ICCA
ICCA is a non-profit membership association founded in 1963 and headquartered in Amsterdam that serves the global meetings and events industry through a 220,000-meeting database, business intelligence tools, ICCASkills certification, and an annual congress, serving meeting suppliers, convention bureaus, and international associations across six regional chapters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ICCA does
ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) is a non-profit membership association founded in 1963 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, serving the global meetings and events industry. Its members comprise three primary constituencies: meeting professionals and suppliers (venues, convention centers, hotels); convention bureaus and destination marketing organizations (DMOs); and international associations that organize rotating meetings. The organization operates through a chapter-based structure spanning Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe (with multiple sub-chapters), Latin America/Caribbean, Middle East, and North America, with membership acquisition managed by Regional Directors assigned to each territory.
The core technology asset is the ICCA Association Meetings Database — a member-only repository accessible via the My ICCA portal that contains 60+ years of accumulated data on 220,000 meetings, 20,000 regularly recurring meeting series, and 11,500 associations. This database powers ICCA Business Intelligence and Business Intelligence Pro, including the annual GlobeWatch Country and City Rankings, Big Data Search, and the Destination Comparison Tool. ICCASkills offers the first global certification programme for the meetings industry, with CICS and CICE credentials delivered at regional hubs (Luxembourg, Beijing, Rwanda, Online). Other products include ICCA Congress (annual flagship event, 65th edition in Panama City November 2026), ICCA Association Community, ICCAUni (academic network), Young Professionals Forum, and sub-brand learning programmes (ICCAAdvantage, ICCALift, ICCAMasterclass, ICCAWebinar). A Global Impact Measurement Tool co-developed with five convention bureaus and academic partners is targeted for mid-2028 delivery.
ICCA generates revenue through three principal streams: recurring membership fees across tiers (not publicly disclosed, quoted individually by Regional Directors), event registration fees for the ICCA Congress (1,500+ delegates annually) and chapter/workshop programming, and ICCASkills certification course fees. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales through Regional Directors with a self-serve member portal. Strategic technology and integration partners include Simpleview (CRM/website), EventsAir (event management), Marcom Connect (matchmaking), Wordly.ai (translation), SnapSight (analytics), and Memento (photography). ICCA also maintains GDPR compliance and holds CAE Approved Provider status through ASAE.
ICCA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ICCA
- Legal name
- International Congress and Convention Association
- Website
- https://iccaworld.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ICCA is a non-profit membership association founded in 1963 and headquartered in Amsterdam that serves the global meetings and events industry through a 220,000-meeting database, business intelligence tools, ICCASkills certification, and an annual congress, serving meeting suppliers, convention bureaus, and international associations across six regional chapters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ICCA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Meetings and Events Industry Association
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK), Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies (EDADACAL)
Keywords
Where ICCA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ICCA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: ICCA operates as a membership organization with various tiers of membership for meeting professionals, convention bureaus, venues, and suppliers. Annual membership fees provide access to the database, business intelligence tools, events, and networking opportunities
- Event Registrations: Revenue generated from ICCA Congress registration fees (over 1,500 delegates annually), chapter meetings, business workshops, and other industry events. Non-members can attend ICCA Congress as observers for one year if eligible
- ICCASkills Training and Certification: Fees charged for certification courses including CICS (Certified International Convention Specialist) and CICE (Certified International Convention Executive) programs offered at regional hubs including Luxembourg, Beijing, and Rwanda
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Membership fees vary by organization type and are quoted individually by Regional Directors |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | ICCASkills CICS and CICE certification courses with scheduled sessions at regional hubs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ICCA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ICCA is a global membership association that operates the world's largest database of international association meetings (220,000+ meetings, 20,000 meeting series, 11,500 associations) and provides business intelligence, certification programs (ICCASkills CICS/CICE), annual congresses, regional chapter meetings, and networking services to convention bureaus, meeting suppliers, and international associations across the meetings and events industry.
Product overview
ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) is a membership organization providing a platform of interconnected products and services for the global meetings and events industry. The core offering centers on the ICCA Association Meetings Database—a searchable repository of 220,000+ meetings, 20,000+ meeting series, and 11,500+ associations—accessed through the My ICCA member portal. This database powers ICCA Business Intelligence and Business Intelligence Pro products, which provide market analytics and the annual GlobeWatch country and city rankings. ICCA's product portfolio also includes ICCASkills (global certification with CICS and CICE courses), the ICCA Association Community (for association executives), ICCA Congress (annual flagship event), ICCAUni (academic network), ICCA Young Professionals Forum, and educational sub-brands ICCAAdvantage, ICCALift, ICCAMasterclass, and ICCAWebinar. The Global Impact Measurement Tool is in development for 2028 delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ICCASkills: Global certification program for the meetings industry offering Certified International Convention Specialist (CICS) and Certified International Convention Executive (CICE) courses.
- ICCA Advantage
- ICCA Lift
- ICCA Masterclass
- ICCA Uni
Products and services
- ICCA Association Meetings Database
Quantifiable outcome
- ICCA Congress 2025 attracted 1,514 delegates from the global meetings industry
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ICCA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ICCA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability5 records
Feature4 records
ICCA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, flagship and airline.
- National Development Fund of Greece (Growthfund)coreTwo-year Memorandum of Understanding signed at Growthfund Investor Summit 2026 in Athens. Provides access to international expertise, best practice exchanges, benchmarking for Greek conference facilities, and training and international promotion activities. Leverages strategic assets of Growthfund subsidiaries including DETH-Helexpo, ETAD, and AEDIK to upgrade infrastructure and attract international events to Greece.
- ICCA DubairegionalSupported the 9th Middle East Chef Excellence Awards 2026 and 4th Middle East F&B Excellence Awards at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek. ICCA Dubai Chapter involvement in hospitality excellence recognition.
- IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers)coreCollaborated on the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey conducted with five partner organizations (AIPC, AMC Institute, IFES, and PCMA), collecting responses from 130 organizations worldwide on travel interruptions and political instability impacts.
- Convention Bureaus of Barcelona, Copenhagen, Flanders, Sydney, TokyocoreCo-developing a Global Impact Measurement Tool for association conferences to quantify social, scientific, and economic benefits beyond traditional tourism metrics. Academic partners include University of Technology Sydney and Norwegian business schools. Target delivery: mid-2028.
- Uzbekistan Committee on TourismregionalAgreement signed at ITB Berlin exhibition to implement a Convention Bureau model to attract global associations. Includes promotion of Khiva's Arda complex as a MICE destination.
- Trip.com GroupregionalUzbekistan delegation signed agreement with Trip.com for joint digital marketing platform targeting Southeast Asian markets to promote tourism potential.
- VISITFLANDERS Convention BureauregionalAssociation Relations Partner (ARP) agreement signed November 2018 during ICCA Congress in Dubai. Mrs. Evelyne Bardyn (Director) and interim CEO Mr. Dennis Speet signed two-year agreement to promote Flanders as a leading congress destination and strengthen relationships with international associations.
- Visit PanamaflagshipOfficial Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) hosting the 65th ICCA Congress 2026 in Panama City. Responsible for international promotion of Panama as a world-class tourism destination and congress host city coordination.
- IMEX GroupcoreCongress sponsor and industry partner. IMEX Group organizes major business events industry trade shows and maintains ongoing sponsorship relationship with ICCA Congress.
- IBTM WorldcoreCongress sponsor and industry partner for the global meetings and events industry. IBTM World is the leading global event for the meetings industry.
- SimpleviewcoreTechnology Partner for ICCA Congress 2026. Simpleview provides technology solutions for the meetings and events industry and powers ICCA's website and digital infrastructure.
- Qatar AirwaysairlineAirline Partner for ICCA Congress 2026, providing travel support and promotion for the global business events industry gathering.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ICCA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IMEX Group: IMEX operates the IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America trade shows, which are the largest dedicated exhibitions for the international meetings industry. IMEX is both an ICCA Congress sponsor and a competitor for delegate attention and exhibitor spend in the same calendar.
- IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers): IAPCO is the international association for professional congress organizers, representing PCOs worldwide. It is one of ICCA's closest peer associations, collaborates with ICCA on industry surveys, and shares members from the association-meetings value chain.
- MPI (Meeting Professionals International): MPI is a global membership community for meeting and event professionals offering education, certification (CEM), and networking events. It competes with ICCA for the same meeting-planner and supplier member base, particularly in North America and Europe.
- AIPC (Association Internationale des Palais de Congrès): AIPC is the international association of convention centres, representing the venue side of the association-meetings ecosystem. ICCA members include many AIPC venues, and the two organizations are formal collaborators on shared industry research.
- PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): PCMA is a membership-based association serving the business events industry with education, certification (CMP), and an annual Convening Leaders congress. It directly overlaps ICCA's mission of serving meeting professionals, convention bureaus, and suppliers globally, and is a formal collaborator on ICCA's 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey.
Broad incumbents
- ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): ASAE is the leading U.S. association for association executives, granting the CAE credential that ICCA education sessions support. It serves an overlapping but broader (and primarily U.S.) membership than ICCA's globally rotating association meetings focus.
- IBTM World (RX / RELX): IBTM World is the flagship global event for the meetings industry, run by RX (RELX). It is an ICCA Congress sponsor but also competes for the same exhibitor and hosted-buyer audience in the meetings trade-show space.
Others
- Simpleview: Simpleview is ICCA's technology partner powering ICCA's website and member services, and it also supplies CRM, CMS, and digital marketing tools directly to DMOs and convention bureaus. As an enabler in the same ecosystem, it shapes how ICCA's members engage with destination data.
Emerging players
- SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives): SITE is the global association for the incentive travel industry, with overlapping membership among meeting planners, DMCs, and incentive suppliers. It is adjacent rather than direct competition but competes for similar corporate buyer mindshare.
- UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): UFI is the global trade association for the exhibition industry, representing exhibition organisers, venues, and service providers. While focused on trade shows rather than association meetings, UFI serves an overlapping supplier and venue member base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ICCA social profiles
Digital presenceICCA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ICCA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ICCA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ICCA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ICCA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ICCA
What does ICCA do?
ICCA is a global membership association that operates the world's largest database of international association meetings (220,000+ meetings, 20,000 meeting series, 11,500 associations) and provides business intelligence, certification programs (ICCASkills CICS/CICE), annual congresses, regional chapter meetings, and networking services to convention bureaus, meeting suppliers, and international associations across the meetings and events industry.
Is ICCA a public or private company?
ICCA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ICCA founded?
ICCA was founded in 1963. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ICCA based?
ICCA is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does ICCA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are event Registrations and ICCASkills Training and Certification.
Who are ICCA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IMEX Group, IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers), MPI (Meeting Professionals International), AIPC (Association Internationale des Palais de Congrès) and PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association). Broad incumbents are ASAE (American Society of Association Executives) and IBTM World (RX / RELX). Simpleview is listed as an others. Emerging players are SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives) and UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry).
Does ICCA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ICCA.
What industry is ICCA in?
ICCA's product category is Meetings and Events Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of MPAGAGAK, Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.