Analysis.
The president of the International Congress and Convention Association, James Rees, has issued a plea for governments ‘on all sides’ to end the ‘escalating hostilities in Ukraine'.
The diplomatic language suggests the industry’s associations are finding it harder than their for-profit counterparts to articulate a response to the horrors unfolding in eastern Europe.
“It is particularly hard to witness such devastation in countries where we normally work together, in partnership, so our thoughts at this time are with our members, friends and colleagues in both Ukraine and Russia who are being directly affected by this action,” Rees said in a statement.
“ICCA is an association that advocates for all of our global members, prizing knowledge exchange and internationalisation, where differences are challenged through debate and discussion. We call on governments on all sides to do everything possible to end hostilities and meet to negotiate a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”
Associations - most of whom are 'non-political' or 'non-partisan' as per their statutes - face a difficult choice in deciding whether or not to impose sanctions on their Russian members. Some, like the footballing bodies FIFA and UEFA have effectively suspended Russia’s membership by kicking them out of all competitions. Elsewhere GSMA, the international association behind Mobile World Congress, has barred the Russian pavilion from the event currently taking place in Barcelona, and issued a strongly worded statement condemning Russia's 'invasion of Ukraine'.
It now seems highly unlikely meetings industry bodies will take comparable action.
In the days following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Monica Muller, president of UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry, issued a short statement on the situation which failed to mention either Russia or Ukraine, but instead stressed the industry's role in 'overcoming obstacles'.
She wrote: “The meetings industry is there to bring people together – our marketplaces and meeting places are the platforms where business, people, nations come together to talk to each other, to discuss and agree on deals, and to overcome obstacles and solve problems. When people meet, they solve problems. In a world confronted with many unprecedented challenges, in politics, with natural disasters, and the pandemic, more than ever we need peace, not conflict.”
Other major industry trade bodies have yet to comment on the situation.
In contrast, meetings industry suppliers – unfettered by membership issues and statutes - have been more straightforward in their response to the crisis. Messe Munich has criticised Russia’s ‘violation of international law’ and ‘warlike actions’ and is flying the Ukrainian flag outside its venues. And IMEX Group has taken the decisive step of banning Russian exhibitors from its trade show in Frankfurt.
Words: James Lancaster
Note:
A message from Tom Kemp, CEO of Northstar Travel Group, publishers of this title.
“Travel connects us, war divides us. Northstar strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expresses its support of Ukraine in defence of their sovereign democracy. We stand with other businesses in the travel industry by not engaging in any business with Russian-owned companies until the war in Ukraine is resolved peacefully and the sovereignty of a free Ukraine is ensured."
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
