What happens when meeting professionals from around the world come together to learn, collaborate and play? Ahead of ICCA Congress in Panama, host JT Long explores its “CrossWorlds” theme with three industry leaders.
Virginie De Visscher, executive director of business events at Destination Canada, shares how international relationships have helped shape her sustainability work. Dennis Speet, managing director of Amsterdam Convention Bureau, discusses the value of networking and the friendly competition that builds lasting bonds. Grégoire Bradley, international account executive at LetzFair, explains how the event app will help attendees connect and personalize their experience. Together, they explore how exchanging ideas across borders can strengthen the entire meetings community.
Fun fact: this episode was recorded entirely on a bus!
Further Resources
Toronto: Sustainability in The 6ix
JT Long Welcome back to the What One Thing podcast. We are so excited. We are here doing a podcast on a bus. I am with Virginie De Visscher with Destination Canada, and we are talking about ICCA. We’re going to be in Panama together in November. Talk to me about ICCA and the role it’s played in you being able to connect on a global basis.
Virginie De Visscher I think I’ve been part of ICCA since 2019. My first congress was in Houston. It’s one of those events where you really connect. They say ICCA is like a family, a community, and I think it really embodies that.
It allowed me to connect with people from all over the world who do the same thing I do, but in different contexts. I like to go with a super curious mind, ask questions and really listen. It’s a place where you don’t have to be on and do the sales part, but where you can do that professional development that’s been so meaningful in your career.
JL So smart. And it’s so global. You never know who you’re going to end up seeing.
VDV That’s what it is, right? Coming from Canada, we have a lot of contact across the country and in North America. That connection with people from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, everyone’s there.
I’ll tell you an interesting story. It was all around sustainability. We were at the beginning of our journey, and I was trying to get inspiration from other places in the world. That’s when I met people from the Nordics and Singapore, and I was like, “Wow, you’re doing some really cool things.” Those discussions really helped shape the direction of our sustainability journey.
JL That’s a wonderful story. Even the theme for Panama is CrossWorlds, and really the idea is that everyone comes at this from a different point of view. The more we share, the more we all grow together.
VDV One hundred percent. We can’t solve these challenges all on our own. They say the cliché, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” but that’s so true.
There are people I’ve met through the ICCA community who have become friends, sometimes lifelong friends. I look forward to going back because I know I’ll see them and be able to dig deep into subjects that are perhaps not comfortable, but they’re meaningful. I always come back with something that can add value to my work.
JL You add value every day. I see that in everything you do. I love that you take that approach and the idea that these are global challenges. They take global solutions, so you’ve got to get the right people together in the room.
VDV Totally. Business events rotate around the world, right? That’s what ICCA stands for, all those events that rotate. Of course, there’s the database ICCA promotes.
But most importantly, when something really good happens in one destination and a client, an association, has that great experience, when they go to the next destination, they will challenge that one to say, “Hey, this happened. Can you help me with this?”
We each grow every time that event continues to rotate, and that’s really magical. Then you learn “You just hosted this. Tell me what was useful. What did you learn? How can I make it better, or how can I even win it?” It’s a real collaboration because we want them to continue to rotate.
JL Absolutely. Each one has its own personality, right? Even within the same event, everyone brings their own distinctive flavor. What is the one thing you’re looking for when you go to Panama with ICCA this year?
VDV To continue to learn. I look forward to seeing the new destinations attending. I like to seek out the newbies and ask, “What brought you? What are you interested in, and what can I learn from that?” Then I look at the topics that are going to be identified and talked about.
But you know what’s really special? The challenge night.
JL Oh, yes. Tell us about that.
VDV I’m such a competitive person. I tame it down, but deep down, I’m so competitive. I love to play. I love games.
The challenge night is so special. It’s something only ICCA does, and it brings together all the different chapters in the world. We have a North America chapter, and we compete against all the other chapters. We’re usually not very good, but the fact that we get to play makes it so much fun.
Every time it’s different. There are sporting events, or it’s cultural, and there are always little challenges. That shared experience really creates those bonds between all of us working in different destinations. To me, that’s the highlight of the event.
JL Play is so powerful. I love that you’re going to be representing North America. Good luck in the games, and have a wonderful conference.
VDV Thank you.
JL We are here with Dennis Speet, and we are talking about the ICCA Congress. You are a sponsor of the competition night. Tell me what gets you excited about going to Panama this year.
Dennis Speet I’ve never been to Panama. It’s the first time, so I’m really looking forward to meeting so many people in the meetings industry from all over the world, getting to know our peers, networking and following a great program.
Of course, I’m very much looking forward to I amsterdam Night, for which we have produced a really nice program. We’re going to have the different chapters competing. There will be an association team, and we have a really fun night on the beach. I’m looking forward to working together with all the members and associations who will be around.
JL I think one of the big secrets about the community of event professionals is they’re actually very competitive. Talk about that.
DS I know. Usually, they prepare beforehand during their chapter meetings. They have their T-shirts. They’re selecting their teams, their top teams from each region. They’re always trying to find out what’s going to happen. Of course, we cannot reveal it, but they’re always very excited to win and represent their chapter, trying to win that edition.
JL I hear Africa is defending its title.
DS I think they are, yes. That will be good. I’m looking forward to seeing how many people will be there and how many will compete against each other.
JL One of the big things about the congress this year is that it’s going to really focus on networking. Talk about the importance of giving time for people to come together.
DS It’s very important. ICCA’s program is usually designed so you have time to network, not only during lunches and coffee breaks, but also during social functions. There are a lot of receptions and parties going on.
It’s important to network with your peers. For me, that’s a really important part of the congress finding out what’s happening in other destinations and with venues and meetings management companies. The social and networking part is vital.
JL Of course, the theme this year is CrossWorlds. It brings the whole world together.
DS Yes, it does. People are coming from all over to meet in Panama. That’s the nice and unique part of it, so many different cultures mingling together. You get a lot of updates on what’s happening in all the different regions around the world.
JL Smart Meetings will be there, so we will see you in Panama.
DS Looking forward to meeting you again. Thank you.
JL We are here with Grégoire Bradley from LetzFair, and we are so excited about the ICCA Congress coming up in Panama. You are sponsoring the app. Talk to me about how that is going to be fabulous.
Grégoire Bradley First of all, it’s a pleasure to be on this camera talking to you. I’m absolutely pumped about the ICCA World Congress. Panama is a beautiful place, and we’re very excited to go.
The app is going to be there to connect people and make your experience personal. It’s going to be very exciting and easy to use. Attendees, download it. It’s the best thing you’ll see in terms of the event itself.
We’re absolutely honored to be working with ICCA. It’s an association that helps so many professionals in the event world come together, understand the importance of the industry, represent it and take us to amazing places like Panama.
We’ll be there. We’re going to try our best to be the life of the party because Panama is a dancing city. We’ll be there for interviews as well, if you want, because clearly now we’re influencers. Let’s get this party started.
JL I love it. The theme is CrossWorlds. Why is it important to bring the world together around events?
GB CrossWorlds means a lot to me personally. I come from a mixed background. I’ve traveled across the world and lived in many countries. I believe cultures should meet, get to know each other and grow, learning from one another. Events are the perfect place to do so.
What ICCA is doing is having a central place, a central theme, so every continent and every country within those continents can learn from the other sides, network and cooperate. It’s the best thing. The world will only move forward if we come together with a CrossWorlds kind of mindset.
JL We are so excited to see you there.
GB I cannot wait. I’ll put my dancing shoes on. I cannot promise it’ll be good-looking, but at least we’ll try. See you in Panama. Muchas gracias.
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