Porto & North Forever Pact turns congresses into meaningful legacies
November 19, 2025
Presented around the 2025 ICCA World Congress, this collaborative framework places inclusion, innovation and well-being at the heart of event legacy.
Porto and North Convention & Visitors Bureau introduced the Porto & North Forever Pact, an approach designed to turn events hosted in the region into drivers of long-term social, environmental and economic impact. The initiative was highlighted in connection with the 2025 ICCA World Congress in Porto.
Developed with MEET4IMPACT and ValeConsultores, with support from Turismo de Portugal, the pact is built on broad participation from municipalities, universities, community organizations, businesses, creative groups and tourism stakeholders. Together, they defined a theory of change and measurable goals focused on inclusion, innovation and well-being.
The pilot sought to involve the community in the congress experience. It created opportunities for local artists, hospitality students and senior volunteers, while also incorporating carbon-reduction goals and efforts to spread economic benefits beyond the city centre.
Lessons from this first implementation are intended to inform Porto and the North’s long-term strategy. The pact shows how a destination can move from isolated initiatives to a shared framework that guides the design, measurement and continuous improvement of event legacy.