A conference that attracted over 2,200 attendees from 52 countries, while maintaining a strong sense of community. This was the impressive outcome of the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare, organised by BMJ Group and The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and held in May 2025 at Royal Jaarbeurs. For three days, Utrecht became the meeting place for healthcare professionals to share knowledge and gain inspiration.
BMJ Group and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) organise an International Forum three times a year in Europe, Asia and Australia. The International Forum was last held in the Netherlands in 2018, and we were excited to return. Event manager Becky Wanbon explains. “It was a logical choice as we have strong partners in the region, Utrecht is so easily accessible, and Jaarbeurs was able to offer us exactly the right facilities.”
Everything close together
Organising the conference posed a considerable challenge as the programme included a wide range of off-site visits, workshops and plenary sessions. The fact that Utrecht is compact and has everything close by was a real asset, adds Becky: "“We really valued the relaxed atmosphere and the location at the heart of the centre. With an abundance of hotels, restaurants and charming shops, Utrecht has all the ingredients a conference city needs.”
Three days full of content and experience
The Forum lasted three days, with the first being focused on workshops and eight visits to hospitals and healthcare institutions in and around Utrecht. Groups of twenty to sixty participants were given fascinating insights into Dutch innovations in quality and patient safety. The second and third days revolved around Royal Jaarbeurs as the venue, with 2,221 professionals attending keynote sessions, parallel sessions, and a dedicated exhibition. The organisers used a range of different spaces at Jaarbeurs, including the large halls and the Supernova and Media Plaza conference zones.
Perfect fit
Becky is very impressed with Jaarbeurs: “The flexibility of the halls was a major advantage. From registration and exhibition spaces to plenary rooms and poster boards, it felt like we had a blank canvas on which to create our own layout.” The Polar Hall in the Media Plaza proved to be a perfect fit for the Forum’s program, adding a creative touch to the day. The sessions held there took on an interactive feel thanks to the circular setup. “This gave us something genuinely new, and we encouraged the programme designers to actively make the most of the layout in their sessions. It worked well and enhanced the overall experience.”
As one team
Becky was also pleased with the cooperation with the Jaarbeurs team: “We were in contact every day, sometimes around the clock, and this made us confident that everything was being taken care of.” And it was, confirms Jannemarije Spruitenburg, key account manager at Jaarbeurs, who describes the forum as a unique showcase: “Being the first major international conference I had the opportunity to coordinate required careful preparation and constant collaboration. Everything had to be perfect, down to the smallest detail.”
Stress-free
While a conference on this scale demands much from its organisers, Becky and the team found the process very smooth. “It might sound strange, but there really was a sense of calm,” says Becky. “I think this is because together with Jaarbeurs we invested so much time in the preparations and everyone knew exactly what was required from them.” Surveys showed that participants appreciated the clear layout of the spaces and many informal meeting spots. The city itself also played a significant role, and although the hotels were fully booked, having everything within walking distance meant that a natural connection was retained.
Ambition and recommendation
Partnering with BMJ Group and IHI in this way aligns perfectly with Jaarbeurs' ambition to attract more international conferences to Utrecht, particularly in the fields of life sciences & health, sustainability, and digitalisation. “Utrecht has a lot to offer in these areas,” says Jannemarije. “In addition to our venue, the entire ecosystem of knowledge institutions and partners makes both Jaarbeurs and the city very attractive for international events.”
The final reflections go to Becky: “We would definitely recommend Jaarbeurs and the way its proactive team invests in your success. Utrecht itself is a welcoming city and for participants, this forum was an experience that will live long in the memory.”
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