The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the global travel and meetings industry and on the meetings behaviour of international associations. Exploring that impact and finding out the consequences is the focus of the special UIA Survey 2021 – COVID-19 Impact on International Association Meetings. The Survey will try to determine the changes in approach of associations when planning and organising their international events: the shift in their needs, expectations and technological approach.
The UIA team will describe, in text, graphics and tables, how associations are dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic impact and the areas of concern for associations, focusing mainly on their meeting activities: dealing with events cancelled and/or changed in their format (online/hybrid), perspectives for re-establishment of in-person programmes, technology challenges, the role of social media, the economic impact on the associations’ future, their expectations in a relationship with Convention Bureaux, etc.
“The UIA Surveys are the largest surveys looking into the meetings behaviour of all the diverse types of international associations (…). High rates of participation make the UIA Surveys an indispensable source of information for all branches involved in the meetings industry. UIA contacts the associations by sending postal invitations to 15,000 organizations, alongside 25,000 monthly email invitations. Reaching so many international associations is a major challenge. For the UIA Survey 2021 and the Report the UIA is being supported by its sponsors Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Seoul Tourism Organization and Polish Tourism Organisation – Poland Convention Bureau”, said Clara Fernández López, External Relations Manager of the Union of International Associations and Member of the Executive Board of the International Youth Library Foundation.
The most recent edition of the Survey was held in 2020. It revealed that 82% of respondents hold at least one major international meeting every three years. 44% of these associations hold their meetings annually. 54% of meetings have a length of two to three days. The Survey showed that, in 2020, 41% of the associations responding did not offer options for remote participation in their meetings. 21% were not considering options for remote participation at all. UIA expects the forthcoming Survey may show a shift in this behaviour.
The most recent edition of the Survey was held in 2020. It revealed that 82% of respondents hold at least one major international meeting every three years. 44% of these associations hold their meetings annually. 54% of meetings have a length of two to three days. The Survey showed that, in 2020, 41% of the associations responding did not offer options for remote participation in their meetings. 21% were not considering options for remote participation at all. UIA expects the forthcoming Survey may show a shift in this behaviour.
The Report on COVID-19 Impact on International Association Meetings will be released on 18 November 2021 at the annual UIA Associate Members Meeting in Prague and be freely available to the public on the UIA’s website in three language versions: English, French and Spanish. The UIA expects that the forthcoming Survey will reveal the fields where associations and industry can cooperate in order to redefine events and make association congresses, meetings, conferences, etc. a success for everyone – the association, the delegates and consequently for the destination.
Find out more about the Polish Tourism Organisation at their official website.
