60th ICCA Congress heads to Colombia and three global hubs

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), an international meetings association, has announced the 60th Annual ICCA Congress, a meetings industry professionals and association event, will take place as a hybrid event. The global association meetings industry will go to Cartagena, Colombia, 24-27 October 2021 with the theme Forward to our Future. Delegates can join the Congress at the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, via three regional hubs or on the ICCA’s virtual platform. ICCA notes that before the pandemic, business events contributed US$1.5tn to the global GDP and affected nearly 26m jobs worldwide. Senthil Gopinath (pictured), ICCA CEO, said: “ICCA research has consistently found that the general sentiment about the need for face-to-face events has not only remained, but intensified. Furthermore, while digital and hybrid events have expanded audiences for many organisations, these alternatives cannot supersede the serendipitous moments and truly meaningful connections that are the essence of face-to-face meetings,” ICCA Congress 2021 delegates who are unable to travel to Colombia will also have the opportunity to meet face-to-face at one of the worldwide Congress hubs. Confirmed destinations are: Paris, France; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Seoul, South Korea. Congress hub programmes will livestream key plenary sessions that take place in Cartagena. Diana M. Rodriguez, CMP of Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, said: “We are convinced that face-to-face meetings and events drive socio-economic development for destinations. They serve as platforms for knowledge sharing and generating valuable connections that positively impact businesses and professionals alike, well beyond the event itself.”