The annual UK & Ireland ICCA Chapter meeting took place in Edinburgh last week, bringing together nearly 150 industry colleagues for two days of insight and connection.
The event offered a brilliant opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, forge new relationships, and gain fresh perspectives on the trends shaping the events sector.
The event kicked off with a social event at the Duck and Waffle restaurant. It was a great chance to catch up on what’s happening across cities throughout the UK, with colleagues sharing updates, successes, and the latest developments shaping their destinations.
Following international and UK updates from ICCA, delegates heard an insightful overview of how AI is shaping the events industry from Joshua Ryan-Saha, Director at Traveltec and Data Driven Innovation Lead at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. The session offered a fascinating look at how organisations across the sector are already integrating AI and which tools are becoming most widely adopted the message reinforced that AI should support the work we do not replace the people and relationships that underpin the success of the industry.
Explored explored the key challenges currently facing the industry with common themes emerging around rising costs, sustainability pressures, security concerns and the growing importance of legacy. Featuring representatives from London, Glasgow and a PCO, hearing directly from other destinations highlighted how widespread these issues are and it was clear that these challenges are being felt across the sector with these challenges likely to remain at the forefront of the industry in the coming years.
The RFP Rhetoric to Host City Reality’, session explored the latest trends emerging in RFPs and what event organisers are prioritising in the current climate. Speakers highlighted how RFPs are becoming increasingly dynamic, with greater expectations around detail, innovation and evidence of impact. The session offered useful insight into how expectations are shifting and what cities need to consider to remain competitive in a crowded marketplace.
Overall, the UK & Ireland ICCA Chapter meeting provided a valuable snapshot of where the industry stands and where it is heading. Across the two days, common themes emerged around innovation, collaboration and the need to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. From the growing influence of AI to the evolving expectations within RFPs, and from sector-wide challenges to inspiring examples of impact, the programme offered plenty of insight to take back to our own destinations and teams.
The event reinforced the importance of continued knowledge‑sharing and collective problem‑solving, and it was a timely reminder of the strength and resilience of the UK and Ireland meetings community as we navigate the opportunities and pressures ahead.