An interview with Laura Caprioli, Growth Programme & Stakeholder Manager – Business Events, MeetEngland, ahead of IMEX Frankfurt 2026

The MeetEngland Impact Network reflects a real shift in how international associations choose host cities. The conversation often starts with venues, accessibility, and hotel inventory. But that shift is well underway. Planners now want to know who they will meet in the host city, which research clusters will be at their delegates’ fingertips, and what happens to the conversation after the closing keynote.

England has been quietly building for this moment for decades. With the launch of the MeetEngland Impact Network, that work now sits under one national umbrella.

I spoke with Laura Caprioli, Growth Programme & Stakeholder Manager – Business Events, MeetEngland ahead of IMEX Frankfurt to understand what the network actually does, why ambassador culture matters, and how three English cities are turning conferences into long-term sector growth.

Among all the sessions at Davos this year: the AI hype, the sustainability panels, the corporate pledges, one conversation stood out as most transformative for our industry.

Not because it dominated social media feeds, but because it addresses something fundamental that will enable destinations to create exceptional delegate experiences and stronger local economies.

The topic? The 24-hour economy.

And this is much bigger than nightlife strategy, it’s about how cities function as complete ecosystems.

Sustainable venues and hotels in Rotterdam set high sustainability standards for the events industry. This is how they do it.

Sustainability in action: Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre

Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, at the heart of Rotterdam’s event infrastructure, combines sustainability with practical benefits for event organizers.

During my visit to cover Urban Future 2024, I experienced firsthand how The Rotterdam Hall, Ports, and Docks spaces welcomed about 2,500 attendees for the international conference.

I was impressed by The Rotterdam Hall’s natural daylight, which enhances attendee wellbeing while reducing energy use.

Throughout the venue, sustainable features serve multiple purposes: the moss sedum roof (1,713 m²) provides natural insulation, solar panels supply 25% of electricity needs, and a water reservoir system reuses rainwater. The entire facility operates gas-free.

The innovation that began in Geneva has had a profound impact on the world. I’m referring to the invention of the World Wide Web (WWW) by Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist who created it in 1989 while working at CERN. This ground-breaking development has always fascinated me. 

Fast forward to 2024, and I had the opportunity to visit this iconic venue with the Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation and the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau.

But CERN wasn’t the only highlight of my visit. I also discovered Geneva’s offerings as a MICE destination. The city is renowned as an international hub for science and technology, banking and finance, watchmaking and luxury, sports, and the flavours and fragrances sectors.

Despite its international and cosmopolitan vibe, Geneva is compact and offers a unique Swiss experience. Some ideas include visiting vineyards, booking a fondue evening for your group in one of the historic restaurants, or hosting a watchmaking workshop. This combination of a cosmopolitan city with bespoke Swiss experiences is unique to Geneva and cannot be found elsewhere.

Moreover, the city is continuously evolving, with new hotels and venues opening. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you how the city’s compact size, combined with its global outlook, creates the perfect environment for business events.