ICCA
Leading in the advocacy space
ADVOCACY , SUSTAINABILITY , SOCIAL IMPACTS AND DEI TAKE CENTRE STAGE AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE , SAYS ICCA CEO SENTHIL GOPINATH
A dvocacy can mean a lot of things . Depending on who you ask , it can be described as working on initiatives that promote your values ; being a voice for those who cannot speak ; using available resources to support causes that align with your goals ; or working with influential people and organisations to effect change . At ICCA , we understand our place as a global leader in the advocacy space . We ’ re honoured to be able to play a role in the international theatre of meetings and events , an industry that occupies a remarkable position in the world , with the ability to reach and influence innumerable touchpoints throughout government , travel , tourism , production , and more . We are a community of people that represent industries across the globe ,
and this relevance and visibility gives us a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be a vehicle for transformative change that benefits us all .
Reaching out and raising awareness We use our voice in many ways , including joining forces with organisations that share our belief that meetings and events can be drivers of economic , social , and environmental progress throughout the world . Recently , we partnered with UN Tourism , a global organisation whose influence has far-reaching implications . With this agreement , our industry-leading programmes gain additional exposure , publicity , and significance . This in turn allows us to share resources and collaborate on initiatives that bring opportunity ,
Above : Senthil Gopinath
harmony , and hope to places and programmes the world over .
ICCA has also teamed up with the Costa Rica Tourism Board and the Costa Rica Convention Center as a sustainability partner . In a three-year project focused on the creation of concrete initiatives and tools for the meetings and events industry , our organisations have pledged to work collaboratively toward a shared goal of shifting priorities and policies toward more sustainable models . Additionally , ICCA will work with Costa Rica on the development of a carbon offset calculator , which will be made available to ICCA ’ s venue-sector members , allowing them to better understand the environmental impact of events and set goals related to reducing carbon emissions .
Shining a light on the issues that matter most These initiatives align with ICCA ’ s commitment to sustainability , social impact , and DEI in the global meetings and events industry and underscore the importance of these issues to the continued collective progress of our community on the path forward .
This year , the theme of the ICCA Congress , taking place 20-23 October in Abu Dhabi , is ‘ Tomorrow Starts Today ’. In keeping with this concept , we ’ re focused on sowing the seeds of positive change now so that future generations can reap the benefits of our planning and foresight .
It ’ s up to those of us who are fortunate enough to hold a space of visibility to shine a light on these issues – essential elements that form the cornerstone of ICCA ’ s mission and values , and indispensable parts of the meeting and events industry ’ s roadmap for the future . To that end , we ’ re proud to spotlight the ways in which advocacy , sustainability , social impact , and DEI can benefit us all on our shared journey forward . n
ISSUE 131 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 9