This landmark partnership agreement sees ICCA recognised as the UN Tourism partner for business events across all UN Tourism platforms and initiatives. This collaboration recognises the influence and transformative potential of the business events industry and puts it on the map as a key driver for socio-economic progress across the world.
ICCA acknowledges it’s imperative to strengthen ties between the two organisations and has worked tirelessly as an organisation for many years with the goal of creating this partnership for the pivotal role business events play as a driver of economic growth, and legacy initiatives worldwide.
ICCA and UN Tourism bring a wealth of expertise, resources, and a desire to collaborate to this exciting partnership. By establishing closer links – and enjoying greater access to each other’s professional networks, a new and distinctive narrative will be created around the potential of greater international collaboration.
ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath expressed enthusiasm, stating: “This collaboration with the UN Tourism has been a long-held strategy of ICCA. This is great news not just for our members but for the whole international associations meetings and events industry. We know how intrinsically linked the world of business events and tourism are, but this formal partnership gives us privileged access to each other’s communities. There are many initiatives planned, which we will share in due course, including Hon Secretary General Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili opening our 63rd ICCA Congress in Abu Dhabi. The partnership agreement also signifies a closer alignment of our industry-leading programmes. We have much to share, and much to learn. May this announcement mark the beginning of something quite remarkable.”
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “The partnership between UN Tourism and ICCA recognises the growing economic importance of business events for our sector. ICCA has been a valued Affiliate Member of UN Tourism since 2004, and our collaboration has yielded several joint publications and initiatives focused on advancing the Meetings Industry. With this new partnership, we look forward to shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for the business tourism sector.”
During a time of international uncertainty, ICCA’s appointment as the UN Tourism’s chosen partner in the promotion of international meetings reasserts the shared belief in the transformative potential of cross-border collaboration. Both ICCA and the UN Tourism invite industry stakeholders, governmental bodies, and the wider global community to join us on this exciting journey… where business, leisure, and education can bring opportunity, harmony, and hope.
