IAPCO says that a total of 11,945 events were delivered in 2021
The global meetings, incentive, conferences and exhibition events industry saw a robust 2021 after a nearly catastrophic 2020, says a report by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).
IAPCO says that a total of 11,945 events were delivered in 2021, adding that switching to virtual and hybrid event formats has significantly raised the number of attendees from 2020, with a total of 14 million visitors participating in the events, virtually as well as in-person. IAPCO adds that thanks to the technology, notably the Zoom meeting and other virtual meeting platforms, a large majority of the attendees of the events were in the virtual world. A total of 33 pc of the 14 million attended the events in-person, while 67 pc attended the events virtually.
IAPCO officials say that the performance was astounding, largely because of the challenges facing not just the IAPCO members but also the target audience of each of the meetings. “Collectively, our members have doubled the number of attendees from 2019. Reaching new audiences, providing accessibility and inclusivity for all around the globe has been a positive outcome of these virtual and hybrid formats,” says Martin Boyle, IAPCO CEO.
IAPCO says that some fundamental shifts have occurred in the industry and its target audience since the pandemic. For instance, whereas before the pandemic, more than half of the total meetings delivered by IAPCO members were done for corporates from across the world, in 2021, almost 60 pc of all meetings organised were for associations and only 24 pc meetings were mounted for companies.
The governments’ share of meetings also fell to barely 4 pc in the year, says IAPCO, adding that while corporates were able to deliver and report on the meetings they had, association events are seen as essential to the functioning of society and, as such, associations’ meetings continued in different formats throughout the pandemic.
One of the biggest differences felt during the pandemic was in terms of the space needed for events, notably exhibitions. IAPCO says that thanks to the shift to a hybrid or fully virtual formats in 2020 and 2021, the total area of exhibition sales were anticipated to be significantly reduced from pre-pandemic.
IAPCO says that its main objective, with a community of 138 PCO offices in 40 countries around the globe, is to ensure that each member goes through an extensive accreditation process, and regular audits of the members are conducted to ensure quality standards are maintained. Despite the turbulences of the past 2 years, IAPCO membership remains extremely strong with a 99 pc retention rate and new applications currently being processed, it adds. “This is a remarkable success story in light of the global pandemic and in comparison, to what many other associations are experiencing,” says Ori Lahav, IAPCO President.
After a meeting of IAPCO members in Rome recently, Lahav says that the members were keen to get back together and share experiences about the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery.
“Our members are eager to get back together, and emotions ran high in our community these past days as we met for our annual meeting in Rome. Our industry has undergone major changes in the last two years and today is a good time to learn from this journey and to address our future. Finding the right balance between the unmatchable value of in-person meetings and concerns of sustainability, legacy and inclusion remain key priorities for IAPCO. We received exceptional insights and inspiration from the keynotes and engaged the community present in enlightening discussions that will help us reflect and craft innovative solutions for the future of the meetings industry,’’ says Lahav.
