How did you first get approached about leading a bid for FESSH 2028?
The turning point was a call from Ramona Fischer, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at GL Events – Strasbourg, the management company of Strasbourg’s Congress Centre. She identified our congress as a significant opportunity for Strasbourg. We agreed to meet, though I initially needed strong and convincing arguments, as I wasn’t particularly motivated to take on such a commitment so close to my retirement. Yet, as we explored options and challenges together, we built a strong connection, and one thing led to another.
Strasbourg wasn’t selected the first time you tried. What happened?
Our initial candidacy did not even reach the voting stage. The concern raised about Strasbourg was that it was “peripheral,” with questions regarding accessibility and infrastructure. I was deeply disappointed, as I knew Strasbourg to be a European capital with an active university, the renowned IRCAD (Strasbourg Institute for Image-Guided Surgery), Nobel laureates, and a strong track record in hosting large congresses. I couldn’t hide my disappointment and share my perspective with the FESSH Board, to reaffirm our city’s eligibility. It took some effort and a lot of convincing arguments from Ramona to re-engage me in the process.
What did you change in the second bid?
The bid itself didn’t change much, but the criteria did. That shift, combined with the motivation we shared with Ramona Fischer, made us even more determined. I launched an intensive campaign, presenting our case country by country. Our pitch emphasized the strength of the city rather than individuals, and we supported it with a purpose-built video along with many other tailored concrete arguments…And here we go, Strasbourg will host FESSH in 2028!
You’ve said accessibility was decisive: can you unpack that?
We framed accessibility in an eco-responsible way. Strasbourg sits on high-speed rail lines to Paris, Basel, and Frankfurt – with Berlin-Paris via Strasbourg, which recently began to operate. Many delegates can combine air + train and arrive right in the city centre, not needing a 30-minute taxi ride. For countries where flying is discouraged when rail is practical, it matters a lot. The point was: accessibility isn’t only about direct flights and major airport hubs; it’s about credible, low-carbon door-to-door options.
And the local infrastructure?
Strasbourg Congress and Exhibition Centre comfortably handles a 2,000-person congress, with a great location, ample breakout space, three large auditoriums as well as wonderful surroundings. On hotels, even during European Parliament sessions, there’s enough capacity to host our community with an overall capacity of 11,000 rooms. Besides, we can keep the industry exhibition as a central place in the venue – in the foyers and contiguous spaces – so delegates stay close to exhibitors during coffee breaks and lunch.
How will you structure the exhibition and networking?
As mentioned, the exhibition will be embedded in the main venue footprint, with catering integrated to drive footfall for industry partners. On the social side, there will be two signature moments: the President’s Dinner, a more protocol-driven evening for national leaders and VIPs, which we would love to host at the Palais Universitaire, and the FESSH Party on Friday, which is deliberately intergenerational and festive to spark conversations between younger and senior surgeons.
What sort of support did you receive from Strasbourg for the bid and for preparing the congress?
We had robust, practical support across the board. The venue coordinated the bid work – letters of support, technical data on the venue and a detailed swot analysis of the destination and also coordinated a very efficient sequence of site visits. Hotels aligned early around allocations and rate frames, and we had clear guidance on transport options so we could emphasize lower-carbon access by rail. Overall, having a single, responsive point of contact simplified decisions and let us focus on the scientific agenda.
Beyond infrastructures, what strengths does Strasbourg bring scientifically and academically?
Strasbourg is a university city with an internationally recognised hand surgery service. Our team has trained many international fellows – Japan, the US, South America – and we’ve published extensively in the field. Add to that IRCAD for skills training, and a major university with a strong research profile and multiple Nobel laureates, there’s a genuine scientific ecosystem here. It’s not just a place to meet; it’s a place to learn and collaborate.
What impact do you expect FESSH 2028 to have in France and locally?
Nationally, we want to boost French attendance and participation in FESSH. Despite France’s stature in hand surgery, our numbers at recent FESSH meetings have lagged. Hosting at home is a chance to change that, with early communication already underway.
We also plan to increase the number of French candidates taking the highly regarded FESSH examination, held just before the congress. The FESSH Hand Surgery Diploma is a true milestone and a mark of international recognition at the start of a young surgeon’s career. Candidates come from all over the world, not only from Europe, to compete for this prestigious diploma.
Not to mention, a meeting of this scale brings obviously economic benefits for the destination – but also scientific visibility that fosters ongoing exchanges with international teams and attracts young surgeons.
More information: rfischer@strasbourg-events.com / www.strasbourg-events.com