IAPCO events delivered a record-breaking €17.8 billion in global economic impact in 2024, showcasing the growing power of professional conferences to drive innovation, collaboration, and long-term progress across key sectors. According to the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), its 92 accredited member companies hosted 19,469 events worldwide last year.
This figure marks a €3.54 billion increase from 2023—an impressive 19.8% jump in economic impact. The surge reflects not just rising demand for in-person meetings, but also the critical role these gatherings play in a post-pandemic world increasingly focused on reconnection, learning, and resilience.
Altogether, IAPCO members have 180 registered PCO (Professional Congress Organiser) offices operating globally. In 2024, they delivered 2,425 more events than the previous year, illustrating a clear upswing in conference activity. But the numbers tell only part of the story.
Each of these events brought together professionals, academics, scientists, and industry leaders to share knowledge, solve challenges, and spark innovation. They weren’t just meetings—they were opportunities to move entire industries forward. Health, research, engineering, energy, financial services, and technology all benefitted from the networking and knowledge exchange that took place during these gatherings.
The upward trend appears set to continue. IAPCO reports a strong pipeline for future events, with nearly 2,000 conference contracts already signed through 2027—without destinations or venues even confirmed yet. This shows that demand is outpacing supply, and that professional event planning remains essential even in times of uncertainty.
As part of Global Meetings Industry Day, Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, emphasized the role these events play in shaping global collaboration: “The global meetings industry serves as a platform for professional, academic, and scientific communities to converge, allowing them to debate, collaborate, and expand their networks, creating opportunities and outcomes that drive real progress.”
He added that beyond economic benefits, these gatherings contribute to major advancements in sectors that shape our world—from health to manufacturing. “The growth of our sector remains a constant in our increasingly uncertain world,” said Boyle. “The drive for people to gather and share knowledge has never been stronger.”
This rising demand is also reflected in the growth of IAPCO’s own membership. Becoming an accredited IAPCO member isn’t easy—it involves a rigorous peer-review process that assesses quality at every stage of event planning and delivery. This selective approach ensures that only the most professional and reliable PCOs become part of the association.
According to Boyle, that reputation is highly valued by associations, event destinations, and organizing committees around the world. “To be an IAPCO member is not easy to attain. However, the standard it represents is highly valued by associations, destinations, and organising committees who are wanting to partner with a quality PCO,” he said.
As more clients seek trusted partners for their events, IAPCO’s membership continues to grow. The organization sees this as a sign of commitment to quality from both sides—PCOs and clients alike. In a time when the events industry is evolving rapidly to incorporate digital tools, hybrid formats, and sustainability practices, trust and high standards have never been more important.
The report positions IAPCO members as leaders in shaping the future of global meetings. With an expanding membership base and a pipeline full of forward-looking contracts, they are strategically placed to influence how the meetings landscape evolves—while continuing to meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability.
From economic gains to scientific breakthroughs, the data confirms that IAPCO events are more than just numbers. They are platforms for progress, and in 2024, they showed just how much power a well-organized conference can hold.
