Looking back on PCMA Convening EMEA 2025
Six months on, PCMA Convening EMEA in Rotterdam (14-16 October 2025) is still being talked about across the European business events community. Hosted in one of Europe’s most progressive cities, the event brought together international association leaders, event professionals and partners for three days of learning, connection and experimentation.
Looking back together, Jane Governey, Events Director at PCMA EMEA and the team of the Rotterdam Convention Bureau reflect on what made this edition , hosted at Postillion Hotel & Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam stand out, and why Rotterdam proved to be the right stage for a future‑focused industry conversation.
Five words that defined the experience
Asked to sum up PCMA Convening EMEA in just five words, Jane Governey doesn’t hesitate: community, connected, sustainable, accessible and innovative. “We were intentional about creating a safe, welcoming environment where people could truly connect,” she explains. “Not just professionally, but as a community across generations and disciplines.”
That sense of connection was visible from the very start. Exploration Tours through Rotterdam kick‑started conversations before participants even reached the conference venue. Sustainability was embedded in practical choices, from a fully plant‑based menu to walkable routes and excellent public transport. And innovation was never abstract, from creative use of space to opening Day Two with a high‑energy Coffee Rave that set the tone for a different kind of conference experience.
Photo: Jane Governey, Events Director PCMA EMEA (l) and Josephin van Waassen, Head of Content and Community of PCMA EMEA (r) at event venue Postillion WTC Rotterdam.
PCMA Convening EMEA 2025 in numbers
660
# participants49
countries represented360
industry representatives199
congress planners (35 Dutch, 107 association planners, 192 PCO/corporate/various)
Designing experiences that spark connection
For both Jane and the Rotterdam Partners team, one key lesson stands out: how much intentional experience design influences human connection. “Music, culture, food, natural light, colour, all of these elements shape how people feel and how they engage with one another,” says Jane. “When you design environments with purpose, connection happens naturally.”
Catherine Kalamidas, Business Manager at Rotterdam Convention Bureau agrees. “Rotterdam didn’t just host the event; the city actively shaped it. Participants embraced the Rotterdam way of doing things, from festival‑style break areas and cultural performances to discovering the city from rooftops, water level and street level. That shared sense of place made the connections feel authentic and memorable.”
A partnership that went beyond the usual playbook
Both reflect with pride on the close collaboration between PCMA EMEA, Rotterdam Partners and local venues and suppliers. “We often talk about partnership in this industry, but this went much deeper,” Jane notes. “There were real ‘aha’ moments where we collectively set a new direction for the event. That level of trust allowed us to be more creative and more daring.”
Maaike Hamann, Business Manager at Rotterdam Convention Bureaus adds that the process itself became a showcase of how Rotterdam works. “We leaned into experimentation, always keeping the participant experience at the centre. From the first bid to the final moments on stage together, it was a shared journey with a shared ambition: to deliver impact and leave a positive legacy.”
Why Rotterdam works for international conferences
From an organiser’s perspective, Rotterdam ticks both practical and strategic boxes. The city is easy to reach, with direct international rail connections including Eurostar, and a fast, sustainable train link from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Once in the city, everything is close by: venues, hotels, cultural spaces and social experiences are connected by walking routes, trams, bikes and even water taxis.
But logistics are only part of the story. “Rotterdam is living and breathing innovation,” Jane says. “You feel it in the architecture, the cultural spaces, the experimental projects across the city. That energy pushes organisers to be more creative with their programmes.” Add to that the city’s greatest asset: proud, resilient and open Rotterdammers, and hosting a complex international event becomes a collaborative effort rather than a challenge.
“Rotterdam is living and breathing innovation. You feel it in the architecture, the cultural spaces, the experimental projects across the city. That energy pushes organisers to be more creative with their programmes.”
Impact beyond the event itself
PCMA Convening EMEA generated impact well beyond the conference days. Locally, it strengthened collaboration between venues, suppliers, cultural institutions and decision‑makers, creating new relationships that continue to develop. Internationally, the event added momentum to key industry themes such as measurable sustainability, purpose‑driven experience design and community building.
“For the wider European events industry, Rotterdam showed that conferences can be both content‑rich and deeply human,” Vincent Giljam, Business Manager of the Rotterdam Convention Bureau reflects. “It demonstrated a model of collaboration and creativity that other destinations can learn from.”
A city that inspires bold choices
What ultimately differentiates Rotterdam from other European conference destinations is its constant state of transformation. From floating parks and tidal landscapes to new museums and cultural hubs, the city invites organisers to think differently. “When you’re here, you’re surrounded by development and innovation,” Jane concludes. “It gives you permission to be bold, and that’s exactly what our industry needs right now.”
Eveline van der Pluijm, Manager of the Rotterdam Convention Bureau looks back with similar pride. “The success of PCMA Convening EMEA in Rotterdam reflects the strength of our city, the commitment of our partners, and the shared ambition to create meaningful impact through business events. We are particularly proud of the role played by Postillion Hotel & Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam, whose professionalism, flexibility and central location made it an outstanding home for this international gathering. Together with PCMA EMEA and our local stakeholders, we showed how Rotterdam connects people, ideas and industries, and how our city offers the right environment for forward-looking conversations that contribute to a more resilient future."
Photo: Eveline van der Pluijn, Manager Rotterdam Convention Bureau
“Together with PCMA EMEA and our local stakeholders, we showed how Rotterdam connects people, ideas and industries, and how our city provides the right environment for forward-looking conversations that contribute to a more resilient future.”
Great delegate feedback
The positive vibes during the event were clearly reflected in the feedback from participants afterwards. From the programme and the city’s atmosphere to seamless connectivity and hands-on exploration tours, participants consistently highlighted how Rotterdam enhanced both the content and the overall experience. Practically all would recommend Rotterdam for international conferences. The feedback underlines the city’s ability to bring people together, make complex logistics feel effortless, and offer authentic, memorable ways to explore the destination. Some of the participant quotes:
“People loved connecting and collaborating, learning not just from the speakers, but learning from each other and with other. It shows how even in these difficult times, our industry and community is so strong and resilient.”
“Great job, well done to all the team, as a former planner I know how much work goes into the planning and delivery of a program. And kudos to Rotterdam & Partners regarding the transit system, I really liked how seamless transportation from airport to Rotterdam was."
“I loved the exploration tours this year! I did the healthy one, and exploring the destination by bike has been really wonderful!”
(c) Photos on this page: PCMA EMEA
PCMA Convening EMEA 2025 aftermovie
Photo impressions
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