ICCA’s Global Bidding workshop was held on 17 July 2018 at World Meetings Forum Vidanta – Riviera Nayarit 2018, Mexico. Leading global meetings industry suppliers discussed the best practices of bidding for international association meetings, using Houston’s successful bid for the 2019 ICCA Congress as the basis for discussion.
Based upon ICCA’s key philosophy of sharing knowledge between traditional competitors and led by the association’s Regional Director North America, Joanne Joham CMP, CMM, the interactive session aimed to highlight the difference between “best practices” and “fatal flaws” in the international association meetings’ bidding process through real-life case studies, and ultimately encourage participants to reflect upon and discuss their own best and worst practices with their fellow meetings professionals.
ICCA encourages its members to share knowledge about international association meetings because of their cyclical nature; as association meetings rarely return to the same destination within a short timeframe, business exchange between traditional competitors is an incredibly useful way to gain new knowledge about the latest sector developments. To kick-off the Global Bidding workshop, Daniel Palomo, Director of Global Sales at Visit Houston, shared his insights and tips from the multi-bid process for the 58th ICCA Congress that resulted in the destination winning the opportunity to host the prestigious event for the global association meetings community, due to be held from 27-30 October 2019 in Houston, U.S.A.
58th ICCA Congress
Known for its world-class, custom-designed education programme, opportunities for knowledge and business exchange and exclusive networking with senior meetings industry professionals and association executives, the ICCA Congress is an annual event organised by the International Congress and Convention Association and attracts on average 1,000 delegates from across the globe.
Joanne Joham CMP, CMM, Regional Director North America, said: “In support of Member requests, the North American ICCA Chapter is pleased to have had the opportunity to offer tips on bidding intelligence to all ICCA Members attending World Meetings Forum 2018. The interest and excitement we created was phenomenal, and we are sure to repeat such offerings in the future.
With our 2019 Congress being held in Houston, exciting times are coming up for our association in North America. ICCA sees our 2019 Congress as a bridge to extending our network and influence on the North American continent. More and more activities in the U.S.A. are planned in the run-up to our 58th Congress, including our involvement in IMEX America in Las Vegas this October. We’re excited to bring our global community of international association meetings industry decision-makers to Houston in 2019.”
Daniel Palomo, Director of Global Sales at Visit Houston, added: “Houston, the 4th largest and most diverse US city, is committed to offering ICCA delegates a unique platform for business connections, access to technical tours and education opportunities with emphasis on Innovation and Technology. Also known as the Energy Capital of the World, home to NASA and the world’s largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center, Houston seeks to further grow its footprint in the international association meetings market.”
The International Congress and Convention Association is the leading global gateway to international association meetings business and comprises 1,100 member companies and organisations in almost 100 countries and territories worldwide, a growing number of which represent the meeting industry’s leading North American destinations, venues and suppliers.
