58^th ICCA Congress

Here at ICCA we place huge importance on giving First Time Attendees (FTAs) at the ICCA Congress a very warm welcome. The FTA programme has over the years been delivered to over 3000 delegates, specifically designed to help them network, do business, learn, and overall maximise the benefits of attending their first ICCA Congress.

The programme will provide you with a preview of the main social and educational highlights of the Congress, as well as who and what to look out for. It will also offer you the opportunity to participate in small-group discussions led by industry mentors, who will share their experiences with you as well as advise which sessions they think you may find useful for your professional and/or personal development. They will be available to answer your questions and give advice throughout the Congress.

This is a unique opportunity and not to be missed! So, if the 2019 ICCA Congress is your first and you would like to ensure you are prepared to make the most of it, sign up for the First Time Attendee Programme and plan to arrive on time to participate on Sunday 27 October at 8.30am. We look forward to meeting you in Houston!

Click on the below links to find out what past first timers think of the ICCA Congress: 
My very first time
An ICCA virgin in Shanghai

1. Register for the Business Exchange! Rather like speed-dating with business leads, the idea is to trade information on potential international association meetings for mutual benefit - an easy way to find new business leads for your venue or destination. The deadline to submit your lead is Thursday 26 September.

2. Be sure to arrive in Houston on time to participate. The First Time Attendees programme starts on Sunday 27 October at 8.30AM and lasts all morning.

3. Download the ROI Handbook and Workbook to plan how you can maximise your Congress return-on-investment.

4. Check the education programme regularly and start making sessions of interest in your ROI Handbook.

5. Find out which Chapter and Sector meetings you should attend. You can find the timings and locations here.

6. Download the ICCA Meeting's App once its available and explore its features. Here's some advice from a fellow ICCA delegate about how you use the app to your advantage.

7. Read the official papers for the General Assembly, which are available in the 'General Assembly documents' section of the My ICCA Portal. Ask the official ICCA contact person in your organisation if you don't have your own login details yet.

8. Connect with other FTAs on social media using the hashtag #ICCAFTA. Here's how to get involved with the online conversation during the Congress itself. 

9. Connect with this year's FTA mentors beforehand. And check out their personal Congress tips on social media before you travel!

10. Schedule a meeting with a fellow delegate! Meetings are about sharing knowledge. They are one-on-one or group conversations that you can book whilst you're at the Congress.  

ICCA mentors introduce themselves and their areas of expertise. Click on their photos below or visit the Knowledge Hub and get to know them. Use this as a starting point to contact them and to tap into their knowledge!