From left: Vale Consultores’ Pedro Vieira; and Meet4Impact’s Genevieve Leclerc doing a small group presentation at the Porto Leixões Cruise Terminal; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Setting a new benchmark for positive impacts global congresses can bring to their host destinations, Porto & North Convention & Visitors Bureau unveiled the Porto & North Forever Pact, a collaborative legacy-building framework designed to create lasting social and environmental value.
The framework 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.
From left: Vale Consultores’ Pedro Vieira; and Meet4Impact’s Genevieve Leclerc doing a small group presentation at the Porto Leixões Cruise Terminal; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
The Pact focuses on three core areas: fostering an inclusive region and industry by actively creating opportunities for underrepresented communities and vulnerable talent; driving an innovative and creative region and industry by connecting students and youth to careers and enhancing local artistic production; and promoting well-being and sustainability through greener practices, ensuring the economic benefits are spread beyond the city centre, and achieving measurable reductions in the event’s carbon footprint.
The first outcome from the Pact saw the involvement of the whole city of Porto in the organisation and delivery of the ICCA Congress 2025. 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.
“There are also hospitality students and some seniors – retirees who want to stay active and connected with people – moving about the Congress as volunteers,” said Patricia Morris, Visit Porto and North of Portugal’s MICE specialist.
Genevieve Leclerc, co-founder & CEO, Meet4Impact, said outcomes from this pilot project will shape a long-term strategy for Porto.
“Porto will be able to replicate this at future events. More importantly, we will make this report available to delegates and attendees from all countries, so that the model can be replicated by other cities, convention bureaux, and event organisers globally.”
Leclerc added that local partners are invaluable for engagements that guarantee positive social and environmental outcomes for the host.
Delegates at ICCA Congress participating in breakout sessions after the panel
Designing meetings with purpose that drive meaningful impact – and communicating these elements – was pushed to the forefront at the 64th ICCA Congress’ Purposeful Business Models & Start-Ups – Innovating for Growth & Change session on November 11.
Eduardo Chaillo, global general manager for Latin America Maritz, said: “Our industry has changed tremendously, with mindset and purpose now at the centre. It used to focus only on transactions, logistics and claims to be the best to put together an event, but we humanised after Covid.”
Delegates at ICCA Congress participating in breakout sessions after the panel
He added that today, when organising events, all elements must be intentional and created with purpose. “We say our industry transforms communities, but we have to be intentional and make it happen. We always have to ask “why” when organising events.”
Adding purpose and impactful meaning to events is also essential to engage, and retain, young talent. Hwabong Lee, professor at Hallym University Graduate School, said many of his students seek jobs that have the potential to transform, and do not understand the role the business events sector can play.
“For students to sustain jobs in our business, they have to understand why they are doing this. So, I’m teaching the next generation to have a reasoning process, to understand why this is appropriate and why this has to be done.”
Chaillo said the younger generation is increasingly seeking jobs that have meaning, but are unable to see how the business events industry has the power to transform communities and leave a lasting legacy.
“We need to communicate the value of our industry, especially to students, universities and the academic world. Young people aren’t looking for jobs, they are looking for meaning and do not realise what we do has a real impact. It’s very important to communicate this,” he said.
Sissi Lignou, president and CEO of AFEA Congress, said if an event is to leave a lasting impact and legacy, strong communication between all stakeholders, from PCOs to CVBs, is essential.
“There needs to be more communication, so that the goal is clear for everyone and they can align from beginning. While the legacy should be local, it can also have global impact. It’s a ripple effect we need to be aware of, so that when we create an event, its legacy can be continued year-on-year through different conferences,” she added.
Regional collaborations are becoming the new strategy for the business events sector in the Philippines, aiming to sharpen competitive edges and drive mutual growth.
Cebu, already a well-known events hub, established the Cebu MICE Alliance to strengthen its position ahead of new venue and infrastructure completions, while smaller destinations Iloilo and Bacolod are actively offering event packages and incentives through shared costs and expertise.
Cebu MICE Alliance workshop
“MICE Alliances give regions a collective voice to shape and promote their unique strengths,” said Megaworld Hotels and Resorts’ managing director, Cleofe Albiso. Albiso initiated the Iloilo MICE Alliance and Boracay MICE Alliance, and is also involved in the Cebu MICE Alliance.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod MICE Alliance is currently laying the necessary groundwork, a move Megaworld Hotels and Resorts is happy to support, Albiso said.
These MICE Alliances, stated Albiso, have “sparked increased interest from both domestic and international planners”, enabling smaller destinations to band together, share resources and compete abroad.
“The true impact lies in shared vision and sustained collaboration,” she stated.
Octavio Peralta, Philippine Council for Associations and Association Executives’ founder and volunteer CEO, agreed, adding that the success of MICE Alliances “depends on strong governance, clear agreements, and effective communication among members to mitigate potential drawbacks”.
Peralta noted the significant benefits of the alliances, which he said “collectively enhance the competitiveness, visibility, and attractiveness” of the cities as business events destinations. He stressed that this collaboration is primarily driven by shared goals and mutual benefits, which ultimately create stronger destination marketing synergy.
The cross-sector famil programme is estimated to deliver significant long term returns in future business events and tourism sectors
Experience Gold Coast has delivered its largest international business development famil programme to date, leveraging the first-ever Indian Men’s cricket team’s match on the Gold Coast.
The city recently hosted 34 Indian delegates from the entertainment, content creation, travel trade and business events sector, in a bid to strengthen tourism, and business events ties with Australia’s fifth-largest economic partner.
The cross-sector famil programme is estimated to deliver significant long term returns in future business events and tourism sectors
The famil coincided with the fourth T20I Australia v India clash which played out in front of more than 20,000 fans at Gold Coast Stadium – a record crowd for cricket on the Gold Coast. Tens of millions of broadcast viewers across Asia and India are also expected to have tuned in.
Famil attendees were also treated to a showcase of the region’s diversity of experiences including Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Hot Air Ballooning, O’Reilly’s Vineyard and Alpaca Farm, Sea World Helicopters, Rick Shores, and HOTA (Home of the Arts).
In additional to travel and trade, the famil focused on showcasing the Gold Coast’s incentive and delegate experiences to Indian conference organisers. YOT charters, dining at Kirra Beach House, and scenic helicopter transfers to the hinterland were headliners on the itinerary highlighting the city’s capacity to deliver memorable social programmes alongside leading conference facilities.
Experience Gold Coast also partnered with Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, to host celebrities from the Indian TV and film industry, and content creators, to promote the Gold Coast as a must-visit Australian holiday destination, sharing their experiences to their collective 50 million social media followers back home.
Experience Gold Coast’s international director, Jason Lucas said India is an important international market for the Gold Coast with enormous further growth potential.
“India is our fifth largest international visitor market, and it’s growing fast – with visitation up 44 per cent year-on-year,” said Lucas.
“By bringing key trade, content and business leaders here during such a high-profile sporting moment, aligned with India’s love of cricket, we’ve positioned the Gold Coast to be front-of-mind for investment, leisure, business events and study opportunities.”
In the race to adopt AI, stakeholders must not overlook the human factor
Technology brings people together like never before, but it can also be isolating as we focus more on screens, AI tools and virtual worlds.
As demand for in-person meetings and events rises, venues must increasingly manage the tension between technological connection and isolation. Such gatherings are now “smarter” than ever, from the virtual-hybrid technologies that arose during the pandemic to the AI-powered transcription, planning and networking tools emerging today.
In the race to adopt AI, stakeholders must not overlook the human factor
Modern event spaces must adopt the latest tech tools or be left behind. But simply having these tools isn’t enough. To truly engage, excite and motivate attendees, hosts must use technology to enhance human connection, not replace or automate it.
At Hyatt, we believe technologies like AI can help deliver personalised experiences at scale, improve operational efficiency and support faster and smarter decisions. By using latest technology to streamline the event experience, we ultimately create more opportunities to focus on agendas enriched with moments of wellbeing and interaction.
Asia-Pacific’s events boom
Demand for meetings and events is on the rise in Asia-Pacific, as people seek to forge new connections and reinforce existing networks. The region is the fastest-growing market for meetings and events, with a CAGR of 16.5 per cent compared to 13.4 per cent worldwide, according to Mordor Intelligence.
In-person events play a growing role. About three-quarters of meetings in 2025 have an in-person component, according to AMEX GBT data analysed by Hyatt, up from 71 per cent last year and indicative of a trend. Meanwhile, research by Cvent showed networking was the main driver of face-to-face gatherings.
These data suggest an appetite for personal connection that event hosts should use to their advantage. The latest technology can be used to make people feel welcome, but it does best when it gets out of the way.
How tech tools enable personal connection
The best events give people plenty of chances for spontaneous encounters with colleagues while also ensuring participants are at their best, mentally and physically. Advanced tech tools can help facilitate these priorities, in concert with a deft human touch.
Personalisation is key when it comes to AI enhancing the event experience, and AI is increasingly used in the planning stage as well. Especially at hotels, where participants spend their most personal moments of sleep, grooming and dining, the balance of tech-powered convenience and personal attention must be just right.
This balance means letting technology smooth experiences but not rush them: AI-powered information-retrieval tools help staff support guests quickly and efficiently, for example, minimising the time guests need to spend working out logistics, and maximising the time they spend with each other.
Similarly, digital tools enable guests to have control over their hotel experience with options for mobile check-in, housekeeping scheduling and mobile food ordering. All of these things add customisation, but do not detract from personalisation.
For event planners, AI tools such as Hyatt’s Planner Portal enable organisers to more effectively choreograph events with a minimum of site visits, reducing administration, enhancing cost effectiveness and freeing up organisers’ time for more personal attention.
In a wired world, meetings and events are an increasingly valuable chance for people to connect with one another without a screen between them. We should seek to elevate these moments, facilitated by technology but not defined by it.
Kate Atkinson is vice president of global sales, Asia Pacific, at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. She leads sales strategy and initiatives across all business segments in the region – including luxury, leisure, group, and corporate transient. Atkinson also serves as vice president of commercial performance, Pacific, where she is responsible for driving commercial outcomes and optimising business performance for hotels in the Pacific region.
Event planners seeking a show-stopping venue on Sydney Harbour now have a commanding new option with the 80-foot luxury superyacht, YOT Viva.
Fresh from a multi-million-dollar refit, YOT Viva features two expansive levels, two full-service bars, multiple entertainment zones, and a seamless indoor-outdoor layout. Licensed to accommodate up to 82 guests, this flexible and stylish backdrop works for any occasion from corporate functions to networking events.
YOT Viva
All F&B services are organised in-house by an executive team of chefs and onboard crew, as YOT Viva operates a fully licensed bar and cocktail service, offering a selection of canapes, beverage packages, shared platters, and fresh seafood.
Charters predominantly embark from Darling Harbour, and the team specialises in assisting planners to create customised itineraries along the scenic areas. A comprehensive list of extras is also available upon request, such as a DJ or live musician, professional photography and videography, custom styling (such as light-up letters, balloons, and a 360-degree video booth), a champagne package, and a swimming and lifeguard package complete with an inflatable pool setup.
Charter rates for the vessel start from A$1,650 (US$1,078) per hour (excluding GST), with set packages available, such as a three-hour charter for A$4,950 (excluding GST) or a four-hour charter for A$6,600 (excluding GST). All charter rates include the exclusive hire of the vessel, a qualified skipper, professional crew, and full onboard service.
IMEX Group’s Natasha Richards (far left) leads a panel of ministers and industry leaders
A clear government vision for the development of an integrated destination economy – one that benefits multiple segments of the local community – is the critical first step towards a city that can sustain its growing population, observed high-level destination managers and trade development leadership speaking at the ICCA Congress 2025 on November 10.
Gloria De León, minister of tourism for Panama, stated that governments have to be clear about what they need to do for the future.
IMEX Group’s Natasha Richards (far left) leads a panel of ministers and industry leaders
“In the case of Panama, our clear vision is to convert Panama into the home of business, congresses and international events. Once we have that vision, all government (agencies will) work together,” she said.
Amanda Lampe, CEO, Business Events Sydney, agrees to the need for “various departments in the government…to take a holistic view” of city development, but acknowledges challenges in getting bureaucrats to move quickly away from “looking after their own departments” to being more collaborative about creating good urban cities that will sustain the population.
Fellow speaker Nangula Uaandja, CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, opined that business events provide a valuable way for her country to improve its socio-economic conditions.
She explained: “Namibia is the third least-densely populated country in the world, and we believe it’s a beautiful country that many people ought to visit. Yet, few do. We think that business events held in Namibia can attract people who may not otherwise consider the country as a tourist destination.
“Secondly, business events can provide significant employment opportunities to young people.”
Uaandja explained that there is a high level of unemployment among the youths in Namibia, but with the arrival of more business events, young people have been able to make a business out of supporting services needed by events.
Carlos Abade, president of Visit Portugal, declared that tourism and business events can be a tool for achieving prosperity for Portugal’s people. The country is now preparing a strategy for the next decade to reinforce its commitment to both tourists and residents by improving the management of cities. He said this would require better infrastructure and knowledge in destination management.
“We need shared knowledge in managing cities. That’s why cooperation among countries is so important. Events like the ICCA Congress, which brings together more than 80 nationalities, are valuable in allowing us to discuss how to build a better future for our people,” stated Abade.
Moderator Natasha Richards, director of impact and industry relations, IMEX Group, remarked that “bringing the right event to your city, your region or your country will leave it in a better place”.
She asked De León how leaders across countries could collaborate to bring socio-economic progress to larger regions. In response, De León pointed to the Panama Association Hub, which was launched to serve Latin America by attracting international associations and organisations to the region.
De León added that there is also strong public-private partnerships to give destination Panama a competitive advantage in the global meetings industry.
Additionally, speakers on the panel discussed the importance of legacy building through business events to ensure that the host city benefits from incoming meetings.
Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, minister of tourism, creative industry and performing arts Sarawak and minister of youth, sports and entrepreneur development Sarawak, shared outcomes of the post-pandemic Legacy 360 strategy, which is led by Business Events Sarawak to position the Malaysian state as a global leader in generating long-term economic, social, and environmental impact through business events.
According to Abdul Karim, Legacy 360 has contributed “100 per cent to Sarawak’s bid wins” since 2021 when the strategy was birthed.
Business Events Sydney works with associations that meet in the Australian city to ensure positive local impact is achieved.
“We are government funded, we receive taxpayers dollars, so we make sure that we are thinking about those legacies that events are leaving behind,” Lampe said, adding that considerations include the indigenous community, economy, tourism earnings, research and innovation, education, and more.
Uaandja pointed to the Namibia Public Private Forum (NamPPF) as a prime example of a beneficial business event that facilitates public and private sector communications. Through dialogue between the government of Namibia and the private sector, the NamPPF aimed to create actionable solutions that advance Namibia’s national development agenda.
“It was an exciting event for us because it was chaired by Her Excellency, the president of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who gave us two full days to engage with her and the private sector, and to listen to the voice of the private sector,” reflected Uaandja, adding that businesses were able to present their sectors and speak up on government support needed to accomplish national targets.
Asia is no longer a follower, but a leader in the global business events industry as the centre of gravity for global business events has shifted eastward.
Speaking at the opening of AFECA Convention 2025 in Jakarta, Vincent Lim, president of the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA), said that Asia’s rapid growth brought tremendous momentum, but it also created complexity – from fragmented markets and evolving regulations to global competition and shifting geopolitics.
The signing of the Jakarta Declaration
“The future demands clarity, shared vision, regional alignment, and the determination to compete globally while driving shared prosperity across Asia,” Lim stated.
He emphasised that business events serve as catalysts, transforming challenges into economic opportunities, and that clarity begins with recognising the region’s strength.
“Asia now leads the world,” he asserted, elaborating that based on exhibition space, Asia has surpassed Europe and the US, rising to the top since 2004 and becoming the largest exhibition space globally in 2024.
Moreover, world-leading exhibitions are increasingly being staged across Asia, clearly reflecting the continent’s growing influence and capacity in countries like Thailand.
Lim highlighted the region’s commitment to setting new benchmarks, pointing to significant venue expansion across South-east Asia. He cited the recent opening of a new venue in Jakarta with close to 100,000m2 of exhibition space, and plans for similar 100,000m2 developments in Vietnam and the Philippines.
“This signals that governments across the region are recognising the value and potential of business events,” he said.
The forward momentum is also reflected within AFECA which celebrates 20th anniversary this year. The federation now represents over 155 members across 19 countries and regions, uniting key industry players and government partners. To strengthen regional engagement, AFECA has appointed a China representative to step up the industry’s promotion there.
Looking forward, Lim said that AFECA, through its A20 and IBEF platforms, would continue to develop shared standards, build regional talent pipelines, and advocate for business events as drivers of GDP and national growth.
A key outcome of the convention was the signing of the Jakarta Declaration between AFECA, Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (ASPERAPI), and Indonesian Congress and Convention Association (INCCA), committing all parties to advance education, expand networking, and foster stronger collaboration to enhance industry standards.
ASPERAPI’s chairman Hosea Andreas Runkat clarified the signing was a comprehensive renewal of an earlier, general memorandum that neglected human resource development. The renewed commitment emphasises networking and collaboration over market competition, with plans for mutual visits next year with associations in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to foster growth.
Liam Glynn, conference ambassador and professor of general practice at the University of Limerick, presenting at ICCA Congress 2025; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
The World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) has been awarded the 2025 Incredible Impacts Programme (IIP) Grant by BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
Led by Rural WONCA, the 2022 World Rural Health Conference in Limerick, Ireland, explored the theme Improving Health, Empowering Communities. It highlighted the impact of the global financial crisis on rural healthcare through the grassroots No Doctor No Village campaign, bringing together key stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities.
Liam Glynn, conference ambassador and professor of general practice at the University of Limerick, presenting at ICCA Congress 2025; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Outcomes included the Limerick Declaration on Rural Healthcare, a blueprint for improving high-quality healthcare in rural and remote areas; Ireland’s first National Standing Committee for Rural General Practice; a rural teaching hub; and new ambassador and fellowship programmes. This year’s US$20,000 IIP Grant will support and expand these initiatives, and the launch of a Rural Practice Innovation Network.
WONCA was one of three finalists shortlisted for the Incredible Impacts Grant, along with the International Federation of Endodontic Associations (IFEA) and International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). All three associations presented their submissions at the ICCA Congress in Porto, where conference delegates decided on the final winner.
Hosted by IFEA and British Endodontic Society, the 24th World Endodontics Conference in Glasgow, Scotland harnessed creative, engaging activities to boost oral health awareness across diverse communities. Key legacies include a multi-year public exhibit, school-based educational resources, and the “Glasgow Pledge” promoting healthcare economic reform. Grant funding would have helped advance public outreach, support policy advocacy, and expand access to vital pulp therapies in dental care.
Meanwhile, the International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC), organised by IPVS, earned the 2023 Incredible Impacts Programme Seed Fund Grant, fuelling a transformative year-long initiative. In collaboration with health experts and authorities, IPVS launched targeted efforts to raise HPV awareness, reduce health disparities, and empower marginalised populations. A highlight of the programme included HPV education in high schools to boost vaccine uptake where it is most needed. Grant funding would have gone towards scaling these efforts, such as introducing mobile screening units in underserved areas and delivering culturally relevant education in future host countries.
Incredible Impacts offers two cash awards each year – a main grant of US$20,000 and a seed fund grant of US$5,000. The seed grant was awarded to Autism-Europe, where the US$5,000 grant supported the 14th Autism-Europe Congress which took place in Dublin from September 11 to 13, 2025.
From left: Kobe Convention Bureau’s Lance Ferguson, and Nanako Matsuura; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Kobe Convention Bureau is focusing on its strengths in the medical and scientific sectors, while deploying attractive financial incentives to further grow its share of the international conference market.
“Our bread and butter is medical or scientific conferences, because the convention centre is surrounded by the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, one of the largest clusters in Asia with 350 organisations – ranging from universities to pharmaceuticals – located inside. Access to this gives conferences a pretty big pool of delegates and potential sponsorships,” Lance Ferguson, assistant manager meetings & events, Kobe Convention Bureau, told TTGmice.
From left: Kobe Convention Bureau’s Lance Ferguson, and Nanako Matsuura; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
He added that although Kobe is open to any type of international association wanting to hold their event in the city, “finding space for international groups” among all the domestic conferences in the packed calendar is challenging, as Japan “has a big domestic association market”.
To compete, the city offers association groups two subventions for international association groups. One subsidy is directly funded by Kobe City, while the second comes from an independent foundation established locally for the purpose of boosting the city’s convention sector. Organisers have the flexibility to apply for support from both sources, with the maximum combined grant typically reaching 10 million yen (US$66.5 million), and occasionally up to 15 million yen, per event.
While the final amount varies based on the total conference expenditure, most recipient groups can expect to have approximately eight to 10 per cent of their overall costs covered by these targeted subsidies, he stated.
“We do a lot of targeted research using the ICCA database, and we’d pursue any kind of association groups that are rotating throughout Asia in the next few years and reach out to them directly. In fact, we have a dedicated researcher – on our small team – who constantly pulls up potential leads,” added Ferguson.
In alignment with city government priorities, the Kobe Convention Bureau is targeting new association conferences in tech startups and med-tech.
Ferguson is also optimistic that the launch of international services at Kobe Airport in April 2025 makes the city a much more accessible conference destination, particularly for delegates that can benefit from direct flight routes.
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
The five-star property excels in backing its expansive facilities with seamless service and personalised attention, setting the benchmark for luxury in Bangkok.
Kate Atkinson is vice president of global sales, Asia Pacific, at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. She leads sales strategy and initiatives across all business segments in the region – including luxury, leisure, group, and corporate transient. Atkinson also serves as vice president of commercial performance, Pacific, where she is responsible for driving commercial outcomes and optimising business performance for hotels in the Pacific region.
