Second-year student Heidi Chao and third-year student Austin Guo of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Event Management programme represented the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) at the 64th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress, held in Porto, Portugal. Their participation not only marked a significant milestone in their academic journey, but also showcased the achievements of Macao’s event education, building a youthful bridge between Macao and the global business events industry.
The 64th ICCA Congress was held in Porto from 9 to 12 November 2025. As one of the world’s premier gatherings in the global meetings industry, the Congress brought together industry leaders, academic experts and young talents from around the world. For Heidi and Austin, attending the Congress as student representatives was a valuable opportunity to step beyond textbook theory and engage directly with the real pulse of the industry. Heidi shared that the experience allowed them to take their first genuine step towards developing an “international perspective”, not only broadening their horizons but also helping them to clarify their future career direction. Austin echoed this view, noting that for undergraduate students, the chance to gain direct exposure to cutting‑edge industry knowledge and the practical experience of top international leaders is particularly rare and invaluable.
Behind their participation in the Congress lay a rigorous selection process. From completing a detailed online application to undertaking a professional interview by a panel of esteemed professors, each stage presented its own challenges. In preparation for the interview, both students conducted in‑depth research into the background of the ICCA Congress theme, while repeatedly refining how best to articulate their own strengths and competitiveness. Ultimately, their solid preparation, dedication and enthusiasm in representing UTM secured their appointment successfully.
Before setting off, Heidi and Austin had already planned their trip in detail. “We intend to take part in as many activities as possible, whether professional sessions, online events or the welcome reception. We don’t want to miss any of them”. Heidi explained that, as students attending a large‑scale international event for the first time, their main goal was to see more, listen more and gain hands‑on experience. In addition, they plan to produce a video blog to capture key moments from the Congress, along with what they have learned and reflected upon, and to share these back at the University to broaden the impact of the experience.
When reflecting on the impact of the Congress on their future, both students expressed their hope that, by closely observing the operational models of top‑tier international meetings and events, they would gain a deeper understanding of industry trends and lay a solid foundation for pursuing careers in areas such as business event planning and management, while opening up further opportunities. Heidi noted that in Years 3 and 4 there will be courses and competitions related to event planning, and the experience gained from observing the organisation of large‑scale events could be applied directly to their studies. They also believe that this experience will help them identify clearer directions for future research.
Both students expressed strong confidence in the future development of Macao’s events industry. Austin believes that, under Macao’s 1+4 economic diversification strategy, the synergy between Macao and Hengqin offers distinctive advantages for the events sector. In addition, industry resources from multiple economic powerhouses in our nation provide young people with broad platforms for career development. Heidi highlighted Macao’s state-of-the-art venues and strong international atmosphere, noting that the city has already successfully hosted many high‑quality events. She looks forward to more large‑scale international events coming to Macao in the future, creating greater opportunities for students and young people to participate in and engage with the forefront of the industry.