Flanders Welcomes the Conference Industry for the First Impact Day

The VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau, #MEET4IMPACT, and the GDS-Movement have tannounced the inaugural Impact Day. On October 14, 2024, major conference and event leaders will gather at the historic Saint Magdalene's Church in Bruges, Belgium.

More than 120 participants from Australia, North America, and across Europe are expected to attend. This pivotal event will address the future of the conference and events sector, which is at a crossroads. A resilient, new business model is essential to ensuring long-term success. Central to this evolution is social impact: How can conferences and events leave lasting positive effects on host communities and their residents?
 

Sustainability at the heart of conferences and events

Impact Day will showcase innovative practices, leading research, and collaborative methods aimed at maximising the social and environmental value of conferences and events.

At its core is the unveiling of a groundbreaking framework developed by VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau. This framework will help organisers measure and enhance the social impact of their events, contributing to the well-being of local communities and the environment.

Keynote speakers: visionaries leading the change:

• Piet Colruyt (Impact House), one of Belgium’s leading social entrepreneurs, will share insights on how event organisers can access funding to support impactful initiatives.
• Professor Jan Beyne (Antwerp Management School), an authority on sustainability and the circular economy, will explain the concept of impact and highlight emerging trends in sustainable practices for the events industry.
• Geneviève Leclerc (#MEET4IMPACT) and Guy Bigwood (GDS-Movement) will explore “Why Funding for Impact?” and its relevance to the business events industry.
   

Inspiring Case Studies and Breakout Sessions

The event will feature presentations from industry leaders, including The European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (EACD), The European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFFoST), and The World Breaking Championship.

Afternoon breakout sessions will cover three key topics:

• Case studies from associations that have formed impactful partnerships to scale their impact.
• Best practices for using subvention funds to drive social and environmental change in cities.
• How governmental and supranational funding schemes can support associations in achieving impact goals through event-related projects.

A Sustainable Venue: Saint Magdalene’s Church

The venue, Saint Magdalene’s Church, is an eco-certified Flanders Heritage Venue and embodies the event’s commitment to sustainability. Accessible by public transport and surrounded by Green Key-certified hotels, the venue will ensure responsible CO2 management. In addition, the event will focus on SDG6 for sustainable water management, with real-time water usage monitored and visualised throughout the conference by the Crowne Plaza Bruges.

A trio of key players in the sustainable events space organises Impact Day

These 3 organisations bring together their expertise and commitment to social responsibility, making Impact Day a landmark event for professionals eager to be part of the future of the global event industry.

VISITFLANDERS Convention Bureau is the official convention bureau for Flanders and Brussels. The organisation supports sustainable conferences and events in Flanders.

#MEET4IMPACT is an international organisation dedicated to helping event organisers create measurable social impacts.

GDS-Movement is a global movement working towards a regenerative tourism and events industry, guiding destinations and events to adopt sustainable practices.