Global conferences surged in 2024 – and IAPCO members were behind nearly 20,000 of them.
Professional congress organisers delivered 19,469 events in 2024, generating over €17.8bn in economic impact. This marks a €3.54bn increase from the previous year, according to the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers’ (IAPCO) latest Annual Member Economic Impact and Business Strategy Report.
IAPCO 2024 Annual Member Report
What’s driving the success?
The report, released this week to coincide with Global Meetings Industry Day (3 April), highlights the vital role of IAPCO’s 92 accredited member companies, who collectively operate 180 offices worldwide. The rise in economic impact was driven by an increase of 2,425 conferences compared with 2023.
IAPCO members also reported a strong pipeline of future events, with 1,969 signed contracts yet to assign a destination or venue – signalling robust global demand for business events over the next three years.
Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, said: “Each of the 19,469 conferences not only drove significant economic impact but fostered innovation, facilitated knowledge exchange, and enhanced collaboration on a global scale.”
He added: “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.”
IAPCO also reported increased membership in 2024, driven by growing demand for peer-reviewed, high-standard professional congress organisers.
