HQ #127 / Proving Our Worth: Influencing Policy through Evidence and Collective Action

As the global meetings industry seeks a stronger voice in public debate, HQ #127 goes deep into what takes to turn collective ambition into credible influence. From the evidence underpinning advocacy to the relationships that sustain trust, the standards that guide professional practice and the legacies created through international gatherings, this November Edition 2026 asks a fundamental question: how can business events demonstrate their worth to the institutions, communities and decision-makers whose support will shape their future?

The magazine opens with a compelling cover story featuring Mike Duignan of the Centre for Events & Festivals, exploring how a fragmented profession can build a more unified voice without losing the distinctions that make it diverse. Rafael Plata of the European Association of CCP Clearing Houses (EACH) considers the delicate balance between trust, influence and consensus in trade associations, while the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) illustrates how international cooperation can help an industry navigate geopolitical uncertainty, technological change and the energy transition. Elsewhere, Herberholz Mediation examines the role of constructive dialogue in organisational resilience, Radisson Hotel Group explores the practical implementation of sustainability commitments, and Better Stands looks at how reusability can reshape the lifecycle of exhibition stands.

Across its destination features and reports, HQ investigates how places and events can create value that extends beyond visitor numbers and immediate economic returns. The Prague Convention Centre, Geneva Convention Bureau and Antwerp Convention Bureau reveal different dimensions of destination competitiveness, from infrastructure and international connectivity to scientific expertise and local collaboration. Further afield, Madrid Convention Bureau explores how congresses can develop a life of their own through lasting local connections, while Dubai Business Events, Poznań Event Hub and the South African National Convention Bureau examine how destinations are building their international propositions around sectoral strengths, regional partnerships and long-term ambition. Our reports from the Conference & Hospitality Show in Manchester, PCMA Convening EMEA 2026 in Lisbon and Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME) 2026 bring these questions into practice, tracing the connections between event design, destination development, knowledge exchange and public value.
 

Discover HQ #127, a November Edition exploring how the meetings industry can make a more convincing case for its contribution through collective action, credible evidence and a lasting commitment to the people and places it serves.