transforms every project into lasting impact,” said Gianluca Buongiorno, President of AIM Group International.

The social dimension extends beyond employment. AIM’s 2025 report records support for initiatives including Food for Good, Dynamo Camp, LILT and Save the Children, alongside the group’s long-running rehabilitation centre in Burundi. A school renovation project in Nepal supported 549 students and teachers, according to the report.
 

From event organiser to integrated partner

Technology is set to remain a major part of AIM’s next phase, with artificial intelligence, digital transformation and cybersecurity identified alongside international expansion as strategic priorities. The group also reports an international project pipeline extending beyond 2030.

The significance of the 2025 results therefore lies less in the headline revenue figure than in what sits behind it. AIM is attempting to build an organisation in which meetings, communications, consultancy, technology and sustainability are increasingly connected rather than treated as separate services.

For an industry facing simultaneous pressure to digitalise, demonstrate environmental responsibility and deliver greater strategic value to associations, companies and institutions, that integration may prove as important as the scale of the business itself.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

© Gerlach Delissen Photography

TEFAF Maastricht will remain at MECC Maastricht through 2036, extending a relationship that has linked the international art fair with the Dutch city since 1988.

MECC Maastricht has reached an agreement with TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation), with the Province of Limburg and the Municipality of Maastricht also involved, laying the foundations for a new agreement covering the period from 2027 through 2036. The current agreement remains in force through the 2027 edition, but the parties have chosen to establish the fair’s longer-term future ahead of its 40th anniversary.

For Maastricht, the decision secures one of the city’s most internationally recognised events for another decade. For TEFAF, it provides continuity for an event that has developed from its Maastricht roots into one of the leading international fairs for art, antiques and design.

“With our fortieth anniversary on the horizon, we are proud that Maastricht will remain our home base for the next ten years as well. We are grateful to MECC Maastricht, the Province of Limburg and the Municipality of Maastricht for their long-term vision, especially in an international arena where accessibility, infrastructure, hospitality and image are becoming ever more decisive,” said Maarten ten Holder, Managing Director of TEFAF.

“This partnership gives TEFAF the space to keep developing, firmly rooted in Maastricht. At the same time, our significance extends beyond the city and the region: TEFAF is an international flagship for the Netherlands in the global art world.”

The decision follows discussions initiated by MECC Maastricht about the fair’s future. With international cities showing interest in hosting TEFAF, Maastricht’s continued position as its home could not be taken for granted.

“TEFAF has been part of MECC Maastricht’s DNA for nearly forty years. Based on our convictions that the fair is of great value to Maastricht and the region, we took the initiative at an early stage to enter into discussions with TEFAF about the future,” said Rob van de Wiel, Managing Director of MECC Maastricht.

“Given the keen interest shown by international cities to host TEFAF, it was not a foregone conclusion that the fair would remain in Maastricht. This is why we are proud that, thanks to the collective efforts of all those involved, we have laid the foundation for another ten years of TEFAF in Maastricht.”

The scale of TEFAF’s international reach helps explain the significance of the agreement. Its 2026 edition, held over eight days, attracted more than 50,000 visitors from 75 countries, while 277 international gallery owners presented their collections at MECC Maastricht. The audience includes collectors, museums, curators, art professionals and art lovers, reinforcing the fair’s role as an international meeting point for the art market and cultural institutions.

The economic dimension is equally significant. Research by Deloitte found that TEFAF generated an economic impact of €86.4 million for the Netherlands in 2025, including €37.9 million in Maastricht alone. The benefits extend across hotels, restaurants, shops and transport providers, as well as specialist suppliers involved in stand construction, transportation, technical services, catering and security.

The renewed commitment therefore extends beyond securing a venue for an established fair. It reinforces Maastricht’s role within an international cultural and business-events ecosystem in which accessibility, infrastructure, hospitality and international visibility are increasingly important considerations.

The next edition of TEFAF Maastricht will take place from 13–18 March 2027, marking the fair’s 40th anniversary and the beginning of the next chapter in its longstanding relationship with the city.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

As cities face increasingly complex challenges around climate, infrastructure, mobility and disaster resilience, Smart City Expo Cali will bring the conversation to Santiago de Cali on 30 September and 1 October, with technology and urban innovation placed alongside the practical question of how territories can recover and prepare for future shocks.

The fourth Colombian edition of Smart City Expo is expected to bring together more than 3,000 professionals and 75 national and international experts. Organised by the Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali, EMCALI, Fira de Barcelona and Corferias, the event marks the first time the Smart City Expo platform has been held in the capital of Valle del Cauca, following two editions in Bogotá and one in Cartagena de Indias.

Its arrival coincides with the region’s recovery following the serious earthquake that struck the area last August. Against this backdrop, the event will explore how technology, innovation and public-private collaboration can support reconstruction while helping cities become more resilient.

Under the theme “Bio-intelligent cities: innovation for life”, the programme will address four principal areas: smart mobility and territorial connectivity; safe, resilient and healthy cities; environment and sustainable energy; and public innovation, creativity and emerging technologies.

The emphasis reflects a broader understanding of the smart city concept, linking digital development with issues such as risk management, security, sustainable mobility and the capacity of urban territories to respond to future disruptions.

From urban innovation to practical collaboration

The congress programme will feature 75 speakers from Colombia and beyond, including Santiago de Cali mayor Alejandro Eder, author and urban nature researcher Nadina Galle, Boston CIO Santiago Garcés, entrepreneur and lecturer Mauricio Hoyos Holguín, former Curridabat mayor and former Costa Rican Minister of Education Edgar Mora, and UN Women representative in Colombia María Inés Salamanca.

The programme will also feature Gabriel Enrique Ferrer, Secretary of Information and Communications Technologies of Valle del Cauca; Marcelo Facchina, Smart Cities and Digital Development principal specialist at CAF; Hernán Matías Perín, general director of Govtech and CorLab at the Municipality of Córdoba; and Eleonora Pazos, director for Latin America at UITP.

Alongside the congress, an exhibition area will provide space for companies and organisations to present solutions, while networking sessions will focus on potential strategic alliances and business opportunities. An Agora Zone will complement the programme with presentations of innovative projects and specialised sessions.

The event will also have a pre-programme component on 29 September, when Invest Pacific and the Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali host “Cali, the home of technology and innovation”. Designed for entrepreneurs, investors, specialised media and international experts, the initiative will showcase the city’s innovation ecosystem through visits focused on technology, renewable energy, biotechnology and health innovation.

Part of Fira’s international smart-city platform

Smart City Expo Cali forms part of Fira de Barcelona’s growing international programme of events focused on urban development and innovation.

In 2026, the wider Smart City Expo programme includes editions in Santiago de Chile, Curitiba in Brazil, Santiago del Estero in Argentina and Puebla in Mexico. Fira’s international portfolio also includes Tomorrow.City events in Shanghai and the United States, Mexico Hospitality Expo in Guadalajara and Tomorrow.Blue Economy in Niterói, Brazil.

The programme is complemented this year by the first edition of Argentina Alimenta in Buenos Aires, further extending Fira de Barcelona’s international event activity beyond its home market.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

OIC Group has been awarded the EcoVadis Bronze Medal 2026, placing the Italian Professional Congress Organiser among the top 35% of companies assessed by EcoVadis worldwide over the past 12 months.

The recognition comes at a significant point in the Florence-based group’s sustainability journey. In 2026, OIC Group published its first Sustainability Report, bringing together its objectives, results and areas for improvement across environmental, social and governance dimensions.

EcoVadis assesses organisations across four areas — environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement — making the medal a recognition of the policies and practices underpinning the organisation’s broader sustainability approach.

For OIC Group, the EcoVadis assessment forms part of a wider framework that also includes ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management systems and UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification for gender equality. The latter has helped establish a structured approach to equity through policies, processes and monitoring, while the group says it is extending the same focus to wider questions of inclusion and participation.

The company positions these areas not only as elements of corporate culture, but also as part of the quality and design of the events it delivers for clients.

From responsibility to social impact

That approach has also taken OIC Group further into social impact. During 2026, the organisation joined Oxfam Italia’s “Our business, water to save lives” programme, supporting interventions that provide clean and safe water in humanitarian emergencies.

The relationship has subsequently expanded into project development, with OIC Group identifying Oxfam Italia as one of its key partners for future sustainability and social impact initiatives.

For a PCO, this creates a potential link between corporate responsibility and event design. According to OIC Group, its network of expertise and relationships can be made available to clients through initiatives ranging from awareness-raising and participant engagement to fundraising activities and support for international projects.

The objective is to integrate social responsibility into events in ways that remain consistent with the identity and purpose of each individual event, extending the role of the organiser beyond the delivery of the programme itself.

“The value of this journey is measured above all in the day-to-day experience of the people who work in the company. The certifications we have achieved and the assessment tools we use help us give structure and continuity to our commitments, but they take on their full meaning when they become a guide for choices and initiatives that can translate into concrete opportunities for our people. EcoVadis gives us a snapshot of the results we have achieved and, at the same time, offers us new ideas for continuing to improve, while keeping listening, engagement and the wellbeing of everyone at OIC Group at the centre,” concludes Simona Giuliani, HR Director at OIC Group.

Founded in Florence in 1975, OIC Group was among Italy’s first Professional Congress Organisers and today operates internationally across the meetings industry. The group designs and delivers events, congresses, communication campaigns and training programmes for the healthcare, scientific and association sectors, with established offices in Florence, Milan and Brussels.

OIC Group employs more than 100 professionals and manages an average of 500 events worldwide each year, with human capital, technology and entrepreneurial development identified as key areas of continued investment.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

From 10 to 13 August 2026, Córdoba hosted the FIEXPO Workshop & Technical Visit, bringing together more than 30 international hosted buyers and the province’s meetings industry professionals. In this interview, Darío Capitani, President of Agencia Córdoba Turismo, discusses what the hosted buyers experienced during their stay, the involvement of local universities and suppliers, and the markets that Córdoba is focusing on now.

What did hosting the FIEXPO Workshop & Technical Visit mean for Córdoba, and what do you think FIEXPO saw in the destination?

• First, connectivity. Córdoba’s central location in Argentina and the network served by Ambrosio Taravella International Airport give us strong access across the country and the region.
• Second, the way our meetings industry works together. The Provincial Meetings Industry Board brings together Agencia Córdoba Turismo, Córdoba Bureau, private-sector partners and universities, giving us a coordinated structure for developing and promoting the destination.
• Third, the breadth of the offer. Córdoba has large-scale venues such as the Córdoba Convention Centre and Complejo Ferial, a diverse hotel base and a strong leisure component, with heritage, gastronomy and nature all close to the city.

How was the programme developed with FIEXPO and local partners, and what did each part of Córdoba’s MICE sector contribute?

What kind of hosted buyers took part, and what were they looking for during their time in Córdoba?

There was also strong interest in Córdoba’s knowledge base. The city is widely known as “La Docta”, a nickname linked to its long academic tradition and the presence of some of Argentina’s oldest and most established universities. Sectors such as software, agri-medicine and biotechnology can provide speakers, expertise and local partnerships that add depth to congress programmes.
 

Which parts of Córdoba’s meetings offer attracted the most interest, and what did you learn from the buyers’ feedback?

What has the Workshop left behind for Córdoba’s meetings industry in areas such as professional development, sustainability, legacy and impact measurement?

How will Córdoba now follow up the business opportunities generated during the Workshop, and which markets and event segments are the main priorities?

For more on Córdoba’s MICE strategy, read our report on how the destination is measuring the economic and long-term impact of events.

The Portuguese city has been selected to host the seventh edition of ICCA’s Future of Healthcare Meetings, adding another international ICCA event to the Iberian Chapter’s calendar.

Coimbra’s selection for the seventh edition adds another ICCA event to the Iberian Chapter’s calendar. The chapter, which brings together members from Spain and Portugal, has maintained a strong presence in ICCA’s international rankings, supported by established congress cities and an increasing number of regional and second-tier destinations.

Further reading: 2026 Future of Healthcare Meetings in Athens and the HQ report from the ICCA Iberian Chapter Annual Meeting in Coimbra.

Girona will host more than 800 specialists from across the medical, scientific and technical fields of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 30 September to 3 October, when L’Auditori Palau de Congressos de Girona welcomes the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB).

Following the society’s meeting in Barcelona in 2024, the move to Girona further reinforces Catalonia’s position as an international hub for research and technology in magnetic resonance. The four-day congress will bring together radiologists, physicists, engineers, radiographers and biologists to examine how the technology is evolving and what its development could mean for clinical practice and society over the next 25 years.

Held under the theme “Shaping the Future”, ESMRMB 2026 will look beyond the current capabilities of MRI to consider the forces reshaping the discipline. Its scientific programme is structured around three areas: the future of MRI technology and equipment, the role of MRI in clinical practice, and its wider place in society.

Two further educational strands will address tools for the development of MRI and emerging clinical perspectives beyond its more established applications.

The congress will also extend its programme beyond the professional audience through a public-facing event on 29 September. El viatge dins del cos humà (A Journey Inside the Human Body) will take place at Centre Cultural La Mercè at 18:00, offering a free introduction to the technology and its applications.
 

The session will explore how MRI can be used to examine the brain, observe the heart in motion, understand bones and joints and detect disease before symptoms appear, while also looking at potential applications in the medicine of the future.

The talk will be delivered by Dr Kai Vilanova, president of the congress organising committee, radiologist and Director of Innovation at the MRI Unit of Clínica Girona. Vilanova is also a consultant in radiology at IDI Hospital Dr J. Trueta/Hospital Santa Caterina and a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Girona.

The public session has been organised jointly by ESMRMB, L’Auditori Palau de Congressos de Girona and the Girona City Convention Bureau. It forms part of the social legacy programme associated with congresses held at the Girona venue, using the presence of an international scientific meeting to create an opportunity for knowledge-sharing with the wider community.

Attendance is free, although registration is required. The ESMRMB congress itself runs from 30 September to 3 October, bringing more than 800 participants to Girona for four days of scientific exchange focused on the next stage of MRI technology, medicine and research.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

DMC Network has expanded its presence in the US with the addition of Juice Studios, an independent destination management company based in Atlanta and serving Georgia and the South Carolina Coast.

Founded in 2004, Juice Studios brings more than 20 years of experience in meetings, events and destination experiences to the Network. The company operates across the Lowcountry from Charleston to Amelia Island, with hubs in Savannah and Charleston, and provides destination management, meeting planning, event production and design, transportation, entertainment and incentive programme support.

The appointment follows DMC Network’s recent repositioning around its global promise, “We’re Here for You”, and its stated focus on combining international reach with independent local ownership, destination expertise and direct accountability.

For DMC Network, Georgia and the South Carolina Coast represent an important addition to its US meetings and incentives coverage. The organisation said it conducted a search for a partner that could combine established destination credentials with the culture and collaborative approach of its wider independent network.

Aoife Delaney, Managing Director of DMC Network, said: “Georgia and South Carolina Coast are important destinations for our clients, so it was important to us that we took the time to find the right partner. In Juice Studios, we believe we have done exactly that.

“They bring the local knowledge, creativity and operational strength our clients expect, but just as importantly, they understand what it means to be part of DMC Network. Our community is built around independent businesses that want to collaborate, share expertise and support one another, while remaining personally accountable for what happens in their own destinations. Juice Studios fits that model extremely well.”

Juice Studios combines destination management with creative and production capabilities, working across corporate meetings, executive retreats, incentive programmes, large-scale events and bespoke guest experiences. Its offering is built around local destination knowledge and what the company describes as Southern hospitality, creativity and polished execution.

The new partnership also gives Juice Studios access to the wider DMC Network community, which brings together independently owned destination management companies across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.

Kris Hammett, Managing Partner at Juice Studios, said: “We have known and respected DMC Network and its members for a long time, so joining feels like a very natural next step for Juice Studios. What particularly appealed to us was the community behind the Network. These are independent businesses that understand their destinations intimately but also recognise the value of sharing ideas, knowledge and relationships with others around the world.

“We are excited to bring our experience in Georgia and South Carolina Coast into that community, while giving our own team the opportunity to be part of something bigger within the industry.”

Kris Shea, Managing Partner at Juice Studios, added: “That sense of community really matters to us. DMC Network gives us the opportunity to remain proudly independent and true to the way we work, while connecting our clients and our team with an exceptional group of destination experts globally.

“We share the Network’s belief in relationships, responsiveness and having knowledgeable people on the ground who are personally invested in getting things right. We are looking forward to contributing to the Network, learning from our fellow members and creating new opportunities together.”

The addition of Juice Studios further expands DMC Network’s independently owned US membership while reinforcing its model of connecting locally rooted DMCs through a global platform. The Network describes itself as a member-owned collective, with partners sharing knowledge, referrals and best practices while retaining their independent ownership and local identity.

For meeting and incentive planners, the expansion adds a new local partner covering a destination corridor that includes Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston and the wider Georgia and South Carolina Coast markets. For Juice Studios, membership provides access to DMC Network’s global sales support, referrals and international community while retaining its independent operating model.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Signing of the MOU Singapore Tourism Board © Messe Berlin GmbH

Messe Berlin and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at expanding the German organiser’s presence in Singapore and across the Asia-Pacific region, building on an 18-year partnership that began with the launch of ITB Asia in 2008.

Signed during InnoTrans Berlin 2026 by Melissa Ow, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, and Dr Mario Tobias, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin, the agreement establishes a framework for deeper cooperation across four areas: business development, digitalisation and sustainability, talent and manpower development, and experience development.

The partnership comes as Messe Berlin prepares for a significant expansion of its Singapore portfolio. The organiser currently stages four events in the city: ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, Travel Tech Asia and Smart Health Asia. ITB Asia 2025 recorded more than 60,000 business appointments, a 35% year-on-year increase, alongside 18,000 attendees and more than 1,500 buyers, up 7% from 2024. Smart Health Asia, meanwhile, attracted more than 3,200 attendees at its inaugural edition.

From 2027, the portfolio will expand to seven events with the launch of three new Asian editions: InnoTrans Asia, CMS Asia and Smart Pharma Asia. The expanded portfolio will cover travel and tourism, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, mobility and environmental solutions.

The first of these new events, InnoTrans Asia, was announced in 2025 and will take place from 7 to 9 September 2027 at Singapore EXPO. The event will be the first Asian edition of Messe Berlin’s international transport technology trade fair and will focus specifically on the Asia-Pacific market, covering railway technology, railway infrastructure, public transport, interiors and tunnel construction.

Messe Berlin has positioned InnoTrans Asia as a complement to its biennial Berlin flagship rather than a replacement, with the Singapore edition intended to connect international industry players with fast-growing Asian markets. The company has pointed to rising investment in rail infrastructure and demand for transport technology, automation and sustainable mobility solutions across the region as drivers behind the expansion.

The move also builds on Messe Berlin’s longer-term establishment in Singapore. The company has maintained its Asia-Pacific headquarters in the city since 2007, with its local team having nearly tripled in size over the past decade. The latest agreement is expected to support further growth as Messe Berlin scales its regional operations.

For Singapore, the partnership aligns with the country’s wider strategy to grow the economic contribution of business events. The STB has set a Tourism 2040 target of tripling MICE tourism receipts, while continuing to position Singapore as a regional hub connecting international markets with Asia-Pacific industries.

Ms Melissa Ow, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Messe Berlin has been a valued partner and a testament to what is possible when two organisations share a common vision for excellence. We are proud that Singapore has been Messe Berlin's home in Asia Pacific. We remain committed to supporting their growth and innovation, while connecting them to the full breadth of opportunities across this region. Together, we are shaping the future of business events in Asia Pacific, bringing us closer to realising our Tourism 2040 ambition and establishing Singapore as the world's leading MICE destination.”

Dr Mario Tobias, Chief Executive Officer, Messe Berlin, said: “Singapore has been Messe Berlin's home in Asia Pacific for almost two decades, providing the world-class environment and standards that international business events demand. What began with ITB Asia has developed into a major pillar of Messe Berlin's international growth strategy. This strategic partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board reflects our long-term confidence in Singapore as a key regional hub and our shared ambition to create globally recognised business event brands that connect industries, drive innovation, and facilitate international trade across Asia Pacific.”

The new MOU will also see the two organisations explore opportunities in emerging sectors aligned with Singapore’s economic priorities. Alongside expanding Messe Berlin’s event portfolio, the partnership is intended to develop regional capabilities, create industry platforms and connect global markets through Singapore.

The agreement forms part of a wider pattern of international organisers using Singapore as a base for regional expansion. In May 2026, STB also announced a strategic partnership with Informa Group, while other international exhibition organisers have established or expanded regional operations in the city.

For Messe Berlin, the strategy gives its established brands a platform for regional adaptation while maintaining links with their European roots. InnoTrans Asia, for example, is being positioned as an Asia-Pacific complement to the Berlin edition, which remains the company’s global flagship for transport technology. The 2026 edition of InnoTrans in Berlin is taking place from 22 to 25 September and brings together decision-makers, industry specialists and technology companies from across the international mobility sector.

The result is a partnership that has evolved considerably since ITB Asia launched in Singapore in 2008: from a single travel trade event to a seven-event portfolio spanning tourism, meetings, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, mobility and environmental solutions.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Five Brussels-based cultural and tourism initiatives have been recognised at the 2026 visit.brussels Awards, celebrating projects that contributed to the Belgian capital’s appeal both nationally and internationally during 2025.

The winners were announced on Thursday 24 September at the BIP, home to visit.brussels, during the twelfth edition of the awards. This year’s ceremony formed part of the Insights Day, an inspiration and networking event bringing together Brussels’ tourism partners. Around one hundred representatives from the events, culture, hospitality and meetings industries attended the gathering.

Boris Dilliès, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, said: “The visit.brussels Awards celebrate the Brussels residents who, year after year, help make our capital such a distinctive and outstanding tourist destination. But I would also like to pay tribute to visit.brussels itself. No one understands better than you what makes this vibrant city tick.”

The awards recognised initiatives across culture, heritage, tourism and technology. The selection process began with around 50 submissions, from which the public selected four finalists in each of the main categories. A jury then chose the winners, assessing projects according to originality, innovation and overall success, alongside customer focus, environmental, economic and social sustainability, and efforts to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

In the Brussels International Icon Award, recognising a meaningful contribution to Brussels’ international profile, the winner was the Art & History Museum’s 19th-Century Decorative Arts, Belgian Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The initiative involved the opening of two new galleries presenting an extensive collection of furniture and decorative objects from the nineteenth century, as well as the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Many of the pieces had remained out of public view for years.
 

The Brussels Best Co-creation Award, celebrating collaboration between stakeholders active in Brussels’ culture and tourism sectors, went to Art Deco Brussels 2025. Developed by Urban in partnership with visit.brussels, the year-long programme explored the different facets of Brussels’ Art Deco heritage and brought them to a wider public.

The Brussels Treasure Award, recognising a project authentically rooted in Brussels, was awarded to Maison Gertrude. Located within a residential care centre, the arts centre brings artists, residents and care professionals together to explore and reveal the poetry of everyday life.

Technology was represented by FARI, winner of the Brussels Best Smart Experience Award. The initiative of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université libre de Bruxelles focuses on the development, study, application and governance of artificial intelligence, data and robotics. Its stated approach centres on making these technologies trustworthy, transparent, open, inclusive, ethical and responsible.

The fifth award, the Brussels Best Reviews Award by MMGY-TCI Research, went to Escape Rush, a tourist attraction offering escape games in which visitors have 60 minutes to solve puzzles and escape a locked room. Unlike the other categories, this award was based on visitor ratings and did not involve either a public vote or jury assessment.

Together, the five winners reflect the breadth of Brussels’ tourism ecosystem, from the conservation and presentation of cultural heritage to collaborative city-wide programming, socially engaged arts, responsible technology and visitor-focused entertainment.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Major business events destinations are expanding their presence at IBTM World 2026, with several established exhibitors increasing stand space and partner representation ahead of the show, which takes place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona from 17–19 November.

VisitScotland is making the most significant expansion, increasing its stand by 162% and almost tripling the number of partners it will bring to the event, from five to 14. Egypt will increase its stand by 76%, while Italy’s national tourism organisation, ENIT, is expanding its presence by 12%.

Five European destinations — Madrid, Majorca, Cyprus, Romania and Basque Country — are each increasing their stand space by around 30% to accommodate additional stand sharers. Switzerland, CzechTourism, Hungary, Austria and Poland are also expanding their footprints by at least 10%.

The expansion comes alongside a high level of exhibitor retention. More than 85% of this year’s suppliers are returning to IBTM World, according to the organisers, with the larger representations suggesting that established exhibitors are also using the event to bring more partners and products into their presence.

New destinations, hotels and travel brands

The 2026 edition will also introduce a number of new exhibitors. Visit Sweden will make its first appearance with its own stand, alongside an expanded group of partners.

The hotel sector will see several newcomers, including ESS Group from Sweden, M Hotels: Marseille & Paris from France, Amrâth Hôtels from the Netherlands and W Rome from Italy. Luxury travel company Explora Journeys will also make its IBTM World debut.

The event’s Hotel Pavilion is expanding, bringing together returning brands alongside new participants. Gothia Towers, based in Gothenburg, has progressively increased its presence at the show: after exhibiting within the Hotel Pavilion in 2024 and as part of Sweden’s stand in 2025, it will return in 2026 across both the Visit Sweden and Hotel Pavilion areas.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will return for a second year, while Hard Rock Café is also returning. UK hotel group Aviator will make its debut in the Hotel Pavilion.
 

Technology takes a larger role

Technology will occupy a larger footprint at IBTM World this year, with the Event Tech & Services Area expanding to give providers across technology, production, engagement, data and event services access to senior planners looking for new solutions.

The programme will include AI Demo Day Live by Boldpush, featuring live demonstrations from AI startups, event technology innovators and solution providers. The Future Stage will also explore the implications of artificial intelligence for events.

Meanwhile, IBTM Ignite, delivered in partnership with allpoints, will connect more than 30 startups with more than 15 investors, as well as potential customers and partners. The programme will combine pitch and investor-readiness coaching with a meetings diary featuring guaranteed appointment blocks and a live Future Stage pitch.

The initiative is designed to give emerging companies a route into the business events market while connecting buyers and investors with new products and services.

MESA (Meetings & Events Support Association) will also attend with 20 sharers, including Conference Compass, CrowdComms, CTI Meeting Technology, CYIM, Entegy, ESTENSIS, Qondor, InvitePeople and Snapsight.

Business marketplace at the centre

For Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director at IBTM World, the growth in exhibitor presence needs to be considered alongside the commercial purpose of the show: connecting suppliers with relevant buyers.

“Exhibitors need more than visibility; they need access to the right buyers and a clear return on their investment. IBTM World is first and foremost a business marketplace, with pre-scheduled meetings at its heart. The fact that more than 85% of suppliers are returning, while many are taking larger stands and bringing more partners, is a powerful vote of confidence in the quality of the audience and the opportunities the event creates.

“For 2026, we are making the wider experience work harder around those meetings. Live product demonstrations, practical conference content, startup pitches and more ways to continue conversations across the show floor will help exhibitors show their value in action and help buyers make better decisions. We want IBTM World to set the standard for what a modern exhibition can deliver: serious business, useful learning and connections that continue beyond the event.”

More than 2,500 destinations, hotels, venues, event technology suppliers and event startups are expected to attend IBTM World 2026, with more than 12,000 event professionals expected to take part across three days of scheduled appointments, product discovery, learning and networking.

The combination of larger destination stands, new exhibitors and an expanded technology programme reflects an event increasingly structured around both the traditional business of destination and supplier meetings and the emerging technologies and services shaping how those meetings are delivered.
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Fira Barcelona has been named winner of the 2026 UFI Operations & Services Award, with UFI recognising the venue’s ability to maintain safety, efficiency and operational quality while managing increasingly complex event delivery.

Announced on 24 September, this year’s award focused on “Operational Excellence Under Pressure”, highlighting organisations able to plan for demanding delivery conditions, manage resources effectively, coordinate teams, suppliers and stakeholders, and maintain reliable standards during periods of peak pressure.

Fira Barcelona’s winning entry demonstrated how the venue has developed a repeatable operational system to manage increasingly large, back-to-back events. The approach combines planning, collaboration and continuous improvement to maintain consistent delivery across complex event cycles.

Constantí Serrallonga, Fira de Barcelona General Manager, said: “This award is a significant recognition for Fira de Barcelona. It acknowledges our longstanding commitment to operational excellence and developing an operating model capable of meeting the demands and standards of the world’s leading organizers in terms of safety and efficiency.

It also strengthens our international position as a benchmark for world-class venues and services in the trade show and events industry, while inspiring us to continue raising the bar in everything we do.”

For UFI, the strength of the submission lay in its practical application. Stefan Eckert, UFI Operations & Services Working Group Chair, said: “This year, we received a very strong set of entries. Fira Barcelona impressed the jury with its comprehensive and highly practical approach to operational excellence under pressure.

By turning the challenge of increasingly large, back-to-back events into a repeatable operational system, they demonstrated how careful planning, collaboration and continuous improvement can enable a venue to operate more efficiently and safely. As we are always looking for best-practice examples from which the UFI community can learn, we felt this was a particularly strong and relevant case for our industry.”

The jury also named Dubai World Trade Centre and RX France as finalists.

The UFI Operations & Services Award is one of the UFI Awards, which recognise achievements across digital innovation, marketing, sustainable development, operations & services, people & culture, and industry partnerships. Selected projects are subsequently shared through UFI’s Best Practices Library, providing the wider exhibition community with examples of approaches and solutions that can be adapted across markets.

The 2026 UFI Award winners will be formally recognised at the 93rd UFI Global Congress, taking place from 2–5 November 2026 in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

For Fira Barcelona, the award highlights an operational model built not simply around successful individual events, but around the ability to deliver consistently when the scale, pace and complexity of exhibition activity increase.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Our September edition of Headquarters Magazine (HQ126) looks at the skills, qualifications and professional development expected from an increasingly international meetings workforce. While working on the edition, one question kept returning: where does the time needed to acquire those skills come from?

Our Deputy Editor approaches professional development from the personal time behind it. The same concern appears in his conversation with Laura Capell-Abra, Founder of Stress Matters, who speaks openly about burnout in the events industry and the relationship between workload, learning and retention. 

Author: Jesús Guerrero Chacón, HQ Deputy Editor

Talent attraction and talent retention have become familiar themes across the meetings industry. Professionals are asked to become more qualified, more visible, more connected, more technologically literate and more internationally mobile, while managing travel, networking and the operational demands of events that move across cities, time zones and weekends.

Education programmes, certifications and leadership initiatives have become part of the professional landscape, reflecting a sector that wants to raise standards and respond to demands around technology, sustainability, accessibility and client expectations. The pressure begins when certification sessions and in-person learning are added to a profession that already spends a significant part of its time in airports, hotels and event venues.

Industry calendars increasingly include work outside official event dates, with long-haul journeys often adding governance meetings, strategy sessions or certification before a congress or trade show. Professional development is also scheduled around major events or weekends, making participation easier while using time once reserved for recovery. Over a year, these commitments form a second layer of work that affects visibility, networks and career progression, especially for younger professionals, freelancers and small business owners.

Organisations including Stress Matters, EventWell, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and the Events Industry Council (EIC) have helped bring wellbeing into the mainstream conversation. Recent initiatives range from ICCA’s Event Mental Wellbeing Toolkit for Associations and the EIC’s Futures Landscape Report to PCMA’s content exploring the impact of long hours and constant travel on younger professionals.
 

 
Research continues to highlight concerns around stress, workload and burnout, while talent shortages remain a recurring topic at conferences, board meetings and industry forums. Recovery time receives less attention than credentials and career advancement, yet it affects how people learn, negotiate and make decisions. Early arrivals, hosted experiences, retreats and education may offer real value, but they also consume weekends, travel days and personal time rarely counted in workload or wellbeing. Sleep, family life and time away from work remain invisible inputs.

The industry measures economic impact, legacy and sustainability with growing sophistication, but rarely the cumulative effect of its working practices on those delivering them. Skills development often depends on professionals finding extra time while organisational calendars continue to absorb evenings, weekends and travel days.

Our new edition explores education, credentials and career development through the question of how learning is built into professional life. New technologies, changing business models and evolving client expectations leave little space for standing still. How learning is delivered, where it takes place and whose time it occupies may become just as important as the credentials themselves.

Control of time is central: travel, weekends, family, recovery, learning and personal time. Professional development, wellbeing and talent retention are often treated separately, but event professionals’ experiences show how closely they are connected.
 

Our September HQ continues the conversation with interviews and contributions on skills, education and professional development from across the meetings and associations sector. The September edition also looks at how associations, destinations and industry organisations are responding to broader changes in leadership, technology, sustainability, and the value expected from business events.

HQ #126, Skills That Travel: Building Trusted Credentials for a Global Workforce, is available now. Read and download the full September edition here

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, President of TCEB; James Rees, president of JMIC; Dorian Kronenwerth, the new executive director of JMIC; and Alexander Alles, former JMIC director, during the press conference at IMEX Frankfurt 2026.

When the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) unveiled its new leadership at IMEX Frankfurt earlier this year, the announcement marked far more than a change at the top of the organisation. In front of an international audience, and with Headquarters in attendance, the Council presented an ambitious roadmap for the future of the global business events industry, launching its updated Global Manifesto, outlining the next phase of the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative, and reaffirming its commitment to stronger, evidence-based advocacy. Together, these initiatives reflect a broader ambition: to position business events as drivers of innovation, knowledge exchange and long-term societal value, while giving the industry a more coordinated and influential voice.

Following that announcement, HQ sat down with Dorian Kronenwerth, JMIC's new Executive Director, who recently succeeded Alexander Alles in the leading role, to explore the priorities that will shape this next chapter. Taking office at a time when the industry is redefining not only how it measures success, but also how it communicates its value to governments, institutions and society at large, Kronenwerth inherits an organisation with a powerful, influential voice and an ambitious agenda. From advocacy and geopolitical challenges to climate action, talent development, AI and the need to build greater alignment across an increasingly fragmented industry, we discussed how JMIC intends to translate vision into measurable action. And why the future of business events will depend not only on proving their value, but on speaking with one clear and compelling voice.

A Conversation with HQ Magazine Manager, Manuel A. Fernandes.

JMIC has release its updated Global Manifesto for the Business Events Industry in this past June, combining strategic policy direction with evidence-based advocacy. What prompted this renewed vision, and what do you believe the industry must start communicating differently if it wants governments and institutions to see business events as strategic assets rather than discretionary expenditure?

The renewed version came from watching what actually moves governments versus what we assumed would. Framing business events as engines of growth and innovation got us listened to; abstract papers, on the other hand, rarely got us funded. It is also clear that no single organisation can speak for the whole ecosystem: what is right for the UK or France is not necessarily right for Sydney or Johannesburg. The 3rd Edition, therefore, closes both gaps at once: less a declaration and more an operating toolkit, pairing 15 concrete pathways with real case studies, sourced from the Iceberg, so a regional association can walk into a ministry meeting with something specific and locally relevant, rather than aspirational and generic.

That shift matters because the risks are not abstract. VisitBritain, for example, is scaling back its business events unit, whilst punitive event taxes surfacing in several markets. What the industry needs to communicate differently is stakes and specificity: framing $759 billion in direct spend and $1.8 trillion in total impact against decisions ministries are making right now. One size fits all does not work anymore.

Your Council brings together organisations representing very different sectors, business models and regional priorities. Yet, one of its ambitions is to create a stronger, more aligned voice for the global meetings industry. How do you build genuine consensus across such a diverse ecosystem without diluting the individual identities and priorities of its member organisations? 

Our ambition is to create a stronger, more aligned voice, not to lecture the industry on what to do. We speak on its behalf, we listen, and we build tools members can actually use around a strong central message, which regional members then tailor to their own destinations. That is what the Manifesto is built to do: flex the global, high-level thinking into local, concrete context that policymakers can understand.

Ultimately what matters is that the industry is heard by decision-makers, because we generate impact, revenue, jobs and legacy. We do not ask members to agree on everything; we ask them to agree on where a single voice is worth more than several accurate ones. But honestly, the sharper question right now is internal: what should JMIC's own voice actually cover, and where should it deliberately stay quiet and let members lead. We are in the middle of a genuine reflection process on exactly that, this year. I would rather let the outcome speak for itself when it lands later this year than characterise it prematurely.
 

International meetings have become more exposed to geopolitical tensions, visa restrictions, economic uncertainty and shifting public policy priorities. At the same time, their role in enabling scientific collaboration and global dialogue has arguably never been more important. How should JMIC redefine advocacy in this new global context, and what responsibility does it have in defending the free flow of knowledge through international meetings? 

Our mandate is the free movement of knowledge, expertise and people to meetings. That is not a political position, it is the core product we defend. The effect of cross-border business events is enormous: our industry brings together the great minds of the world, in science, politics, economics, and without that, great things simply do not happen. We should not be shy about that; we should be clearly aware of it.

But banging out numbers alone does not work. Our advocacy needs to be believable, with tangible, human elements alongside the economic ones, inspiring, not just quantifying, the impact of business events on destinations and people. What needs to change is not the mandate, it is the method: moving from reactive statements after each disruption to building the evidence base that makes the case for mobility structurally, before it becomes a crisis.

"The conversation we are avoiding is whether this industry needs fewer, better-coordinated organisations rather than more initiatives where everyone is building their own version of the same tool"

With the expansion of the NZCE initiative, the focus is moving beyond ambition towards implementation, accountability and measurable progress across the global events ecosystem. The recent launch of the Sustainable Event Goals (SEGs) signals a broader shift towards shared frameworks that encourage measurable action across environmental, social and governance priorities. Where do you see the greatest challenge over the next few years: developing common standards, securing industry-wide adoption, or demonstrating meaningful progress against them?

Standards were the hard part five years ago; now it is adoption and proof. Endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, NZCE is itself an advocacy platform and proof the industry takes this seriously rather than just talking about it. We are now, with our financial backers, moving toward standardised implementation of the methodologies and tools we have built, with a clear push to get venues decarbonising.

Two things give me confidence we can deliver on that: Johanna Fuhlendorf (right side) coming on board as dedicated Programme Director means NZCE finally has focused leadership rather than being one of several things on someone's plate; and Greenview's role as technical partner gives us the measurement rigour the initiative needs to move from ambition to something auditable. The NZCE Academy is also a good indicator of this change, with the first live courses running this year, delivered in collaboration with GDS-Movement. Adoption is already visible in practice: across JMIC's membership, meeting planners are increasingly setting sustainability as a key RFP criterion for new business, not a nice-to-have. So, I would say this is becoming a prerequisite and a differentiator both at once. Those who do not embrace the road to net zero will quietly lose clients to those who do.

NZCE is a great example of JMIC taking a leadership position and curating a tangible product that the industry can use. The board is now considering what other areas should be looked at to provide further valuable support. What JMIC has the ability to do is step back. The industry runs 365 days a year, 360°. Everyone is busy all the time. That is where JMIC has the headspace to take a step back, invite commentary, listen and then take the reflection to the next step.

Across many markets, organisations are balancing tighter budgets with growing expectations around environmental, impact and social responsibility. How can the industry demonstrate that this is not a cost to absorb, but a source of resilience, innovation and long-term competitiveness? Has the industry done enough to articulate the business case for sustainability or are we still relying too heavily on moral arguments?

Net zero does not have to mean more expensive. What we have seen at COP conferences is that new technologies often look pricier at first, but as they become the new normal, scale brings the cost down. There is no structural reason for net zero to cost more today. The gap is mostly education. Products and services that do not cost more already exist, the industry just needs to know where to find them, which is exactly the role the NZCE Academy plays: guidance and practical advice on acting on the pledges and roadmaps many signatories have already signed up to.

Beyond that, I think we have relied too much on the moral argument and not enough on the resilience one. Sustainability measures (efficient venues, smarter logistics, local sourcing) are also cost and risk management. They show up in energy bills and supply chain stability, not just in reputation. The organisations doing this well are not out-competing on ethics, they are gaining an edge on efficiency and legacy value to host cities, which is what wins repeat bids and public funding. We need to tell that story in procurement and finance language, not just impact-report language. Numbers, not just narrative. That is exactly where the Manifesto and its case studies earn their keep, with JMIC serving as the conduit for that evidence worldwide.
 

Dorian Kronenwerth, incoming Director JMIC; Dr Supawan Teerarat, President TCEB; James Rees, President JMIC; Alexander Alles, Executive Director JMIC

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way knowledge is created, curated and consumed: three functions that lie at the very heart of business events. While AI undoubtedly offers new opportunities to improve productivity, personalise experiences and information access, it also raises broader questions about the risk of homogenised content, algorithmic bias and the gradual dilution of diverse perspectives. If AI begins to standardise not only how content is produced, but also how people learn, engage and make decisions, could it inadvertently weaken the very reasons why we meet in person? 

AI is very good at giving people the average answer faster. What happens in a room – the tangent, the disagreement, the introduction nobody planned – is precisely what AI optimises away. Being at an event takes you off the hamster wheel and gives you the headspace to think, innovate, learn and connect in a way a feed never will. The amount of AI content, video especially, is only going to grow from here, to the point people will not know if what they are seeing or hearing is real.

So, I do not think AI threatens meetings. If anything, it points to the other way, toward a new peak in physical, in-person engagement. We saw something similar with online conferencing during the Covid-19 pandemic, where they proved genuinely useful and were widely adopted by our industry. However, it is now clear that physical presence is something entirely different. Our job is to make sure events do not mirror AI's homogenisation and stay the place where the serendipity of bumping into someone at the coffee station still happens. In a way to foster the unexpected deliberately, not to assume it happens automatically just because people are in the same room.
 

"Those who do not embrace the road to net zero will quietly lose clients to those who do."

What role should JMIC play in preparing the next generation of industry leaders, and where do you believe the biggest capability gaps exist today? If you were speaking to a graduate considering a career in business events, what would you say to convince them that this is an industry worth joining?

The biggest gap is not technical skill, it is visibility. Most graduates never encounter this industry as a career option because it does not have a clean label on a university careers page, or a shared vocabulary to even search for it. People also default to thinking it is mostly about planning events, but it is so much more than that. You can be an architect designing convention centres, a mechanical engineer working out air-conditioning for tens of thousands of people, an airline pilot, a hotelier, a CFO, or a lobbyist. This industry has all of it. We are far more than event managers and travel agents.

This is a fixable problem, and one we are actively working on. It involves some practical, unglamorous resources designed to make the industry easier for outsiders to discover and explore. We will provide more information on this once everything is ready. To a graduate, I would say that few industries put you this close, this early, to how decisions actually get made in science, trade, health policy, while asking you to build something tangible each time.

If we were to have this conversation at the end of your first term, what would you hope had changed, not only for JMIC, but for the global business events industry as a whole? What is the one conversation the industry still isn't having but urgently needs to?

I would like to see this industry in dialogue with several political houses, not only the culture, sport and tourism side of government, but the economic side too. We are not only tourism, we are a big business with big outcomes. We foster innovation, start-ups, exchange, economic diplomacy, trade and education, and we multiply economic benefit well beyond our own footprint. For JMIC specifically, I would hope we are seen not only as a coordinating body but as a front door, the place you go for credible numbers, shared definitions, common positions and shared data that people actually use, not just cite.

There is a meaningful amount of work landing later this year, so stay tuned. But if I am honest, the conversation we are avoiding is whether this industry needs fewer, better-coordinated organisations rather than more initiatives where everyone is building their own version of the same tool because collaborating is harder than duplicating. That has a direct effect on the credibility of the sector as a whole.
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.

Helsinki reigns supreme at the top of the Global Destination Sustainability Index for the third year running.

The 2026 GDS-Index points to a destination sector entering a new phase of sustainability. Strategies, climate commitments and policy frameworks are now widespread; the harder question is how effectively they are being translated into measurable action.

Released by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement, the latest Index records its highest average score since the benchmark was established, at 45.5%. Some 89% of destinations assessed in both the current and previous editions improved their performance, while the gap between the Top 10 and the overall index average narrowed from 20.3 percentage points to 14.5.

The figures suggest that sustainability is becoming less about establishing a strategy and more about demonstrating delivery. Some 92.4% of assessed destinations now have greenhouse-gas commitments, while 91.8% have climate strategies and 90.5% have biodiversity strategies. Yet only 6% can demonstrate full delivery against one of these areas.

Destination Management recorded the strongest year-on-year improvement, rising by 6.2 percentage points, followed by Supplier performance at 5.1 points. Social performance increased by 3.5 points and Environmental performance by 2.6. The movement suggests that DMOs are increasingly operating as convenors across destination ecosystems, working with suppliers and stakeholders rather than focusing principally on promotion.

Resilience is also becoming more embedded in destination management. Two-thirds of assessed destinations now have a documented crisis-management plan covering preparedness, response and recovery, while 62% have a documented risk assessment.

“This year we are celebrating both excellence and momentum,” said Guy Bigwood, CEO and Chief Changemaker of GDS-Movement. “The top-performing destinations continue to raise the bar, while destinations across the wider community are accelerating their progress. The narrowing gap shows how ideas, practices, and ambition are spreading. Eleven years of measurement demonstrate the power of benchmarking, peer learning, and performance management to turn evidence into action and help destinations scale change.”

The message from the Index is therefore less about whether destinations have sustainability ambitions and more about whether those ambitions can be coordinated, implemented and measured.
 

Helsinki retains the lead as the gap narrows

Helsinki remains at the top of the 2026 GDS-Index with a score of 92.94%, followed by Gothenburg at 91.29% and Copenhagen at 90.35%. Aarhus takes fourth place, followed by Aalborg, Glasgow, Sydney, Belfast, Montreal and Reykjavik.

There is movement within the leading group. Sydney and Montreal enter the Top 10, while Aarhus rises from seventh to fourth. At the same time, the difference between first-placed Helsinki and third-placed Copenhagen has narrowed to 2.59 percentage points.

The wider Top 40 reflects the increasingly international nature of the benchmark, combining strong Nordic representation with destinations including Glasgow, Sydney, Belfast, Montreal, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Berlin and Bilbao. 

The Index is structured around four pillars — Destination Management, Supplier, Social and Environmental performance — making the ranking more than a single sustainability score. It provides participating destinations with a framework for benchmarking performance and identifying areas where further work is required.
 

Five signals beyond the ranking

The headline positions tell only part of the story. The GDS-Movement's analysis identifies several broader shifts across the 2026 results.

1. Progress is broadening. Nine in ten destinations assessed in consecutive years improved their score, while the gap between leading destinations and the wider field narrowed for the third consecutive year.
    
2. Delivery is becoming the differentiator. Climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, greenhouse-gas commitments and biodiversity strategies are now commonplace. Demonstrating implementation is considerably less widespread.
    
3. DMOs are gaining influence. Destination Management and Supplier performance showed the strongest year-on-year growth, highlighting the importance of working across the visitor economy and bringing businesses and stakeholders into the sustainability process.
    
4. Certification matters. Among destinations in the Top 40, 81% of assessed convention venues, 66% of qualifying hotel rooms and 50% of event agencies hold relevant certifications. Outside the Top 40, the corresponding figures are 58%, 48% and 22%.
    
5. Resilience is becoming part of the equation. Crisis-management plans, risk assessments and internal and external communication protocols are now established components of sustainability performance for a substantial share of participating destinations.

Together, these findings point towards a more operational definition of destination sustainability: less emphasis on what a city says it intends to do, and more on what its destination ecosystem can demonstrate.
 

Ireland: turning events into wider impact

Ireland offers a useful example of this ecosystem approach. Six Irish destinations feature in the 2026 Top 40, with Kerry ranked 16th, Dublin 17th, Cork 22nd, Clare 24th, Galway 27th and Limerick 32nd.

The country's progress is also linked to a broader approach to business-events impact. Fáilte Ireland's Business Events Impact and Legacy Programme was recognised with the 2026 GDS Impact Award, in collaboration with #MEET4IMPACT. The programme was co-created with Ireland's Business Events Ecosystem and aims to integrate economic, social and environmental impact into the planning and delivery of association conferences.

Rather than treating a conference as a self-contained visitor-economy activity, the programme encourages organisers to connect events with longer-term community and economic objectives. Its approach includes practical and financial support for organisers seeking to build purposeful impact into event design, while aligning activity with Irish Government priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

That approach mirrors one of the wider lessons emerging from the 2026 Index: destination sustainability increasingly depends on the ability to mobilise actors beyond the DMO itself. Hotels, venues, agencies, communities, public authorities and other suppliers all form part of the performance being measured.
 

From measurement to mobilisation

The 2026 GDS-Index presents a sector that has moved considerably beyond defining sustainability ambitions. Average performance is rising, more destinations are improving year on year and the gap between the leaders and the wider field is narrowing.

But the relatively small proportion of destinations able to demonstrate full delivery against their climate commitments also points to the scale of the next challenge.

For DMOs and convention bureaux, that challenge increasingly extends beyond their own organisations. Progress depends on aligning the wider destination ecosystem, from suppliers and venues to communities, transport providers and public authorities, around measurable objectives.

The GDS-Movement's 2026 findings consequently shift the conversation from strategy to implementation. The next stage of destination sustainability will not simply be about setting more ambitious targets, but about showing how those targets translate into coordinated action and lasting outcomes.

Inside the GDS-Forum 2026: The Industry’s Shift to 'Proof Not Promises'
 

The full 2026 GDS-Index results and insights are available in the report, Spark to Scale, here
 

Powered by Meeting Media Company, publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.