HQ #114 / How to Build Legacies in the Meetings Industry?

Today, associations are commonly accepted as the great unifiers of society, and the role between their sectors, groups and members follows a logic of value and representation. On the other hand, outdated models for recruiting, retaining and involving members may not survive in an increasingly demanding and ever-changing operating environment. Legacies can make a difference in this respect!

Associations clearly need to acquire a broad understanding of the benefits and added value that events bring not only to their members but also to the environment in which they operate. It's not just about setting goals and meeting them; it's about continuous improvement and constant progress towards building a better association and creating more value and impact for our members, employees and other stakeholders.

As Sissy Lignou tells us on page 37: "Legacy is a win-win long-term impact like no other, compared to other sectors, and it is a powerful argument for all meetings professionals to use when defending our activity. It is a superpower that is often not recognised by political decision-makers, but which should serve as a driving force in the defence of associations when they seek to gain recognition and support in the destinations that host their events.

In this issue of HQ, we set the tone for exciting discussion around the social, economic, political and environmental ramifications of our meetings industry, and showcase the best and diverse examples and practices for achieving them. We spoke to the heads of the International Papillomavirus Society about the ICCA Seed Fund grant allocated to their legacy programme for the 2024 conference in Edinburgh; we covered more than 60 years of growth in the business events sector with ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath; and dissected the concept of association and the multiple scenarios and common challenges with association expert Belinda Moore.

In the destinations chapter, we published the second part of the story about the social balance of Otautahi Christchurch after an environmental tragedy; we went to Slovenia to witness one of the industry's new rebels, the Conventa tradeshow; and we were under the spotlight of the 2024 Olympic Games with the Paris convention bureau. We echo the brilliant perspectives of our associative contributors, and welcome two more in this issue: Gordon Lannister's Membership World and ExpoPlatform. 

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