Conferences and meetings demonstrate resilience and growth in uncertain times, the report says.
IAPCO celebrates Global Meetings Industry Day 3 April 2025. The membership of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) collectively delivered 19,469 events across the globe in 2024 contributing an economic impact of over €17.8 billion. This represents a €3.54 billion increase from 2023 (19.8 per cent) according to their 2024 Annual Member Economic Impact and Business Strategy Report released this week.
The growth in economic impact is driven by an increase of 2,425 conferences delivered by the 92 member IAPCO-accredited companies, who collectively have 180 IAPCO-registered PCO offices worldwide.
The dramatic growth in both the number of events and economic impact underscores the essential role professional conference organisers play in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing knowledge exchange on a global scale.
And the pace isn’t slowing. Looking forward, IAPCO members estimate substantial numbers for the next three years, so much so that 1,969 conference contracts have been signed and confirmed without a designated destination or venue.
On Global Meetings Industry Day, Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, said that each of the 19,469 conferences not only drove significant economic impact but also fostered innovation, facilitated knowledge exchange, and enhanced collaboration on a global scale – core values at the heart of IAPCO’s mission:
“The global meetings industry allows professional, academic, and scientific communities to converge, allowing them to debate, collaborate, and expand their networks, creating opportunities and outcomes that drive real progress.
“Our results represent strong economic impact, advancements in health, academia and research, science and engineering, energy, financial and professional services, technology and manufacturing – all sectors our members specialise in.
“The growth of our sector remains a constant in our increasingly uncertain world. The drive for people to gather and share knowledge has never been stronger.”
In addition, IAPCO has seen significant growth in its membership. Membership is dependent on companies undergoing a rigorous peer-review accreditation that assesses quality at each step of their process, demonstrating the value the buying market is placing on quality.
“To be an IAPCO member is not easy to attain. However, the standard it represents is highly valued by associations, destinations, and organising committees who want to partner with a quality PCO. We believe the growth in our membership represents a commitment to excellence from both PCOs and clients, setting high standards within the industry.
“The 2024 report showcases the resilience and growth potential of the global meetings industry. With an expanding membership and a significant pipeline of future events, IAPCO members are strategically positioned to influence the evolution of the meetings landscape while adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability,” said Martin Boyle.
View the IAPCO 2024 Annual Member Report.
