Dutch PCOs to examine the quality criteria for certified congress organizers

To examine knowledge sharing and the quality criteria for (certified) congress organizers in greater detail. Twenty Dutch PCOs (Professional Congress Organizers) agreed to undertake these two tasks during the PCO Forum, a "sector-wide brainstorming session". The congress organizers met for the first time on Friday, 24 January in Rotterdam's Beurs-WTC. David Casalod from Status Plus, one of the initiators, felt a positive vibe. "This was really a sector initiative; it didn't originate with a venue or supplier. Only PCOs with decision-making power attended." The meeting, which was intended as a preliminary discussion, resulted in two concrete action points: the participants agreed to share knowledge and to think about ways of utilizing each other's overcapacity and/or undercapacity. They would also like to join forces to improve the visibility of PCOs in the Netherlands. The concept of "professional" will also be examined in greater detail. "The Recognition Scheme for Congress Organizers is due for review," said David Casalod from Status Plus, one of the sixteen certified professional congress organizers in the Netherlands. "We are currently asking ourselves what the added value is. A ​​few parties will therefore decide if we should carry on with the scheme and, if so, what amendments will have to be made. We will then make recommendations to the Stichting Uitvoering Erkenningsregeling VNC." The initiators of the PCO Forum have a list of 60 congress organizers which, in their opinion, could take part in the forum. Two thirds of these organizers responded (positively) to the initiative. It was agreed to hold a follow-up session in mid-March.