Q1: Ljubljana is ready to welcome participants of the 54th IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly. As you were involved in the organisation, you probably know what they can expect. Any surprises? What are your expectations?
Well, I was expecting to see a Team Ljubljana approach where all partners in the city come together to deliver for a business event when it is in the destination. I am happy to say that this is certainly what we have experienced here in the city. The mark of a destination that understands the important role that business events can play in both economic and social development is how the city approaches working with organisations like IAPCO. Well done, team Ljubljana.
Q2: The programme has been meticulously prepared and involves local professionals from different fields, but with at least one thing in common – their concern about climate change and their advocacy of sustainable transformation. How important is this topic for professional congress organisers?
IAPCO PCOs have been leading this discussion with our association clients for several years now, and there is certainly momentum, but I think it can be pushed more. Many associations still do not have references and requirements for environmental sustainability to be at the core of their congress, nor is this outlined in many associations’ bid guidelines. IAPCO has several white papers that we make available to associations to use as templates as they rewrite these guidelines, as I feel it should be a qualification criterion for any destination selection.
Q3: The slogan of the annual meeting is »Be the flow«. Do you think that PCOs can be game-changers? How strong is their influence to make events more sustainable?
IAPCO PCOs are certainly game-changers when it comes to driving strategic development and the success of association client congresses. For us, it is not just about logistics but more about ensuring that the association’s long-term success can be driven by many elements, including the successful delivery of a congress. The theme »BE THE FLOW« was suggested by our local hosts, Cankarjev dom, and we wholeheartedly supported this. We have to carve our paths through challenging obstacles to lead the way for our clients and our organisations, so you cannot rest on just going with the flow like all others, you must lead by example and BE THE FLOW.
Q4: Cankarjev dom has been a member of IAPCO for more than 40 years. They aimed to bring the IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly to Ljubljana for a long time. What were the main reasons behind your decision to organise the event in Slovenia?
We knew that Ljubljana could deliver on an infrastructure and logistics perspective. It was Cankarjev dom’s passion, dedication to our mission and understanding of the discerning needs of our members that impressed our IAPCO Council. We had no doubt.
Q5: Becoming an IAPCO member is not easy. How difficult is it to become IAPCO Accredited? Why does your association insist on strict membership requirements?
Our quality standards are there to ensure that destinations, suppliers, attendees and, of course, clients can rest assured that when they work and partner with an IAPCO-accredited PCO, their experience will be second to none. I often hear others say it is difficult to become an IAPCO Accredited Member. Yes, there are administrative obligations and quality standards that must be proven.
However, we have a very supportive team of Membership and Quality committee members and a professional administrative staff that guides prospective members throughout the entire process.
Our members report to us every year that the number one benefit of being an IAPCO-accredited PCO is the fact that they are recognised globally as being so. They stand alongside the most professional congress organisers in the world and take great pride in doing so.
“IAPCO takes long-term advocacy very seriously. We are committed to investing resources to deliver a long-term, focused advocacy strategy that will target meetings Industry’s partners, our clients and policy-makers globally.”
Q6: What sets IAPCO apart from other global associations within the industry?
Simply put, it’s the quality of our members’ service levels, the focus we place on the continued professional development of our community over profits and that our brand is synonymous with quality standards.
Q7: One of the most important roles of an association is advocacy. What tools does IAPCO use to facilitate advocacy?
We have been advocating on behalf of our members and industry since we started 54 years ago. This has taken on many shapes and forms over the years, both formal and informal. As an example, during the recent pandemic, for the first time in our history, we created the National PCO Association Task Force as a group of 14 National PCO Associations. The purpose of this Task Force was to convene and share insights and solutions through such a disruptive period but also to provide a ‘unified voice’ for PCOs across the globe, whether IAPCO Members or not. The creation of the PCO Perspective (the only one of its kind) linked directly to the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s (JMIC) Manifest empowered PCOs in 14 countries to lobby policy-makers to recognise that business and professional events are very different from mass gatherings.
That then led to the delivery of the IAPCO online Politicians Forum in 2021, which featured open discussions with six government ministers from around Europe and LATAM.
This is just one example of the specifics we have developed in the last few years. However, it is important to know that IAPCO takes long-term advocacy very seriously. We are committed to investing resources to deliver a long-term, focused advocacy strategy that will target meetings Industry’s partners, our clients and policy-makers globally.
Q8: We must mention artificial intelligence. Do you believe AI can ever take over and replace the role of associations and PCOs?
NO! However, you will be left behind if you don’t know how to adapt and use AI.
Q9: What are your priorities in achieving a carbon-neutral meetings industry? Do you believe carbon offset is the right choice, or is there a better alternative?
As a signatory of the JMIC Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, IAPCO is committed to doing all we can to meet the target. We rely heavily on our host PCOs, who deliver our seminars and meetings around the globe to ensure their programmes are fit for purpose in the regions they are based in. This may or may not include carbon offsetting, but all should align with specific UN SDGs in some shape or form.
Q10:We assume this is your first time in Slovenia. What are the first impressions? How would you describe Slovenia in three words?
It is my first visit to Slovenia, but it won’t be my last! My first impressions are how beautiful the countryside is, the ease of getting around and the warmth of the Slovenians. As a native English speaker who only speaks English fluently, Slovenia is an easy country to be a visitor to. Warm, welcoming & sophisticated.
About Sarah Markey-Hamm
Thanks to her client relationships and creative spirit, Sarah is a driving force in today’s meetings and events industry and holds influential positions in many industry organisations. She regularly speaks at international events and often sits on industry panels, offering insights into building world-class meetings. With over 30 years of experience within the events sphere, Sarah’s expertise ensures that all ICMS conferences are delivered and met with the very best of industry standards.
To date, Sarah has been Chair of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Australian National Committee and has held positions on the ICCA Meetings Advisory Group. She has been a board member of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) and past President of the Meeting Events Australia (MEA) Victorian Chapters. Sarah currently sits as President of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).
Learn more about the 54th IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly here.
