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James Rees is the new ICCA President

November 15, 2018

James Rees is the new ICCA President

James Rees, Executive Director at ExCeL London, has been elected as the new ICCA president at the 57th ICCA Congress, which came to a close yesterday in Dubai.

Rees was first elected to the ICCA Board in 2012 and became a Vice President in 2017. Before this he served in leadership positions in ICCA’s UK & Ireland Chapter.

Commenting on his win, James Rees said: “What we can do, with the right leadership, is to use ICCA’s strengths to drive that innovation, creativity, and incentive for improvement. And this is what I am going to deliver. As ICCA President, I will be a true advocate for our business, a champion of our sector and ensure that ICCA’s voice is heard by government, in a language they understand.”

November 14, 2018

A Campaign Workshop with ASSOCIATIONWORLD

A unique workshop is taking place on 17 December between 9.00 and 17.oo at The Hotel Brussels. In the framework of the ONE Campaign – an international, non-profit, advocacy and campaigning organisation that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease – and in collaboration with ASSOCIATIONWORLD foundation, of which Boardroom is a privileged partner, the workshop will focus on improving girls’ education and health, securing more and better aid and fighting for anti-corruption laws. 

Under the theme ‘Advocating for Systemic Change’, the program will comprise of mini-presentations that present the key elements of successful advocacy and campaigning approaches illustrated with case-studies, applied group work and a panel discussion. 

The workshop will explore how to identify policy influencing opportunities and the decision makers you should target as well as strategies that combine policy evidence with politics and public opinion to shape debates and create a positive outcome and the role of strategic communication in influencing debates and creating the right environment for reform.

You can register for the event here.

November 13, 2018

Registration Is Open for the European Association Summit 2019

The European Association Summit (EAS) will be held from 28 February to 1 March 2019 at the SQUARE – Brussels Convention Centre under the theme “Share and Co-Create”. International associations can share their good practices and textbook cases in a cooperative, creative and innovative environment.

This year, the summit’s objectives are to enable participants to forge links with other international associations so as to expand their networks and develop short and long-term initiatives and to implement new models of cooperation and resource use through learning, networking and implementing new projects.

Apart from the objective of co-creation, the visit.brussels Association Bureau also invites associations to make a joint contribution to preserving the environment through their actions making this a responsible event to demonstrate that it is possible to organise an environmentally responsible summit in Brussels.

The summit is organised in close cooperation with the sector’s major partners: ESAE (European Society of Association Executives), FAIB (Federation of European & International Associations Based in Belgium), UIA (Union of International Associations) and GAHP (Global Association Hubs Partnership), the Solvay Brussels School – Economics & Management, PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) and the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association).

Online enrolment is now open.

Photo : Square – Brussels Convention Centre

November 12, 2018

Oncology Pharmacists Confer in Nantes

The 4th edition of the European Conference of Oncology Pharmacy (ECOP4), organized by European Cancer Organisation (ECCO), was held from Oct 25 – 27, 2018 at Convention City of Nantes. The conference provided a distinct multi-professional setting and multidisciplinary approach to promote the highest standards of pharmaceutical care in the management and support of patients with tumors.

Oncology pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, community pharmacists, medical oncologists, oncology physicians, pharmacy nurses and pharma industry received knowledge about recent developments with the aim to advance the effectiveness of healthcare delivery and increase the quality of patient care. State-of-the-art advances in research, patient management and practice were showcased in keynote lectures, scientific symposia and poster sessions in two well-defined tracks: clinical and practical.

Photo : La Cité Nantes Congress Centre 

November 9, 2018

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: Let the People Talk

It’s always better to have organisers talk about their experience in a given destination than just convention bureaus explaining how great it would be for you – and them – if you chose them for their next event. In order for you to get familiar with Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and where its expertise lies, Boardroom asked four planners to explain how the regional convention bureau, Provence Côte d’Azur Events, successfully supported them.

HEALTHCARE

Stéphane Azoulay, Member of the Local Organising Committee, EFMC-ISMC 2022, XXVII International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry

In September 2022, we will co-organize the 27thInternational Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry in Nice. This biennial event, led by the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry, welcomes about 1,200 participants from the pharmaceutical industry and academia.

Thanks to high-quality research conducted at the Côte d’Azur University,a centre of excellence according to the state-funded programme IDEX (Initatives d’Excellence), easy accessibility to and from Nice through its international airport, a highly flexible convention centre, and a good image of the city on the international scene, our bid made the difference.

In addition, we benefitted, at a local level, from the support of Nice Convention Bureau and many stakeholders of the whole supply chain. They were very helpful putting the bid together and giving us advice in terms of off-site venues and social events – a real added value. On a regional level, Provence-Côte d’Azur Events acted as a facilitator for us to obtain a letter of support from the President of the South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, with a financial grant of up to 30,000€ – which of course we highly appreciate for an event of this magnitude.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Claire De Longeaux, Trustech Director, Cannes

With an in-depth focus on the latest innovations applied to payments and identification, biometrics, blockchain and artificial intelligence, Trustech is the professional event dedicated to digital trust technologies. We have been operating for more than 30 years and settled in Cannes in 2016, where we usually welcome over 120 different nationalities. Trustech is a congress, with 200 international speakers, a trade show, with 300 exhibiting companies, and a networking event attended by more than 11,000 professionals.

In 2017, Trustech benefitted from the support of the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region as part of its ‘Attract Congresses & Events’ programme (see sidebar), helping our growth in a field the region has become renowned for. Many Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur-based companies are indeed working in this dynamic sector, starting with the members of the SCS-Global Competitiveness Cluster dedicated to secure communication solutions.

ENERGY

Philippe Olivier, Deputy Secretary General of the ITER Industrial Committee (ITER France Agency)

ITER (‘the way’ in Latin) is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that has been designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy.

The 2017 edition of the ITER Business Forum took place at the Palais des Papes in Avignon, with more than 1,000 representatives of 433 companies from 25 countries, including more than 50% foreigners. For three days, delegates were able, to meet, interact and establish contacts while learning about the progress of the ITER programme and upcoming calls for tenders.

This sixth edition of the Forum, which is today the international flagship event of the ITER programme, was organised by the ITER France Agency with the support of the International Organization ITER and its partners from China, Korea, Europe, India, Japan, America and Russia. The financial support of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region was instrumental in making the event a success.

The full version, written by Boardroom Chief Editor Rémi Dévé, is available in the November issue of Boardroom. For more information on the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region as a conference destination: l.cassuto@provencecotedazurevents.com / www.provencecotedazurevents.com

Picture: the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa and gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

November 9, 2018

Brisbane Brings Together Cancer Specialists

Brisbane is set to host some of the world’s best specialty surgeons, respiratory researchers, clinicians and allied health professionals after securing the 15th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (iMig). Brisbane’s economic development board Brisbane Marketing partnered with Tourism and Events Queensland and BCEC on the successful bid for the conference.

iMig will take place from 25-28 March 2020 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), putting Brisbane at the centre of ground-breaking efforts to understand, cure and prevent mesothelioma – a tumour of the tissue lining the lungs, stomach, heart and other organs.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said more than 500 delegates were expected at the conference, which will stimulate ideas and establish collaborations between Brisbane and a global network of research experts. BCEC general manager Bob O’Keeffe said mesothelioma was a strategic health issue with Australia recording among the highest rates of the disease in the world. “Hosting this conference puts the spotlight on the critical groundbreaking research happening right here in Brisbane,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

November 7, 2018

Ottawa: A Pioneer in Innovative Immigration Integration 

Ottawa, a capital at the crossroads of government, education and advocacy, stands apart from all other international hubs for its integrated and holistic approach to immigration.

The Canadian metropolitan is continually ranked one of the best places to live worldwide and an archetype in innovation, economy, and transportation, making it not only a case study for progressive immigration but also for innovative city planning, job creation and top quality of life.

As Canada’s Capital, Ottawa puts conventions on a national stage close to decision-makers and international news media. If gaining their attention can help move an organization forward, Ottawa is the best place to get noticed.

Metropolis Project

It is no surprise that the International Metropolis Project – an international network of researches, policy makers, and community groups concentrated on improving migration and diversity – chose this capital hub for its 2019 event. The 2019 International Metropolis Conference will be held June 24 – 28, 2019 at the award-winning Shaw Centre with more than 1,500 delegates expected to join.

“Not only does Ottawa have several major universities, but all the federal departments and many NGOs also deal with immigration. We have two mayors who are very, very interested in migration issues and a plethora of organizations that look after immigration,” explains Enrico W. del Castello, the director of the 2019 International Metropolis Conference Project.

Del Castello himself could be considered an immigrant to Ottawa. Originally from Rome, del Castello has worked on immigration integration and reform in Ottawa for more than a decade — first as the Metropolis’ director of international outreach and then as the director of knowledge, mobilization and partnerships.

Not only does Ottawa’s status as a G7 capital provide an international stage to share these paramount conversations, its plethora of government departments, agencies and research institutions that del Castello refers to also provide a ready supply of subject matter experts to speak to and expand the discussion.

“Hosting the International Metropolis Conference is a huge honor for Ottawa. We’re excited to be working with the Government of Canada to bring a large international conference here,” explains Mikayla Palladino, meetings researcher at Ottawa Tourism.

The conference will take place during Ottawa’s WOW Week, which is the welcome week for newcomers giving delegates from around the world will have an opportunity to see what Ottawa does for new arrivals. “It’s a really fantastic opportunity,” exclaims del Castello.This year’s conference will actually be a homecoming for the organization, which was constituted in Ottawa in 1996. It has since grown into the largest network in migration models in the world representing more than 70 countries. The conference itself is a platform for more than 130 concurrent workshops with up to 2,000 delegates.

The full version of this article written by Boardroom editor Samantha Shankman is available in the November issue of Boardroom. More information on Ottawa: MPalladino@ottawatourism.ca/ www.ottawatourism.ca

November 7, 2018

Creating Impact: Bill Reed’s Career Lessons

In the first installment of PCMA’s Leaving a Legacy series, Bill Reed, FASAE, CMP, chief event strategy officer at American Society of Hematology, shares his thoughts on what he learned from his career bumps, who played critical roles on his career path, and why he’s excited for the future of business events.

You can read the whole article here.

November 7, 2018

ICC Sydney Acknowledges Australia’s First Nations

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is the first convention centre in Australia to launch a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), bolstering its ongoing commitment to recognise and celebrate the cultures, practices and traditions of Australia’s First Nations within the venue and the events it hosts.

The introduction of the RAP builds on ICC Sydney’s work to date and will see the venue activate a series of initiatives to build greater engagement with, and acknowledgement of, Australia’s First Nations. To visually represent First Nations art and culture across the precinct, ICC Sydney has commissioned an artwork by Jeffrey Samuels, renowned Aboriginal artist, titled Gadigal, Acknowledgement Respect.

ICC Sydney is working with First Nations businesses and communities through its supply chains, community networks and client stakeholder engagement. The venue has developed its RAP utilising Reconciliation Australia’s guidelines under the Innovate template.

Photo : ICC  Sydney

November 6, 2018

Rimini & Vicenza:
2 Cities, 1 Strong Link

Italy is no stranger to innovation and efficiency when it comes to dealing with international associations, may that be following new trends or covering specific needs when organising conferences, and Rimini (pictured above) and Vicenza (pictured below) are quite representative exemplars of that. Both situated in northern Italy, the two cities are immersed in history and architecture comprising of UNESCO World Heritage structures, hospitality and environmental awareness. Rimini is a dynamic and welcoming city at the edge of the Adriatic Sea and Vicenza is situated in a strategic position in the heart of Veneto, one of the most productive region.

In order to represent the two cities in the international scene, Rimini and Vicenza joined forces creating the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) as a leading trade fair and conference-convention organizer for expo portfolio. Its Event & Conference Division provides associations with the necessary tools to hold successful conferences in the two cities.

Go with the flow

Keeping up-to-date means far more than just being technologically advanced or facilities-adequate. Both cities have embraced the idea of following new tourism tendencies in order to remain competitive in regards to the meetings industry. Industry Vision Travel&Hospitality, IEG’s survey that monitors consumer trends, is proposing a list of such trends that will influence the international market in the future. Implementing strategies based on this data helps Rimini and Vicenza to build further innovative strategies for their clients.

One of the five trends mentioned in the survey, ‘Wonderland’, wants the public to take a strong interest in the fiction created by immersive technologies, as the need to be surprised is increasing and the line between the real and the virtual is growing thinner. Virtual Reality is key in the second trend, ‘Playing the Game’, where adults are turning into children as they seek more playful and fun experiences.

With change, curiosity and inspiration playing a central role in a third trend called ‘Chance to Change’, delegates will be looking for services and activities that promote transformation and self-awareness, whereas the ‘In Private’ trend finds them opting for exclusivity whether that is in the form of reserving private space or creating small, ‘exclusive’ communities. Last, but not least, ‘Switch Off’ takes tourism to the next level where people are eager to be temporarily detached not only from technology but also from their everyday life obligations.

Venues Adopt the Trends

A clear sign that Rimini and Vicenza have deep understanding of these trends can be found in the two cities’ convention centres. Rimini Palacongressi, the country’s largest convention centre, is a uniquely designed and elegant structure full of light. It manages to combine state-of-the-art technology with smart and flexible architectural elements providing privacy and exclusivity as requested in the in private trend. 39 rooms, seating capacity for 9,000 and a main room that can host 4,700 guests: the Palacongressi is in line with what the consumers want: a total connectivity with the possibility to escape and switch off when needed.

On the other hand, the Vicenza Convention Centre (ViCC) provides the space for 9,000 persons and 15 meeting rooms, all of which are multifunctional and innovative, making Vicenza the ideal new business destination. In agreement with the city’s architecture and today’s needs, the diverse yet simple structure can cater for associations in every detail.

With the two cities joining forces, associations will have the opportunity to offer their delegates new ways to network and do business.

This article was written by Boardroom editor Vicky Koffa. For more information on Rimini and Vicenza: info@riminiconvention.it / www.riminiconvention.it