The strength and relevance of the Iberian Chapter within the meetings industry as reflected in the ICCA Globe Watch rankings.
The Iberian Chapter, encompassing Spain and Portugal within ICCA, has consistently appeared as a prominent force in the global meetings industry. Its performance in the ICCA GlobeWatch rankings reflects a combination of strategic positioning, infrastructure excellence, and a strong culture of collaboration among stakeholders. These factors have collectively reinforced the region’s relevance and competitiveness on the international stage.
One of the most notable indicators of the Iberian Chapter’s strength is the consistent ranking of its cities and countries among the top global destinations for international association meetings.
2025 was a great year, and we were able to host in our region the “ICCA Global Association Fórum” in Granada and the “ICCA World Congress” in Porto. This was the epilogue and the result of a strategy and efforts started many years ago.
At the same time, secondary cities are increasingly gaining visibility. Destinations like Granada, Porto, Valencia, Malaga, Coimbra Bilbao, Seville, among others, have successfully positioned themselves as attractive alternatives, offering authentic cultural experiences alongside modern facilities.
This decentralization contributes to the overall resilience and depth of the Iberian Chapter, ensuring that growth is not confined to a handful of metropolitan centres.
This is completely aligned with the chapter strategy, bringing to emerging destinations our annual meeting, not only with our members, but joining other members of our industry such as members of other chapters, clients, or keynote speakers from the most trendy and relevant themes, such as AI, sustainability or innovation. We are also focused on the legacy of our chapter, with the good example of cooperation with local Universities delivering, during our meeting, a Masterclass for students or young professionals from our Industry. In the last few years, we had been in Gijon, Sitges, Zaragoza, Évora and Coimbra and we truly believe we have contributed to raise the visibility of those destinations reinforcing their commitment of growing in the Business Events Industry.
Many destinations in the region have adopted forward thinking practices aligned with global sustainability goals, including green venue certifications, reduced carbon footprint initiatives, and community engagement programs. These efforts resonate with international associations that are placing greater emphasis on responsible event planning.
Recently, The European project BEFuture, led by the Agència Catalana de Turisme, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award during IMEX Frankfurt
The award, presented in partnership with the Events Industry Council, recognizes outstanding collaborative innovation driving a greener, more inclusive, and more sustainable future for the business events industry.
At the end people are the most important part and what can really make the difference. As a chapter, with 63 members in the two countries, three members in the ICCA board of directors and two members in ICCA future leaders council, we feel more enthusiastic than ever to continuously show our commitment to ICCA and our Industry!
In conclusion, the Iberian Chapter’s strong presence in the ICCA rankings is no coincidence. As global demand for meaningful and impactful events continues to grow, the Iberian Peninsula is well positioned to maintain and enhance its status as a leading destination for international conferences and congresses.