HAPCO Joins Global PCO Task Force to Protect Meetings Industry

IAPCO has assembled a task force of national PCO associations from around the globe to create a unified voice for all PCOs through advocacy and the creation of international protocols

The Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers (HAPCO) is one of the eight national PCO associations that are part of a Strategic Global Task Force launched by IAPCO, focused to connect and share Covid-19-related data and case studies. IAPCO is the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers and has more than 52 years of history, representing today 137 companies comprised of over 9,700 PCOs from 39 countries.

According to an announcement, the primary focus of the IAPCO National Association Task Force, chaired by Monica Freire, IAPCO Council Member, is for the associations to use their combined expertise to create and distribute safe practice guidelines for PCOs (professional congress organisers) worldwide.

As underlined by IAPCO, whilst many governments around the world begin to reduce current coronavirus-related restrictions, others are doing the opposite by imposing lockdowns and quarantines as potential second waves of the virus threaten.

“PCOs are at the sharp end of helping economies recover through the successful, efficient and strict management of business and professional events. It is vital that policy makers and PCOs work together and agree to safe, practical protocols that will facilitate such recoveries,” IAPCO said.

It should be noted that IAPCO’s 135 company members delivered over 21,000 client meetings, events and congresses around the world in 2019 alone worth an estimated economic impact well in excess of 11 billion euros.

HAPCO proud to be part of task force

“Collaboration can be stronger in critical times, and we are extremely happy that we will have the opportunity to be part of a global group of key players within this Global Task Force, led by IAPCO,” HAPCO President Rena Tolis said.

HAPCO will continue to advocate in Greece and share IAPCO’s practical recommendations to deliver a successful business and professional event in the country. At the same time, IAPCO will draw up a set of international ‘safe practice’ guidelines that will provide the international protocols needed after lockdown restrictions are lifted.

“HAPCO is proud to be part of it (the task force), and share best practices on how our country dealt with the impact of the pandemic as well as on the actions taken to protect the national meetings industry,” Tolis said.

Members of the IAPCO National Association Task Force include:

• Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) – Great Britain
• Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers (AIPCO) – Ireland
• Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organisers (HAPCO) – Greece
• Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers (SLAPCEO) – Sri Lanka
• PCO Meetings Mexico – Mexico
• Federcongressi & eventi – Italy
• Association Argentina de Organizadores y Proveedores de Exposiciones, Congresos, Eventos y de Buros de Convenciones (AOCA) – Argentina
• Korea Association for Professional Convention Organisers (KAPCO) – Korea