ICCA and the Strategic Alliance for the National Convention
Bureaux of Europe (SANCBE) have partnered in a bid to drive improvements in the
future of the international business and meetings industry.
The two organisations, who announced the partnership at
SANCBE’s meeting in Athens last week, will kickstart the partnership by
surveying the European business events industry about its academic landscape.
Survey findings will help provide a data-driven overview of
current educational offerings, identify skill gaps and industry needs, and be
used to develop a strategic action plan for the next three years, ICCA said.
Results will also be used to help shape the development of
ICCAUni, which aims to connect the academic and business events spheres.
Matthias Schultze and Eric Bakermans, co-chairs of SANCBE,
said: “One of SANCBE’s strengths lies in its ability to collect data across 29
European countries and agree on a shared analysis and strategic approach. This
makes collaboration with ICCA not only logical but essential, as we combine
forces to gain a clearer understanding of the education landscape in Europe and
foster meaningful dialogue with academic institutions to drive its
development.”
ICCA CEO Dr. Senthil Gopinath, added: "ICCA's
partnership with SANCBE is very long-term and this is yet another important
step forward in our efforts to better serve destination marketing members.
Initiatives geared toward identifying the needs of the industry with regard to
academics are key to innovating toward solutions."
