European business events activity in May centered on venue investment, destination performance, certification, logistics, and industry advocacy. Highlights include London’s continued meetings growth, Olympia’s redevelopment, major exhibitions in Germany and Spain, and new research showing how global instability is affecting international meetings.
United Kingdom
BMA House Adds Wellness Option for Event Clients
BMA House has partnered with Be In Your Element to offer wellbeing sessions for event clients. The London venue said planners can add the sessions to live, virtual, and hybrid programs. Options include breathwork, movement sessions, creative workshops, wellness lounges, and puppy yoga. Be In Your Element offers more than 150 wellbeing experiences. BMA House said the partnership supports delegate energy, attention, and connection during events. The venue will promote the service as an optional add-on for clients, including those booking day delegate packages.
Olympia Announces June Openings in Redevelopment Project
Olympia will open several new venues in June as part of its $1.77 billion USD redevelopment project. New additions include British Airways ARC, a 3,800-capacity live entertainment venue, and the Hyatt Regency London Olympia hotel. Olympia will also open a collection of restaurants, bars, and public spaces under its new rooftop Canopy. The project includes new event, hospitality, and entertainment facilities across the site. Olympia said the openings mark the next phase of its transformation into an integrated destination for events, culture, hospitality, and live entertainment. The venue expects to complete additional elements, including Olympia Way and a large digital art screen, later this year.
Olympia Events Names General Manager for New ICC
Olympia Events has promoted Carly Gibbs to general manager of its new International Convention Centre (ICC) in London. Gibbs joined Olympia Events in June 2025 as head of customer experience and previously held roles with Chiswick Park Estate Management, Mitie, Comic Relief, and Cancer Research UK. The company said she will lead operational mobilization, venue launch activities, and customer experience strategy for the ICC. The venue forms part of Olympia’s £1.3 billion redevelopment project, which also includes new hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, offices, and public spaces. Additional elements of the project are scheduled to open through 2026 and 2027.
London Retains Top European Meetings Ranking
London has been named Europe’s top meeting destination for the fourth consecutive year, according to Cvent. The London Convention Bureau said the city expects nearly 80,000 delegates in 2026. Major events include the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), both at Excel London. The city also secured the 2027 World Scout Conference and the International Association of Ports and Harbours conference. New developments include Olympia’s £1.3 billion regeneration, Excel London’s expansion, and several hotel openings planned through 2026.
Portugal
Europalco Expands Logistics Network in Portugal
Europalco has expanded its warehouse in Porto and opened a new warehouse in the Algarve. The Lisbon-based event solutions provider said the facilities will serve as regional logistics hubs. Each site will hold audiovisual equipment, furniture, and event structures. The company said the model will reduce reliance on its Sintra headquarters. Europalco expects the local hubs to shorten setup times and improve response for events in northern and southern Portugal. The company also said the network will reduce long-distance transport for heavy equipment.
Belgium
Antwerp Hosts Association Buyers During MICHELIN Awards Week
Antwerp Convention Bureau hosted eight international association buyers for a familiarization trip tied to the MICHELIN Guide Ceremony. The program highlighted Antwerp’s meetings, gastronomy, fashion, science, and sustainability sectors. Buyers attended the ceremony at Handelsbeurs and visited BlueChem, Belgium’s sustainable chemistry incubator. They also toured fashion and event venues, including A Room with a ZOO, Hotel FRANQ, Hilton Antwerp Old Town, Horta Grand Café, and Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp. The convention bureau said the trip aimed to show how association events can connect with local expertise and compact city access.
Germany
interpack 2026 Draws Exhibitors From 65 Countries
interpack 2026 ran May 7–13 in Düsseldorf, Germany, with 2,804 exhibitors from 65 countries. Organizers said trade visitors came from 161 countries, with 75 percent from outside Germany. The event also included about 100 companies at components, the supplier tradeshow held alongside interpack. Messe Düsseldorf said 92 U.S. exhibitors participated, including 14 in the U.S. Pavilion. The program focused on processing and packaging, with attention to automation, materials, regulation, sustainability, and workforce skills. The next interpack will take place in 2029 in Düsseldorf, with dates still to be announced.
IMEX Frankfurt Opens With Record Exhibitor Space
IMEX Frankfurt 2026 opened May 19 at Messe Frankfurt with its largest exhibitor floor space to date. Nearly 3,000 companies are exhibiting on booths or as booth partners. Organizers said Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific expanded their footprints, with new exhibitors including Angola, Mauritius, São Paulo, and Uzbekistan. More than 4,000 buyers from more than 80 countries registered for the three-day event. The program includes more than 200 learning sessions, with many eligible for Certified Meeting Professional, ICCASkills, or Certified Special Event Professional credits.
JMIC Names New Leadership and Climate Action Updates
JMIC announced new leadership during its annual press conference in Frankfurt. The group named Dorian Kronenwerth as executive director. It also added Dr. Senthil Gopinath of ICCA and Maurits van der Sluis of EMECA to its board. JMIC said it will release an updated Global Manifesto for the Business Events Industry in June. The manifesto will focus on advocacy, industry data, and case studies for policymakers. JMIC also reported progress on Net Zero Carbon Events, including updated measurement methods, tool assessment, reporting validation, and education efforts.
France
Anne-Marie Baezner Receives 2026 JMIC Unity Award
The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) named Anne-Marie Baezner as the 2026 JMIC Unity Award recipient. Baezner is CEO of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Venues, part of GL events Group. She also directs the Lyon Motor Show and Salon du Randonneur. JMIC cited her work in venue leadership, industry advocacy, inclusion, and collaboration. Baezner helped create Lyon Events, a commercial identity linking multiple venues in Lyon. She also co-launched Welcome by Only Lyon, a program focused on attendee experience for major international events.
Spain
Padel World Summit Reports Growth for 2026 Edition
Padel World Summit will run May 26–28 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. Organizers said the 2026 edition will feature 140 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. International companies make up 56 percent of exhibitors. The show also reports a 35 percent increase in exhibition space. The program includes a congress, start-up zone, networking area, and 10 courts for matches, demonstrations, and activations. The Global Padel Conference will feature 90 speakers. Organizers expect the event to exceed the 6,000 professional visitors recorded at the previous edition.
Switzerland
IAPCO Survey Shows Rising Disruption for Global Meetings
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) released its 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey. The survey found that 73.84 percent of respondents said global conflicts affected their ability to plan or host international meetings. That figure was 53.92 percent in 2025. IAPCO gathered 130 responses with partners AIPC, AMC Institute, ICCA, IFES, and PCMA. The survey also found that 65.38 percent reported travel disruptions affecting clients or participants. Another 58.46 percent reported lower international attendance. IAPCO said the results show that conflict, policy changes, and instability now affect destination selection, event planning, and risk management.
