VisitBritain, in partnership with MeetEngland, Meet in Wales and VisitScotland Business Events hosted its second Association Conference from 11-13 February 2025 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Wales in Newport.
The conference, with the theme ‘Bid for Today, Bid for Tomorrow,’ brought together 70 industry professionals including UK nations, city convention bureaus, international associations and professional congress organisers.
Through moderated discussions, workshops and practical learning, delegates discussed the state of the event bidding process from the perspectives of destinations, associations and organisers.
Developed in partnership with #MEET4IMPACT, the framework supports British destinations to define and measure impact objectives against eight capitals: natural, built, political, cultural, financial, human, intellectual and social, working in partnership with their clients.
Paul Black, head of business events at VisitBritain opened the conference, highlighting the importance of association congresses to support growth in key sectors across Britain, deliver wider impacts working in partnership with organisers, and discuss the growing role of technology in event planning and execution.
Black said: “We extend our gratitude to the teams at ICC Wales, Celtic Manor Resort and Meet in Wales for their partnership in hosting this year’s conference, and to our industry partners the Association of British Professional Congress Organisers, The Business of Events, the European Society of Association Executives and each nation for supporting our event programme.”
ICC Wales sales director, Danielle Bounds said: “Being part of the engaged discussion at the conference makes us even more excited about the year ahead and the opportunities that await the industry.”
Aside from the educational itinerary, attendees also visited South Wales University to learn about the research and sector developments taking place.
