At the 64th ICCA Congress in Porto, we gather with a shared purpose: to show how the global meetings and events industry can inspire change, empower people, and leave a legacy that lasts far beyond the event itself. This year, impact is not just an idea. In Porto, impact is something you will feel, see, and experience in every part of the Congress.
From silent rooms to recharge, wellbeing spaces that honour the diverse needs of our delegates, food-waste reduction, and sustainable mobility, ICCA is showing our international community that events can be designed with care for both people and planet. Every detail, from morning meditations to recycled lanyards, tells a story of inclusion, resilience, and transformation.
The NextGen programme reminds us that our industry’s future lies in the creativity and vision of emerging leaders, who will carry these values forward. For this year’s Gift of Love, ICCA is partnering with CAIS, a renowned Portuguese NGO dedicated to empowering individuals in situations of homelessness and vulnerability. In 2025, the ICCA Congress is more than a meeting: it is a living example of what happens when our industry leads with purpose. Together, we are not just creating an event — we are shaping the future.
Earlier this year, the ICCA UK & Ireland Chapter Meeting marked the launch of the Neurodiversity in Events Toolkit. A framework developed by EICC, ABPCO, and Welcome Brain to guide venues, event planners, and industry professionals in designing inclusive events that embrace the needs of all delegates.
At the ICCA Congress 2025, we are putting these recommendations into practice with the Wellbeing Lounge, a dedicated area of three rooms designed to give delegates the chance to pause, recharge, and feel at ease. One of these rooms will be a Silent Room, created especially with neurodiverse delegates in mind — a calm, low-stimulation environment that offers a safe haven within the Congress.
This initiative is more than just a space to relax; it reflects our commitment to “walking the talk” by turning the Toolkit’s guidance into tangible action and ensuring that every delegate feels supported and included.
To ensure delegates always have access to a calm, restorative space, quiet rooms will be available in all track venues throughout the Congress. These low-stimulation environments are designed with neurodiverse delegates in mind, offering a safe and calming place to pause, recharge, and return refreshed.
On Tuesday morning, delegates are invited to take part in a guided meditation session — a moment to slow down, breathe deeply, and centre themselves before stepping into a full day of learning and networking.
Our industry’s future is built on the passion and innovation of the next generation. The NextGen session will bring together students, young professionals under 40, and those with fewer than 5 years in the industry for an exclusive opportunity to learn directly from leading figures in global business events. Delegates will gain insider insights, career advice, and the chance to ask burning questions in a collaborative, informal setting — followed by a networking lunch to build valuable connections.
The Incredible Impacts Programme celebrates the value of international association meetings to go beyond tourism and create a powerful platform to advocate their positive societal impact. Created by ICCA and Best Cities 2017, the programme received the highest number of entries to date this year, highlighting the importance of association events. The IIP session at Congress reflects ICCA's commitment to recognising and uplifting the impact of association conferences. Delegates can vote for the winner of the IIP Programme via the ICCA Congress App, choosing from a group of inspiring finalists. Additionally, the Incredible Impacts Programme Conversation Table will be a part of the Impact & Sustainability Track.
Sustainability is no longer a trend; it is a core responsibility. The Impact & Sustainability content track invites delegates to explore how our industry can innovate with purpose and transform business events into catalysts for meaningful social and environmental impact.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Porto Cruise Terminal, this track will feature thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers who will share strategies on how to lead responsibly, inspire positive change, and deliver measurable outcomes for communities and the planet.
Building on last year’s impactful initiatives, ICCA will once again spotlight its collaboration with LightBlue Consulting as part of our commitment to adhere to the Bangkok Protocol. Launched in partnership with TCEB (Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau), the Protocol provides a legacy framework for reducing food waste in events — one that ICCA is committed to carrying forward at all future Congresses.
This year, we are also reinforcing this legacy with the Food- Waste Management Toolkit, developed in collaboration with LightBlue and launched earlier in 2025. Together, these resources provide our community practical, measurable approaches to minimise environmental impact, while engaging stakeholders at every level in shaping a more sustainable events industry.
As in earlier editions, our CSR activities will create meaningful opportunities for delegates to directly engage with and support local communities. (Details here)
This year, every delegate will wear a lanyard with a powerful story behind it.
The lanyards were created by CAIS Recicla, a project by Associação CAIS — a Portuguese nonprofit with more than 25 years of experience promoting the social inclusion of people experiencing homelessness and extreme vulnerability.
CAIS Recicla is more than just a creative recycling initiative: it is a program of professional empowerment that transforms both materials and lives. Each lanyard is handcrafted by artisans who have faced homelessness, and who now find dignity, confidence, and opportunity through creative work.
For the ICCA Congress 2025, the lanyards were produced from repurposed advertising banners destined for landfill — turning waste into a meaningful, circular story. Beyond the environmental benefit, this initiative generates real jobs, strengthens local social cohesion, and aligns with the Congress legacy objectives.
By sponsoring CAIS Recicla lanyards, brands become part of a tangible story of transformation — connecting sustainability with social impact, and purpose with visibility.
Transforming a global congress starts with the smallest details. It starts here.
The ICCA Congress 2025 is designed as a walking congress, with most venues located within walking distance of one another, reducing the need for motorised transport. When transportation is needed, eco-friendly options will be provided.
As part of our sustainability practices, the destination will provide public transportation cards to delegates, encouraging them to move around Porto by metro, tram or bus instead of relying on taxis. This initiative supports both the city's green mobility efforts and our shared commitment to lowering the event's carbon footprint.
ICCA and EarthCheck have announced a three-year collaboration aimed at driving sustainability across the global meetings and events sector. This partnership is designed to empower ICCA members — including leading convention bureaus, meeting planners, and venues — to adopt more sustainable practices, reduce their environmental impact, and tell compelling stories about their progress. ICCA and EarthCheck will work together to train internal staff and members, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to implement sustainable practices. This includes workshops, webinars, and tailored resources.
The Congress in Porto will serve as the inaugural showcase for this collaboration. Delegates can expect:
Carbon Measurement Initiatives: Real-time tracking and reporting of the congress’s carbon footprint, setting a benchmark for future events.
Storytelling Workshops: Sessions on how to effectively communicate sustainability efforts, inspiring others in the industry to follow suit during the Track Impact and Sustainability on Monday and Tuesday
Networking and Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities for members to learn from each other and from EarthCheck’s global expertise in sustainable tourism and events.
Over the next three years, ICCA and EarthCheck will roll out a series of initiatives, tools, and events to support members on their sustainability journeys. The Porto Congress will be the first of many milestones, demonstrating that the meetings industry can lead by example in the global push for a greener future.
The 2025 Gift of Love initiative in Porto shines a light on one of Portugal’s most urgent social challenges: housing insecurity and social exclusion, with a special focus on supporting people experiencing homelessness. This year, ICCA is partnering with CAIS, a renowned Portuguese NGO dedicated to empowering individuals in situations of homelessness and vulnerability — the same organisation behind our purposeful lanyards.
Delegates are warmly invited to participate by bringing a small, practical, and reusable item from home that meets CAIS’ identified needs. Suggested donations include warm clothing such as beanies, gloves, and scarves; hygiene essentials like soap, toothbrushes, and deodorant; raincoats; or even powerbanks to help people stay connected.
All collected items will be distributed by CAIS to individuals in need throughout Porto. Taking place during the cooler months, these simple yet thoughtful contributions will provide warmth, comfort, and dignity where it’s needed most. Together, our collective generosity will create a tangible, lasting impact: a Gift of Love that embodies ICCA’s spirit of community, compassion, and purposeful action.