‘Never Seen a Drop Like This:’ U.S. Politics Drive Meeting Attendees Away

Attendance at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Congress in Washington, D.C. this June fell well below expectations, a warning to organizers who rely on the U.S. as a global meetings hub.

The group expected 6,000 attendees, but just 4,500 showed up.

Canadian participation alone plummeted 55% from the 2023 meeting in Montreal, while attendance from the UK, France, and the Netherlands was down nearly 30%. An additional 500 U.S.-based registrants was not enough to compensate for the decline in international participation.

“We have never seen a drop like this,” said Thomas Reiser, executive director of ISTH. “Our numbers are very low for a truly international congress.”

In total, 55% of attendees came from outside the U.S., a drop from the typical 75%.

U.S. Political Climate a Deterrent

A mix of factors drove the decline, said Reiser. The biggest was a growing discomfort with the U.S. political environment. In addition, some European countries as well as Canada have issued advisories for travelers to the U.S., and some international scientific organizations have recommended against sending researchers to the U.S., said Resier. 

“U.S. politics, more so than geopolitics, although the Middle East conflict also played a role, particularly with the U.S.’s greater involvement in the weeks before the congress had an impact. We received information from quite a few members in particular, Canada, the UK, and Western Europe, typically some of the strongest membership and registration countries, that either they themselves did not feel comfortable attending or their institutions had travel advisories, including recommendations not to go to the U.S.,” said Reiser. 

Although actual travel and border entry went smoothly for those who attended, perception damage had already been done. “Media reports about possible questioning, detentions, and refusal of entry into the U.S. did not help,” he said. 

Revenue Takes a Hit 

The consequences are not just a decline in attendees. “We heard from several participants, exhibitors, and sponsors that they would have expected higher numbers overall,” said Reiser.

“With an overall reduction in numbers of an estimated 20 to 25%, this of course has a significant financial impact on the meeting and the society. This may also have a bit of an impact on future congresses, if sponsors and exhibitors believe our registration numbers are closer to 4,500 than 6,000.”

Next year’s meeting will be in Paris. The 2027 meeting, which should be in North America due to event rotation, is under review. 

“We’re in the midst of considering whether the U.S. is the right destination for an international meeting like ours,” Reiser said.  “It’s an unfortunate situation. The way the U.S. is perceived is having a real impact in the scientific space.”