All Entries in the "Conferences" Category

First Keynote Speaker Announced for the ACTE Global Education Conference in Rome, 14-16 October

Nariman Behravesh Chief Economist IHS

Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya St. Petersburg Hotel to welcome International Banking Congress

Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya St. Petersburg Hotel is ready for one of the largest and most important annual events for financial industry. The Banking Congress is an annual event in the banking sphere and a place for discussion of topics that impact both Russian and International banking business. This congress will be held with the assistance of St. Petersburg Foundation for Support of the International Banking Congresses, bank associations and Russian credit institutions and will take place on June 5-8, 2012.

The Congress has become an event where representatives of the Federation Council, State Duma, Russian Government, Bank of Russia, international financial institutions, accounting firms, consulting and IT companies, banking associations and state academies get together. At the hotel in St. Petersburg they will be discussing aspects of the banking business development, issues of interaction of the financial sector and economy, modernization instruments and ways of maintaining the banking system stability, problems of the banking regulation and banking supervision and methods for their solutions.

Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya St Petersburg is not only the conference platform for the International Banking Congress. The hotel in St. Petersburg will also host the following conferences: Yandex company, “Man and His Health”, Amway and “Status Quo”. It also hosted the largest medical and pharmaceutical congress, organized by leaders of industry and featuring input from companies like PharmStandard, Sandoz, Convent Pharma, Astra Zeneca and many others. The hotel also provides St. Petersburg accommodation for business and leisure guests during the biggest events in the city. Those seeking St. Petersburg restaurants will find the hotel’s 800-capacity Park Inn restaurant and RGB Bar & Grill on site, offering spacious dining areas for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. – PRnewswire -

Liberal Democrats Make it a Hatrick of Party Conferences at ACC Liverpool

ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, has announced that the Liberal Democrats will return for its third party conference at the venue.

The coalition government partner will stage its annual autumn conference in September 2014, and is likely to attract more than 7,500 attendees.

It will be the second time the Lib Dems have chosen to hold their most important date on the political calendar in the city and their third visit to Liverpool overall.

In 2008, they held their spring conference in Liverpool, returning two years later, in September 2010, for their main gathering, which was the first ever major party political event held at the waterfront venue.

Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, said the return of the Lib Dems was the result of ACC Liverpool’s previous track record to deliver and years of building up a relationship with the party conference organiser.

He said: “Lib Dems coming to us for a third time is further confirmation that Liverpool is stronger than ever as a conference destination.

“The party came to us in our inaugural year in 2008, then again in 2010, so organisers know that we can deliver a first-class conference for delegates here at ACC Liverpool.

“Each time, the economic impact benefit for the city was terrific and we received positive feedback from delegates about the venue and the city.

“Our team, along with Liverpool Convention Bureau, have been in talks for many years with the Lib Dems, and with all the political parties, to come to the city to hold their key conferences.  When conference finishes is doesn’t just stop there, there is a lot of continuous work that goes on behind the scenes.

“We want to build on the success of our hosting of last year’s Labour Party conference by attracting even more party political events.  For now, we look forward to welcoming the Lib Dems to the city in two years’ time.”

The last time the party was in Liverpool, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrats leader, was joined in the city by 6,000 delegates and 1,600 global media.  The event generated £10m for the city economy with 206 fringe meetings hosted at ACC Liverpool and around 300 additional fringe meetings taking place elsewhere in the city.

Lucy Billingsley, head of conference office at the Liberal Democrats, said: “We held our spring conference in Liverpool four years ago and returned for autumn season in 2010, both proved to be immensely successful.

“We are confident that 2014 will be just as positive and look forward to returning to such a vibrant and dynamic city.”

ACC Liverpool has already hosted the Labour Party Conference, in September last year, which saw 11,000 delegates descend on Liverpool, delivering a £15m boost to the city economy.

The venue is ideally located for high-security events of this nature, being effectively surrounded by water on three sides which creates a secure campus site and enables it to lockdown quickly and efficiently.

The Labour Party Conference saw maximum security procedures implemented and rigorous plans put into place in collaboration with Merseyside Police, Liverpool Convention Bureau and Liverpool City Council.

Joe Anderson, the newly-elected mayor of Liverpool, welcomed the news that the Lib Dems will be returning to Liverpool for the third time.

He said: “Large scale conferences are extremely positive as they give us an opportunity to show what Liverpool can offer as a conference and business destination.

“The fact that the Lib Dems are returning for a third time is proof in the party’s confidence in ACC Liverpool and the city.  It shows that we are a national player when it comes to UK party politicals.”

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added: “This is excellent news and it comes as no surprise to me that the Lib Dems wish to hold their annual gathering in Liverpool again, because there can be few better venues in the UK for conference delegates.

“We recently held the hugely-successful Global Entrepreneurship Congress at ACC Liverpool and the unanimous response from visitors was that Liverpool is a city like no other – beautiful and exciting with a broad range of attractions, hotels, restaurants and bars all within walking distance of this spectacular state-of-the-art complex, set in a stunning waterside location.

“Congratulations to Bob and his team, competition is fierce to hold conferences of this size and the economic prize is great. Whatever your political hue this benefits all of Liverpool.”

The 37thWorld Association of Chefs Societies Congress to be held in Athens

Mission accomplished! Athens will be the venue for the 37th World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in May, 2016. The decision was taken by the majority of the 75 countries who participated in the voting process, on Saturday 5 May, during the 35th WACS Congress held in the city of Daejeon, South Korea. The other two contestants bidding against Athens were Johannesburg and Istanbul.

Through this decision, Greece establishes its prominent position in the international gastronomic scene, since the 37th World Association of Chefs Societies Congress is expected to attract over 2000 participants, including internationally acclaimed chefs, as well as talented chefs now emerging on the gastronomic stage, who will potentially be given the opportunity to sample authentic Greek flavours for the first time. This particular event has never before been held in a European city of the Mediterranean, and is expected to serve as a dynamic promotion for Athens, Greece and also Mediterranean food, while financially benefiting the companies involved.

The bid was submitted by the Hellenic Chefs’ Federation on behalf of Greece and its successful outcome was framed by the practical support of the Athens Convention Bureau and the Greek National Tourism Organization, as well as the financial contribution of the Municipality of Athens.

The result marks a huge success, since Greece is currently experiencing a period of economic decline which it is trying to overcome, by making efforts to put its economy on the road to recovery and improve its image in the international media. In Daejeon, South Korea, the presence of the Greek delegation was exceptional and, in combination with the excellent relations built with the representatives of the World Association of Chefs Societies, was able to outbid the other two co-candidate cities. In the first round, Athens received 27 votes, followed by Johannesburg with 24 and Istanbul with 22. About 50% of our goal –or perhaps somewhat more- had been achieved. In the second round of voting, Athens beat Johannesburg hands down.

Systematic work leads to positive results!

The Greek delegation set off for the grand final in Southeast Asia on 29 April. The President of the Hellenic Chefs’ Federation, Mr Miltos Karoubas, the Treasurer of the Federation, Mr Vasileios Karoubas, and other representatives travelled to S. Korea from Athens, together with the company coordinating the bid, ARTION Conferences & Events, represented by Ms Despoina Amarantidou and Ms Zoi Pazaiti. Also present were the Metropolitan of Korea Amvrosios and the Ambassador of Greece in Seoul, Mr Petros Avgerinos.

A few days earlier, over 600 kg of Greek delicacies had been delivered, as typical examples of the country’s gastronomy, which were offered to the participating chefs during the five days of the congress, and were greatly praised. A large number of indicative products from the Greek and Mediterranean gastronomic tradition were provided by food industry professionals, and were enthusiastically received. The Greek pavilion evolved into the most popular meeting point of the 35th Congress in Daejeon, with foreign guests present on a permanent basis, who came to ask about the Greek cuisine, and to discuss the current situation in our country.

The Greek companies who supported the Greek delegation by sending food were CHALARIS SA – traditional wrapped desserts from Tinos, KIMONAS – bakeries, patisseries, catering from Lemnos, ΤΟ PARADOSIAKO – traditional desserts from Zakynthos, PROTOPSALTIS ΤASOS – CREAM & CHOCOLATE – patisserie from Athens, VRYSSA S.A. – drinks, wine from Tyrnavos, RANTEVOU – patisserie/bakery from Naxos, TERRA CRETA SA – The traceable olive oil from Crete, KRITON ARTOS – bakery goods from Crete and THE CHIOS GUM MASTIC GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION – mastic sweets and bonbons from Chios.

The three bids were presented on Thursday 3 May, with Greece and Athens gaining the advantage. The simplicity and concise content of the presentation script, which highlighted the history and infrastructure of Athens, served to support the lobbying work that had been systematically undertaken by the Greek mission, not only during the five days in Korea, but also in the previous period. Thus, the positive result was ensured after the systematic and targeted work that had taken place.

The WACS Congress is of institutional, cultural and economic interest. It has been held without fail since 1928, except for the period of World War II. It has been hosted by 22 cities around the world so far, its duration is five days and approximately 2000 delegates from all five continents take part. At present, WACS boasts 87 members – official national chefs’ federations from around the globe. The WACS Congress of 2014 will be held in Norway; in 2010 the event was organized in Chile.

$23.5 million Transport Congress to be held in Melbourne in 2016

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher and Minister for Public Transport and Roads Terry Mulder have today announced that Melbourne has won the right to host the prestigious Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress in October 2016.

Expected to attract more than 5000 delegates to the city and generate more than $23.5 million for Victoria, the large-scale trade exhibition and conference will be held over five days at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Ms Asher said it was a big win for Victoria and once again proves the state’s credentials in hosting congresses and conferences.

“Melbourne continues to attract some of the world’s biggest business congresses and conferences, a record the Victorian Coalition Government is keen to enhance,” Ms Asher said.

“Hosting the Congress here in Melbourne would provide an opportunity to showcase the latest technical developments to a global audience, with delegates including private corporations, public agencies and academic institutions involved in the research, design and implementation of new technologies across all modes of transport.”

Intelligent Transport System (ITS) technologies include communication, data processing and electronic technologies for in-vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and mode-to-mode systems that increase transport safety and mobility, improve the sustainability of travel, reduce congestion, and improve the performance and competitiveness of all modes of transport.

Mr Mulder said the large Congress would give Melbourne the chance to showcase some of its advanced ITS initiatives, including the radio break-in railway level crossing safety program, adaptive traffic control systems, priority signalling for road-based public transport vehicles, electronic tolling and freeway management and information systems to reduce delays due to traffic incidents.

“The sharing of knowledge and applications experience among the ITS sector is critical to further innovation in this area. This Congress is regarded as the preeminent meeting in the ITS industry,” Mr Mulder said.

Securing the ITS World Congress adds to Victoria’s depth and reputation as a globally-focused and competitive ICT hub. ICT in Victoria generates around $29 billion in revenue and $2.45 billion in exports annually.

Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau Karen Bolinger said the awarding of the Congress to Melbourne is a major achievement for the Victorian business events industry.

“This win is the result of a lot of hard work and a testament to the fact Melbourne has the capabilities, both in terms of business events infrastructure and ITS resources, to host an event of this calibre,” Ms Bolinger said.

“We are confident this win will now give us the opportunity to bid for other major international conferences related to this field.”

Local host organisation, ITS Australia, is the country’s only organisation focused on facilitating the development and deployment of advanced technologies across all modes of transport – air, sea, road and rail.

ITS Australia President Brian Negus said he was delighted with the support for the Melbourne Congress bid offered by international colleagues.

“The support of the ITS industry in Asia-Pacific, the Americas and in Europe was particularly pleasing. This global input and the support of the Victorian Government were critical elements in our success,” Mr Negus said.

“Australia hosted a successful Congress in 2001 and it is a great honour to be selected again as the host country. This will be an important landmark for ITS developments in Australia.”

FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, 16-17 August 2012

The first International Congress on Sustainable Tourism will be held in Puerto Varas (Chile) on 16-17 August 2012.

This is born from the requirement to make world tendencies in tourism development known and the importance of favouring sustainable bases.

This promotes work with natural, cultural and historical resources in each destination and that this activity has a positive impact on the three pillars of sustainability: economical, social and environmental.

For more information please go to: http://www.congresoturismosostenible.com/index.php

VANCOUVER SELECTED TO HOST INTERNATIONAL UROLOGY CONGRESS

Vancouver is one of five BestCities destinations that will host the prestigious Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) annual congress. The international gathering attracts urologists from around the globe, with approximately 4,000 delegates expected to attend the 2013 meeting in Vancouver.

The SIU’s executive director first learned of BestCities after attending a client workshop in Vancouver, during which Tourism Vancouver led a site visit to introduce SIU representatives to the city.The SIU chooses congress destinations based on what cities can offer delegates in terms of a strong medical community, local attractions and cultural depth.

Other BestCities destinations that have held, or will hold, the congress include Singapore, Cape Town, Berlin and Melbourne.

New Orleans Hosts 2012 World Cultural Economic Forum

Mayor Landrieu, Mayor Villaraigosa, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and International Officials Convene in New Orleans on Cultural Economy

NEW ORLEANS, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – New Orleans Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu welcomed nearly 50 delegations representing cities and countries from around the U.S. and the world toNew Orleans for the 2012 World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) this week.

WCEF is connecting mayors and thought leaders from around the world who are exchanging ideas, building partnerships between their cities, and shaping the discussion on culture as an effective tool to spur innovation.

“In New Orleans we value culture and those who create it. It drives our tourism economy and increases our quality of life.  In short, culture equals jobs. The vibrancy that culture adds to our City makes us the global model for growing a true cultural economy.  For this reason, we offer New Orleans as the global meeting place for leaders on this subject as we host them during the World Cultural Economic Forum,” said Mayor Landrieu.

At WCEF this morning, Mayor Landrieu issued the 2011 New Orleans Cultural Economy Snapshot. The report is the second ever comprehensive analysis that quantifies all aspects of the cultural economy in New Orleans: individual artists/producers/originators, for-profit businesses, non-profit organizations and community-based organizations.

Highlights include findings that the cultural sector in New Orleans has 30,400 jobs, an increase of 6.7% since 2009, and that in 2011, the local cultural economy had almost 50% more employees than the national average. The full Cultural Economy Snapshot can be downloaded at nola.gov.

The City of New Orleans is partnering with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to present WCEF. Mayor Landrieu serves as Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Tourism, Arts, Parks, and Entertainment and Sports Committee (TAPES). Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, joined Mayor Landrieu as a keynote.

Domestic mayors and country delegations from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Central and South America are attending the WCEF. Attendees are participating in plenary and breakout sessions, bilateral meetings and cultural exhibitions.

Mayor Landrieu is entering into memoranda of understanding with Rosh Ha’Ayin, Israel; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Batumi, Georgia.

Attendees will end the forum by experiencing one of the greatest demonstrations of a cultural economy at work when they visit the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

Local partners joined with the City of New Orleans to present WCEF and showcase New Orleans’ economic assets, including New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation, New Orleans Business Alliance, and the World Trade Center.

More at wcefneworleans.com and Twitter hashtag #WCEF.

Middle East hoteliers engaging with social media to boost tourism in, finds WTM Vision Conference – Dubai

The prospects for growth in tourist arrivals in the Middle East and the success of some hotels in the region in using social media were the key topics revealed at the WTM Vision Conference – Dubai.

WTM Vision Conference – Dubai was organised by World Travel Market and took place at fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event Arabian Travel Market on Tuesday 1 May, following on from earlier well-received conferences in Moscow and London.

Mark Frary, co-founder of WTM’s Social Travel Market conference, gave an insightful presentation on the use of social media by hotels, giving tips to an audience senior industry delegates on how to use networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ to promote their properties.

Frary said, “Ever since 2005, the voice of the customer – the hotel guest – has been deafening. Guests have used the internet and social media networks to share their views, often good but frequently bad, of their hotel stays. The reality is that this social media chatter will go on even if hotels choose not to engage with social media.

“However, by choosing to invest time, and yes money, in social media, hoteliers can become part of the conversation and exert influence on how they are perceived.”

Frary showed how hotels in ATM’s host city of Dubai and in the wider Middle East had already engaged with social media, highlighting the good work being done by the Atlantis Palm, the Dusit Thani and the Kempinski group.

Asked about research that showed that 61% of people did not want brands to be active in their social media channels, Frary said, “Facebook now has more than 845 million users. I would be happy engaging with the 39% of those 845 million who do want that interaction with brands.”

Speaker Nadejda Popova, industry analyst with Euromonitor International, also shared the market research company’s report Travel Industry Global Overview with a packed room and looked at the specific findings regarding the Middle East.

Popova said : “2012 started with a high level of uncertainty and the negative impact of the Eurozone crisis has led to IMF downgrading the forecast for 2012 to 0.75%. However, emerging regions have been recording growth.”

She added that the Arab Spring had not been detrimental to all countries in the region. She said, “The UAE and Saudi Arabia have actually benefitted from the uprisings, as they were seen as stable countries to travel to.”

The company predicts that tourism arrivals in the Middle East will rise by 1.3% in 2012, after the blip of 2011 when these fell by 6.2%. However, this temporary blip is on the back of a strong 2010 when tourist numbers grew by an impressive 11.5%.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said: “WTM Vision Conference – Dubai has continued the success of the previous two events in Moscow and London with another packed room of senior industry delegates.

“The level of support we have received for the whole series demonstrates the need for high level research, information and opinion WTM Vision provides the industry’s senior leaders to help them run their businesses.”

The WTM Vision Conference – Dubai, in association with TTN Middle East, was sponsored by Dunleavy White, the senior level executive search firm which has this week opened a new office inDubai.

The WTM Vision Conferences series was launched in 2009 in London and has expanded to a five event series in 2012.

The Moscow, London and Dubai events have already taken place with WTM Vision Conference – Shanghai taking place on May 10 and WTM Vision Conference – Florence completing the series on May 18.

Melbourne wins the rights to host Harvard World Model United Nations Conference in 2013

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today announced that the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference 2013 (WorldMUN), one of the world’s largest student-led international meetings, will be held in Melbourne next year.

Ms Asher said Melbourne fended off competition from Spain, France and Turkey to host the event, which was expected to bring approximately 1700 delegates from around the world to Melbourne.

“This is a coup for Victoria and is expected to generate more than $8 million for the state economy,” Ms Asher said.

“International education is Victoria’s largest export industry. More than 160,000 international students from 165 countries were enrolled in Victorian education institutions by the end of 2011, with the sector injecting $4.8 billion into the state’s economy each year and creating an estimated 50,000 jobs for Victorians.”

Founded in 1991 by Harvard University, WorldMUN is the largest and most diverse university conference of its kind outside North America. With delegates from more than 65 countries, WorldMUN offers an unparalleled opportunity for youth leaders to engage in cultural exchange and compete at the highest international levels of Model United Nations (UN).

Model UN is essentially a simulation of the UN that aims to educate delegates about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the UN agenda. The participants role-play as diplomats to investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems.

The Melbourne/Australia WorldMUN delegation includes students from RMIT and Monash University. The students, who had formal endorsement from their universities to bid to host the 2013 event, were required to form a structured committee that could prove Melbourne’s capability in hosting the prestigious event.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Committee Siamak Sam Loni said the Monash/RMIT Melbourne Host Team could not be happier with this result, and the response to its bid was a testament to the Committee’s hard work.

“For months we have worked alongside the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) in order to prepare our bid and I would like to thank everyone involved. In the coming months, we will continue working hard to ensure that Melbourne takes WorldMUN to new heights,” Siamak Sam Loni said.

Chief Executive Officer of MCVB Karen Bolinger said WorldMUN 2013 was a fantastic fit for Melbourne in light of the city’s reputation as Australia’s intellectual capital.

“Victoria has ten world-class universities, eight of them with campuses in Melbourne’s central business district, and this win is evidence of the high standard of students our universities are producing. A lot of work went into this bid and everyone involved should feel very proud of what they have achieved for their city,” Ms Bolinger said.

“Melbourne’s status as ‘the world’s most liveable city’ and its reputation as the major events, live music, arts and culture, and food and wine capital will surely be a major draw card for students to attend next year’s event.”

WorldMUN 2013 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in March 2013.

2015: Florence becomes the capital of the Web, over 2000 participants expected

The WWW Conference is the most important event related to Web to discuss and analyze the evolution of the Web, the diffusion of its associated technologies and the impact of those technologies on society and culture. The payoff of Florence was helped by a very strong scientific support given by local and national institutions and the local presence of important actors like BTO Educational, Fondazione Sistema Toscana and Fondazione Rinascimento Digitale.

The forum, which this year was held in the beautiful city of Lyon, was won in a shortlist withLjubljana and Hannover and will bring to the city more than 2000 participants from all over the world.

The director Carlotta Ferrari, who came personally to Lyon with Viviana Vitali of the OIC pco and academics professors, to present the Florence offer in front of the audience of WWW2012, said: “The challenge was played until the last moment by the scientific community of the destinations in the short list, that were actually very prepared. What ,I think, made the difference and decreed the win of our city was  without doubt the great spirit of collaboration present among Florence Convention Bureau, the  pco that will handle the organization of the event and the scientific community that has made an excellent job in presenting a very interesting project for the Florentine edition.”

The Ferrari plugged the vitality of the technology sector and the competitiveness of the companies not only in Florence but throughout Tuscany, finally remembering what makes the successful activities of the Florence Convention: “Our commitment is constantly rewarded by the strong partnerships between public and private, a teamwork that saw a total synergy between public institutions and private companies involved in the MICE industry. All this, together with the important benefits that FCB places in its candidacies, represents the successful weapon of our convention bureau. “

World’s Leading Magnetic Resonance Specialists to Convene in Melbourne

More than 5000 clinicians and scientists from over 50 countries around the world specialising in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will convene in Melbourne for the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s (ISMRM)20^thAnnual Meeting & Exhibition, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Saturday.

The ISMRM is a world‐wide multidisciplinary society dedicated to the development and application of all aspects of magnetic resonance to medicine and related fields.

The 2012 Annual Meeting will build on the established position as the premier event in its field, providing challenging state‐of‐the‐art programs for both clinical and basic scientists.

“The 2012 ISMRM meeting in Melbourne will see highlights of the most important interactions between physicists, engineers, and physicians that have translated scientific discoveries to patient care,” said Roberta A. Kravitz, ISMRM Executive Director.

This year, under the Program Direction of James G. Pipe, Ph.D., of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, the ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition will offer a diversified seven-day educational and scientific program.

A key highlight of the program will be a lecture presented by Dr. Paul Bottomley who was the first physician to perform a localised Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) in a human heart and brain and has authored over 170 peer-reviewed papers.

Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), which won the Meeting for Melbourne, said she, along with her colleagues at the MCEC, were looking forward to welcoming delegates to the city.

“Melbourne has so much to offer delegates visiting for a business event and we certainly hope those attending the ISMRM 20^th Annual Meeting & Exhibition will take full advantage of their spare time to explore the city’s intricate laneways and dining hotspots.

“Holding an event of this calibre in Melbourne reaffirms the city’s reputation as a centre of excellence for research and development in the medical, science, business and financial industries.”

For more information on the ISMRM’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition, including a copy of the program, please visit www.ismrm.org.

Cairns Ready to Welcome the World

The Cairns Convention Centre will host 13 international conventions with over 8,000 delegates in the coming six months as the city gets ready to welcome the world.

In addition to international visitors the Centre will also welcome over 4,000 national conference delegates in what promises to be an exciting year for the region.

Some upcoming events include:

•   33rd Conference of the International Society for Animal Genetics
•   Nuclei in the Cosmos International Symposium on Nuclear Astrophysics
•   12th International Coral Reef Symposium
•   75th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society
•   Cosmetex 2012
•   Dioxin 2012

The choice of Cairns as the host city for Dioxin 2012 was a simple one for the bidding team.

Professor Jochen Mueller, Conference Chair, said, “We really wanted to show our global colleagues the great natural environment offered by Australia – and Cairns is the jewel in the crown of Australia’s world heritage environmental attractions”.

“The convention centre in Cairns has world-class facilities, and is the right size to host our large group. The opportunities for great social events in Cairns and the surrounding region are endless – there’s no doubt the city will help participants have lasting memories of an amazing event,” said Professor Mueller.

The future also bodes well for the region as the Convention Centre Team continues to win these important international events. Some recent bid wins include:

•   International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours Meeting 2013
•   International Children’s Continence Society Meeting 2014
•   25th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry 2015
•   International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions 2017

Ross Steele, General Manager, Cairns Convention Centre said, “The Centre’s long term international marketing focus along with the proven success of Cairns as a business events destination are the catalysts for hosting so many prestigious international events. We look forward to welcoming the world to Cairns not only this year but well into the future.”

Full list of coming events: http://www.cairnsconvention.com.au/eventcalendar-12.html

British Association for Psychopharmacology signs two year deal with HIC

The British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) has signed a two year deal to host its annual summer meeting at Harrogate International Centre (HIC) – a deal worth £120,000.

The event will bring 500 visitors to the town during the four day meeting, contributing more than £500,000 to the local economy. The summer meeting is the largest the BAP organises, and it has been held at HIC most years since 2001.

BAP brings together people from the clinical and experimental disciplines as well as members of the pharmaceutical industry involved in the study of psychopharmacology. It is one of many high profile medical organisations which choose to host large conferences and meetings at HIC.

Angus Houston, director of HIC, says: “The decision by The British Association for Psychopharmacology to extend its contract and hold its summer meeting at HIC for the next two years is fantastic news, not only for the venue itself but the town and surrounding area too. With such a high volume of visitors coming to the region over four days, events like this greatly benefit the local economy. The economic impact of this event alone will be much more than £500,000. It again highlights that HIC is one of Harrogate’s biggest economic drivers, impacting on everything from tourism and event providers to local shops and infrastructure.”

“HIC hosts a number of medical sector events. It has become popular with organisers because it provides the flexibility and space needed, and our dedicated staff are trained to co-ordinate these types of events. As the venue continues to grow following the opening of the new halls we are already seeing interest from additional medical sector events and associations.  For many Harrogate is the ideal location, a perfect blend of convenience, easy access and the highest service levels.”

UniSpace Sunderland secures Swedish association conference for first time in UK

UniSpace Sunderland has secured a contract with Swedish-based Operation, Maintenance and Acoustics International Association to host its two-day annual Maintenance Performance Measurement and Management (MPMM) conference in September 2012, bringing the event to the UK for the first time ever.

The win marks the first international event secured by UniSpace, which launched to the national and international conference market at Confex in March.  The MPMM opportunity was created as a result of links between the University’s Institute for Automotive & Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) department and is the first win generated by UniSpace’s new ambassador programme.

The conference will see around 200 Delegates from across the world head to Sunderland to discuss engineering concepts, optimisation of equipment and energy efficiency to the impact of the global recession on the maintenance industry.  Plenary and workshop sessions will take place on the Sir Tom Cowie Campus on the banks of the river Wear, with an industry exhibition in the Prospect Building. The delegates will also have an interactive reception at The National Glass Centre, including glass blowing demonstrations.

Dr David Baglee, MPMM committee representative and senior lecturer in the University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences, will chair the conference. He said: “We are delighted to be hosting this highly specialised conference for the first time in the UK.

“As a committee, it is important that we select venues with both great facilities and a reputation for excellence in our field: UniSpace offers both of these features in abundance.  Hosting the conference on campus will help to showcase the excellent research carried out within the university, and in particular AMAP.”

Sharon Olver, University Commercial Services Manager responsible for UniSpace, said: “We are delighted to have secured an international event so soon after making our big push to the wider market.  The MPMM conference gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase the diversity of our venue on an international scale.  Moreover, Conferences like the MPMM not only raise the university’s profile as a venue for large association and academic conferences, but also strengthen the region’s proposition.  This event in particular has a tangible positive economic benefit to Sunderland and the region as a whole.”

Thailand is at top-pitch and ready to host the internationally recognized “2012 Rotary International Convention”

This major event enjoys full government support, and is expected to significantly boost Thai tourism and MICE industries as the country promotes its new tourism campaign – “Miracle Thailand” 

Bangkok: 23 April 2012 – The Royal Thai Government has announced that it will offer its full support on the memorable occasion for the country which will, for the first time, host the 2012 Rotary International Convention. Over 30 public and private sectors have recently met to discuss their final preparations in welcoming over 30,000 Rotarians from over 160 countries worldwide. This major world-class event is anticipated to help take Thailand’s MICE capabilities to new heights, and it comes at the right time as the country’s brand-new tourism-boosting campaign – “Miracle Thailand” – is in full swing. The event is expected to generate as much as 3 Billion Baht in revenue for Thailand.

Ms. Pensuda Priaram, Chairman of the Board of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau or TCEB, said the following at a press conference held for the 2012 Rotary International Convention. “It is an esteemed honor for Thailand to be selected as the host country for the upcoming 2012 Rotary International Convention as it helps underline the exceptional capabilities of the Thai MICE industry in organizing such a world-class event. The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, has worked closely together with Rotary clubs in Thailand since 2004 to promote Thailand as host of the 2012 Rotary International Convention by submitting a Bid Book to Rotary International. In the Bid Book, TCEB, as a government agent and a financial supporter, has submitted a letter of financial support in the amount of 270 million baht, which gained consent from the cabinet on March 8th, 2012, for Thailand to hold such a convention. There were three cities at the time that qualified for consideration by the executive directors of Rotary International, including Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. The major responsibilities in holding such a grand event were then assigned to several public and private agencies including the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, TCEB and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.”

“For the first time ever, Thailand has the great honor to host the 2012 Rotary International Convention, and this year’s convention is expected to welcome over 30,000 Rotarians from all corners of the world. It is estimated that most of the attendees will spend 2-3 times more than an average tourist does in Thailand. The convention is therefore anticipated to significantly boost the Thai MICE and tourism industries and to generate over 3 Billion Baht in revenue.”, added Ms. Pensuda.

TCEB today presented its MICE policy to the new government, incorporating a 5-year plan to develop the MICE industry from 2012-2016 in line with the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016). “Therefore, TCEB is confident that by implementing the 5-year MICE industry development plan, working together with the industry, we can establish Thailand as a MICE hub for Asia by the year 2016. Our aim is to increase the level of awareness of Thailand among MICE travelers. We estimate that by 2016 Thailand will be able to attract 75% more MICE travelers, or 1.4 million visitors per year, with revenues reach 1.3 billion baht.

She further noted that, “The convention will provide an excellent opportunity for Thailand to demonstrate the outstanding capabilities of its MICE industry to the world, and pave the way for it to become a leading MICE industry hub in the region. Moreover, it will also help promote Thailand’s brand new tourism campaign – ‘Miracle Thailand’ – which is being actively implemented by the Thai government.” 

The event will play an important part in helping to promote Thailand economically and socially to the world, underscoring the country’s outstanding MICE capabilities. It will also be a great platform for Thailand to impress Rotarians with the country’s great cultural and tourism values. In this regard, over 30 public and private sectors from various fields including entertainment, event organization and security – have been assigned to work together in creating a spectacular event to remember.

Mr. Thongchai Sridama, Board of Director and Acting President of TCEB, said that, “TCEB has worked actively and supportively together with Rotary clubs in Thailand for many years in bringing this grand event to Thailand. Our most recent role was in organizing meetings with various public and private sectors to ensure that each and every aspect of the event will reflect well on the country.”

The emphasis of such meetings was on the following four areas.

1. 1.      To ensure fast, convenient immigration process for incoming delegates. This undertaking has received warm collaboration from the Department of Consular Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

1. 2.      To arrange a warm welcome for incoming delegates at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Tasks have been assigned to three major agencies on this matter. Firstly, Airports of Thailand Plc. or AOT will arrange all relevant welcome signage, as well as, install welcome counters at Baggage Claim belts. Secondly, the Immigration Office will be responsible for arranging a special fast lane and providing sufficient personnel to accommodate a speedy immigration process for such a large number of delegates. ‘Visa On Arrival’ service will also be available. Thirdly, the Department of Consular Affairs will help facilitate the customs process for delegates bringing in documents and items related to the convention.

1. 3.      To ensure dependable safety and efficient traffic management. On this front, special shuttle bus services will be available for delegates staying at 56 participating hotels, facilitating travel between their hotels and convention venues throughout the convention period. As many as 20 special bus stops will be arranged for this purpose.

1. 4.      To raise the awareness of the event among the general Thai public. They will be invited to be ‘good hosts’ for visitors. Such efforts will be promoted in Bangkok and other major MICE cities including Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya – all of which will be visited by participating Rotarians before, during and after the convention.

Moreover, in major overseas markets, there will be PR activities, such as trade shows and road shows, to promote Thailand’s capabilities in organizing such a world-class event.

“The success of this event will undoubtedly go a long way in underlining Thailand’s readiness to host world-class MICE events, which is exactly in line with the missions and aims of TCEB to steer the country to become the leading MICE hub in ASEAN. Additionally, this grand, international event will contribute greatly to generating substantial MICE revenue for the country. TCEB anticipates that Thailand will welcome as many as 750,000 MICE visitors and earn as much as     60 Billion Baht worth of MICE revenue in 2012.”, explained, Mr. Thongchai.

Mr. Noraseth Pathamanand, Chair, Host Organization Committee of 2012 Rotary International Convention, revealed that, “In addition to the core activities which are held every year such as group and regional meetings of Rotarians, this year’s convention will also feature special addresses by various world-renowned Keynote Speakers including Muhamad Yunas, Nobel Prize winner of 2006; Hugh Evans, CEO of the Global Poverty Project; and, Amanda Martin of the Global Health Access Program. The event will also present voluntary activities of Rotarians from many nations in over 100 booths. What makes this year’s event even more special is that Rotarians will use it as a platform to celebrate their success in raising 202 Million USD in new funding for worldwide polio eradication – Rotary’s top philanthropic goal. This Rotary fundraising campaign was in response to an initial grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a result of achieving the campaign milestone six months early, the Foundation awarded Rotary an additional 405 Million Baht. All funds will support polio immunization activities in affected countries where this vaccine-preventable disease continues to paralyze children.”

With the aim to create positive impressions for Rotarians and participants from around the world, Thailand, as the host nation, has planned a variety of exciting activities for them, all of which will be under the theme of ‘The Land of a Thousand Smiles’. The theme symbolizes the Thai culture of always extending goodwill to visitors. The mascots of the convention are ‘Nong Yim’ and ‘Nong Yam’, a Thai boy and a Thai girl in traditional loincloths, who will act as ambassadors in welcoming all the guests. One of this year’s biggest highlights is to form 2012 people into the shape of Thailand’s biggest smile in history – the phenomenon of which will be recorded by “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”. Moreover, the ‘House of Friendship’ will be created and adorned with beautiful flowers from the Doi Tung Development Project. All of these aforementioned activities are expected to create lasting impressions for visitors from around the world as they are truly special activities never seen elsewhere before.

In addition, Rotary Thailand will also present great performances by prominent artists. Such shows include the following.

A mini-concert by Tata Young, a famous Thai singer who will perform songs specially composed for this event.

• A world premiere of the musical entitled “A Boy and a Tiger”, directed by famous composer Bruce Gaston who has been recognized with the distinguished Silpathorn National Artist award in 2009.

“Furthermore, Rotary International will hold the Rotary World Peace Symposium in Thailand 1-2 days prior to the 2012 Rotary International Convention.  The Rotary World Peace Symposium is held every three years and it is an honor and a good opportunity for Thailand to promote its reputation as a peaceful country. Thailand is one of Rotary’s six Peace Centers in the world. Most of this year’s activities will focus on promoting the goodwill of friendship which is Rotary International’s top philosophy.”,concluded Mr. Noraseth.

The 2012 Rotary International Convention is scheduled to be staged at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, during May 6^th to 9^th, 2012, approximately about a month from now. The event will attract over 30,000 Rotarians from over 160 countries and is set to become the grandest international convention ever staged in Thailand.

Athens ready for the 37thWorld Association of Chefs Societies Congress in 2016

As Athens has been selected as one of the top three candidate cities for organizing the 37^th WACS Congress in 2016, along with Istanbul and Johannesburg, the Hellenic Chefs’ Federation is feverishly preparing for a dynamic presentation at Daejeon, Korea and invites the WACS members to support the Hellenic candidacy.

Now the time has come to Re-discover the Mediterranean Cuisine as neitherGreece, nor another Mediterranean country has hosted a WACS Congress for at least the last 30 years. That is why the Hellenic Chefs’ Federation intends to organize a traditional high level congress in the most historical city ofEurope, in Hellenic colors and flavors.

The Hellenic Chefs’ Federation, wishing to exploit in the best possible way this unique experience to promote Greece, its cuisine, its culture and traditions to the international gastronomic community, is rallying in this effort national and local bodies, which can make a substantial contribution to a successful outcome, namely the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the City of Athens, the Athens Convention Bureau, the Greek Tourism Organisation, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, etc.

During the 35^th WACS Congress inKorea, the attendants will have the opportunity to taste the “Greek Breakfast”, a new Breakfast Buffet consisting of traditional products and flavors selected from every corner ofGreece, introduced by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels in cooperation with the Hellenic Chef’s Association and supported by the Greek National Tourism Organization. The Greek Breakfast has been the result of a fruitful cooperation between gastronomy experts from all overGreece, such as executive chefs, specialized degustators and representatives from the chambers and the traditional food production sector, responding to the high standards of the International Gastronomy.

“Our intention has always been to maintain the high quality and evolve our traditional dishes to a higher level by using new techniques and discretely adding new ingredients. This is what we have in mind for the WACS Congress in 2016: to organize a traditional high level congress, in the most historical city of Europe, Athens, in Hellenic colors and flavors” comments the President of the Hellenic Chefs’ Federation, Mr Miltos Karoubas.

The Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Nikitiadis, appeared certain that the picture of Athens in international tourism markets is going to improve, saying  that the international gastronomic community will have the chance to taste the country’s unique cultural treasures.

“This event will bring together over one thousand internationally-recognized food professionals and will therefore provide an unprecedented opportunity to promote Greece, its food and tourism on a grand scale” stated D. Amarantidou, Communications Director at ARTION Conferences & Events, who is responsible for preparing the bid portfolio and coordinating the Greek delegation to Korea in May.

For more information you can contact the Hellenic Bid Coordinator, ARTION Conferences & Events: Tel: (+30) 2310 272275, 2310 252330, E-mal: wacs2016@artion.com.gr.

20th European Congress of Psychiatry – Prague

From 3 to 6 March, Prague Congress Centre hosted the 20th European Congress of Psychiatry.

The congress brought about 3500 experts on psychiatry of all specializations from many European countries. Under the motto “Beyond Diversity Towards Harmony”, a large number of lectures and workshops took place. According to one of the members of the organizing committee, well-known Czech psychiatrist Cyril Höschl, in some areas of psychiatry and in various European countries there are different views on the nature and treatment of some diseases.

Therefore, the purpose of the congress was to clarify these opinions and agree on the common procedures in the diagnosis and treatment. Other topics discussed this year were the genetics of the syndrome of attention disorders in children or individualized treatment of alcoholism.

6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation – Prague

The 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation conference which took place in Prague Congress Centre from 26th March to 30th March followed the previous successful conferences held in Rome, Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh and Nice. The event brought about 1100 delegates from both European and non-European countries.

A number of posters, lectures, sessions, workshops and a large exhibition focused to issues of antennas, distribution of radio signal and measurements and it also included topics from the field of industry. The visitors had the opportunity to see an exact model of the satellite Envisat 7, currently the largest European satellite whose purpose is to monitor the status of climate, the seas and the atmosphere. The model was lent by the European Space Agency (ESA) based in the Netherlands.

18th GCC eGovernment and eServices Conference

Technology is rapidly changing the nature of competition and approach in many government organizations across GCC. Marked as the largest eGovernment conference in the region, the “18th GCC eGovernment and eServices Conference” aims to encourage innovation and elevate the standards of implementing a strong eGovernment framework in paving the way forward to global competitiveness.

Organized in cooperation with the eGovernment Institute, the conference aspires to leverage the diversity of global trends, challenges and opportunities for GCC eGovernment structure to complement various aspects of digital society. The conference will highlight eGovernment strategies on enhancing efficiency and effectiveness, improving access to information, transparency as well as achieving a greater level of citizen centricity. It will discuss issues on eGovernment platforms and benchmarks, interoperable frameworks, private-public eCollaboration including eDefense for security and protection.

The conference will serve as a platform for industry experts, key government representatives, and intellectuals from various countries to come together to effectively collaborate in the planning, delivery and evaluation of eGovernment implementation in the region.

Who will attend ?

The conference will be attended by eGovernment executives, decision-makers and key policy makers from regional and global government organizations including:
eGovernment and eService Leaders
CIOs, IT Managers, IT Directors and CTOs
Project Managers and Consultants
IT Security and Network Professionals
Hardware, Software and Network Engineers
System Integrator Professionals
ICT Solution Providers, Communications Engineer
Academia and Researchers
Telecom and Internet Service Providers
Technology Vendors and OEMs
C-level Executives, Directors and Department Heads
Information Technology Professionals and Experts
And many more…

Why should you attend?
The conference will feature experts and practitioners in the field of electronic government to present the latest offerings and advances in ICT infrastructure, government portals and techniques for online transactions. Global case studies will be presented on GCC eGovernment success and challenges and how to evercome these to attain the perfect state of eGovernance.

The event provides valuable insights into local and international eInitiatives that are enhancing and changing the way the government does business, communicating and participating with their agencies and their citizens. Delegates will have the chance to hear and discuss how eTechnology is engaging and empowering the citizens and forming its own eCommunity which has in turn become the major driver in formulating the ways that government and business deliver services to the public.

The 8th International Conference on Computing and Information Technology

At present, it is already known that knowledge can be disseminated widely and quickly. Information and Communication Technology plays a significant role to emphasize this particular point. Conversely, knowledge is also an important factor for the development of technology. Thus, the exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences from research finding in a correct, appropriate and regular manner is an important mechanism that increases national competitiveness in Thailand, especially with respect to higher education institutions, which are significant factors to drive and encourage the promotion of educational activities and put them into practice.

The aim of any higher education institution is not only to provide instruction but also to promote research and development, and to encourage the application of computing and information technology to build fundamental knowledge in order to be utilized in education and others fields. In accordance with the institute’s policies, therefore, the Faculty of Information Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) is launching the 8^th International Conference on Computing and Information Technology in cooperation with universities / colleges in Thailand and in abroad.

The aim of this conference is to provide a springboard to disseminate and exchange knowledge, skills and experiences from research conducted by faculty members, staff, students and stakeholder. In addition, the conference will provide knowledge and research findings for a correct understanding to be utilized both within the institute and outside. Due to the rapid development in computing technology, the promotion and support of academic work via a conference should be a main event for related organization and all higher education institutions to be organized regularly every year.

9 to 10 May 2012
Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand
http://www.ic2it.org

Venue: Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya City, Chonburi, Thailand
240/2 Pattaya Beach Road,
Chonburi 20150
Tel. +66 (0) 3842 5611
Fax. +66 (0) 3842 8239
WebSite : http://www.dusit.com/dusit-thani/dusit-thani-pattaya.html

EWEA underlines Copenhagen’s leading position for sustainable events

More than 10,250 delegates, 500 leading exhibitors, 400 presenters and 100 expert speakers, who joined the European Wind Energy Congress EWEA in Copenhagen this week, are heading home after a successful event.

“I have been attending EWEA in a number of cities, but I must say that Copenhagen has been the most enjoyable show ever. I am impressed with the conference center – the Bella Center – it was easy to get a hotel close to both the venue and the city, there are loads of nice people in Copenhagen and Denmark is not too expensive,” explains Steve M. Jackson, Sales and Marketing Manager at SEM Limited, who manufactures elements to wind mills, and continues:

“It has been a really good show, very well organised. And I have already associated with both existing and potential costumers, so I am expecting a high outcome.”

Copenhagen was chosen as the host city for EWEA because of Copenhagen and Denmark’s reputation within sustainable energy, and in particular wind power.

“Denmark’s leading position in the energy field had a major impact on our choice, and we have had an enormous support from the Danish wind turbine industry. Copenhagen has a good reputation as an international congress city and Bella Center matches our needs perfectly. As well as this, it means a great deal that it is so easy to get to Copenhagen by air from around world, so that we can attract as many delegates as possible,” Anja Wimmer, head of event logistics at the EWEA, explained back in 2010 when the decision was taken to hold the congress in Copenhagen.

EWEA’s choice underlines Copenhagen’s international position as a leader when it comes to sustainable meetings. Steen Jakobsen, congress director at Wonderful Copenhagen, says:

“Both from the UN climate summit, COP15, and the current EU presidency, we have gained in-depth experience in how to develop large-scale, sustainable events, and today Copenhagen has a prominent name within the international meetings industry as a host city for sustainable events of all sizes. It is easy to find both venues and suppliers who are used to working with sustainability here. For example, as many as 63% of the city’s hotel rooms are eco-certified. The EWEA’s choice of Copenhagen is one more feather in the Danish capital’s cap.”

The congress itself took place in Bella Center, Scandinavia’s largest congress centre, where there where ample space for the 10,000 delegates and the large scaled exhibition.

The weekend before the show, the Copenhagen City Council and Wonderful Copenhagen arranged a major energy festival, MINDBLOWING Copenhagen on Ofelia Beach, a popular public space beside the harbour in the centre of the city, to raise awareness among locals and visitors. MINDBLOWING COPENHAGEN was another step towards Copenhagen Council’s ambition to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.

This kind of outreach program has become more and more common, Steen Jakobsen explains:

“It’s an increased global trend that destinations are competing on how to develop and host international congresses in the cityscape including the citizens and visitors. In the same time the congress associations are interested in leaving some sort of ‘legacy’ in the cities where the congresses are held. This could be to involve the local citizens by showing them the challenges and solutions within the congressional field. And this is why outreach activities are obvious choices.”

Towards Inclusive & Sustainable Growth & Development: How can the tourism sector contribute?

At United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) – Doha, Qatar, 20 April 2012

For many decades, international tourism has experienced dynamic growth and continued expansion. Cross-border travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes has become one of the fastest growing economic activities worldwide. The number of international tourist arrivals rose by almost forty times from 25 million in 1950 to 980 million in 2011. Even between 2000 and 2010, which was a decade of boom but also grave economic and financial crises, severe pandemics and large-scale natural disasters; international tourist arrivals continued to grow at an average annual rate of 3.4 per cent. As growth has been particularly dynamic in developing and emerging regions, their share in international tourist arrivals rose from 31 per cent in 1990 to 47 per cent in 2010.[1]

International tourism can be, and in fact it has been, an important source of economic growth in developing countries. This holds particularly true for least developed and other small, structurally weak and vulnerable countries which otherwise face tremendous challenges in a rapidly changing and highly competitive global trading system. Tourism “is like an iceberg; the visible tip is travel, accommodation, and tourist service; below the surface, there are multiple opportunities for households, micro, and small enterprises.”2 Since many countries are endowed with often unique historic, natural and cultural assets, which could be transformed into travel destinations, tourism is a universal activity with a significant local impact.

Tourism stimulates the local economy in destination countries through supply-chain linkages with other economic sectors, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing. It promotes entrepreneurship and the growth of SMEs. Tourism bolsters the diversification of the local economy and it generates export income. Tourism-related demand for goods and services creates new jobs, in particular for youth and women, thus contributing to poverty reduction. Tourism could help generate income for populations in remote and rural areas, thereby reducing incentives for urban migration. In some countries, tourism has created funds for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of the very assets on which it is based. Last but not least, tourism could contribute to the image building of a country.

Tourism is primarily a private sector-driven activity. However, without effective, coherent and coordinated government policies and actions, also in other sectors on which tourism activities depend, tourism would fail to exploit fully its potential for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. Worse, financial leakages, i.e. the loss in tourism revenue due to the need to procure tourism-related goods and services from abroad, can significantly erode the positive economic benefits of tourism and make a country vulnerable to adverse environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts.

[1] UNWTO Tourism Highlights. 2011 Edition. UNWTO, Madrid.; [2] Wong, M., Christie, I. and Al Rowais, S. Tourism in South Asia, “Benefits and Opportunities,”, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., 2009.

Purpose

This event, which is organised in cooperation with the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD), will provide an opportunity for senior officials from member countries to deliberate on the critical role that tourism can play in national development strategies.  Panellists from countries at different levels of tourism development will discuss how tourism, especially sustainable tourism, could contribute to growth and inclusive development and induce the promotion and modernization of productive capacities needed for structural change. Given the transversal nature of tourism, the debate will address a wide range of topics, including strengthening cross-sectoral linkages, enterprise development, investment attraction, environmental concerns, human resources policies, infrastructure constraints and other issues of critical importance for the tourism sector.

Outcome

The discussion is expected to shed new light on policies and measures that developing countries need to pursue to develop an internationally competitive tourism sector as part of national strategies towards inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It will also highlight what UNCTAD and other member organisations of the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) could do to assist developing countries in these efforts.

Organization

Introductory presentations by UNCTAD, UNWTO and the host country, followed by an interactive, moderated discussion among the panellists held in a Davos-style etting. The audience will have the opportunity to participate in the Q&A part of the event.

Agenda

Friday, 20 April 2012

12.00 – 12.30        High-level interventions by UNCTAD, UNWTO & the host country

12.30 – 13.30        Interactive moderated panel discussion

13.30 – 14.00        Interactive Q&A part with the audience

Berlin premiere for leading health tourism convention

25 to 27 April: Medical tourism elite meets at the European Medical Travel Conference 2012 in Berlin / Capital region presents itself as a health destination

Berlin, April 2012. Travelling to Berlin for an operation – this trend cannot only be observed among an increasing number of international patients also for expert circles: Berlin hosts for the first time Europe’s largest and most important medical tourism convention. The European Medical Travel Conference 2012 (EMTC) offers from 25 to 27 April a unique platform for world renowned medical experts, who will discuss about new developments in the medical travel and health industry.

“HealthCapital, the network of the Berlin and Brandenburg healthcare sector, and visitBerlin have succeeded in attracting the EMTC 2012 to the German capital. There cannot be any better venue for the convention than Berlin. Our metropolis combines the expert knowledge from the convention area with an excellent infrastructure for medical travel”, says Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, who will open the Conference, together with the EMTC organizer on 26 April. “The healthcare industry has long since also become a tourist magnet and has a large potential for the capital region.”

The capital region presents itself – Joint appearance of the healthcare players

Premiere at EMTC: The capital region presents itself for the first time as a destination for health travel with a joint information stand. The players of the medical and tourism industries HealthCapital, Charité, Vivantes International, Deutsches Herzzentrum (German Heart Institute) Berlin, Medical Park and visitBerlin – present the concerted medical competency and region to the international expert audience at the Estrel Hotel.

In its promotion as a health metropolis Berlin focuses on the relevant markets Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Sybille von Obernitz, Berlin’s Senator for Economics, Technology and Research, opens the “Berlin-Arab Health Forum” on 27 April. The symposium, organized by Vivantes, will serve for the transfer of knowledge between Arab and European health institutions.

The partners HealthCapital and visitBerlin commit themselves to an active marketing of Berlin and Brandenburg as a destination for medical travel. The presence at international trade fairs – in addition to EMTC 2012, recently also at “Arab Health” 2011 in Dubai – is a consistent continuation of the activities within the framework of the visitBerlin “Health Tourism” marketing strategy. Other activities are already planned.

High-calibre speakers from all over the world

An exciting programme with the expert knowledge of 60 international representatives of medical tourism awaits the around 400 EMTC conference participants. Apart from senior hospital managers from Germany, experts and decision-makers from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Russia and USA will attend as guests in Berlin.

Further information: emtc2012.com and health.visitBerlin.com

Wind energy congress, open to all

The EWEA will hold its annual congress in Copenhagen next week. More than 10,000 delegates will visit the city, but the locals and tourists in the Danish capital will also get a chance to learn more about sustainable energy at the MINDBLOWING COPENHAGEN festival.

In April the First European Conference on Natural Spas and Wellness is commencing

At Thermana Laško ENSPA, the first European Conference on Natural Spas and Wellness is starting on 18th April 2012. During two days numerous domestic and foreign experts will try to clear differences and find common points between medical treatments and wellness tourism. At the same time they are also going to touch upon marketing and trends in the field of medical spas and wellness services.

Nowadays people are becoming increasingly aware of the meaning of physical and psychological health and are looking for solutions for regeneration. European Natural Spas are thus not used only for recovering from an illness but rather they are becoming temples of feeling good and for prevention. Natural spas can offer more to users as thermal water and other natural therapeutic factors have been helping in healing diseases for centuries.

Conference ENSPA wants to follow new trends and through two day expert programme transfer the knowledge, good practice case studies and new ideas amidst experts and employees from Natural Spas. Numerous domestic and foreign lecturers will try to clear differences and find connections between medical treatments and wellness tourism. During the two days the delegates will be able to listen to numerous expert lectures and discussions on rehabilitation of patients (neurological, orthopaedic, traumatology, rheumatic illnesses, cardiological, gynaecological, sports rehabilitation) as well as on balneology, diet, spa standards, insurance requirements and other.

Prof. dr. Zmago Turk from Institute of Balneology and Medicinal Climatology and Prof. Dr. Janez Kraševec, doyen of Slovene Balneology, will present in the introductory lecture historical development of balneology and explain basic balneologist terms about thermal water, peloids and other natural factors in Slovene Natural Spas and the view on role of spas in the future. Trends and innovations in medicinal wellness will be presented by Dr. Claus-Arwed Lauprecht, Founder of Institut for Wellness in Bad Homburg in Germany and the President of ISWA (International SPA & Wellness Association e.V.). What is medical tourism and how is it connected to wellness tourism will explain Melanie Smith, Professor and researcher in Tourism at Business School in Budapest and President of ATLAS (Association for Tourism and Leisure Education). View on role of Spas in Holistic treatment of patients will be presented by the Director of University Rehabilitation Institute Prof. Dr. Helena Burger. Dr. Vlasta Brozičević, Head of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at Terme Selce and Biodex Isocinetic Centre for Croatia and official doctor of the Croatian Ski Team and official doctor of Medical Committee FIS will talk on rehabilitation of sportsmen and women at Spas.

Plenary Sessions will be complemented by presentations from numerous domestic experts from Slovenian Natural Spas and Institutions, the conference will be closed with a topic debate about challenges posed to Spa Tourism because of economic conditions. What do the announced measures by Ministry of Health on reduction of rights from Medical Insurance mean? How to respond on these announcements and how to reduce negative effects? Discussion on weather Rehabilitation at Spas is luxury will present an opportunity to all involved to present their views to competent offices and thus actively contribute to solving the current situation.

In the realm of the ENSPA Conference those who have put their mark in the development of Natural Spas and Wellness will be awarded. At the evening reception the Association of Natural Spas of Slovenia will give out an award for life work to one of the biggest experts in the field of balneology.

Between 18th and 20th April 2012 Conference ENSPA will host the biggest experts in the field of Natural Spas and Wellness. Applications to the Conference can be made through the website www.en-spa.eu. Number of available seats is limited!

More information about the programme of the conference and applications at www.en-spa.eu or via e-mail info@en-spa.eu.

EUROGARD VI: Over 200 Botanists in May on Chios island

On 26 May 2012, Chios welcomes the European Botanic Gardens Consortium, and two days later, on 28 May 2012, the Homerion Cultural Centre of Chios Municipality opens its doors to the 6th European Botanic Gardens Congress. The European Committee will hold its first Annual Meeting for 2012 at the premises of the “Maria Tsakou” foundation, while the Congress will take place from 28 May to 2 June 2012.

Within the framework of a varied scientific and social programme, over 200 Botanists from over 30 countries will work on the promotion of effective actions for the conservation of flora and the networking of botanic gardens with research and academic institutions, environmental networks and all other stakeholders, but also to enhance the presence of botanic gardens as centres of sustainable development, prosperity, environmental education and awareness.

The programme of the Congress includes, inter alia, the Inauguration Ceremony of the Botanic Garden of the Aegean, as well as a range of Workshops, of a Scientific and Artistic nature.   For more information on the Programme, participating bodies, Workshops, excursions and the parallel actions of the Congress, please visit the official Congress website at: www.eurogardvi.gr

Distinguished Neurosurgeons in Thessaloniki in May

The 26^th Annual Hellenic Congress of Neurosurgery is going to take place in Thessaloniki, from 31 May to 2 June 2012. The conference will include oral and poster presentations, as well as papers presented by Greek speakers and foreign guest speakers.

Distinguished scientists from abroad will honour the event with their presence and enrich the programme of this primarily Greek Congress. As regards new doctors and interns, practical – interactive classes are being elaborated for a limited number of participants, based on “How I do it” or “Solve a case” scenarios. Presentations on non-scientific topics are also being prepared, such as practicing neurosurgery in the public and private sector, training and internships, European and international neurosurgical activities.

On 1 June 2012, the 6^th Scientific Meeting of Neurosurgery Nurses will be held once again within the framework of the Congress, and under the auspices of the Hellenic Neurosurgical Society.

ARTION is responsible for the organization of the Congress and Meeting. For more information regarding the thematic units and participation form, please visit the website www.neurosurgery12.gr.

ISTH 2011 IS THE RECIPIENT OF IAPCO INTERNATIONAL CLIENT AWARD

On 9 March 2012, the 23rd International Congress on Thrombosis and Haemostasis was awarded the 2011 IAPCO International Client Award, the statue being given to Yasuo Ikeda, Chairman of the Japanese Organization Committee of the 23rd International Congress on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Other participants in the ceremony included Hiroshi Mizohata, the Commissioner of the Tourism Agency, Ryoichi Matsuyama, President of the Japan National Tourism Organization and Hirotake Chikanami, President of JCS. ISTH 2011 was nominated by IAPCO Member Japan Convention Services Inc. (JCS). It was the first-ever such award for Japan.

The International Congress on Thrombosis and Haemostasis is the premier event of the academic society concerned with thrombotic diseases such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction, as well as clinical conditions, diagnoses, prophylaxis, medical treatments etc for haemorrhagic diseases.

The congress was held from 23-28 July 2011 at The Kyoto International Conference Center attended by 6000 participants from over 80 countries, of which 4000 were from overseas and 2000 from Japan and was the largest international congress to be held in Japan following the earthquake of March 2011.

The Award was given in recognition of the decision and delivery of such a large congress when so many international congresses were forced to cancel or be postponed due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and its devastating consequences. Notwithstanding, the committee of the 23rd International Congress on Thrombosis and Haemostasis mobilized a neutral risk survey company to collect the necessary information in order that an informed decision as to whether to proceed or not with congress as scheduled. The Society’s Council voted unanimously to hold the congress in Kyoto, strongly supporting the Japanese people.

IAPCO Awards are presented to international or regional clients who have carried out excellent measures for the congresses held in the year, based on recommendations from member companies of IAPCO. 56 Awards have been issued since the first in1992.
 

Andrew Keen to open the July Associations Congress

Join the annual International and European Associations Congress, focused on: “Raising the value of your association.”

Announcing the Keynote Speaker: Andrew Keen, Author & Broadcaster

“Social Media and Web 3.0: A reality check”

	Andrew Keen provides a reality check in a world where membership organisations and businesses look to social media and digital strategies for their future. Sir Martin Sorrell said that Andrew’s latest book, “Digital Vertigo may be one of the few books on the subject of the internet that, twenty years from now, will be seen to have got it right”.
The current challenge for many membership associations is continuing to provide value to their professional members. But what are the risks/benefits and the long-term impact of the internet and social media? How can membership associations see beyond the hype and, as originally face-to-face networking organisations, remain relevant and retain their integrity.

Congress Streams
Delegates will be able to tailor their learning by following a combination of the following streams during the Congress:

Register for your place today

Rob Davidson returns to BTC with a seminar on new buyer behaviour

At BTC, the well-known industry analyst will explain the changes that have affected the meetings and events market in the last four years, with a particular focus on buyer behaviour and suggestions on how to position products and services effectively to make them more competitive.

Yperia 2012, 10th International Meeting on Sustainable Development

Organized since 2003 by Aegialis Hotel & Spa and the Cultural Association of Tholaria Women in Aegiali – Amorgos island,  Yperia celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Every year the topics of Yperia are related to responsible travel and Sustainable development, the promotion of the Cultural Heritage, the Civilization and the environment of Amorgos.

Main topic of this year’s convention is the “Cultural Ηeritage of Amorgos” and will include the third Amorgos Festival of Short Tourist Films, in cooperation with the Film Club of South Amorgos .
Another main topic during Yperia 2012 will be the 1000 year old Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa, which is taking its place among  UNESCO’S World’s Heritage Monuments.

Other Sub Topics will be:
- Architecture of Agricultural settlement of Asfontylitis
- Amorgos – Luc Besson’s “Big Blue” island.
- Amorgian Herbs & Gastronomy
- Musical history of Amorgos over the years.
- Sustainable tourism and environment
- The 3rd Amorgos Festival of Short Tourist Films.

Distinguished people from Greece and around the world are invited: Journalists interested in Tourism and Travelling, producers, local authorities, Political Representatives, Scientists, people from the Theatre and Arts. There will be the opportunity to establish contacts and exchange ideas, about the development of alternative sustainable tourism.

There will be exhibitions, workshops, dancing, cooking, wine tasting and evenings of  Traditional local Food and Music.

Delegates will have the chance to taste traditional Amorgian Cuisine during lunches and dinners offered in different restaurants: “Ambrosia” – Aegialis Hotel & Spa, “Lakki” Restaurant, “O Chondros, “To Limani”, “To Panorama”, “O Kostaras”.

Visit the conference homepage: www.yperia.gr

The first ever Lawtech Europe Congress will take place in Prague this year

The organizers of the first ever Lawtech Europe Congress, EDiscovery Europe s.r.o. (“E-Discovery”), have announced that on-line registration for the Congress is now open.

E-Discovery expects to attract between 700 and 1,000 delegates from all over the world to the Congress, which will be the first of its kind in Central Europe in terms of its scale, scope, inclusiveness and effectiveness. The Lawtech Europe Congress 2012 will take place on 12th November, 2012, in the Clarion Congress Hotel Prague.

The topics of the congress will cover civil and criminal procedures relating to electronic evidence, governance and corruption, all of which should be of interest to both the audience and those pressure groups that strive for changes in cultural attitudes towards corruption and bribery, aided by the right blend of education and electronic evidence collection, through to effective prosecution. Plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops will also be included in the programme in order to open discussion about cross-border data transfers and privacy, emerging technologies, electronic evidence focusing on the CEE, as well as many other related topics.

Speakers at the Lawtech Europe Congress include some of the most respected specialists in forensics, e-crime prosecutions, and e-discovery. In particular, the recently confirmed George Rudoy, the founder & CEO at Integrated Legal Technology, LLC, and Chris Dale, author of the e-Disclosure Information Project, are both highly-respected experts in e-discovery throughout Europe.

The Congress follows on the success of similar events, such as LegalTech in New York and LawTech Futures in London, and is expected to attract Czech and international law firms, technology firms, regulatory bodies, technology experts and law schools who will, for the first time ever, have the opportunity to discuss e-discovery topics within the region and framework of Central Europe.

To find out more about the Lawtech Europe Congress 2012 please go to http://www.lawtecheuropecongress.com/.

WORLD’S HEART DISEASE EXPERTS ARRIVE IN SYDNEY

More than 1200 of the world’s experts on heart disease and atherosclerosis will converge in Sydney this week to discuss the latest research and clinical advances in the fight against one of the world’s biggest killers.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner said scientists and researchers from 50 countries have travelled to Sydney to take part in the five-day International Symposium on Atherosclerosis, which starts on Sunday at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the most common cause of heart disease, tragically claiming one Australian life every 23 minutes,” Mr Stoner said.
“Hardening of the arteries can occur anywhere in the body and also causes a variety of other medical conditions, such as kidney failure, high blood pressure or gangrene.
“Sydney and NSW are home to some of the world’s leading scientific and medical research institutes and I am proud Sydney was chosen as host city for the triennial event.
“The NSW Government is committed to supporting our research community and to making Sydney a world-class destination for business events.
“That is why NSW Trade & Investment has worked in partnership with Business Events Sydney to help bring the symposium to Sydney.
“International conferences such as these provide a significant injection to the NSW economy, and the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis is expected to deliver over $7.5 million in economic impact,” Mr Stoner said.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) Chief Executive Officer Lyn Lewis Smith said, “In 2012 alone, Sydney will host 24 medical and scientific meetings expected to attract 18,900 delegates, generating 91,200 delegate days and an estimated $86 million in economic impact.

“March is a bumper month in Sydney with events secured by BESydney set to generate $40 million in economic impact for NSW, but beyond this, there will be far reaching legacies for our city’s businesses, professionals, education sector and community.”
“BESydney started working with the Australian Atherosclerosis Society and the Heart Research Institute in 1994 to secure this event for Sydney. It was a long road, and now we look forward to the innovation and opportunities that this Symposium will generate for the future,” she said.Mr Stoner added that several NSW researchers will be presenting at the symposium on topics including childhood obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes, and how cells balance their cholesterol levels.

“In addition to the fiscal benefits, this is a fantastic opportunity to promote the cutting-edge research being done across our State and to further develop our valuable international research partnerships,” Mr Stoner said.
“NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Mary O’Kane will be championing NSW research efforts during the symposium and will host a networking event for up and coming researchers.”
For more information about the Symposium visit www.isa2012.com

Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism to advance the use of new technologies in mountain tourism

The role of new technologies in snow and mountain tourism will be the focus of the 7th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism, held by UNWTO in collaboration with the Principality of Andorra (La Massana, Andorra, 11-12 April 2012).

Leading experts will discuss the new technologies that have emerged over the past years and their role in revolutionizing tourism marketing, as well as consumer behavior before, during and after a trip. Under the title, Mountain Tourism 2.0: New Strategies for Success, the Congress will outline the strategies needed to attract new visitors and open up mountain destinations to the world market.

“Snow and mountain tourism is an extremely popular market, but one that faces a number of challenges,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Innovation and new technologies can play an exciting role in helping these destinations to remain competitive and diversify their tourism product, ensuring year-round tourism, and should be put to greater use.”

Mountain resort professionals from 10 countries will share their experiences on integrating new technologies in their marketing strategies to attract and maintain visitors. Key speakers include the Director of Yongpyong Resort, Republic of Korea, Mr. In Jun Park, and the Managing Director of France Montagnes, Mr. Jean-Marc Silva. Technology experts, including the Managing Director of Google Travel Spain, Mr. Javier González-Soria, will present the latest technologies in areas such as web positioning and satellite communications.

Held since 1998, the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism has emerged as the principal forum for addressing the major issues and challenges for mountain tourism in all its forms and seasons. In 2012, for the first time, the Congress will launch the International Mountain Report, compiling the latest figures and trends in snow and mountain tourism.

NOKIA WORLD 2012 TO BE HELD AT HELSINKI EXHIBITION & CONVENTION CENTRE

In recent years, Nokia has hosted its annual Nokia World event in London, but this year, the expo will be located in Helsinki, Finland. Nokia World is to be held at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, on 25-26 September 2012. This annual conference and fair event is being arranged in Finland for the first time.

Nokia World will be held in the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre’s new hall 7, opened in September 2011. An exhibition and large lecture theatre will be built in the hall. The Exhibition & Convention Centre was chosen to host the event due to its adaptable facilities and state-of-the-art technology.

Traditionally, Nokia has used Nokia World as a venue for presenting its latest news. This year customers, partners, application developers, analysts, media representatives and other stakeholders will be heading to the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, just miles from the Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo. Last year, Nokia World was held in London and had around 3,000 participants.

The Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre is one of the leading congress centres in Northern Europe and the largest of its kind in Finland. Every year, it plays host to several major international congresses and events. A variety of events are enabled by the Centre’s facilities and technology. The role of Helsinki as the World Design Capital 2012 attracts special attention and media awareness around the world this year.

20th International Student Scientific Conference for Students and Young Doctors, 19-21 April 2011, Gdansk, Poland

The 20th International Student Scientific Conference (ISSC) for Students and Young Doctors will be held on April 19th-21st 2012 in Gdansk at Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.

The ISSC is an annual scientific meeting at the Medical University of Gdansk which brings together young researchers from around the world, specializing in various medical disciplines. During three days the ISSC offers up to 10 independent sessions, lectures by invited speakers, workshops and discussion groups. Also, every paper presented will be evaluated by a jury and authors of the best will be awarded.

Over the last 19 years, ISSC has attracted a large number of participants from Poland and abroad. It provides a great opportunity to present your research and attend lectures delivered by renowned scientists.

To get more information visit the conference website: http://www.issc.gumed.edu.pl

Systems Biology Conference to Bring Global Experts to Melbourne in 2014

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Louise Asher, today announced that another significant scientific conference has been won for Melbourne, further establishing the city as the intellectual and business events capital of Australia.

The International Conference on Systems Biology 2014 will bring 750 of the world’s leading experts in the field to Melbourne over five days, and is expected to generate $3.6 million in economic impact for the state of Victoria.

“Systems biology is an emerging area in Australia which has been recognised by the Victorian government as an area of focus,” Ms Asher said.

Systems biology is the multidisciplinary science of studying, mapping and modelling organic structures and processes. Instead of breaking cells, organs, genomes or whole organisms into their component parts, systems biology studies them as a whole.

“Hosting this conference will give Victorian researchers international exposure and offer opportunities for engagement and collaboration with research leaders and centres of excellence overseas.” 

“The Victorian Coalition Government provides support, leadership, and investment assistance to drive the development of a dynamic, internationally competitive life sciences sector and recently released Victoria’s Technology Plan for the Future – Biotechnology, a $55 million plan to support the Victorian biotechnology industry and biotechnology-enabled innovation.

“I would also like to acknowledge the vital role played by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) in bringing this conference to Melbourne, the first time it has been held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for hosting the event.”

Chief Executive Officer of MCVB, Karen Bolinger, said securing the bid is a major coup for Victoria’s systems biology community.

“MCVB partnered with a number of key groups for the bid process including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Australia, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Bioplatforms Australia,” Ms Bolinger said.

“The International Conference on Systems Biology is the premier international conference for this scientific discipline and hosting the event in Melbourne will give the state a significant boost in publicity and standing in this field, offering local researchers the opportunity to showcase their research on a global stage.”

Professor Hiroaki Kitano, Director of the Systems Biology Institute in Tokyo and Executive Board Member of the International Society for Systems Biology, said he looks forward to bringing the conference to the Asia-Pacific region and is interested in the work that is being done in Melbourne.

“Systems biology is a multidisciplinary science that tackles the big questions.  It can’t be done by just one person or one laboratory—it needs bioscientists of many specialties to collect the data and bioinformaticians to mine the data for answers,” Professor Kitano said.

“Holding the conference in Australia will help drive further collaboration between Australian laboratories and researchers in Asia, Europe and America.”

Peter King, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre says they look forward to welcoming the conference delegates in two years’ time.

“2014 is shaping up to be quite a year for science and medical business events in Melbourne with the International Conference on Systems Biology, The World Congress of Cardiology, the World Cancer Congress and the International AIDS Conference all scheduled to take place at the MCEC during that year.”

The World Sclerodermia Foundation meets in Madrid for the “Systemic Sclerosis World Congress” organized by AIM Group International

March 2012 – Great success of the second Systemic Sclerosis World Congress that was held in February at the Palacio de Congresos de Madrid.

After the positive experience of 2010 in Florence, AIM Group International has organized for the second edition the congress, on behalf of World Scleroderma Foundation, founded by Alexander Klee, grandson of the great painter Paul Klee, also sick of scleroderma, a so-called “rare” disease with very painful and debilitating effects.

To  approach the social aspects of the disease, the Congress opened to the patients’ associations (FESCA – Scleroderma Federation of European Associations) and organized a parallel conference with hundreds of patients who had the opportunity to debate on clinical cases, experiences and opinions with experts and prominent international physicians.

With a qualified program consisting of seventy seven lectures, around sixty oral presentations and three hundred posters, the Congress attracted over 1,300 delegates from around the world: in fact, in addition to a prevalent presence from European countries, some hundred American, Asian and African participants have contributed to reinforcing the international nature of the meeting.

At the end of the World Congress, the Scleroderma Foundation, chaired by Prof. Marco Matucci Cerinic, appointed AIM Group International  for the organization of the next Congress, to be held in Paris in 2014.

Gateway to AIPC 2012 in Amsterdam is Now Open!

You can access the site via the Annual Conference section of the AIPC website, or by using this direct link. Either way, you’ll find a “one-stop shop” for all the information you need with links that will give you all the destination details. We will be adding more details as they become available over the coming months, so you should keep checking back for updates on a regular basis.

European Golden Oldies Festival 2013 Awarded to Prague

At the beginning of February 2012, a Delegation from the European Golden Oldies Rugby (EGOR) Executive Committee visited Prague in order to discuss the possibilities of Prague becoming the Host City for the 12th European Golden Oldies Festival in 2013, to coincide with the 25^thAnniversary Celebrations of Host Club - Old Boys Prague.

The Delegation consisted of – President Dave McDonald from Scotland, coming with his wife Katie, Member of Executive Committee Werner Czerny from Germany and Secretary Matthias Schenker from Switzerland.   All had a very tough programme containing a number of discussions not only with the Local Organising Committee Members, but also with the Local Authorities, including Mayor´s Office Officials, the Prague Convention Bureau, Hotels and the Czech Rugby President.   Based on these discussions and evaluating other alternatives, the EGOR Committee finally decided thatPrague will host the 12th European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival  in 2013.

“As President of European Golden Oldies Rugby, I am delighted to formally announce that the Venue for our 12^thEuropean Festival has been selected…….and the winning Host shall be Old Boys Praha, in the lovely City of Prague !   We were very impressed with the City arrangements, Hotels and possible Festival H Q and the accessibility for Teams from all over Europe to participate.  The Local Organising Committee have a great deal of work now ahead of them…..but are all very experienced in Golden Oldies Rugby , organising annual Oldies Events.  On behalf of European Golden Oldies Rugby, I wish Old Boys Praha and all their Sponsors and Supporters every Best Wish…….I’m looking forward to seeing you again next year,” claimed Dave McDonald.

It will be for the first time that the European Festival will be staged in Central Europe, and the 12th EGOR Festival will take place on June 13-17, 2013.

Further details and information may be found at the Official Festival website http://oldboys.rugby.cz/en/egorf-2013 or from the official Festival Headquarter´s  e-mail: egorf2013@estec.cz.

FIBES CONSOLIDATES ITS COMMERCIAL ACTIONS THROUGH SEVERAL CONFERENCES

THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE OF THE XIX IBERO-LATIN AMERICAN COLLEGE OF DERMATOLOGY CONFERENCE, CILAD 2012, VISITED FIBES FACILITIES

The aim of the visit was for the Organizing Committee of the 2012 CILAD Conference to get to know the new FIBES Conference Hall on site

The Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology has chosen Seville and FIBES, Seville’s Exhibition and Conference Hall, as the venue to hold the
XIX Ibero- Latin American College of Dermatology Conference, CILAD 2012, running from the 19th through to the 22nd September 2012.

To that aim, a visit was carried out last February 24th, both to the present facilities and those of FIBES expansion, so as to get first-hand
knowledge of the new spaces which will hold CILAD 2012.

The President of the Organizing Committee and promoter of the event, Dr. Julián Conejo-Mir, and other professionals of the sector have known on
site the superb, versatile possibilities of FIBES new Conference Hall.

This XIX Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology Conference will be one of the first conference events to be held at FIBES new Conference
Hall and it is expected to welcome 4,000 members of the largest Spanish-Portuguese speaking dermatologic society in the world, made up by over
22 countries. This high number of conference delegates will have direct positive effect on the different sectors of the city, such as shopping,
hotels, public transport, taxi, etc.

After the visit, the organizers expressed their admiration to FIBES New Conference Hall, as they praised the many possibilities that
it offers.
Besides, FIBES still goes on with its active work on the field of Corporate Social Responsibility and on Social Issues, by holding significant,
relevant events. An example of this was the International Forum on Cooperativism, held last February 23rd, organized by CEPES Andalucía
(Andalusia’s Business Confederation of Social Economy) to celebrate the International Year of Cooperativism.

Nearly 1,000 attended the event at FIBES, with a wide representation of cooperative business, politics, economy and general society. In
this line, we should point out the participation of first-class speakers who dealt with the present economic and social situation, the prospects
for the future and the general role to be played by Social Economy and, especially, cooperative business to build up a world without unfair
economic and social elements.

This forum has enhanced the cooperative model as an alternative for the economic recovery and as a basement on which to build a new production
scenario, starting from parameters based on sustainability and social justice.

EASL selects Congrex as key partner to the most important conference in Hepatology

After an intense bidding process which began in March 2011, the Governing Board of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) announced their decision to appoint Congrex Switzerland as its official Professional Conference Organiser as of 2014.

“We strongly believe in Congrex’s capacity to deliver an outstanding service,” commented Prof. Mark Thursz, Secretary General of EASL, “and also in their personal approach and dedication to create a strong partnership”. With more than 8,000 clinicians, scientists and other delegates, the International Liver CongressTM is the most important conference in the field of Hepatology in Europe.

For Congrex, the partnership with EASL is a strong indication of its commitment to strategically support associations. Congrex brings to the table ‘more-than-30-years’ experience and in-depth knowledge of organising major medical conferences which sets it apart as a key strategic partner.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to manage the ILC 2014″, announced Congrex Switzerland’s Regional Managing Director Alain Pittet. “We look forward to delivering on our promises, to EASL, to be an imaginative and caring association partner that understands the longer term strategic visions of EASL now and into the future.”

ABPCO’s 25th anniversary conference most successful ever

ABPCO’s 25th anniversary annual conference which took place last month in London at The Barbican Centre has been hailed the Association’s most successful ever, recording the largest attendance to date in its silver anniversary year.

Attendance figures for the event were up considerably on previous years, with over 170 attending the gala dinner held in the Crypt at St Paul’s cathedral, which played host to ABPCO’s first ever awards ceremony.

The conference gave PCOs and other industry professionals the opportunity to network and share experiences with fellow delegates from other areas of the industry. Delegate feedback highlighted the inspiring and motivational keynote speakers, the networking opportunities and the interactive workshops. Comments indicated that there was a genuine buzz at the conference, particularly on Twitter where many delegates were tweeting what was happening throughout the day using the conference hashtag #abpcoconf12.

The first day of the ABPCO conference commenced with an incredibly inspiring keynote speaker Dr. Graeme Codrington, who delivered a powerful and thought provoking presentation on the future and what major changes lie ahead. Day two focused on ‘hot topics’, finishing with a panel debate in a plenary session. Key issues discussed included subvention, wi-fi in the context of ABPCO’s Conference Cloud campaign and hybrid events.

Delegate feedback indicated a high level of satisfaction with many commenting on the excellent ‘buzz’ and networking opportunities created.

ABPCO member and delegate Rose Padmore from Opening Doors and Venues said: “What another great conference delivered by ABPCO. A real feeling of belonging to an industry that is growing in strength and subsequently providing the motivation and encouragement to attack the future with more confidence!”

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman said: “We were delighted with the turnout at  ABPCO’s 25th anniversary conference this year; it was a tremendous success. Our delegates have all been tweeting and linking in with each other post-conference, extending their networks beyond the event itself, and the general feeling was that ABPCO’s conferences just get better and better!

We have grown significantly as an Association over the last two years and plan to continue to support our members and champion key industry issues moving forward in 2012.”

For more information on ABPCO, visit <http://www.ABPCO.org> www.ABPCO.org.

VOK DAMS and E-Plus score on the field together

The event specialists of VOK DAMS – one of the leading agencies for Events and Live-Marketing – set up for the E-Plus Partnershop Congress 2012 the 1.FC BASE.

The E-Plus Partnershop Congress was held for the seventh consecutive time. Approximately 500 E-Plus Partnershop owners of the BASE brand travelled from the entire Germany to this one-day event in the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.

The E-Plus Group 2010/2011 played in “the first league of the mobile market”, after having one of the most successful business years thanks to the BASE brand. This year’s Partnershop Congress aimed at communicating the main objective of the Partnershop owners: with their top performance they have managed to win over not only clients but also real fans.

In this analogy to football, the Partnershop owners grouped as a team of the 1. FC BASE and the E-Plus Management to Club-Management, so they could support their team as best as possible, in accordance with the corporate strategy with innovative tariffs and progressive, future strategies. The motto developed for the event “You’ll never walk alone” underlined this idea and permeated all aspects of the event as the main theme.

 Approximately 500 E-Plus Partnershop owners were invited to the team of the 1. FC BASE in advance, through a specially developed online tool. They were requested to register online for the event, to follow the event’s news items and generate relevant themes. The result of this interactive subscriber management tool was a high level of involvement and identification with the 1. FC BASE prior to the event. In addition to the registration, this tool offered the participants the possibility to list themselves and qualify for the “player of the day” title. The participants played a quiz in three online qualification phases with the topics of BASE, mobile market and football in order to enter the semi-finals and finals on the day of the event. The four finalists played then on site for the prize of tickets for the 2012 European championship in Poland and Ukraine.

 But – like in football – one thing especially counts at the end: What happens on the field! The “debut game of the 1. FC BASE” took place in the VELTINS Arena in Gelsenkirchen

As befits an organization with international stature, the participants expected during the event everything their football-heart desired. Upon arrival at the “Fan-BASE”, similar to a club’s museum, the E-Plus Partnershop owners discovered the history and the great moments of the 1. FC BASE. Football, team spirit and passion were there – felt and touched. Uniformly integrated in space, the guests experienced the stands of the E-Plus hardware partners. The theme “football fans” functioned as the unifying element. Additional football activities enriched the exhibition and cleverly facilitated the stimulation of conversation: A Wii – soccer station and the XXL – soccer or football on Playstation were only some elements of the “Fan-BASE”.

 Afterwards the participants arrived in the VIP cabin, in which – in front of the impressive scene of the arena – the formulated in advance themes of the participants were discussed. The guests as well, got to hear a speech of Hermann Scherer on the topic “opportunity intelligence”. The executives of E-Plus agreed with the partners further for 2012. Lou Richter and Mirja Boes led the event. Films livened up the event with the “You’ll never walk alone” message playing continuously: Spontaneous fan-interviews and statements with clients, impressive games, emotional fan moments, legendary goals and situations.

After the official part, a surprise awaited the guests in the Players’ Lounge – the former Fan-BASE: With light-effects and transformed decoration, the familiar space appeared totally different, like a modern Players’ Lounge. Oblique lights and an illuminated bar brought forth other features than before in the exhibition. The highlight of the evening was the appearance of the Atzen sponsored by MTV mobile.

 Altogether, VOK DAMS created for the E-Plus Partnershop Congress a consistent football world where passion and emotion played an essential role. The feeling of the event was experienced even before its beginning and remained beyond the event in the follow-up communication later on. The strict application of the “You’ll never walk alone” theme intensified the “we” feeling and stimulated involvement and integration from the participants.

ITB Berlin Convention: Younger generation on the platform

14-year old Felix Finkbeiner to give keynote speech on the future of mobility – Well-known German PUMA manager Jochen Zeitz presents future sustainability scenarios – ITB Berlin Convention from 7 to 9 March 2012 free for trade visitors

Berlin, 22 February 2012 – Children’s power: this year’s ITB Berlin Convention welcomes a special speaker to the platform in the person of 14-year old Felix Finkbeiner. He was responsible for launching the children’s initiative Plant for the Planet and from 10.50 to 11.15 p.m. on 9 March 2012 he will be delivering the keynote speech in Hall 7.1a on the subject of “The Future of Mobility”. From 7 to 9 March 2012 the leading tourism convention will address the main issues confronting global tourism and will be presenting some solutions and examples of best practice to meet current and future challenges. Two prominent speakers, Felix Finkbeiner and Jochen Zeitz, have been invited to discuss the subject of sustainability at this year’s ITB Berlin Convention.

In a paper to be given on the ITB Mobility Day Felix Finkbeiner will examine how the teenage generation assesses the present mobility system and current efforts to achieve sustainability. The 14-year old has been attracting worldwide attention since 2007 with the initiative Plant for the Planet. At that time, as a nine-year old, he learned during the course of his homework about the Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai, who has planted some 30 million trees over a 30-year period. The Plant for the Planet initiative, which is now active in 193 countries, was inspired by this idea. Children obtain information about sustainability from other children, and learn how every individual can contribute to climate protection by planting trees.

The sort of future sustainability scenarios that are conceivable will be explained by Jochen Zeitz, Executive Chairman PUMA and Chief Sustainability Officer PPR, who was responsible for setting up the Zeitz Foundation. One of the best-known entrepreneurs in Germany, Jochen Zeitz is devoting his efforts to the sustainable management of the eco-system. In his paper, to be delivered on the ITB CSR Day, he investigates the question of how to balance social, ecological and economic sustainability for the benefit of all stakeholders. In his perspective, to be presented from 5 to 5.30 p.m. on 8 March 2012 in Hall 7.1.a, he will offer some visionary insights and useful suggestions for business strategies and sustainability concepts. The “4Cs” – conservation, community, culture, commerce – is a new kind of concept being presented by the Zeitz Foundation as a basic approach that can also be applied by the tourism industry as a means of achieving sustainable growth.

Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in the price of the ITB Berlin trade visitor ticket.