The Athens Promise Launches to Unite Global Business Events Industry behind Stronger Advocacy

The global meetings and events industry has unveiled The Athens Promise, a new advocacy movement designed to strengthen the sector's collective voice and encourage professionals worldwide to champion the value of business events within their own markets and communities.

Launched by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) in partnership with the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), AMC Institute (AMCI) and PCMA, the initiative seeks to complement (not replace) existing advocacy efforts by mobilising the industry's grassroots network.

The campaign emerged from discussions held during the IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly in Athens earlier this year and is open to all business events professionals, organisations, destinations and suppliers, regardless of membership or geography. Participants are invited to sign a public pledge committing to advocate for the industry's economic, professional and societal contribution with policymakers, media and other key stakeholders.

Rather than creating a new advocacy framework, The Athens Promise aims to connect and amplify the work already being undertaken by international and national industry associations, while encouraging more individuals and organisations to become active ambassadors for the sector.

According to the founding organisations, the movement reflects a shared belief that the meetings and events industry deserves greater recognition and that effective advocacy depends on coordinated action at both global and local levels. Supporting organisations will also provide practical communication tools and advocacy resources, including IAPCO's use of the forthcoming JMIC Global Manifesto: Third Edition to help members engage policymakers with consistent messaging.

"The Athens Promise was born at the IAPCO meeting held in Athens, where global leaders came together with a shared belief that our industry has a bigger story to tell.

"What started as a conversation at our event has now become a global invitation. We are asking every person who works in, supports, supplies or benefits from the meetings and events industry to add their voice," said Sissi Lignou, President of IAPCO.

"We are getting behind this initiative because making real change requires more than the voice of one organisation, one country or one part of the industry. It is about all of us. The promise is simple: to stand together, speak more clearly and help the world better understand the value our industry creates every day," said Sven Bossu, CEO of AIPC.

"The meetings and events industry is a powerful driver of economic progress, innovation, professional development and social connection. It supports communities, strengthens industries, creates jobs and delivers lasting value in destinations around the world. Our collective voice has power." said Tina Wehmeir, CEO of AMC Institute.

"The Athens Promise is not designed to reinvent advocacy; it is designed to help more people take part. "Across the global meetings and events industry, associations and leaders are already doing extraordinary work. The opportunity now is to empower the wider community to carry that message further, into their own markets, their own communities and their own conversations," said Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO of PCMA and CEMA.

By signing The Athens Promise, organisations and individuals publicly commit to supporting stronger advocacy for the meetings and events sector, helping to build greater awareness of the industry's impact while reinforcing the work already being carried out by associations around the world. The organisers hope the initiative will foster a more unified narrative capable of influencing public policy and strengthening recognition of the sector's role in economic development, knowledge exchange and social progress.

The pledge is now open to all business events professionals and organisations worldwide, and is available to sign here
 

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