”This is an award dedicated to the whole destination showing the importance of collaboration between the suppliers in the meetings industry. Meetings involve the exchange of knowledge which develops and drives research, business and society forward. We want Gothenburg to continue to be a sustainable and innovative destination speaking with one voice”, says Annika Hallman, Director of Gothenburg Convention Bureau at Göteborg & Co about the award.

The nomination highlighted the collaboration of the different actors and suppliers in the meeting industry of Gothenburg, which for many years has been an important part of the city delivering high-quality meetings.

The IAPCO Driving Excellence Award was presented by Ori Lahav, President of IAPCO/Vice President Kenes, through a digital handover from Tel Aviv.

“One thing that became apparent once we started working with Gothenburg’s team was the superb blend between the different suppliers. In very few destinations do you feel as if you are talking to one cohesive meeting's organism that is working together with you towards delivering the perfect event. It is a place where the local team consider how to make your event greener and the best way to impact the local community through a well-thought-out legacy project.”, says Ori Lahav, and continues:

“IAPCO stands for high standards and we believe, wholeheartedly, that Gothenburg – the Convention Bureau, the venue (the Sweden Exhibition and Congress Centre) and everyone else serving the industry there, deserves to receive IAPCO’s recognition in order to further spread this positive example, with the hope of inspiring this change throughout the whole events community.”

This award, the IAPCO Recognition Award, is one in a series of recognitions that Gothenburg recently received as a meeting destination and as a sustainable destination. Recently Gothenburg was named world’s Best Sustainable City Stay by Lonely Planet. And for four years in a row, the city has been named the world's most sustainable destination in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Gothenburg and Málaga were also joint European Capitals of Smart Tourism for 2020.

The International Association of Professional Congress Organizers – IAPCO represents 137 companies comprised of over 9,700 professional congress organisers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 39 countries