The 60th Annual ICCA Congress will take the global association meetings industry to Cartagena, Colombia on 24-27 October 2021 with the theme Forward to our Future. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Annual Congress is a must-attend event for all involved in international conventions and congresses and this year’s hybrid experience is no different.
Delegates are invited to join the Congress in the host city of Cartagena de Indias, a Congress Hub, or on ICCA’s state-of-the-art virtual platform. Registration for the ICCA Congress 2021 is flexible, so delegates can change how they participate at any time.
Setting the stage for future business events
Last year’s ICCA Congress established the Kaohsiung Protocol, a crowdsourced framework identifying major trends and key strategies to enable the international meetings industry to thrive despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The ICCA Congress 2021 will continue the industry’s collaborative approach to overcoming challenges and reinventing business operations. The innovative programme combines best practices for pandemic-safe meetings with the latest research into the future outlook of business events.
Global community connects in Cartagena
ICCA World is a strong advocate for returning to face-to-face meetings, with both safety and financial efficiency as top priorities. Before the pandemic, business events contributed USD 1.5 trillion to the global GDP and affected nearly 26 million jobs worldwide.
Diana M. Rodriguez, CMP, 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. That’s why we are ready to welcome ICCA delegates in Cartagena de Indias; to rediscover the true power of meeting again under the magic spell of our legendary and ‘heroic’ city.”
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 as of the date of this announcement are Paris, France; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Seoul, South Korea. Congress Hub programmes will Livestream key plenary sessions that take place in Cartagena. Delegates will also hear from industry experts and government officials with strong ties to their region and participate in immersive workshops. Each Hub will be infused with the Cartagena experience through themed dinners and social events that deliver a Colombian flair.
Delegates who join the ICCA Congress 2021 digitally will have access to cutting-edge event tech. The virtual platform is as functional as it is impressive. The customised, visual wow factor will keep delegates plugged in and maximise their overall event participation. Meanwhile, powerful technology will ensure that the learning and networking components are smoothly executed and impactful.
Find out more at ICCA’s website.