Ottawa and The Hague demonstrate value of H2O collaboration at IMEX America breakfast
Ottawa Tourism, The Hague Convention Bureau and Rogers Centre Ottawa brought international association buyers together at the annual H2O breakfast at IMEX America last week, using the recent Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding as a clear example of what destination collaboration can achieve.
The breakfast provided an informal and focused opportunity for association planners to meet representatives from both destinations and explore how their teams can support international congresses in Europe, North America or across a series of events. It also allowed the partners to show how H2O works in practice, moving beyond joint promotion to share knowledge, maintain relationships and help associations benefit from the strengths of both cities.
Among the examples highlighted was the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding, which took place at the University of Ottawa from 16 to 19 June 2026, following the previous edition in The Hague in 2024. Convened by the Environmental Peacebuilding Association and the University of Ottawa, the conference brought together academics, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, students and peacebuilding specialists working at the intersection of environment, conflict and peace.
The conference’s journey from The Hague to Ottawa demonstrates the practical value of a relationship built over several years. Through H2O, the two destination teams were able to share insight, provide continuity for the organisers and connect the event with relevant expertise in each city. For example, The Hague connected the conference with its international Peace and Justice ecosystem, while Ottawa’s governmental, diplomatic and academic networks added complementary expertise to the following edition. The result was not simply a move between two host destinations, but an opportunity for the conference to build on the success of its 2024 edition while drawing on Ottawa’s governmental, diplomatic, academic and international networks.
Stephanie Seguin, Vice President, Sales, Business and Major Events at Ottawa Tourism, said: “The International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding is one of the strongest examples we have of H2O working exactly as intended. The relationship with The Hague gave us the chance to learn from the previous conference, maintain continuity with the organisers and connect them with the people and organisations in Ottawa who could add real value to the programme.
“That approach benefits everyone. It gives the association confidence that the destinations understand its aims, while allowing each host city to bring its own expertise and perspective. The breakfast at IMEX America was an ideal opportunity to share that experience with other international associations and show what can be achieved when destinations work together over the long term.”
Eline van Hees at The Hague Convention Bureau, commented: “For The Hague, the value is in connecting an international association to the wider ecosystem of the city. When that relationship can then continue in Ottawa, the association benefits from two different but complementary communities rather than simply two different destinations.”
“H2O is built on trust and a willingness to look beyond a single event. This breakfast gave us the chance to discuss that approach directly with association buyers and explore how it could support their own future congresses through the creation of value beyond destination selection. In particular this includes the provision of continuity, access to local communities and opportunities for knowledge exchange as an event moves between regions.”
First launched in 2019, H2O brings together two internationally focused capital cities with shared values and complementary strengths. The partnership includes joint sales activity, shared research, coordinated client introductions and regular engagement with international association buyers at events including IMEX.
The IMEX America breakfast continued that work, creating space for open discussion about the needs of international associations and the role destinations can play before, during and after an event. Ottawa and The Hague will continue to identify opportunities where their combined knowledge, contacts and local expertise can provide meaningful support for associations and their delegates.
