The International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES), together with fwd: Bundesvereinigung Veranstaltungswirtschaft, has opened registrations for the next iteration of its ISO 20121 Convoy Training Programme. The partnership continues this industry-led approach to sustainable management in the exhibition and events sector.
Established as a practical route to ISO 20121 implementation, the Convoy programme is designed specifically for exhibition and event service providers seeking to embed sustainability into their operations in a structured, achievable way. Rather than one-off training, the year-long programme guides participating companies step by step through the ISO 20121 standard, combining expert-led workshops, ready-to-use templates, peer exchange and ongoing support.
The ISO 20121 Convoy training programme is now being opened internationally to English-speaking partner associations of IFES and fwd:. The initiative is aimed at industry associations that want to offer their own members practical sustainability training with clear, measurable added value, enabling them to support companies not only in understanding ISO 20121, but in actively implementing it within their organisations.
To date, 50 companies from across the industry have completed the programme.
The Convoy model has been developed to reflect the operational realities of the sector, allowing participants to make measurable progress without disrupting day-to-day business. By moving through the process together, companies benefit from shared learning.
The programme is jointly led by Dominique Bohler, IFES manager sustainability projects, and Marko Roscher, sustainability officer at fwd:, both accredited ISO 20121 auditors with extensive experience in the exhibition and events industry.
The next English-language ISO 20121 Convoy (Convoy 6) will kick off on 13 April 2026, with registrations closing on 1 April 2026. A German-language Convoy (Convoy 7) will follow, starting on 9 September 2026, with a registration deadline of 19 August 2026. Each Convoy runs over a 12-month period.
Alongside the training programme, IFES and fwd: have also released the Quick Guide ISO 20121 – Sustainability Management in the Event Industry, now available in German via the Springer Store, with an English edition planned.
