IAPCO marks GMID with 99% retention rate and new data on changing structure of meetings

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has marked Global Meetings Industry Day 2022, 7 April, with the publication of a full update of its members’ 2021 statistics. The statistics are based on annual return data provided by IAPCO members. IAPCO has a community of 138 PCO offices in 40 countries. IAPCO says it has maintained its membership throughout the pandemic, with a 99% retention rate over the past two years and new applications currently being processed. Ori Lahav, president of IAPCO, stated: “The immense value that our members place in their membership of IAPCO is evident in this years’ annual retention rate which stands at an enviable 99%. This is a remarkable success story in light of the global pandemic and in comparison, to what many other associations are experiencing.” Employment has been impacted by the crisis with the IAPCO membership community down 20% and back to 2017 levels. Members have indicated high activity in recruitment through the latter part of 2021 and into 2022 as the meetings industry re-opens globally. In 2021, 11,945 events were delivered, where switching to virtual and hybrid formats has raised the number of attendees from previous years to a total of 14m. The ratio of attendees at these events was put at 2/3 virtual and 1/3 in person. Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, added: “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.” The structure of events has also changed, IAPCO reports, with 60% now being association meetings, 4% governmental and 24% corporate. Before the pandemic corporate represented 50% of meetings.