The 54th annual meeting and general assembly of IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers) is the most important event in the meetings industry in Slovenia in the last two decades. It will take place in Ljubljana from February 28th to March 2nd, 2024, expecting around 160 directors and owners of congress agencies from all over the world. The local organizer of the event is Cankarjev dom, the leading and only professional congress organizer in Slovenia with an international license and a member of IAPCO since 1980.
IAPCO is a non-profit organization and the only international accreditation body for professional conference organizers. The mission of the association is to raise service standards among its members and other stakeholders in the meetings industry through continuous education, collaboration with various experts, research, and data measurement. IAPCO brings together 138 accredited companies of professional congress organizers in 40 countries. Membership, which can be obtained through high-level services, is maintained through annual reviews and evaluations by the IAPCO Quality Commission.
The association unites the largest global players in the meetings industry. According to data published by IAPCO on March 30, 2023, IAPCO members collectively organized 7,722 events in 2023 and plan to organize another 7,729 events in the three-year period until 2026. Notably, among these, 1,943 events have not yet chosen a destination, while organizers are still looking for a venue for 3,542 events. Therefore, the assembly and annual meetings are of great importance to the local economy and tourism, which hope that foreign PCOs (Professional Congress Organizers) will return to the destination with international events.
The meetings industry plays an important role in the Slovenian tourism economy. It is recognized for its highest added value and numerous multiplier effects. The total spending by congress guests is at least 3.5 times higher than that of regular tourists. It contributes to the diversification of tourist flows, off-season tourism, and the sustainable development of business and commerce.
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Founder and main co-funder of Cankarjev dom’s Arts and Culture programme
