This Spotlight is part of an ongoing series highlighting EIC Association and Corporate Members and the important work they are doing to serve our shared industry. This month, we highlight ICCA, which just finished its hugely successful annual Congress in Porto.
- Website: www.iccaworld.org
- CEO: Dr. Senthil Gopinath, who is also 2025 EIC Board Chair
- Founded: 1963
- Global Headquarters: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Countries Served: ICCA serves members in more than 100 countries worldwide, representing the full spectrum of the international meetings and events industry — including convention bureaus, venues, PCOs, associations, and destination partners.
Other Important Data Points:
- 1,100+ member organisations across six global regions
- 60+ years of data, intelligence, and community building
- Dedicated regional offices in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and Africa
- ICCA Congress: the association’s flagship global event, gathering industry leaders each year
Brief Description:
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry. Since 1963, ICCA has connected professionals and organisations involved in hosting, bidding, and organising international events. ICCA’s mission is to enable the growth and success of its members through data-driven intelligence, advocacy, education, and collaboration — shaping the future of global meetings and events.
Key Programmes and Initiatives
- ICCA Business Intelligence Platform: the industry’s most comprehensive meetings database, supporting members with insights and lead generation.
- ICCASkills: ICCA’s global professional development framework for business events professionals.
- ICCA Association Community: fostering collaboration and engagement between associations and destinations.
- ICCA Congress: the annual global flagship event for innovation, education, and networking.
- Incredible Impacts Programme: a joint initiative with BestCities Global Alliance celebrating events that leave lasting social and community legacies.
Reports and Resources
- ICCA Annual Statistics Report – benchmarking international association meetings.
- GlobeWatch: ICCA Country and City Rankings.
- ICCA Association Impact Study.
- ICCA Member Surveys and Intelligence Briefs – insight reports on industry trends, sustainability, and legacy.
- Strategy 2030: Leadership in Global Meetings and Events
“At ICCA, our mission is to empower and connect the global meetings industry through shared knowledge, collaboration, and innovation. We believe in the power of events to drive positive change, create lasting legacies, and build stronger communities across the world, and we are proud to be the leader in international business meetings and events, serving the entire ICCA community across sectors.”
— Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA
Membership in EIC
“Being part of the Events Industry Council allows ICCA to contribute to the vision for a more sustainable, impactful, and legacy-building global events sector. EIC provides a key platform for collaboration and advocacy, which amplifies our shared goals and ensuring our industry continues to thrive with integrity and purpose.”
— Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA
