Collectively, the accredited PCOs working in 187 offices around the world organised 23,512 meetings and events, a 20.77 per cent increase on the year prior.
However, the number of participants per meeting fell significantly, from 408 to 328, resulting in a lower number of delegates serviced overall – dropping 2.81 per cent on 2024 – and a lower economic impact.
Meetings by IAPCO members had 7,718,808 participants and delivered an economic injection of €17.36 billion (AU$28.16 billion), down by 2.85 per cent from €17.87 billion (AU$28.98) in 2024.
The figures are part of a new report from the association informed by IAPCO’s yearly member survey.
“This report gives us an important opportunity to recognise the extraordinary work of IAPCO Accredited PCOs across the world,” said IAPCO CEO, Martin Boyle.
“The scale of what they deliver is significant, but what matters most is the impact behind those numbers. These meetings create opportunity for sectors to advance, for communities to connect and for destinations to benefit professionally, socially and economically.”
The report also showed the average number of meetings managed per staff member within PCO businesses rose significantly, by 43 per cent, which was likely also influenced by the drop in permanent staff numbers at PCOs – staff levels dropped collectively by 1,512 or 15.71 per cent.
“What we are seeing is not a weaker market, but a more adaptive one,” said Boyle.
“Our members are delivering more meetings, often with smaller formats and leaner teams, while maintaining the quality, professionalism and trust that IAPCO Accreditation represents.
“That speaks to the resilience of our community and its ability to respond to change without losing sight of excellence.”
The report also evidenced a considerable opportunity for both convention bureaux and venues, with a rising number of events in the future pipeline yet to lock in a destination or venue.
In 2025, 2,349 future events had not locked in a venue or destination, up from 1,969 in 2024.
As a proportion of future confirmed business, events either without a destination or a venue was even more stark – with a 13 per cent rise in events with no venue secured and a six per cent rise in events with no destination locked in.
