We feel grateful for the opportunity to have been present at the IMEX Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, where our President & CEO, as well as President-Elect of IAPCO, Sissi Lignou, had the honor and pleasure to present the IAPCO Innovation Award, representing Sarah Markey-Hamm, IAPCO President and CEO of ICMS Pty Ltd.
 
IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers) is the only international accreditation association for professional conference organizers. IAPCO's mission is to raise the standards of service among its member organizations and other sectors of the meeting’s industry through continued education, connection, and support.
 
The IAPCO Awards are renowned for recognizing excellence in the meetings industry through the Driving Excellence Awards program. Each year, IAPCO celebrates the achievements of its members with three distinctive awards:
The Innovation, the Hero, and the Collaboration Award. 

The presentation of IAPCO's Innovation Award took place at the glamorous IMEX Gala Dinner, the ultimate social event of IMEX, which was held this year in Sheraton Frankfurt. Sissi presented the Innovation Award, which was granted to Claire Smyth, Director of Sales and Marketing, Conference Partners International (CPI).
 
The Innovation Award recognizes and celebrates those at the forefront of innovation, raising the standards of professionalism within the meetings industry. Claire’s winning entry addressed the challenge faced by One Young World during their 2023 Summit in Belfast, chosen to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
 
Claire’s initiatives resulted in increased engagement, a deeper connection to Belfast, and meaningful local participation.
“Winning the IAPCO Innovation Award is a significant honor,” said Claire Smyth. “It signifies CPI’s dedication to creativity and innovation. This award is a testament to our team’s hard work.”
 
Nicola McGrane, CEO of CPI, praised Claire’s achievement, stating, “Claire’s innovative solution exemplifies our passion for delivering impactful events. This recognition boosts our reputation and inspires our team to new heights of success.”
 
IAPCO President-Elect, Sissi Lignou, commented, “We’re delighted to recognize Claire’s outstanding achievement. Her creativity showcases the power of collaborative problem-solving in the meetings industry.”
 
Congratulations to Claire for her work ethic! We at AFEA Congress, are honored to be part of this celebration of achievements and proud to belong to the IAPCO Community. We always remain dedicated and focused to continuing our commitment to serve, support and promote the global meetings industry.

AFEA CONGRESS President and CEO, Sissy Lignou, was invited as a panelist at the recent ICCA Mediterranean Chapter meeting themed “Mediterranean on the Move: Leveraging Key Competitive Values”, representing our company as an ICCA Member, following an invitation of the Chapter Chair of ICCA Med Chapter Riccardo Pizzuti and the Deputy Chair Dimitris Ganitis

Our CEO had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion entitled “Managing association business and congresses in South Europe – key advantages and challenges: PCO and AMC perspective”, where she highlighted the #AMC and #PCO best practices and challenges in the Mediterranean region, highlighting the importance collaboration and advocacy in the industry. 

She also had the chance to network with important key opinion leaders of the region as well as listen to interesting discussions and presentations. At this panel discussion, Sissi showcased the mission and vision of IAPCO, Greek Meetings Alliance and HAPCO Hellenic Association of PCO DES.
 
We would like to thank ICCA MedChapter Chairs Dimitris Ganitis and Riccardo Pizzuti for the invitation, and congratulate the hosts for the wonderful organization, program and great selection of speakers, Milos Milovanovic for a great coordination, Efi Koudeli for her leadership skills and passion as Regional Director Europe ICCA (check title) and of course Istanbul CVB for the warm welcome and hospitality.
 
Sissy Lignou’s participation as a speaker underscored AFEA Congress's leadership and influence in the industry, contributing to the Mediterranean Chapter’s goal of fostering a collaborative and innovative environment for all the industry’s members.
 
The Mediterranean Chapter meeting served as a crucial platform for enhancing participation and live interaction among members. It provided a valuable opportunity for industry experts to share insights and for attendees to stay updated on the latest trends and best practices. We are grateful for the opportunity to have been part of these very interesting discussions.
 
We at AFEA Congress remain committed to our tradition of excellence and innovation in the meetings industry. Our participation in these prestigious events demonstrates our dedication to quality, collaboration, and the advancement of the industry. We extend our gratitude for your continued support and partnership in our journey.