The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), in partnership with the National PCO Association Task Force and global Strategic Partners, surveyed members in April 2025 to assess how recent geopolitical unrest, policy shifts and armed conflicts have affected the international meetings industry. Of respondents, 45.2 % reported moderate impacts on their ability to plan or host events, while 14.3 % said the effects were significant.

Quantifying Operational and Financial Disruptions

Survey results indicate that 57.1 % of organisers had between 1 and 10 client venues disrupted by global unrest in 2024, and 5.9 % faced 11 to 20 impacted venues—out of some 19,469 events delivered by IAPCO members that year. Financial losses were also notable: 26.8 % of respondents incurred up to €50,000 in costs, and 14.6 % reported losses exceeding €150,000. IAPCO CEO Martin Boyle emphasised the need for robust contingency planning and collaboration to navigate these multifaceted challenges.