Increasing support (from left): ICCA’s Senthil Gopinath and BestCities’ Lesley Williams. Photo Credit: ICCA
BestCities Global Alliance and the International Congress and
Convention Association (ICCA) have announced changes to their flagship
Incredible Impacts Programme. The latter provides a global platform for
meetings that have proven impact while recognising their contributions
with a cash reward.
Starting this year, the Incredible Impacts Programme will award one
association a grant of US$20,000 – a change from previous years, where
three grants of $7,500 (USD) were distributed.
The new selection process will involve a jury shortlisting three
finalists, who will each present their entry during a plenary session at
the annual ICCA Congress in November. For the first time, congress
attendees will be able to vote on the winner, with the final score
evenly weighted between jury and audience.
The initiative will also provide a seed grant of US$5,000 to
associations seeking to establish a new legacy programme. Interested
parties will need to submit a business case, and one winner will be
awarded the funds. This new addition supports BestCities and ICCA’s
commitment toward advancing legacy and impact in the international
meetings industry, and advocating for associations that are helping to
shape a better world for future generations.
“The dynamic new change to Incredible Impacts is led by a genuine
growing interest and engagement in the initiative,” said Senthil
Gopinath, CEO, ICCA. “We want to celebrate the best of the best and
raise the stakes to a ‘winner takes all’ scenario because the stories
our associations are telling – and the legacies their initiatives are
leaving – thoroughly warrant a solo moment in the spotlight. By bringing
Congress attendees into the final judging process raises the impact
value, kudos, and ‘wow’ factor to the Incredible Impacts win.”