Conference Matters 144

EXPERT PANEL

'Collaborating is essential'

meetings and events for local destinations. Fostering partnerships between stakeholders with shared goals promotes solidarity. Collabo rating is essential.”

perception of security. These issues create unpredictability that can impact the planning and budgeting of interna tional events. In addition, disruptions to global supply chains and rising energy costs due to conflict have created logistical challenges and increased costs for events. These are challen ges, not threats. As the global leader in the meetings and events community, ICCA plays a crucial role in sup porting all our members. ICCA promotes open communication and knowledge sharing across borders and helps members adapt to changing circumstances. In uncertain times, we provide insights and information to our members and the global business events community as a whole so that meetings and events professio nals can stay informed and navigate turbulent times safely. Organisations can engage with the sector at a policy level by highlighting the enormous economic and societal value of “There are certainly concerns for the future. Will American scientists be able to attend medical conferences in Europe if they’re no longer compensated for travel or accommo dation as is currently the case? We’re already hearing this, which will certainly have conse quences for large international conferences. Whether it will impact participation in our conferences this fall in Rotterdam (Responsi ble AI in Health Care in September and PHAM 2025, the Planetary Health Annual Meeting in October) remains to be seen since registration just started. We’re now also busy organising international conferences for the coming years, including 2028. We can only hope that the worst will be behind us by then. But how quickly will every

“There are several ongoing concerns. The Euro pean meetings and events industry is currently grappling with a complex situation due to the challenges of post-COVID recovery, fluctuating economic conditions and geopolitical uncer tainty. Venues and organisers are still under pressure from rising costs, staff shortages and energy prices. The current situation in the United States, which is putting pressure on organisers in terms of suppliers, costs and travel issues with participants, is already being felt in our region. European associations are sensitive to the effects of global financial shifts, including the escalating tariff situation in the US, as well as issues with the cost of living, inflation and increased import duties. All of this directly affects both operational expenses and parti cipating in international meetings. Geopolitical conflicts, including wars, also affect travel behaviour, insurance premiums and the overall

Dr Senthil Gopinath CEO of the International Congress

and Convention Association (ICCA)

'It can certainly have consequences for our sector'

thing be fixed? Dismantling happens fast; building up usually does not. It could take years. If many participants drop out, it will have direct consequences for the budget and confe rence results. It also means that some of the knowledge in the field will no longer come to your conference. Every conference is about networking, meeting colleagues and sharing knowledge. These kinds of developments are disastrous for our profession. The health crisis left marks from which we have recently recovered. Every one is busy organising international meetings and then this happens. We’re not even talking about a trade war because economic malaise also has an effect.”

Marie Louise Bot Senior Conference Manager at Erasmus MC - Het Congresbureau

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