The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) today announced that it is leading a global initiative to develop a Global Impact Measurement Tool for Association Conferences. This framework will quantify the social, scientific, and economic impact generated by association meetings, capturing the benefits that extend beyond traditional tourism metrics.

“While these events are often viewed primarily as tourism drivers, their true value reaches much farther,” explains the ICCA in the press announcement. “They drive sector advancement, foster knowledge exchange, support talent attraction, influence social policy, and contribute to long-term social and scientific progress. Yet these broader benefits frequently remain under-recognized. Governments, policymakers, and strategic partners require concrete evidence of societal value to justify investments in infrastructure, destination development, and marketing. For the business events industry to secure funding and reinforce its strategic relevance, it must be able to clearly articulate its contributions to knowledge economies, industry advancement, and community wellbeing.”

Highlights of Global Impact Measurement Tool project

• Develop a rigorous, globally applicable measurement tool that provides clear, credible evidence of the multifaceted impact of association conferences.
• Enable members to demonstrate the value that meetings and events bring to their destinations using consistent, trustworthy data.
• Equip the industry with evidence-based insights that showcase how conferences fuel innovation, knowledge exchange, economic growth, and social progress far beyond tourism.

Together with co-founders Barcelona Convention Bureau, Copenhagen Convention Bureau, Flanders Convention Bureau, Business Events Sydney and Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, ICCA will develop the tool through a comprehensive, academically grounded, industry-informed methodology.

Research is steered by Professor Carmel Foley; Adjunct Professor Deborah Edwards; and Dr. Anja Hergesell, all of University of Technology Sydney, as well as Professor Nina Iversen of BI Norwegian Business School and Professor Leif Hem from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

The project aims to deliver a validated global impact-measurement tool by mid-2028.