The inaugural Dubai Association Conference took place in Dubai, UAE, on 11-12 December, 2017. 300 international association executives gathered for the event.

The Global Association Hubs Partnership was proud to power an interactive peer-to-peer exchange:

Challenges and opportunities for associations to grow internationally

In today’s globalizing world, a significant part of the revenue of many international and regional associations comes from their overseas membership and customer base. Better serving their overseas members, providing value and building engagement abroad are becoming strategic priorities. Associations with global ambitions however, are often challenged in the way they operate when they transition into new markets.

Our prestigeous panel was composed of Nina Freysen-Pretorius, President, International Conference and Convention Association (ICCA) – David Macadam, CEO, Middle East Council of Shopping Centers (MECSC)/ International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) – and Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General, International Union of Public Transport (UITP). The panel was moderated by Hervé Bosquet, International Advisor, Global Association Hubs Partnership (GAHP).

The delegates discovered how leading associations have successfully customized their business model and established win-win partnerships to facilitate the implementation of their global expansion strategy and plans. They came out of the session with a good feel for challenges and opportunities, benefits and pitfalls, and do’s and don’ts in growing internationally.