The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) concluded its largest-ever gathering of global meetings professionals in continental Europe last week, drawing 1,514 delegates from 81 countries for a four-day programme of knowledge exchange.
The 64th ICCA Congress stood out in particular for its ambitious new multi-venue format, where nine iconic locations across host city Porto in Portugal were utilised to deliver five distinct content tracks.
While the core of the Congress programme was conducted at the historic Alfândega Congress Centre, event delegates also got a chance to explore unique venues such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Super Bock Arena, and Ferreira Cellars.
Reflecting on Congress outcome, ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath told TTGmice that his team and destination partners Portugal and Porto have succeeded in delivering the “immersive experience” they had set out to achieve.
The unusual Congress design this year as well as the theme, Charting the Course, was spurred by the need for continuous innovation and transformation.
“Everyone in the meetings industry is looking for a transformation opportunity. As a representative of this industry, we must innovate too. The annual ICCA Congress is very much focused on providing ideas for meetings professionals to do just that. This year, through content design, destination selection, and the gathering of thought leadership from across the world, we made sure the topics led us to look into the future and how we could drive our industry forward over the next decade,” Gopinath elaborated.
He was pleased that delegates “really got involved and spoke openly about their pain points to find solutions together”.
Gopinath hopes that ICCA Chapter leaders and members will continue to chart the industry’s course into the future, long after the conclusion of the Congress. In particular, he would like to see meetings professionals endeavour to engage their communities by showcasing the power of the meetings industry.
A prime example of positive community impact is the launch of the Porto & North Forever Pact during the Congress. This collaborative legacy-building framework is designed to create lasting social and environmental value. It was developed in partnership with Montreal-based consultancy #Meet4Impact and Vale Consultores, a local consultant in Porto, and with the support of Turismo de Portugal.
The first outcome from the Forever Pact saw the involvement of the whole city of Porto in the organisation and delivery of the Congress. For instance, during the Welcome Reception at the Stock Exchange Palace, local artists carved traditional Portuguese masks and handcrafted jewellery while costumed performers walked the floor and entertained guests.
“When we showcase to policymakers what we have achieved in Porto – that the impact from business events is not limited to within the meeting room but also in the local community – politicians will be engaged. Politicians are naturally engaged when their people are involved, and this (visibility and awareness of the value of meetings) will resolve funding issues and sustainability contributions by the governments,” he added.
The Congress will move to Panama City, Panama in 2026.
“While this year’s Congress was immersive and all about engaging our members in a practical manner, the programme next year in Panama City will get into more high-level discussions. We will elevate the discussions we had in Porto to the C-level in Panama City, through talks with governments and ministries,” shared Gopinath.
