The third in-person ICCA Global Association Forum took place from June 24 to 26, 2024, in Cancun, Mexico. It brought together association meeting planners, senior association representatives, and meeting suppliers worldwide.

The Forum offered valuable insights, practical tools, and resources for the association meetings industry. Attendees engaged in sessions on topics such as unlocking the “people” part of sustainability through wellness, regenerative event-management case studies, and important initiatives like Net Zero Carbon Events.

GSTC was present at the ICCA Global Association Forum 2024Jorge Moller, GSTC Program Director for Latin America, led the session about “The Global GSTC MICE Criteria: how can it help association meeting organizers.” This session focused on the importance of the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable tourism and travel, and the recent launch of the GSTC MICE Criteria (for venues, event organizers, and events & exhibitions), which were created to provide a common understanding of sustainable tourism in the MICE industry throughout the world and aims to serve as the global sustainability standards for the industry.

“It was a pleasure to join ICCA’s Forum and engage in insightful discussions with fellow professionals. The exchange of ideas and collaborative spirit were truly inspiring. I am sure the MICE Criteria will be a lighthouse in the sea of sustainable events, an invaluable guide to move forward in their journey toward MICE sustainability,” said Jorge Moller, GSTC Program Director for Latin America.

« The Global Association Forum is a highly relevant event for professionals in our industry. Its focus on building connections, sustainability, and providing valuable resources for our community makes it a can’t-miss gathering, » said Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA. « We’re honoured to have worked with our colleagues in Cancun and all of our partners who made this event such a success, and we look forward to meeting again next year as we continue to work together toward our shared objectives. »

There were also tailored business-networking opportunities at the forum, where a matchmaking technology connected planners with potential meeting suppliers, fostering meaningful interactions and collaborations. The 2024 Forum highlighted the importance of such gatherings in advancing the association meetings industry. 

More information about the Forum can be found here: https://events.iccaworld.org/icca-global-association-forum-2024/