The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has confirmed a new two-year Destination Partnership with Meeting Destination Vienna, represented by the Vienna Convention Bureau. The agreement is set to begin at the start of 2026 and brings Vienna into IAPCO’s Destination Partner programme, which connects selected convention bureaux with IAPCO and its accredited professional congress organisers (PCOs).
The Destination Partner programme is intended to support closer collaboration between destinations and event organisers, particularly during the early stages of bidding and planning. Through coordinated approaches at city level, the initiative aims to strengthen the delivery of international meetings and congresses while aligning the interests of organisers, host cities, and local stakeholders.
Under the partnership, Vienna will contribute to several IAPCO-led activities. These include participation in the judging panel for the IAPCO Partner’s Emerging Leader Award, which recognises developing professionals within the global meetings industry. Vienna is also scheduled to host a future IAPCO Advisory Board Meeting, enabling direct engagement with IAPCO leadership and its international membership.
By joining the programme, Vienna becomes part of a network of international destinations working with IAPCO to support professional standards, knowledge exchange, and best practice across the meetings sector. The partnership also provides Vienna with access to IAPCO’s global network of accredited PCOs, who collectively deliver more than 21,000 meetings and conferences annually. IAPCO estimates that these events generated €17.87 billion in worldwide economic impact in 2024.
The IAPCO Destination Partnership Programme was established in 2013 and now includes 11 convention bureaux globally.
