New international research suggests global instability is no longer an occasional disruption for meeting organisers but an increasingly important factor in destination selection and event planning. SWITZERLAND — Nearly three-quarters of organisations surveyed by IAPCO say global conflicts are affecting their ability to plan or host international meetings, highlighting the growing influence of geopolitical risk on the association events sector. The 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey, led by IAPCO with AIPC, AMC Institute, IFES, ICCA and PCMA, collected responses from 130 organisations. Some 73.84% reported that global conflicts had affected their ability to plan or host international meetings, compared with […]

A renewed agreement supports a larger exhibition portfolio in Singapore, creating potential points of engagement for associations in mobility, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and environmental services. SINGAPORE — The Singapore Tourism Board and Messe Berlin have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the organiser’s presence in Singapore and Asia Pacific, extending a partnership that began with ITB Asia in 2008. Announced on 25 September, the agreement covers business development, digitalisation and sustainability, talent and manpower development, and experience development. It supports Singapore’s Tourism 2040 ambition to triple receipts from meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. Messe Berlin’s existing Singapore portfolio comprises ITB […]

Association clients increasingly expect their PCOs to deliver more than flawless logistics. IAPCO’s latest industry publication points to a role that encompasses strategy, community, impact, and risk. SWITZERLAND – The Professional Congress Organiser has traditionally been the partner associations turn to when a congress needs to work — registration, accommodation, venues, suppliers, budgets, speakers and countless other operational details. That job description is expanding. The latest edition of The PCO, published by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), focuses on what it calls “The Evolving Role of the PCO: Meeting Tomorrow’s Client Needs.” IAPCO observes that clients increasingly […]

TCEB’s new MICE Super Platform signals a broader shift in the role of convention bureaux — from promoting destinations to providing the digital infrastructure connecting buyers, suppliers, and business intelligence. THAILAND – Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau is repositioning itself from a provider of industry information to what it calls a “digital infrastructure builder” with the launch of its new MICE Super Platform. The initiative transforms TCEB’s existing MICE Intelligence Center into a broader digital environment, bringing together data, business insights and digital services through a single sign-on. Launched under the theme “Digital by Design, Data by Default”, the platform […]