IACC’s new Vision and Mission Statement expand on the role of its member conference centres in offering the industry’s finest physical facilities and reflect additional emphasis on generating successful meetings.  “Rather than simply provide first-class meeting venues, IACC members deliver more broadly conceived meeting experiences.” IACC Global President Neil Pompan said.  “Our new vision statement captured the wider lens of the IACC Meeting Concept along with the new spirit of what is being referred to as IACC 2.0.”

The updated Vision reads:  “IACC is a community of people and organizations with a passion for delivering innovative and exceptional meeting experiences.”
This updated version acknowledges an evolution, which has witnessed the staffs at IACC-member conference centers taking increasing responsibility for meeting productivity.  The more comprehensive function is written into the IACC Quality Standards, which supersede the organization’s former Universal Criteria, and serves as a blueprint for IACC facilities.

“Of course, the physical attributes of a conference centre will always remain important but they are only one piece of the puzzle,” Pompan said. “Our competitors can copy the bricks and mortar, the chairs and tables, the lighting and soundproofing. They offer meeting packages that often confuse customers and decrease differentiation. What they cannot do is create total meeting experiences like those found at IACC conference centres.”

Pompan asserts that IACC’s total meeting experience can’t be duplicated by other venues because they lack focus on meetings.

The adjustment in emphasis came out of a recent meeting of IACC’s Global Board of Directors in Barcelona, Spain. Building on this new vision, the Global Board of Directors also approved a new Mission Statement:

“The International Association of Conference Centres is the thought leader for meeting experiences. IACC represents its members by defining and promoting the IACC Meeting Concept and providing a wide range of learning opportunities.”

The Board’s action followed recommendations by a task force which is exploring how best to serve member conference centers in the current environment. The task force will continue to make recommendations that are expected to include key structural changes in the association’s governance and management.

IACC represents 300 conference centres around the world.

Mission Statement:  The International Association of Conference Centres is the thought leader for meeting experiences.  IACC represents its members by defining and promoting the IACC Meeting Concept and providing a wide range of learning opportunities.

Founded in 1981, the International Association of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry and to giving member properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptional meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent IACC Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, England, The Netherlands, Germany and Japan. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org.  “There are meetings and then there are IACC meetings.”