Poland Convention Bureau of the Polish Tourism Organisation has partnered with PCMA Convening EMEA for the second time. One of Europe’s leading educational events for the meetings and business events industry, this year’s edition took place in Lisbon from 13–15 September 2026. Poland’s presence extended beyond participation in the conference itself, encompassing a promotional campaign across PCMA channels as well as partnership of a Micro Lab session exploring the impact of geopolitical shifts on the events sector.
Convening EMEA 2026 is PCMA EMEA’s flagship event for leaders and professionals from the international meetings and events industry. This year’s edition in Lisbon brought together more than 600 industry professionals from over 40 countries. The official programme was structured around three main areas: Connection – turning relationships into tangible results; Integrity – responsible leadership in a complex world; and Future – turning knowledge into decisions.
These three themes reflect the direction in which the industry is moving. Today, events are expected not simply to bring people together, but to transform connections into lasting relationships and communities, help leaders make responsible decisions in an increasingly complex environment, and translate emerging trends into practical action.
Poland returns to the international PCMA community
The partnership between Poland Convention Bureau – Polish Tourism Organisation and PCMA in 2026 continued the cooperation established during the previous edition of the event.
Poland’s presence began well before the conference itself. In the run-up to Convening EMEA, a campaign promoting Poland was conducted across PCMA’s digital channels, including its website, LinkedIn and newsletter. Poland Convention Bureau was also among the official partners of PCMA Convening EMEA 2026.
This year, PCB POT also sought to involve the Polish meetings industry more directly.
“I am proud that Poland Convention Bureau is partnering with PCMA for the second time. Our first experience of this cooperation convinced me that more representatives of the Polish meetings sector should benefit from this international platform. That is why I did not come alone this time. We wanted PCB’s partnership with PCMA to create opportunities for our recommended partners as well. Convening EMEA is above all about knowledge, contacts and the opportunity to discuss where our industry is heading.
It is also an excellent opportunity to present Poland as an established destination that understands the changes taking place and knows how to respond to them,” said Aneta Książek, Director of Poland Convention Bureau – Polish Tourism Organisation.
In Lisbon, Aneta Książek represented PCB POT together with representatives of two recommended professional congress organisers:
- Agnieszka Bryk, Symposium Cracoviense
- Magdalena Hołowińska, Poznań Congress Center / Poznań Event Hub
Representatives of DMC Poland and Mazurkas Congress Management participated online.
PCB competition: bringing Polish professionals closer to global knowledge
The participation of Polish meetings industry representatives followed a competition organised by Poland Convention Bureau. Its purpose was to give professionals with experience in attracting and servicing international events in Poland direct access to global expertise, emerging trends and the international contacts available through PCMA.
This forms part of PCB’s broader approach to cooperation with recommended PCOs. International partnerships have value beyond destination promotion. They should also help strengthen the skills of the Polish meetings industry, provide access to international networks and support efforts to attract events to Poland.
Agnieszka Bryk: time to turn inspiration into concrete action
For Agnieszka Bryk, Senior Project Manager at Symposium Cracoviense, this was her first Convening EMEA.
“Three intensive days were filled with an engaging educational programme while also providing space for networking and experiencing the atmosphere of the city. I particularly appreciated the format, which combined keynote presentations with practical workshops in smaller groups. The greatest value, however, came from the people. Meeting professionals from around the world, hearing about their experiences and discovering different perspectives on the challenges facing our industry gave me a new perspective on my everyday work.
Thank you to Poland Convention Bureau for the opportunity to participate and represent Poland. Now it is time to turn the knowledge and international inspiration we have gained into concrete action.”
Magdalena Hołowińska: new contacts and a fresh perspective for Poznań
For Magdalena Hołowińska of Poznań Event Hub, this was also her first Convening EMEA. As she emphasised, the event provided an opportunity both to gain knowledge and to develop international contacts, particularly within the corporate sector.
“Our first participation in PCMA Convening EMEA was an extremely valuable opportunity to learn, exchange experiences and build international relationships. We are returning with a fresh perspective, new contacts and renewed energy to continue our work to attract international congresses and events to Poznań.”
From AI to the need for genuine human connection: what did the industry discuss?
The Convening EMEA 2026 programme addressed the conditions in which the events sector operates today: economic uncertainty, rising costs, changing mobility patterns, the development of AI, disinformation, increasing fragmentation and a crisis of trust. One of the strongest themes emerging from discussions in Lisbon was the need to design experiences and human relationships more consciously.
The development of artificial intelligence does not diminish the importance of social skills. On the contrary, it further highlights the value of qualities that technology cannot easily replace: empathy, authenticity, curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, courage and the ability to create a sense of belonging.
The programme also devoted considerable attention to mental wellbeing, cognitive overload and the way new technologies are used. Discussions addressed the need to move away from repeatedly applying established event formats and instead design meetings around the real needs of participants.
Inclusivity and intergenerational dialogue were another important theme. Particular attention was given to younger generations of professionals, who do not want simply to consume a programme but expect opportunities to help shape it and have a genuine influence on the event.
Trust emerged as a common thread across many discussions: trust in organisations, leaders, information, technology and other people. In a world where an increasing share of relationships is moving into digital environments, the meetings industry has a particular role to play in creating safe spaces for genuine dialogue and community building.
Geopolitics in focus: Poland Convention Bureau partners with Micro Lab
A distinctive element of Poland’s participation was its partnership of the session Micro Lab | Geopolitical Shifts: Navigating Risk, New Realities and Preparedness, held on 15 September.
This was not a conventional presentation, but an interactive workshop. The Micro Lab format is designed as a collaborative space for exploring solutions to trends and changes affecting organisations and teams.
The subject of the session is particularly relevant from a Polish perspective. Geopolitical shifts now influence not only decisions about event destination selection, but also supply chains, participant mobility, team planning, insurance, risk management and relationships with partners and stakeholders. These were precisely the areas defined in the official Micro Lab programme.
The session was opened by Aneta Książek, Director of Poland Convention Bureau – Polish Tourism Organisation, who highlighted the experience of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe in adapting to a rapidly changing environment.
“Change has become part of our everyday reality. Central and Eastern Europe has learned to respond quickly and adapt to new circumstances. Today, in event management, having a Plan B is no longer enough. We must also be prepared with a Plan C. At the same time, resilience is not simply about responding to crises. It is the ability to anticipate change, make responsible decisions and build trust.”
Following a brief presentation of Poland, the discussion was moderated by Miguel Neves, with futurist Anne Lise Kjaer joining the conversation.
The discussion explored the impact of geopolitical tensions and technology on economies, societies and the events sector, as well as the phenomenon of future shock – the increasing strain caused by the accelerating pace of change.
One conclusion was the need to rethink networking as a means of building genuine alliances. In times of uncertainty, simply exchanging business cards is no longer sufficient. Organisations need lasting relationships based on shared values, trust and a willingness to cooperate.
The official objectives of the session also highlighted the need to review contingency plans, risk management models and decision-making processes, while building organisational resilience without losing empathy and trust in relationships with teams and partners.
From presence to tangible results
Poland Convention Bureau’s participation in PCMA Convening EMEA forms part of its consistent work to strengthen Poland’s position within the international meetings sector. This year’s partnership combined destination promotion with education, networking and the direct involvement of recommended representatives of the Polish meetings industry.
It also provided a practical reflection of one of the three main themes of this year’s Convening EMEA: “Connection – Turning Relationships into Results”.
For Poland Convention Bureau, this means using its partnership with PCMA not only to increase Poland’s international visibility, but also to create further opportunities for Polish cities, PCOs, convention bureaux and the wider national meetings industry.
In the future, a destination’s competitive position will depend not only on infrastructure and its product offer. Knowledge, resilience, trust, genuine relationships and the ability to operate in a world of continuous change will become increasingly important.
Prepared by: Aneta Książek Photos: PCMA, AK @PCMAEMEA @PCMA #ConveningEMEA
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