All Entries Tagged With: "Conference Meeting Event in Madrid"

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.

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS HAVE INAUGURATED FITUR 2012

The tour has commenced in the Fair’s business area at 11.30 am at the North Gate

Don Felipe de Borbón and Doña Letizia Ortiz, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, have been entrusted with inaugurating the next edition of FITUR. The opening ceremony has taken place on 18th January at 11.00 am. On this occasion, the royal couple has commenced their tour in the business area at the Fair. In this respect, Their Royal Highnesses have been introduced to the latest new features presented by the exhibitors at FITUR, together with the latest trends within the industry.

Once again on this occasion, the Spanish Royal Family has shown its unconditional support for the tourist industry, for tourism professionals and for FITUR itself by attending this edition.

Following the initial inauguration of FITUR, the fair will promote trade activity among professionals up until 20th January. The fair will then open to the general public on the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January so that they discover the latest ideas from the participating destinations and companies and plan their next holiday.

Unique and Original at FITUR 2012

More and more tourists demand unique surroundings for their vacations. As a result, many hotels are offering special architecture or design to create a unique, very comfortable space. FITUR 2012 will bring together some of these popular establishments.

Madrid, 9^th January 2012. For some time now architecture and design have been used to make a destination more attractive. Travellers want to remember their stay and lodgings as something unique. Tourism professionals are well aware of this, and FITUR will show off some of these special places.

As far as design goes, the Nordic countries have always been the leaders. Sweden is one of the places with some of the most original lodging, such as the Tree Hotel and the Icehotel. The Tree Hotel, located in Harads, consists of modern cabins built among the pines. The Icehotel, on the outskirts of the city of Kiruna, is the first hotel in the world to be built entirely of ice and snow. Its 5,500 square metres also make it the largest such establishment.

The H10 chain is opening its first hotel in Germany, designed by the German studio Kleihues+Kleiues. Called the H10 Berlin Ku’damm, it has some unique architecture and has been built starting from one of the city’s historic buildings, an old university technical school. To this there has been added a new seven-storey construction. Among the features of its innovative design are the superimposed bricks and a central glass vault that joins the two buildings and brings luminosity to both.

If there is one hotel chain that puts art and design on the same level of comfort, it is the Derby Hotels. Among its establishments is the Hotel Claris, in Barcelona, a real treasure because it exhibits one of the most important private collections of Egyptian art in Spain. There are also Hindu sculptures from the 2nd to 10th centuries, engravings commissioned by Napoleon, English furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, Turkish Kilim rugs of the 19th century, Roman sculptures and mosaics, engravings by Guinovart, pop-art lithographs by Andy Warhol… These archaeological pieces and antiquities combine with the most advanced contemporary design.

Ruralka will also use FITUR to present its latest innovations. Among them: the recently opened Finca de los Arandinos, in Entrena, in Spain’s Rioja region. This hotel-winery-spa, designed by architect Javier Arizcuren, features soft but powerful lines, and is very well integrated into the landscape. Its interior is the work of designer David Delfin, and includes both noble materials and recycled pieces from the 1950s and 60s. It also has the Tierra restaurant featuring products from the area —popularly known as Km 0— and traditional cuisine with an avant-garde touch.

TRAVELLERS HAVE THE LAST WORD AT FITUR 2012

On Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd, FITUR will open its doors to the general public in order to offer them a series of highly attractive activities. ..

A Total of 16,661 People Visited NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA

The fair, which took place between 11th and 13th November, presented the ideas of some 161 companies and provided the setting for numerous activities aimed at enthusiasts of winter sports, climbing and active tourism

Professionals from the world of skiing of the stature of Robert Puente, the well-known snowboarder, Fidel Alonso, and the climber and adventurer, Carlos Suárez, among others, played an active part at this edition

After having welcomed a total of 16,661 visitors, the last edition of NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA, the Outdoor Sports and Activities Show, finally closed its doors. Organised by IFEMA in collaboration with ATUDEM, the fair presented the ideas of some 161 companies and organised numerous activities aimed at enthusiasts of winter sports, climbing and active tourism.

The fair, which took place between 11th and 13th November, was also the setting chosen by the Madrid Mountain Sports Federation (FMM) to stage different block-climbing competitions sponsored by the Madrid Regional Government. These activities kicked off on Friday 11th November with an exciting Dyno Competition, in which Eric López emerged victorious. Saturday, the day that was attended en masse by members of the public, brought together many of the leading block-climbers from all corners of the country in order to take part in the first edition of “Madrid Eskala n bloke” and the Madrid Block-Climbing Championship 2011. Eric López also emerged as the winner on this occasion, ahead of a competitive Pablo Barbero and Carlos Ruano. The latter achieved third place and, given that he is a member of the Madrid Federation, was awarded the title of Men’s Champion of Madrid 2011.

FITUR HIGHLIGHTS ITS PROFILE AS A BUSINESS FORUM

The fair will strengthen its initiatives aimed at opening up new trade opportunities for participants

Madrid, 25^th October 2011. FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, which will take place from 18 to 22 January 2012, aims to serve, now more than ever, as an effective tool for the tourist industry. With this objective in mind, the fair’s organisers have strengthened their initiatives aimed at promoting meetings between professionals, effectively creating synergies that are likely to open up new business opportunities. Among these initiatives, the fair will stage the second edition of the FITUR Workshop, where professionals from all over the world who have been invited to the fair through the Foreign Buyers Programme can hold B2B meetings with the exhibitors at the fair itself. This year, in order to adapt to the interests of the participants even more closely, it will be the exhibitors themselves that choose the buyers who are invited to the fair. This guarantees a high degree of interest in the corresponding interviews and, in turn, the potential for business at these meetings.

B2B interviews are also an essential tool in the INVESTOUR Africa initiative, which will be staging its third edition in 2012. In this respect, a series of pre-arranged interviews will be organised between Spanish entrepreneurs and top representatives from the African tourist industry, including both the public and the private sectors, based on the participants’ different business profiles and preferences. Furthermore, as a new feature at this edition and thanks to the excellent results achieved with this initiative throughout Africa’s tourist industry, INVESTOUR America will be inaugurated. This new scheme will place representatives of tourist initiatives and projects on the American Continent in contact with potential partners, this time aimed at any exhibitor among the 166 destinations and regions taking part at the fair.

Also with a view to providing a boost for the tourist industry, FITUR 2012 will host the staging of a Brokerage Event, which aims, among other objectives, to create new opportunities to find trade and technology partners throughout Europe, to facilitate the exchange of experiences with other companies from the international market, and to open up new opportunities for marketing products, services and technologies linked to the field of tourism.

FOCUSING ON AREAS OF GREATEST POTENTIAL

In addition, at its year 2012 edition, FITUR will seek to highlight one of the business segments of greatest potential within the market: LGBT. Following the excellent results achieved at the first edition, the fair aims to raise the profile of this segment, boosting the participation of companies and destinations that specialise in the LGBT segment. The fair will also strengthen the conferences aimed at professionals who are interested in reaching this sector of society.

Another of the aspects that the fair will continue to strengthen and promote consists of the sustainability of tourist establishments. In this case, FITUR GREEN, which is organised by the fair in conjunction with the WTO, will stage its third edition in 2012, introducing professionals to the latest-generation solutions and to the companies that are able to help them set up tourism models that are more eco-friendly. And in order to highlight the important role that technology plays when it comes to achieving this goal, this edition of FITUR GREEN will feature the participation of the Hotel Industry Technological Institute (ITH), a body that will contribute all of its experience within the field in order to boost the sustainability of the tourist industry.

For the second consecutive year, FITUR will also provide the setting for the staging of the National Congress on the Management of Travel Companies, an event organised by the Iberian Association of Travel Company Managers (IBTA). This Congress will enable a number of leading travel managers attending the event, all of whom have a high professional profile and decision-making power, to be introduced to the products and services on show at FITUR, thus providing new trading opportunities for the fair’s participants.

In short, in its endeavour to bring the leading players within the tourist industry together, FITUR seeks to provide a boost for the travel sector, whilst ensuring that professionals gain maximum benefits from their attendance at the fair.

Top Congress organizes the course of preanalytical for Becton Dikinson & SEQC Dickinson in the Mirasierra Suites hotel in Madrid

Professional Congress Organizer, Top Congress, coordinated Mirasierra Suites hotel in Madrid, the preanalytical course taught in the program of seminars and courses of the Spanish Society of Clinical Chemistry. The event, held in early May and attended by over 200 attendees, was very well attended and partipacion as well as a perfect organization, completing a full program of activities coordinated very professionally Top Congress. This course is part of the schedule of joint activities and laboratories Bekton SEQC Dickinson.

THE LATEST NEW FEATURES AND INNOVATIONS IN HAIRDRESSING AND BEAUTY CARE WILL PLAY A LEADING ROLE AT SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL’11

• The majority of the companies that took part at the last edition of the fair have already confirmed their attendance at this new edition

• Fashion parades, the Beauty Care and Spa Congresses, master-classes on hairdressing and manicure and Make-Up Championships will all form part of an interesting Coinciding Activities Programme

Madrid, June 2011.- SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL, the Image and Integral Aesthetics Exhibition, an event organised by IFEMA, will stage its fourteenth edition between 14th and 16th October at Feria de Madrid. This grand trade event specialising in the world of integral beauty care will once again stage the largest exhibition in Spain catering for the Beauty Care, Hairdressing, Make-Up, Natural Cosmetics and Wellness sectors, based on the participation of the leading Spanish and foreign companies. Throughout the event’s three-day duration, professionals will be able to discover all of the innovations that have emerged within these different sectors, whilst also completing their visit by attending a packed and varied Coinciding Activities Programme.

At this edition, SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL will maintain the layout witnessed in previous years, thus facilitating the circulation of trade buyers throughout the event and facilitating the staging of trade meetings. In this respect, Hall 3 will feature the companies specialising in Beauty Care, Aesthetic Medicine, Wellness, Spa Treatments, Natural Cosmetics and Make-Up, whilst Hall 4 will feature the Hairdressing brands and the Sales Area. The North Convention Centre at Feria de Madrid will provide the setting on this occasion for the staging of the HAIR LOOK FASHION SHOW and the new HAIR LOOK ACADEMY concept, which will encompass a series of hairdressing workshops and courses, based on the participation of the most prestigious companies. Furthermore, SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL will once again host the staging of the Zoom Area, a section of the fair where various brands will be able to present the latest developments on the market. At previous editions this section has been very warmly received by both manufacturers and distributors and visitors.

A Comprehensive Activities Programme

Once again on this occasion, the fair will feature a comprehensive Coinciding Activities Programme, which will take place mainly on Saturday and Sunday. Among these activities, we might mention the Beauty Care Congress and the Wellness Congress, as well as the Nails and Make-Up Championships, not to mention a diverse range of workshops and demonstrations.

Under the heading of hairdressing, the latest new international trends regarding cuts, colours and treatments will be presented at the different parades that form part of the Hair Look Fashion Show 2011, which is due to take place at the North Convention Centre at IFEMA.

Excellent Prospects Regarding Exhibitors and Trade Visitors

With regard to next October’s fair, everything seems to indicate that this new edition of SALÓN LOOK INTERNACIONAL will be highly successful. With still four months to go before the staging of the event itself, the majority of the exhibitors who attended last October’s edition have already confirmed their participation.

As in previous years, IFEMA is organising a Foreign Trade Buyers Programme aimed at various different countries, with a view to boosting and developing the international dimension of SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL.

The last edition of SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL, which took place in October of last year, concluded with some highly satisfactory results. Some 400 exhibitors took part at the event, representing one thousand brands. In general, they stated that they had fulfilled their marketing expectations and had managed to establish a number of highly interesting trade contacts. The fair was attended by more than 78,500 professionals from all around the world.

Throughout the course of the next edition of the fair, SALON LOOK INTERNACIONAL will be open from 9.30 a.m. through to 7.00 p.m.

IFEMA’s FACILITIES HAVE HOSTED MORE THAN 400 EVENTS OVER THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2011

A total of 28,000 companies and some 1.1 million visitors have taken part at events organised by Feria de Madrid

IFEMA’s growing range of international fairs, its strategy abroad and its role as the host of a number of important world events, define the fair organiser’s internationalisation plan

RESULTS REGARDING IFEMA ACTIVITIES

Between January and June 2011, IFEMA’s facilities hosted the staging of more than 400 events, of which 47 were fairs or congresses featuring exhibitions (25 organised by IFEMA itself, 16 staged by private organisers and 6 congresses complemented by exhibitions) and 353 were conventions or events of a diverse nature that took place at Feria de Madrid.

These figures reflect the importance of IFEMA, including the significant levels of business participation generated by its fair activity. In this respect, during the first half of the year, IFEMA brought together more than 8,000 companies, 20,000 represented companies and almost 1.1 million visitors within a net exhibition area measuring more than 446 thousand square metres.

Furthermore, this level of activity, which matches the figures achieved over the two previous years, generated a revenue figure of 60 million euros for IFEMA over the first six months of the year, based on a gross operating profit (EBITDA) of 15.2 million euros.

In this sense, we might highlight the considerable efforts that IFEMA has made in order to maintain the volume of fair activity at its facilities, based on the incorporation of new events and the development of new projects, which means that it has been able to achieve a set of figures comparable to those of the years 2009 and 2010. This effort has been especially necessary in view of the prolonged economic recession that Spain has been obliged to face. Thus, in order to support different sectors of the economy, IFEMA has effectively developed different measures designed to boost participation at its events.

INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY

One of the areas in which IFEMA is working to consolidate different channels of growth concerns its international strategy. This policy focuses on strengthening its role as one of the leading organisers of international fairs on the European market. IFEMA also seeks to strengthen its position abroad, both as a host of large trade events and in its capacity as an exporter of fair projects that can be implemented in markets of special interest.

IFEMA’s willingness to progress in this direction, especially within the context of the current economic climate, has led to a significant increase in its two sets of activities: the organisation of fairs and the management of Congresses and Conventions. With regard to the organisation of fairs, its main line of business, IFEMA is the current market leader in Spain. In this respect, in the year 2011, the total number of international fairs (a form of recognition granted in Spain by the Department of Trade and Industry) that Feria de Madrid will be hosting comes to 38 events, among which we might mention ARCO and FITUR, two world-leaders within their respective fields. These figures are complemented by the classification carried out by UFI, the Union of International Fairs, which recognises 31 fairs at IFEMA listed as “UFI Events”, which guarantees their international stature vis-à-vis companies and visitors and recognises IFEMA’s ranking among the leading organisers in Europe.

Exploring New Markets

IFEMA’s internationalisation strategy also focuses on exploring new markets, establishing closer alliances and exporting its fair organisation know-how abroad. In this respect, IFEMA’s alliance with Messe Frankfurt regarding the joint organisation of the automotive parts, equipment and service suppliers fair, Motortec Automechanika Ibérica, already reaped its reward in 2010 with some favourable results and the two parties aim to extend this collaboration to other sectors in the future. At the same time, IFEMA is currently working on various initiatives abroad in order to undertake a series of projects for key sectors of activity, both within the field of consumer goods and with regard to industry and services. In this respect, it has opted for a policy of diversification by focusing on markets as different as those of Asia, the Arab nations, Africa and the Americas.

Both in China and in other countries throughout the region, such as Singapore, IFEMA is working on different projects in collaboration with local operators who specialise in the fair sector. Furthermore, IFEMA is pursuing various projects at an advanced stage of development in India, as well as in the Middle East. For example, in Dubai, the Spanish fair organiser is carrying out a collaboration initiative with the leading fair organiser in the Emirate. Furthermore, in the United States, specifically in Miami, IFEMA is making progress with a collaboration project with the leading local fair organiser and with various different bodies in order to stage a consumer goods fair, one that will help to open up the market for Spanish companies. We might also mention various possible opportunities in Africa and Brazil, projects that are still at the study stage but for which possible collaboration projects are being explored with different European fair organisers already established in these markets.

Large-Scale Congresses and International Events

IFEMA’s international capacity also extends to Conventions and Congresses, in which respect the Spanish trade fair body has become an increasingly prestigious host for large events of international scope.

The latest report produced by ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, relating to the development of the worldwide congress market in 2010, places Spain in third place in the ranking for the third consecutive year, as the host of 451 meetings. In this respect, Spain only ranks behind the United States and Germany. We might highlight the degree of growth that has been witnessed in Madrid, which has risen in the table from thirteenth place in 2009 to sixth place today, based on a total of 114 meetings staged throughout the year 2010.

These figures confirm the important role that Madrid and IFEMA have acquired as venues for large international meetings, with the consequent knock-on effects for the city’s economy. The number of events, congresses and meetings that Feria de Madrid will be hosting in 2011 comes to around 400 in total, which is very much in line with the figure achieved last year, although with a significant difference on this occasion: IFEMA’s growing importance compared to its competitors.

In this respect, we might mention some of the high-category international events that will be taking place at IFEMA’s facilities before the end of the year, such as the following: Aviation Week, the second edition of the fair to take place in Madrid and an event that brings together specialised professionals from the world of air navigation; the EHRA Europace, Cardiology Congress, which will take place at the end of June and is expected to attract more than 5,000 participants; and the star event of the year, SAPPHIRE NOW + SAP TechEd Madrid, one of the grand congresses for the IT industry, which takes place one year in the United States and the next year in Europe, and which on this occasion will bring together 10,000 professionals in Madrid, including business specialists and main clients. This event will occupy most of the exhibition space available at Feria de Madrid.

The Consolidation of Future Projects

Other important projects that have placed their faith in IFEMA include the grand world-wide fair for pharmaceutical ingredients, CPHi, following the success of its editions in 2005 and 2009, both of which took place at Feria de Madrid. This event will be staged in 2012 and is expected to bring together more than 30,000 professionals from the industry from all four corners of the world. This event will occupy 10 of the 12 halls available at the fairground, based on a gross exhibition area measuring 150,000 square metres. In June of the same year, this event will be joined by a worldwide meeting as important as the World Congress on Political Science, which is destined to take place in Madrid, in the same way as IFRAExpo, World Newspaper Week, which will be coming to Madrid for the first time and will conclude the year in October by staging the largest international meeting for the daily press, based on an expected volume of participants consisting of more than 10,000 professionals from 85 different countries.

Furthermore, IFEMA has been chosen in the year 2013 as the venue for European Congress of Rheumatology, EULAR, which is expected to bring together some 15,000 health professionals specialising in this field.

Economic Impact

The latest coup that IFEMA has pulled off, in this case for the year 2014, consists of its having been chosen as the venue for the Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology, ESMO, an event that takes place in even-numbered years and whose staging rotates throughout Europe’s different capitals. This Congress will attract some 16,000 participants to Madrid, in which respect block-bookings have been established in hotels throughout the city for a total of 10,000 rooms over the event’s four-day duration, in which respect the impact on Madrid’s hotel sector will come to between 40,000 and 50,000 overnight stays.

It is precisely IFEMA’s ability to provide a boost for the economy and promote different sectors linked to its activities, such as transport, the hotel trade, the catering trade, the leisure sector, the cultural sector and the shopping sector, that makes the fair organiser such as valuable asset to the city. In this respect, we must not forget that IFEMA’s activities attract a considerable number of visitors to the Madrid, making it the main generator of business tourism throughout the region, based on a figure of more than 3 million visitors a year. In economic terms, this represents an injection of income into the City of Madrid of some 2,000 million euros, which constitutes 1.5% of GDP and entails more than 44,000 jobs within the service sector.

FITUR PRESENTS INVESTOUR AMERICAS AT THE 52ND UN-WTO COMMISSION MEETING ON THIS GEOGRAPHICAL AREA

Madrid, 19 May, 2011. Next year’s International Tourism and Trade Fair, FITUR, to be held in Madrid from 18-22 January, will welcome the first edition of INVESTOUR Americas. Trade Fair Director Ana Larrañaga presented this new initiative, organized in collaboration with the UN-WTO during the 52^nd UN-WTO Commission Meeting for the Americas, held in Asunción, Paraguay. In this way, the FITUR director was able to explain all the details of the project to leading tourism industry representatives from this geographical area. The objective of INVESTOUR Americas is to create a forum through which to take advantage of the participation by important travel sector businesspeople at FITUR, presenting them with attractive business opportunities in the region: “Through this initiative we seek to promote the development of the least fortunate areas in your territory, and for tourism to serve as a boost to your economy,” stated Ana Larrañaga during her presentation in Paraguay.

EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA

The first edition of INVESTOUR Americas, to be held during of one of the FITUR 2012 professional workshops, comes on the heels of positive results obtained in two previous editions of INVESTOUR dedicated to the African continent, a program which will be back for the third time during the next FITUR Trade Fair. One of the differences with the new initiative dedicated to the Americas is that the event will be open to businesspeople of all nationalities participating in the Fair, not only to Spaniards. “The idea is to promote qualified contacts between investors and tourism options so that they can lead to business opportunities which mean a contribution to these countries’ development, while at the same time advancing sustainable tourism,” Larrañaga underscored.

Along with INVESTOUR Americas, the next edition of the Fair will see other new developments such as the creation of two new sections based on travel type: one dedicated to camping, and another to religious tourism. In addition, projects undertaken in previous years will be developed further, such as FITUR LGBT, FITUR GREEN and INBOUND SPAIN.

IFEMA CONCLUDES THE YEAR 2010 WITH A STRONG PERFORMANCE UNDER THE HEADING OF CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES

Nearly 700,000 visitors were welcomed at 19 congresses, whilst 32 fairs were organised by other bodies and 250 events were staged at Feria de Madrid

Madrid, 13th December 2010. The activity level at IFEMA CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES throughout the year 2010 was as follows: a total of 19 congresses (almost 12% more than in 2009); 32 externally-organised fairs (which represents an increase of nearly 22%); and 250 events (an increase of almost 3%). These figures confirm an overall favourable performance. We might also highlight the international character of a good number of these congresses, fairs and events, which is very much in line with the internationalisation policy being pursued by IFEMA.

Under the heading of congresses we can observe the worldwide and/or European scope of some of these events. This was certainly the case of the Eleventh EFORT European Congress staged by the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, EFORT. The aim of this body is to promote mobility, muscular and skeletal health and the quality of life of its patients. This Congress provided the framework for the staging of the following events: the Forty-Seventh Secot Congress (Congress of the Spanish Society for Orthopaedic and Traumatological Surgery; the Esri Congress 2010, organised by Esri España, the company specialising in geographic information systems (GIS); and the Third Esteve International Symposium on Analgesia; and the Fifth Implantology Update Conferences.

Other congresses included the following: the Conference “Visions and Objectives for Biodiversity Beyond 2010″, organised by Fundación Biodiversidad; the; Tenth Spanish ITS Congress – Intelligent Transport Systems; the Technomarketing Congress; Expomanagement 2010 – HSM; the Datacenter Dynamics Congress; the Third Congress on Risks at Work; the Manager Forum – Interban Network Congress; the First European Congress on Tourism and Gastronomy; the Expocida National Congress; Call Center Ifaes; and the First National Congress for Thermomix Fans.

The year 2010 also witnessed a significant rise in the number of fairs organised by other bodies, specifically an increase of almost 22%, coming to 32 fairs in total. The traditional fairs were complemented by the consolidation of other fairs at our facilities, such as MARCA BLANCA, OMEXPO and TOTAL MEDIA.

Other externally-organised fairs that took place at IFEMA’s facilities for the first time included Game Fest, Expoenvíen and Health Ingredients (the latter an itinerant event).

Furthermore, the 12 exhibition halls, 3 auditoriums and numerous rooms and spaces of all kinds at Feria de Madrid constitute one of the fairground’s characteristic features. This versatility enables IFEMA to host the staging of all kinds of presentations, meetings, assemblies, conferences, sporting activities and other events. Specifically, throughout the course of the year 2010 a total of 250 events took place at our facilities, which is to say, approximately 3% more than in the year 2009. Out of these events, some 125 corresponded to fairs organised by IFEMA, whilst 53 corresponded to fairs staged by external organisers.

Among these events, undoubtedly the most important was the Fifth European Union – Latin America & Caribbean Summit, which represented the cherry on the cake regarding IFEMA’s activities during the first half of 2010, which was when Feria de Madrid provided the venue for the Permanent Module of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union.

Other equally important events included the following: the Third Indirect Channel Convention and the Fifth Summit of TELEFÓNICA Managers; the presentation of the film, “Alice in Wonderland”; the Reverencia – Cadre Noir Horse Show; the General Shareholders Meeting for ACS; the First Gaming 360 Conference & Exhibition; Pilates Day – Pilates Wellness & Energy; the presentation of the new SLS and E-Class Cabriolet models from Mercedes Benz; the Pokemon Championship; the Fonavi Referendum; the SAGE España Convention; the Thermomix Masterclass; the Banesto Managers Convention; the International Conference on Software Testing & Quality, EXPOQA; the Fifteenth Internal Auditing Conferences; the Special Shareholders Meeting for Prisa; the elections for the Confederation of Spanish Industry (CEOE); the Repsol Managers Convention; the Paddle Tennis Pro Masters Tour 2010; and the MSD Communication Conferences.

Forecasts for the Year 2011

Following the favourable results last year, IFEMA regards the current year 2011 with a sense of optimism. With regard to its activities linked to the world of congresses, conventions and other events, various important dates have already been set: the Twenty-Seventh National Hospitals Congress (26th to 29th April); the First Forum on Obesity and Healthy Life Styles (10th to 12th June); Russia – Spain Science Conference & Exhibition (14th to 17th June); EHRA 2011 – EUROPACE (26th to 29th June); ESRI European User Conference (26th to 28th October); the Trade Meeting for the Hardware Industry, EHLIS (26th to 28th October); and Sapphire NOW 2011 & Tech Ed. 2011, a corporate event that will take place between 7th and 10th November and is expected to welcome between 6,000 and 7,000 people.

With regard to externally-organised fairs, we might highlight the staging of a number of new events: an event on modern catering, Restauración Moderna, (16th and 17th February); E-Commretail, the First Trade Show for Electronic Commerce and Online Business (26th and 27th October); and the joint staging of E-COMMERCE ESPAÑA, the Electronic Commerce Fair and Congress alongside OMEXPO (16th and 17th March). Furthermore, we might mention the return of MRO AVIATION WEEK to Madrid (28th and 29th September), given that this event took place at IFEMA in 2008, and the staging of MADRID FOTO (5th to 8th May).

FITUR ADDS NEW DESTINATIONS AND OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS TO ITS RANGE OF OFFERINGS

The International Tourism Trade Fair 2011, to be held from 19 to 23 January, will be adding this year new countries and official delegations to its offerings. Along with the REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO and PAKISTAN, which had already confirmed their participation in the Fair several months ago, FITUR will now host ZAMBIA among its new destinations. Moreover, attending for the first time will be official delegations from countries like TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, NAMIBIA, and LEBANON, in addition to NEW ZEALAND and SOUTH AFRICA, which had also previously announced their presence at FITUR 2011.

The interest of these countries in being present at the Fair underlines the utility of the event for the promotion of tourism offerings and as an instrument to reach both professionals and the public. In total, the programs of 166 countries / regions will be represented at the Fair organized by IFEMA, in addition to new tourism companies joining FITUR. Precisely the business area has seen growth of 2% this year, an increase partly attributed to the return of some companies, including IBERIA, accompanied by its partner BRITISH AIRWAYS. The former’s President will be chairing the Fair’s Organizing Committee, while other companies present will include the technology provider AMADEUS, the hotel group ACCOR and the car rental agency NATIONAL ATESA.

The days slated for professionals, from Wednesday, Jan. 19 to Friday, Jan. 21,  2011, FITUR will remain open from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. When the general public arrives on Saturday, Jan. 22 and Sunday, Jan. 23 the Fair will extend its schedule by one hour, opening from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

THE 12TH ANNUAL FITUR/JORGE VILA FRADERA PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED TO ONE OF 14 CANDIDATE STUDIES

For yet another year FITUR will participate, along with the Spanish Association of Tourism Experts (AECIT), in the awarding of the FITUR/Jorge Vila Fradera Prize. Participation in the 12th edition has been strong, featuring 14 studies from which the winner will be chosen and announced between January 19-23, coinciding with the celebration of FITUR 2011.

The documents received address some of the most timely issues in the tourism industry, among them works which take an in-depth look at the results of the application of new administrative processes in different travel industry segments, with titles including: Process-based management applied to the hotel sector. The adaptation of an urban hotel; Analysis of the impact of quality management, knowledge and innovation on hotel companies’ results; Crisis management at touristic locations: risks and opportunities. The case of Galician hotels; and Yield Revenue Management: An empirical analysis of its application and results in the Spanish hotel sector.

A CLOSER LOOK AT NEW TOURISM TRENDS

Other studies presented look at new tourism trends that are set to shape the market’s immediate future, among them concern with making the industry increasingly sustainable, as seen in Tourism and the environment: a sociological interpretation. Meanwhile, the influence which this economic activity can have on communities is examined in The potential of marine tourism as a factor in local, endogenous development or in An explanatory model to evaluate the quality of life in a local community and its relationship to tourism activity: the case of San Fernando de Maspalomas (Gran Canaria). Along this line, another of the candidate essays for the prize presents An Analysis of tourism and poverty: a look at the south Andes.

Also among those competing for the prize are works dealing in depth with specific segments, like options for older travellers in the form of spa-based trips, as covered in Tourism for seniors: a study of health resorts, spas and thalassotherapy facilities. There is also work on the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, as explored in LGBT tourism: the case of Galicia. In addition, the impact of other kinds of travel is considered, such as wine tourism, in An analysis of wine tourism: the impact of “denominación de orígen” on the selection of destinations.

Business cooperation as a growth strategy for rural lodging companies in Mérida, Venezuela will explain the results of this collaboration in a behavior model based on both tangible and intangible capital, while changes in the way people decide where they are going to spend their vacation are considered in The determination of a tourist’s loyalty to his destination: the application of the new and dominant service logic.

In addition to the changes having come about in trends, management and demand, the title An evaluation of a tourist destination’s perceived image: a study of strategic positioning in a feature film evaluates the impact which the appearance of a location in this medium can have on it.

All in all the FITUR/Jorge Vila-Fradera Prize will promote academic research in the sector. To this end, the jury, made up of members of the AECIT, tourism experts, as well as FITUR representatives, will select the studies, evaluating, among other criteria, the work’s innovativeness, structure and methodology used. The winning piece of research will be published by the Centro de Estudios Ramon Areces, thus favoring its diffusion in the Spanish and Latin-American academic community.

At the 2010 edition of the Fair the prize was won by A holistic look at a tourist’s decisions, by Juan Luis Nicolau, who holds a doctorate in Economics and Business and serves as an associate professor in the Department of Finance, Accounting and Marketing within the University of Alicante’s School of Business and Economics.

FITUR 2011 REFLECTS THE TOURISM INDUSTRY’S RECOVERY

Madrid, 15 December, 2010. The 31st edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, organized by IFEMA and to be held from 19 – 23 January, 2011, begins to reflect the tourism sector’s recovery. A month after the inauguration of the fair, FITUR has confirmed the participation of more than 10,500 companies from 166 countries and/or regions. Thus, the selection of services on hand will occupy 10 exhibition halls at Feria de Madrid, covering 75,000 square meters of net exhibition space. Of particular interest in this data is the 2% growth figure in the business area, which bodes well for the market’s recovery, while also demonstrating the importance of FITUR as a business platform. The increase in participating companies is reflected at the Fair with the return of some businesses, such as the technology provider AMADEUS, the hotel group ACCOR and the car rental company NATIONAL ATESA, among others. These are bolstered by the return to FITUR of IBERIA, with its own stand, as the leading airline in the Spanish market.

FITUR 2011 will also be welcoming some destinations for the first time, such as the REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO and PAKISTAN, as well as new official delegations from New Zealand, Lebanon and South Africa, all demonstrating their confidence in FITUR as a first-class platform to promote their tourist offerings. FITUR’s clout is also evidenced by the growth in participation by some longstanding fair exhibitors, such as CATA, The Central American Tourism Promotion Agency, which for the 2011 edition has increased by 24% its already significant presence at the fair last year.

MIRRORING THE MARKET

The data from the report prepared on the occasion of the FITUR 2011 Organizing Committee Meeting – presented at a press conference by IFEMA Executive Committee President Luis Eduardo Cortes; Antonio Vázquez, President of the FITUR Organizing Committee and IBERIA airlines; IFEMA CEO Fermín Lucas; and FITUR Managing Director Ana Larrañaga – indicates how the next edition of the fair reflects tourism-related growth in certain emerging areas. Among other areas, participation is on the rise in some of the markets which have best weathered the recession, like the Asia-Pacific region, which is increasing its presence by 4%, along with North Africa and the Middle East, with a 3% boost.

Along with the developing presence of fledglings in the tourist industry, there are also signs of growth in the most mature markets, like Europe, whose presence will see a 5% rise.

AN INCREASINGLY DYNAMIC INDUSTRY

In this context, the event’s Management is optimistic about the results of the Fair, as one of the most active months still lies ahead, in which applications and many last-minute requests are attended to.

In addition to the robust business response indicated by participation rates, the numerous developments and activities planned for this next edition suggest that the upcoming event will reflect a more dynamic and recovered market, as the fair serves as a business-multiplying commercial platform.

With the aim of promoting commercial transactions, FITUR, working with the news channel CNN as its official international television channel, announces the opening of FITUR LGBT, a space which will bring together programs aimed at the lesbian, gay, homosexual and transsexual community, one of the tourism market segments with the greatest potential for development. This initiative stands in addition to programs undertaken for the first time last year and which, given their extraordinary welcome, will be back in 2011, such as INBOUND SPAIN, a trade fair section devoted to programs promoting Spain as a tourist destination, or INVESTOUR, a forum organized in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which aims to promote investments by Spanish companies in Africa to promote tourism-based economic development of the region’s most deprived areas. This year we are encouraging participation by the countries belonging to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Also, in concert with the UNWTO and Madrid’s Tourism Council, the fair will present FITUR GREEN, a space combining an exhibition area with workshops to promote the establishment of more environmentally sustainable systems in tourist accommodations.

In order to promote business in other key tourism segments, such as business travel, the themed section FITUR CONGRESOS will be back, this time called FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS, a workshop dedicated to travel for meetings, conferences, special events, and incentive-based trips. The new name encompasses all the markets involved in this kind of tourism. The event will be reduced to one day, January 18, with an emphasis on the investing potential of buyers selected by TURESPAÑA. In short, stress will be placed on the effectiveness and quality of the meeting participants in an effort to make the function as profitable as possible.

In addition, this year FITUR will feature participation by the MASSIVEGOOD charitable initiative, already receiving support from many businesses and agencies in the tourism sector. The Kids Without Malaria campaign will also be promoted at the fair, a charity backed by MASSIVEGOOD and the Spanish Red Cross to raise awareness and funds for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease in Africa.

MULTIPLYING THE DIFFERENT CHANNELS

Acutely aware of the importance of today’s new technologies, this year FITUR has boosted its presence on social networks. Along with its Facebook page and presence on YouTube comes a blog at www.fitur.es featuring comments from tourism professionals on current industry issues. Meanwhile, in order to encourage debate on the industry, a space on LinkedIn and also on Twitter have been opened up, while images of the Fair can be shared via Flickr. These are just some of the steps taken in order to increase contact between all those involved in FITUR: its management, professionals, the government …

FITUR also aims to increase interaction and involvement by the public in the Fair. To this end, along with the premiere travel-related social network, MINUBE.com, a Travel Gymkhana will be held on Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23, inviting the adventurous to discover the destinations present at FITUR through a treasure hunt where participants can win exciting prizes. Visitors will also be able to share their travel experiences at the Speaker’s Corner, as their input will be shown over screens strategically placed in the fair’s halls. These initiatives come in addition to those already undertaken at the last edition with MINUBE.com: the FITUR MEETUP, which brings travelers together so that they can share advice on destinations and routes, and information points which, manned by MINUBE specialists, will help visitors to get the most out of their time at IFEMA’s different halls by telling them where to find the kind of deals they are looking for, the programs best suited to them, and information on the offerings in the countries they intend to visit on their next vacations.

The 1st Interactive Folklore Marathon will also be held which, with the slogan “Folklore & Art With Us,” seeks to create a new interactive, fun and cultural space in what is an extension of the traditional Peoples of the World Folk Festival, so successful in recent years. This initiative will combine performances with workshops where visitors can learn percussion, singing and crafts techniques.

All in all, from January 19 – 23 FITUR will become the key place for both professionals and the general public to find about the latest trends in tourism, grow their businesses, or just have the most fun possible preparing for their upcoming travels.

The days for professionals, from Wednesday, January 19 until Friday, January 21, FITUR 2011 will open without interruption from 10:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m. With the arrival of the general public on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 the Fair will expand its schedule: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

THE OFFICIAL NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE AT FITUR FOR THE FIRST TIME

Tourist New Zealand, the country’s official tourism body, has added its offerings to FITUR’s selection to be presented at its 2011 edition held from 19-23 January.  In this way the country expands the list of international organizations attending FITUR to promote their different vacation destinations.

For the edition at which it will feature a stand for the first time, New Zealand will invite travellers to find out about the multiple ecosystems the nation features and the active tourism possibilities it offers. Among other programs, hiking enthusiasts will be able to make their way through its lush forests, while the most adventurous tourists may take rafting trips down foaming, crystalline New Zealand rivers, or board a helicopter to explore its majestic glaciers from the air. New Zealand’s tourism options also include the chance to explore the fascinating native Maori culture, with unique traditions that one will be able to learn more about at the Fair.

New Zealand’s FITUR stand will be located in Hall 2, reserved for exhibits from the Pacific and Asia. Hall 4 will house representatives from the Americas and Africa, while Europe will be spread out in numbers 6 and 8. Part of Hall 8 will be added to 10 in order to feature offerings form the most competitive companies in the sector,  a selection that is rounded out by Spanish travel destinations, located in halls 3, 5, 7 and 9, with number 1 dedicated exclusively to the registration of visitors.

THE PUBLIC TAKES CENTER STAGE DURING THE 1ST INTERACTIVE FOLKLORE MARATHON SPONSORED BY FITUR 2011

If there is one thing that defines today’s tourist it is his desire for unique travels in which he feels like he is in charge of his trip and able to experience things first-hand. In response to this new demand and desire to enjoy, right up close, the greatest variety of activities, FITUR sponsors the 1st Interactive Folklore Marathon, an activity which represents an extension of the Folklore Festival celebrating the peoples of the world, which has enjoyed extraordinary support and success for 30 years at the Fair. Now, with the title Folklore&Art With Us, travel lovers will be invited to enjoy a series of traditions and dances, live and in-person.

To this end, on Saturday, January 22nd and Sunday, January 23rd performances by folk groups will be rounded out by workshops where the public can learn some secrets of the artistic heritages of countries around the world, along with some Spanish regions. For these two days mornings will feature lessons on dancing and other skills, such as percussion and crafts, along with other folklore-related disciplines. In the afternoon visitors will be able to admire the beauty of these dances at a show to be performed by professionals. On Sunday, coinciding with the closing of the Marathon, workshop attendees will join their teachers in order to, together, wind up a weekend of shared culture and fun.

Through this initiative FITUR aims to encourage public participation in the fair and to expose attendees like never before to the unique treasures of different peoples, spurring them to explore their cultural heritages – which are also an important draw for travellers when deciding their tourism destinations.

NH Hotels Converts Madrid Mansion Into 5-star Hotel

MADRID, November 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — NH Hotels has converted an impressive nineteenth century mansion in the arts district of Madrid as part of ambitious renovation plans.

The careful renovation has managed to recover the building which was originally built in 1808 by Jorge Durán, and which was designed in part by Juan de Villanueva, who designed the Prado Museum.

The new NH Palacio de Tepa, is a luxury five-star hotel located in a privileged position on the calle de San Sebastián with access to the calle Atocha and the Plaza del Ángel, and is surrounded by the active bohemian atmosphere of the Arts District with its galleries, boutiques, cafés, jazz bars and taverns, and the hustle and bustle of the calle Huertas.

The new NH Palacio de Tepa has 84 rooms which have been decorated by the architecture and design studio of Ramón Esteve in easy greys and beiges to play with the ever-present light which flows in through the large windows and skylights especially throughout the penthouse rooms.

Different interior decoration options are available across the hotel room types, with the rooms on the fifth floor providing a particularly welcoming atmosphere with their mansard roofs and minimalist decoration.

In addition to the Premium rooms on the two corners of the second floor of the building, many of the rooms are duplex suites and all the rooms have views of the streets and squares of the district, which have also been renovated recently.

Lighting is the main feature of the hotel which has been carefully renovated respecting the original domes of the building and its typical balconies. Two whitewashed interior patios, renovated in accordance with their former use as “corrala” yards, allow light to come in through the interior corridors of the hotel.

The hotel also offers several premium services including a butler service, pampering menu, a ‘VIP desk’ and private transfer.

CENTRAL AMERICA EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE AT FITUR 2011

Madrid, November 2010. Central America’s presence at FITUR, coordinated by the region’s Tourism Agency (CATA) will be expanded at the 2011 edition. In this way, its already noteworthy participation is set to rise by 24% compared to last year, evidence of the importance of the International Tourism Fair, organized by IFEMA and held in Madrid from January 19th – 23rd, 2011 for the promotion of this destination in the Spanish market – Europe’s leading source of tourists to the region.

Along these lines, CATA’s stand at FITUR will feature new options and attractions enhancing Central America’s appeal as a travel destination while highlighting Madrid’s role as a source of both Spanish and European tourists to the area. Among other services, since last October IBERIA has opened up new flights from the Spanish capital to San Salvador, becoming the first airline to link the Old Continent with the Salvadoran city. Also, the Spanish airline has begun operating nonstop flights to Panama, slashing travel time from Madrid by an average of four hours.

The increase in airline routes will be rounded out by the opening of new hotels which CATA will also present as part of the selection of services featured at the FITUR stand. Hotel capacity will increase in, among other segments, business and luxury accommodation in destinations like Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. In addition, projects such as Nicaragua’s Jícaro Lodge will be presented, a facility created in harmony with area aesthetics and using local wood certified by the international group The Rainforest Alliance. Among its services, this unique hotel offers organic food, while biodegradable products are used to maintain it and recycling is promoted.

Iberia will participate in the International Tourism Trade Fair, to take place from January 19-23, 2011, along with partner British Airways

IBERIA president Antonio Vázquez has accepted IFEMA’s invitation to serve as President of the FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair Organizing Committee as the event celebrates its thirty-first edition from January 19 – 23, 2011. This body, composed of senior business and institutional representatives in the sector, faces a key event this year of special importance during which it must lay the foundations for the recovery of tourism activity and address the most prominent changes occurring in this industry.

In this context it is significant that the company IBERIA, the premiere airline in the Spanish market and the leader in links between Europe and Latin America, will occupy a prominent position in FITUR’s exhibition of tourism options in a space that will also accommodate its partners British Airways.

FITUR 2011 will become, once again, the forum of reference for the major players in the tourism sector, with more than 11,000 companies in the travel industry, from 170 countries and regions and more than 200,000 visitors.

NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA 2010 PROVIDES THE SETTING FOR THE STAGING OF THE SPANISH CLIMBING CUP

A spectacular rock-face measuring 9 metres in width and 17 metres in height, will permit the participants to defy the laws of gravity along the ceilings of Hall 14

The next edition of NATURIVA ESQUI Y MONTAÑA, an event organised by IFEMA and ATUDEM, the Ski and Mountain Resort Tourist Association, will take place between 12th and 14th November at FERIA DE MADRID. This fair will provide the setting for the final trials of the Spanish Climbing Cup 2010. This final stage of the competition, which is characterised by its high levels of difficulty, enjoys the support of the Principality of Asturias, a region that serves as the sponsor for the official calendar of competitions organised by FEDME, the Spanish Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports, throughout 2010. The trials and award presentations will take place on the weekend of 13th and 14th November.

Furthermore, the event this year will enable spectators to observe the progress of a “new” generation of climbers, given that, since the Spanish finals will coincide with the Final of the World Cup in Kranj (Slovenia), some of the figures that have dominated the podium positions throughout the year 2010 will not be taking part at the trials in Spain. Tony Roy, the head of the Spanish climbing team, believes that this is a positive development, given that it “is good to offer young climbers opportunities, so that the same competitors don’t always win”.

In this respect, the winner of the Spanish Climbing Cup 2010 could be decided from among the climbers, Víctor Esteller (Catalonia), Daniel Moreno (Aragon) and Gorka Karapeto (The Basque Country). All three candidates occupy the leading positions in general and have a chance of winning the Spanish title. With regard to the female climbers, Helena Alemán from Catalonia is in optimum position to win the title, although Itziar Rodríguez from the Basque Country and Sara Aicart from Aragon follow behind in close pursuit.

Maximum excitement is expected in both categories. In this respect, the trials staged at Naturiva Esquí y Montaña will once again be decisive in terms of bringing the yearly calendar to a thrilling close. The fair will also host the staging of the youth trials for the under-twenty, under-eighteen and under-sixteen categories. Thus, in carrying out these youth trials, the sport’s federations and organisers are investing all their efforts into guaranteeing a new generation to replace the present climbers.

The competition will bring together some 150 participants in the adult category and some 100 participants in the youth category, based on both men’s and women’s competitions.  In order to stage the trials, the company, Top30, will set up a spectacular rock-face measuring 9 metres in width and 17 metres in height, thus permitting the participants to defy the laws of gravity along the ceilings of Hall 14 at FERIA DE MADRID. The rock-face will be constructed with Top Wave panels, the latest innovation from the Asturian company, one of the world’s leaders with regard to the design and manufacture of facilities of this kind.

As has become customary for the final stages of the climbing competition staged at Naturiva Esquí y Montaña, the design of the different itineraries has been entrusted to the climber from San Sebastian, Patxi Arocena. Patxi is one of the most highly celebrated Spanish climbers at an international level and will be responsible for determining the difficulty of the different itineraries: in the case of the Men’s Competition, the difficulty level will be 8C, whilst in the case of the women it will be 8A+.

MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE TWELFTH EDITION OF ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WEDDINGS

·         The fair brought together some 155 companies, who presented an extensive and varied selection of ideas, ranging from wedding fashion and accessories to music, catering services, honeymoon trips, etc., all aimed at those who plan to tie the knot in the near future.

·         The fair showed that all of the different segments that revolve around the world of weddings also present new features. In this respect, visitors came across the latest invitations via mobile phone, 3D wedding videos, wedding web pages and wedding blogs designed to keep guests up to date regarding the preparations that are being made.

Madrid, 26th October 2010.- Based on some satisfactory trade results on the part of the majority of the participating companies, the twelfth edition of One Thousand and One Weddings, the Monographic Fair of Products and Services for Weddings and Communions, welcomed a total of 12,076 visitors. This event took place between 15th and 17th October in Hall 14 at Feria de Madrid. Open to the general public and featuring the direct sale of products and services to visitors, this fair was once again organised by IFEMA, in collaboration with Expotecnic. It presented an extensive and varied selection of products presented by the 155 exhibiting companies, ideas designed to help engaged couples plan their wedding down to the very last detail.

At ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WEDDINGS, engaged couples were able to draw up tailor-made plans for their wedding, featuring ideas designed to suit all kinds of budget. In this respect, they came across the very latest in wedding fashion and accessories, music, invitations, catering services, honeymoon trips, photographer and video services, mementoes, etc In this respect, with just one visit, future happy couples had the opportunity to discover the latest wedding fashion trends of the moment created by prestigious designers, as well as gaining access to special offers and deciding the destination for their honeymoon. They were also able to enjoy live music offered by professionals who specialise in wedding events and receptions, as well as trying out different make-up and hairdressing ideas for their special day. Visitors also had the opportunity to choose their invitation cards, engagement rings, gifts for guests, the photographer, their wedding video-maker, their wedding vehicle…. They were able to sample wines, cavas and other products presented by catering companies that specialise in weddings banquets and receptions. All these products and services will be on show at the fair, based on a series of prices designed to adapt to different budgets.

Alongside this extensive exhibition, ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WEDDINGS also presented a series of joint fashion parades, featuring both morning and afternoon sessions (12.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.), which took place on the catwalk in Hall 14 itself and were free for all visitors to the fair.

At these unique events, the future bride and groom and guests were able to discover a wide selection of wedding fashion trends and ideas, ranging from the most traditional and simple formats to the most innovative and modern by designers such as Deuralde, Félix Ramiro, Lunas Dboda, Manuel Castillo and Protocolo. All of the fashion parade sessions featured packed attendances.

Furthermore, engaged couples who attended this event had the chance to take part in a draw for three prizes, simply by completing a draw slip with their details and placing it in the box located at the visitors’ desk in the entrance to Hall 14. The First Prize, offered in collaboration with NTC Company, was a trip to Asia for two persons; the Second Prize a cruise through the Mediterranean for two persons; and the Third Prize, a series of make-up, hairdressing, facial and body treatments for the bride and the bridegroom.

The Wedding Gown and Suit: The Focal Point of Any Wedding

A sense of diversity was once again the predominant characteristic of the wedding gowns presented for the new season, featuring designs that are classic, romantic and sophisticated, alongside other formats that are more modern and innovative and less conventional. This much is confirmed by a selection of ideas presented by some of the companies taking part at ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WEDDINGS, such as Aire Barcelona, Raimon Bundó, Manuel Castillo, Deuralde, Novíssima, Charo Peres, Eva Novias and Pol Nuñez, among others.

According to these proposals, during the year 2011 season the favourite materials will include organza, subtle gauze, Mikado and exquisite blond silk lace, as well as silk Garza, satin and sumptuous Chantilly lace. The predominant forms and shapes encapsulated an elegant and romantic bride who has a strong sense of character. Strapless necklines, fishtail styles, enveloping forms and superimposed effects that permit unrestricted movement will enable every woman to find the wedding dress of her dreams.

For the bridegroom, the ideas confirm the fact that the morning coat will continue to be the most popular form of attire among men, alongside suits of classic cut. The influence of the morning coat could be observed in the collections of semi-frock coats, which is to say, jackets that are a little shorter and feature rounded designs in the shape of a short morning coat, but featuring longer lapels.

New Features from the Wedding Industry

All of the different segments that revolve around the world of weddings will present new features at the fair. Among them, the way in which wedding invitations are sent out. The habitual method is to create the invitations on paper, choosing from thousands of different designs. However, now the new technologies have made it possible for the invitations to also be sent out by mobile phone. And in record time too! Various photography and video service companies now offer the possibility of creating a blog for the couples, designing a web page for the wedding, and even commission 3D videos of the Big Day, as well as recordings in Blu-Ray.

FITUR PREPARES ITS MOST INTERACTIVE EDITION EVER

Madrid, October 14, 2011. FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair, presented its new blog today on its website (www.fitur.es), which will deal with various issues related to the sector and, of course, with the event, to which all stakeholders in the tourism sector will be invited.

In addition, coinciding with the creation of this tool, existing profiles on social networks have been strengthened, while new ones have been established to reach all FITUR participants. In this way, Twitter will deliver real-time updates to interested parties on all the latest developments, and the needs of exhibitors and visitors will be addressed. Through Linked In the event seeks to develop a forum to share knowledge and to gather all the suggestions of FITUR participants, opinions essential to ensure its competitive edge. With regards to the public visiting the fair year after year, the Facebook page is structured as the place on the Net to devise their route through the halls and, once at FITUR, to share their experiences and discoveries with other fans, transmitting Fair-related photographs and videos via Flickr and YouTube.

These instruments are intended to provide all those who in one way or another are involved in FITUR with new channels through which they may not only register their opinions, but also enhance their visibility, in the case of the participating companies, and contribute to their marketing strategies. Professionals’ participation will be rendered more dynamic and communication between the main tourism players will ultimately be streamlined, both during and after the Trade Fair.

This initiative related to new technologies comes in the wake of other steps previously adopted by FITUR, including the ability to contract and manage services through the Web or organization in collaboration with the Hotel Technology Institute, of the FITURTECH days, which in 2011 mark their fifth edition.

- FITUR blog: www.fitur.es

-Twitter: (http://twitter.com/Fitur_)

-Linked In: (http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2733248&mostPopular=)

-Facebook: (http://www.facebook.com/FeriaFitur)

-Flickr: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/feriafitur/ )

-Youtube: (http://www.youtube.com/user/FeriaFitur).

International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation

ICERI 2010 (International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation) will be held in Madrid (Spain) on the 15th, 16th and 17th of November, 2010.

ICERI 2010 will be an International Forum for those who wish to present their projects and innovations, having also the opportunity to discuss the main aspects and the latest results in the field of Education and Research.

The general aim of the conference is to promote international collaboration in Education and Research in all educational fields and disciplines. The attendance of more than 600 delegates from 65 different countries is expected.

http://www.iated.org/iceri2010

The International Association for Technology, Education and Development (IATED) is a non-profit private association dedicated to the promotion of international education and university cooperation in the field of Technology and Science.

A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT FERIA DE MADRID

Madrid, October 2010. Within the world of meetings, congresses and conventions, those events linked to the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals are among the most highly valued, both due to their prestige and the economic impact they have on the cities in which they take place. In this respect, IFEMA stands out for providing an habitual venue for a number of highly prestigious international meetings of this kind, which confirms its status as one of the leading European fair organisations in this respect.

Throughout the present year 2010, specifically between 2nd and 4th June last, IFEMA hosted the staging of the Eleventh EFORT Congress, organised by the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. The aim of this Federation is to promote the mobility, muscular-skeletal health and quality of life of its patients. In this respect, the exchange of experiences and scientific knowledge is considered to be essential when it comes to ensuring satisfactory progress within the field. Founded back in 1991 in Italy, the Federation today brings together some 40 associations from its 38 member countries, alongside 6 associated scientific member bodies.

Furthermore, IFEMA CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES has confirmed the staging of a number of other important scientific events at its facilities at Feria de Madrid over the next few years.

Thus, the European Heart Rhythm Association, EUROPACE, will also organise an Official Conference at IFEMA’s facilities between 26th and 29th June 2011. At this event, a number of different experts will focus on the fields of heart dysfunction, electrophysiology and cardiac muscle stimulation.

For its part, EULAR, the European League Against Rheumatism, has chosen Feria de Madrid as the venue for its Annual Congress in June 2013. This Congress, which will bring together some 18,000 surgeons, patients, scientists and professionals from the medical and pharmaceutical industries, is the most important event of its kind whose staging has been confirmed over the next few years. The Congress will occupy three halls at IFEMA, in addition to the North Convention Centre, and it is likely to have a considerable economic impact on the entire city.

Furthermore, within the world of the daily press and publishing, one of the industry’s most important representative bodies at a worldwide level, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, WAN – IFRA, has announced the staging of its WAN IFRA Congress at Feria de Madrid between 29th and 31st October 2012. This is the most important meeting for the industry, organised by an association that is strongly committed to defending and promoting freedom of the press, quality journalism and publishing integrity, as well as boosting the development of technologies linked to these activities.

DNS TRAVEL ORGANISES SUCCESS OPERA GROUP TRAVEL

The incoming agency Dns Travel, with headquarters in Barcelona, has successfully organised an incoming opera & cultural group trip at Madrid by the opera Simon Boccanegra, starring Placido Domingo on July 25th. The cultural group coming from diferents areas as from Germany, Austria & Switzerland, could enjoy 16 minuts ovation to tenor Placido Domingo at his way back to a Madrid stage. A special dinner at restaurant La Favorita, where waiters are also opera singers, completed an excelent cultural program at Madrid designed taylormade by Dns Travel.

DNS Travel is a destination management company located in Barcelona which has been created to cover a very significant segment of the tourist market where experience and knowledge are essential requirements for the success of your projects. Dns Travel is a company managed by Mr. Jorge Romero, a significant professional in the tourism business in Spain, with more than 25 years taking care of his customers:

- “Dns Travel’ideas and projects have enabled us to follow the changes of our industry and how travellers and companies interests have evolved. Nowadays, travellers wish to live a city, a country, feel and dive into culture, gastronomy and leisure. To adapt to these new needs our company has been created. To symbolize this new spirit, we’ve given it the name of Discover New Senses. In our world, technologies have developed to unexpected limits, changing the pace of life and making it more frantic. People increasingly look for short breaks to deeply enjoy other realities and escape from routine. We wish to provide this bit of a paradise irrupting in every day’s life” -  Romero said for Top Consulting at this interview.

ICERI2010 (International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation) 15th-17th of November, 2010. Madrid (Spain)

ICERI2010 will be an International Forum for those who wish to present their
projects and innovations, having also the opportunity to discuss the main
aspects and the latest results in the field of Education and Research. It will
take place in the cosmopolitan city of Madrid (SPAIN).

ICERI2010 will be held at international level. The attendance of more than 600
delegates from 70 different countries is expected.

The general aim of the conference is to promote international collaboration in
Education and Research in all educational fields and disciplines.

You can present your papers in 3 presentation modalities: ORAL, POSTER OR VIRTUAL.

Two ISBN publications will be produced with all accepted abstracts and papers:
ICERI2010 Abstracts CD and ICERI2010 Proceedings CD.

Apart from the professional experience, you will be able to enjoy the
beautiful city of Madrid, its historical places and unique gastronomy.

FITUR CONGRESSES LAUNCHES A NEW FORMAT WITH FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS

Madrid, 13 September. The FITUR Congresses theme is being renewed to adapt its format to the demand of one of the most dynamic and fastest growing markets within the tourism industry, that of business travel. To this end, FITUR Congresses is being renamed FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS, with the subheading of Business Travel Fair. This name combines all of the segments involved in this type of travel: meetings, incentives, congresses, expositions, etc., and encompasses a concept that is fully recognised by the international industry.

In addition to the name, FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS includes various changes intended to make this year’s event even more competitive. It will bring together Spanish suppliers and international purchasers all in a single day, January 18, 2011, that will, as in previous years, act as a preface to the FITUR Trade Fair. Through this event, participants will be able to make the most of their time by having access to both representatives from the most consolidated markets as well as to potential clients from emerging areas in just one session. To this end, the Trade Fair schedule will be lengthened by half an hour, from 9 AM to 5 PM. Also increased, to 23, will be the number of professional meetings scheduled for every buyer.

FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS, then, will highlight the quality of the international companies that TURESPAÑA, through its network of offices abroad, will invite to the event. This organisation will place special focus on the potential offered by these companies to transform the contacts made at FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS into future investments in Spain’s convention market segment. Invitees will be able to benefit from the customary pretours hosted by the SPAIN CONVENTION BUREAU, during which they will learn of the business travel packages offered by six Spanish destinations. Along with the pretours, and to complement the activities of January 18^th, professionals will also be able to take part in the social events being planned for them.

FITUR MEETINGS & EVENTS, to be held in Pavilion 14.1 at the Feria de Madrid, will be organised by IFEMA and hosted by TURESPAÑA and the SPAIN CONVENTION BUREAU, in collaboration with the Empresa Municipal Promoción Madrid and Turismo de Madrid. The event will be sponsored by Trapsa and the Asociación Empresarial Hotelera de Madrid (AEHM), or Madrid Hotel Business Association.

FAVOURABLE RESULTS REGARDING CONGRESS ACTIVITY AT IFEMA DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR 2010

A total of 45 fairs, congresses and events of all kinds brought together a total of 1,425 participating companies and some 283,000 visitors.

Madrid, 14th June 2010.- The level of activity under the heading of IFEMA CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES during the first half or the year 2010 was highly positive, based on the corresponding participation figures. In effect, a total of 45 events were recorded up until last May, including externally organised fairs, congresses and activities of all kinds. These events featured the participation of a total of 1,425 companies and welcomed some 283,000 visitors. These figures confirm the popularity of the facilities at Feria de Madrid, in their capacity as one of the most sought-after venues among organisers of congresses, conventions and other meetings, including various meetings of considerable international stature.

In this respect, with regard to fairs organised by independent bodies, the IFEMA fairground hosted the staging of a total of 11 fairs during the first five months of the year, based on the participation of 1,243 exhibitors and the attendance of 249,000 visitors. In short, the following events took place: Exporeclam in the month of January; Eurobijoux and OMExpo Madrid 2010 in February; Venatoria 2010, Expovital, Pulire España 2010, the Vocational Training Employment Fair and SITI/ASLA in March; the Gourmet Fair and Expoenvien in April; and, finally, SIMA 2010 in May.

With regard to the congresses that took place at Feria de Madrid, featuring the presence of some 182 companies and 8,900 participants, five events took place within very different fields: a series of Implantology Conferences in February; the Analgesia Symposium in April; the Tenth ITS Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and the First Congress on Tourism and Gastronomy, both in May; and the Eleventh EFORT Congress in June.

Finally, a total of 29 events of other kinds were also staged, bringing together some 26,000 participants. January witnessed the staging of the Third Telefónica Indirect Channel Convention, the Caja Madrid Assembly, a Meeting organised by Johnson & Johnson and the Línea Directa – Mac Guffin Convention. In February, Feria de Madrid hosted the staging of the Caja España – Nueva Comunicación Convention, VForum and Showtime Communicacion – Disney. March was the turn of the Fifth Telefónica Management Summit, the Bank of Spain Exams, the National Instruments Convention, the Presentation of Diplomas from the Cesma Business School, and the the Pelayo Mutua de Seguros Convention and the Reverencia – Cadre Noir Equestrian Show.

In April, the exhibition centre facilities staged a considerable number of events: the Amper Meeting, the ACS Shareholders Board Meeting, the Off Site Unitronics Convention, the Citroën Convention, the Meeting of Montero y Robles Law Firm, the ESIC Congress – Hoy es Marketing 2010 and the SEPES – EU 2010 Convention, organised by the Ministry of Housing on Urban Sustainability. Finally, in May the exhibition centre provided the venue for Pilates Day organised by Pilates Wellness and Energy, the Caja Madrid Assembly, the Maxam Convention – Annual Meeting of TDAS 2010, a Mercedes Benz Presentation, the Meeting of the ICCA Iberian Chapter, the AECOC – Techno-Marketing Congress, and the Annual Meeting of MMT Seguros.

On the basis of the success of their first editions, FITUR GREEN, INVESTOUR and INBOUND SPAIN will be back at FITUR 2011

Initial forecasts for the evolution of tourism in 2010 are optimistic; in fact, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is expecting growth of between 3% and 4% by year end. These expectations are backed by the results obtained during the first two months of the year, in which international tourism arrivals grew by 7% worldwide, in addition to the 2% already recorded in the last quarter of 2009.

This upward trend will probably be reflected in the next edition of FITUR, which has been scheduled to take place from 19 to 23 January 2011. The five-day trade fair organised by IFEMA brings together the main representatives of the tourism sector in a single venue, a fact which has allowed the trade fair to become an international industry benchmark and an event that trade professionals schedule in their diaries year after year.

After the excellent results achieved at the last edition of FITUR, the next edition will once again include forums such as FITUR GREEN which, organised in conjunction with the UNWTO and sponsored by the Madrid Tourist Board, seek to encourage the sector’s sustainability and energy efficiency. The UNWTO will once again be involved in the organisation of INVESTOUR, an initiative to strengthen tourism as a driving factor for development in Africa. In 2011 it will also feature participation by member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). INBOUND SPAIN will also be on the agenda in 2011, attracting companies and destinations in this sphere.

Another proposal for 2011 which is awakening growing interest among trade professionals is the fifth edition of FITURTECH, a series of workshops on innovation in tourism sponsored by the trade fair in collaboration with the Hotel Technology Institute (Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero, ITH).

TEN HALLS WHERE EVERTHING IS ON OFFER

The trade fair will be laid out in the same way as the 2010 edition: distributed over ten halls in the central area of the Feria de Madrid trade fair centre. Hall 1 will be reserved exclusively for visitor registration, while all the other odd-numbered halls (3, 5, 7 and 9) will house products and projects from Spanish official organisations. International exhibitors will be accommodated in even-numbered halls. Stands featuring Asia and the Pacific will be located in Hall 2, America and Africa will be found in Hall 4, while Halls 6 and 8 will contain the European area. Another section of Halls 8 and also 10 will accommodate companies’ proposals. FITUR CONGRESOS will occupy hall 14.1.

FITUR’s commitment to the sector, which takes the current economic situation into account, has led the event organisation to freeze the prices for participation for the second year running. In addition to this, a discount of 10% will be available on stand rental and “turn-key” modular stands, provided that the exhibitor settles the full cost of participation by 20 September. A further 10% discount is available to all services booked online at the Exhibitors’ Area at www.fituronline.com.

In the meantime, at the next edition of FITUR, the trade fair will be strengthening the activities it started in 2010 with the inclusion in social networks such as Facebook and YouTube. The idea behind these activities is to smooth the flow of communication with trade fair professionals and the visiting public, learning their opinions, interests and expectations with regard to the Trade Fair first hand, and creating yet another channel for sharing the news about everything that’s happening at FITUR.

The 2011 edition of FITUR will be open to trade professionals only on Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 January, all day from 10.00 to 19.00 hrs. On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23, FITUR will open its doors to the public and will stay open until 20.00 hrs.

INTENSE CONVENTION AND CONGRESS ACTIVITY AT IFEMA DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR 2010

Madrid, 17 March 2010. The conference and events programme overseen by IFEMA CONVENTIONS AND CONGRESSES has played an especially prominent role since the beginning of the year, encompassing a large number of fairs organised by other bodies, as well as other kinds of meetings. The vast majority were of international scope. In this respect, we might make special mention of the Permanent Module of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union.

The programme kicked off on 26 and 27 January with the staging of the International Political Summit “Post-2010 Biodiversity Visions and Targets: The Role of Protected Areas and Ecological Networks in Europe” (Biodiversity Conference). This Summit, which was organised by the Spanish Biodiversity Foundation, Fundación Biodiversidad, and which was inaugurated by the Prince and Princess of Asturias, entailed the creation of a Europe-wide International Biological Diversity Year 2010. The more than 400 participants reflected the success of this event, which took place within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the EU.

Mid-February witnessed the staging of the VM Ware Virtualization Forum 2010, a free and interactive event on virtual infrastructures. This international conference organised by the events organiser, FITCHLive, for VM Ware, is a leading world forum for virtualization solutions, encompassing everything ranging from workstations to data centers, effectively bringing cloud computing to organisations of all kinds and sizes.

The Sixth Updating Conferences on Implantology, organised by Mozo-Grau, took place during the same week, on 19 and 20 February. More than 1,000 visitors attended these international conferences, which offered professionals from this sector the opportunity to learn about the most important new techniques and scientific developments from the leading specialists in each area.

OmeEXPO Madrid 2010, the most important conference of the year devoted to digital marketing and online advertising, took place at Feria de Madrid on 24 and 25 February. This event brought together 100 exhibitors at various conferences, which took place in four different conference rooms. More than 5,000 visitors made this the most strongly attended conference during the first quarter of the year.

One of the most important initiatives carried out during the first three months of the year at IFEMA consisted of the Permanent Module of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. This Module, which will operate up until the end of June, the date on which Spain’s Presidency of Europe concludes, provides all of the infrastructures and services required (including a series of rooms available in Halls 12 and 14) for numerous high-level meetings to take place amongst officials and ministers involved in overseeing and implementing Spain’s Presidency. Among the meetings that have already been staged, we might mention: the event organised by top officials at the Home Affairs Ministries of the EU countries and from the United States on 11 and 12 January; the meeting of the Heads of Energy Policy, whose aim was the prepare the conclusions for the Energy Action Plan 2010-2012, which took place on 21st January; a meeting on fundamental rights within the EU, which was organised by the Spanish Ministry of Justice on 1st and 2nd February; and various seminars on the battle against terrorism, organised by the Spanish Ministry for Home Affairs, which took place between 8 and 11 February.

Finally, among the seven fairs that were organised independently but took place at IFEMA’s facilities throughout the first quarter of the year, two were especially important and strongly representative of their respective sectors. These event included Exporeclam, the Professional Exhibition for Promotional and Advertising Gifts, which took place between 26 and 28 January 2010, and Pulire, the Spanish Trade Show for Professional Cleaning and Environmental Hygiene, which took place between 23 and 25 March.

MADRID WILL HAVE A NEW CONVENTION CENTRE IN 2010

The project by architects Tuñón and Mansilla is a large rising sun that emerges among the four new skyscrapers on the Paseo de la Castellana

Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain will officially open Fitur 2010

The official opening ceremony will take place at 12 noon on 20 January

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY MEETS AGAIN AT FITUR 2010

The 30th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, will take place between 20 and 24 January 2010. This event, organised by IFEMA, has maintained its high level of participation in relation to the previous edition, with around 11,000 companies from approximately 170 countries or regions. These companies will be occupying 75,000 square metres of net exhibition space at the Feria de Madrid.

The 10 happiest cities in the World includes…

Forbes’ list of the 10 happiest cities in the World includes Barcelona as N°3 andMadrid as N°6…And we, Spanish Heritage, are the Happiest Spanish DMC!!!

The survey ranked 50 cities, with a wide representation of Latin and Mediterranean cities. Thanks to the votes of 10.000 people from over 20 different countries, it is with great pride that we inform you that Barcelona has been chosen as one of the happiest cities in the world, holding 3rd place in the Forbes list. Simon Anholt, who conducted the survey, described Barcelona as “the classical Mediterranean city.” At number 6, Madrid was also among the top-ten happiest cities on earth.Congratulations to both! It is our pleasure to work and live in these amazing and, of course, HAPPY CITIES!

Spanish Heritage, a happy DMC, is happy to receive your proposals and events for any of our happy cities. Smile, you are in Spain!

Fitur 2010 will be the location for an International Seminar which will debate the UNWTO’s Roadmap for Recovery

Following last year’s successful Seminar on responding to the new challenges in the global economy, on 21 January 2010, the UNWTO Affiliate Members Secretariat will bring together a diverse representation of the global tourism sector to examine and debate solutions for two of the principal recommendations in the Roadmap for Recovery.

Minube organises a “Travellers Meetup” at Fitur 2010, 23 January, travel social network is holding a Meetup at the trade fair

The MINUBE travellers’ social network will be hosting a “Meetup” at FITUR on 23 January for lovers of travelling. Between 12.00 and 14.00 hours, in hall 10 of the Feria de Madrid, travellers will have the opportunity to Exchange experiences with other lovers of travel. There will also be a talk in which travellers can hear the different impressions and opinions of other travellers: from the more adventurous; followers of solidarity tourism or backpackers, to lovers of gastronomical or cultural routes. Furthermore, participants will be encouraged to enter a contest to win 10 enological trips in Castile-La Mancha, the region sponsoring the event. Visitors will be treated to a glass of Manchego wine and a typical regional tapa at the end of the meeting.

MINUBE experts will also be offering the public personalised advice before entering the trade fair, between 23 and 24 January. Two information points will be located at the North and South entrances of IFEMA for visitors to freely consult which FITUR destinations, or type of travel products they are seeking and once the relevant stands have been located, visitors can plan the most appropriate route of the trade fair and optimise their time spent there.

Fitur 2010 incorporates proposals from Uganda, the official Republic of Ghana, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi

The trade fair welcomes the Belize Hotel Association, attending for the first time in official representation of its destination

THE TOURISM SECTOR MEETS AT FITUR 2010

Madrid December 2009. The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) will be holding its 30th edition between 20 and 24 January 2010. Just over a month away from the opening of the event, the participation figures have remained steady with respect to the last edition, with more than 12,000 companies originating from 170 countries or regions.

SAUDI ARABIA AND THE PHILIPPINES TO JOIN BUYERS AT FITUR CONGRESOS 2010

Spain’s Meetings and Incentives Travel Workshop at FITUR, taking place on 18 and 19 January 2010, is to incorporate two new markets: Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. The inclusion of buyers from these countries broadens the business potential for Spanish vendors taking part in the event. Thus some of the companies with the greatest interest from the Middle East and Asia are to participate in the Workshop giving the Spanish tourism sector a much greater scope for development.

EUROECHO 2009, the world’s foremost congress on echocardiography and imaging techniques, will take place this year in Madrid 9 – 12 December

Topics: Non-invasive imaging: Echocardiography, MR/CT, Nuclear

New reports will be presented at this year’s Congress, with the latest evidence highlighting the role of this new technology.

Now, with such rapid development in imaging techniques, it is likely that non-invasive imaging will gain more importance in clinical cardiology – and probable also that these more accurate tests will revolutionise the diagnostics of cardiac diseases in the near future.

The emergence and wider use of these techniques over the past two decades – in echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography – have been accompanied by a corresponding decline in mortality related to coronary artery disease, which, says Dr Luigi Badano, chairman of the Congress Programme Committee, must in some part be explained by new technology.

More than 3,000 participants are expected to attend this year’s congress, whose two main themes are cardiomyopathies (deterioration in the function of the heart muscle as a result of disease) and three-dimensional echocardiography.

EUROECHO 2009 will take place at IFEMA – Feria de Madrid. It is the 13th annual meeting of the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE)- the oldest association of the European Society of Cardiology.

The 11th EFORT Congress will be held in association with the Spanish Orthopaedic and Traumatology Society (SECOT).

EFORT Congress 2010, to be held in Madrid, Spain, in combination with the annual congress of the Spanish Orthopaedic and Traumatology Society. The EFORT Executive Committee and the Spanish Orthopaedic and Traumatology Society are delighted to invite you to participate in this Congress in beautiful Madrid – a capital known for its architecture and art. It also has a convenient and well situated congress venue.

The scientific programme includes symposia and instructional lectures delivered by distinguished speakers from across Europe. Free papers, e-posters, workshops, industrial symposia and technical exhibits will all feature. There will be simultaneous translation in the combined plenary sessions whereas the congress language remains English.

Controversial case discussions and pro and con debates invite you actively to contribute and share your knowledge with colleagues from all around Europe. Furthermore, during half-day ExMEx sessions you will gain specialised expertise and share information with different opinion leaders on a specific topic in a group limited to 100 colleagues.

Along with the scientific exhibition, this congress format will cover the whole range of contemporary orthopaedics and traumatology issues in Europe. At the EFORT congress in Madrid delegates will share scientific findings, experience and gain a greater awareness of future trends.

The local organising committee has planned an attractive social programme that emphasises Madrid’s beauty and magnificence. More info :  www.efort.org

FITUR EXHIBITORS CAN NOW REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED BY ANESTUR AND TURIJOBS

Companies taking part in FITUR 2010 can now register free of charge to participate in the 4th edition of the employment workshops organized by FITUR in conjunction with the Spanish Federation of Tourism Schools (ANESTUR) and TURIJOBS. The workshops, which will take place on 22 January 2010, are part of the programme of activities planned within the framework of the trade fair. The closing date for registration for exhibitors is 20 November, to be completed online at http://www.turijobs.com/fitur/workshop2010/default_e.asp

Once registered, representatives of the most competitive companies in the sector will have the opportunity to interview the best students and newly qualified graduates from public and private institutions giving training in tourism.
This event represents an opportunity for companies to optimise personnel selection processes by interviewing the candidates with the most potential in one place over the course of a single day. Statistics on the last edition of the fair are a testimony to the satisfaction of the exhibitors who took part: according to surveys carried out with interviewers, 80% of the firms which took part awarded the workshop the highest possible rating.

As in previous editions, TURIJOBS, Spain’s leading tourism employment portal, will be responsible for providing the necessary technological support in order to manage the participant registration process and organise the agenda for professional meetings between companies and candidates.

FITUR AND THE WTO CREATE THE INVESTOUR FORUM TO FOSTER INVESTMENT IN AFRICA

Tourism can be a fundamental tool for boosting development in many regions of Africa. The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), together with the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) are hosting the first ever edition of INVESTOUR next 21 January as part of the parallel commercial activities taking place within the trade fair. Their common goal is to stimulate Spanish tourism investment in Africa thus contributing to the improvement of the conditions of life in many communities.

Luís Eduardo Cortés, chairman of IFEMA Executive Committee, FITUR’s organising body, participated last 3 October in a WTO Commission for Africa held in Astana (Kazakhstan). At the meeting before the principal African tourism ministers and responsible personalities, Cortés reiterated the benefits that this initiative could contribute to the economy of their territories: “Tourism is one of the sectors with the greatest impact on the socio-economic development of countries and regions. Without a doubt, contributing to this evolution is the main objective of INVESTOUR, which will be presenting Africa’s enormous tourism potential to experienced Spanish entrepreneurs”. During the session, at which FITUR director Ana Larrañaga was also present, the chairman of IFEMA also stressed the Spanish outbound tourism market potential which “in spite of the current world recession, has seen a 6.9% increase in travel to foreign countries during the first seven months of the year”.

During his speech, Cortés assured attendees that IFEMA had already presented the project to the principal business associations (the CEOE, the CEIM and the the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others) “who have all declared their sincere enthusiasm towards the proposal”. Cortés then encouraged representatives of the main African Nations to participate in INVESTOUR highlighting the fact that “Togo, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon have all already confirmed their presence. I would like to invite you to be next in joining this project and demonstrate all the potential of your tourism offer at INVESTOUR”.

INTENSE ACTIVITY AT FERIA DE MADRID IN OCTOBER 2009

Madrid,  October 2009. The month of October 2009 will be extremely intense in terms of the number of fairs that are organised directly by IFEMA, all of which are of considerable importance within their respective sectors.

In chronological order, we might mention LIBER, the International Book Trade Fair, which is due to take place between 7th and 9th October, and ONE THOUSAND AND ONE WEDDINGS (between 23rd and 25th October), a fully established event that will be organised by IFEMA for the first time and will coincide with the staging of SALÓN LOOK INTERNACIONAL, the Image and Integral Aesthetics Exhibition.

The month of October will conclude with the staging of the International Road Safety and Equipment Exhibition, TRAFIC, between 27th and 30th October.
Coinciding with this fair calendar, Feria de Madrid will also provide the setting for an intensive programme of fairs organised by bodies other than IFEMA, in addition to other trade events, congresses …
The first event on this programme is known as EXPOCERSA, the Industrial Hardware Trade Meeting, which is due to take place on 6th and 7th October. This event will provide Central de Compras y Servicios Profesionales, S.A. with an opportunity to bring its clients and customers together. In this respect, CECOFERSA, the largest Spanish distribution chain for hardware products and industrial supplies and a body that features more than 110 members and encompasses some 240 establishments throughout Spain and Portugal, will be able to offer its members the possibility of purchasing products directly off manufacturers at the very best prices. This event takes place every two years.
Following this fair, another event will take place between 13th and 15th October that constitutes a meeting of considerable importance to the worldwide pharmaceutical industry, CPhi Worldwide. The Exhibition on Pharmaceutical Ingredients will take place for the second time at Feria de Madrid, occupying an area measuring more than 100,000 square metres. , The event will feature the attendance of around 24,000 participants from 125 countries and an international presence that exceeds the figure of 90%. These figures make CPhi Worldwide an event of strong added value for Madrid, especially due to its impact on the service sector and the city’s economy.
Three other events will practically coincide on the same dates: VISCOM SIGN ESPAÑA, the MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND HEALTH EXPO, and MADRID GOLF. Reed Exhibitions Iberia will stage VISCOM SIGN ESPAÑA, the International Visual Communication Industry Exhibition between 22nd and 24th October. This event is aimed at professionals and seeks to promote the convergence of digital technologies in multiple formats and materials: large-format images, 3D recorders, branding, labels, advertising signs, illuminated signs … in short, the visual communication industry in its purest form.

The SALÓN DIETA MEDITERRÁNEA Y SALUD (MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND HEALTH EXPO) will be presented between 22nd and 25th October as an initiative that seeks to help promote a diet whose virtues are generally acknowledged, but whose principles are often ignored when it comes to practical application. In this respect, IM&C, S.A., Internacional Marketing & Communication, S.A., the fair’s organiser, will stage this event for the general public and a wide range of professionals, including nutritionists, health representatives and communication professionals, among others, in order to raise awareness of the importance of this kind of diet.
For its part, Planner Reed, the organiser of the Madrid Real Estate Exhibition, SIMA, which is habitually staged in May, has decided, in conjunction with the Property Developers Association of Madrid, ASPRIMA, to hold a new edition of the fair known as SIMA AUTUMN between 22nd and 25th October.
Also aimed at the general public and professionals, MADRID GOLF, which is organised by MADRID GOLF, S.L. under the heading “An Entire Universe of Golf at a Single Venue”, will present the best products of an industry that caters for an increasing number of golfing fans in Spain. This is the only international golfing fair organised in Spain. This exhibition will bring together the best selection of golf clubs from the most prestigious brands, together with bags, balls, electric golf buggies, swing measurers and a large number of other items, all of which will delight golfers. At the same time, professionals will discover a number of interesting business opportunities at Feria de Madrid.
This intensive fair programme will end between 28th October and 1st November with a new edition of the International Print and Contemporary Art Fair, ESTAMPA, which will once again take place at the IFEMA fairground. Euxenita Dieciseis, S.L. is the organiser of this event, which was founded back in 1992 and serves as a key point of reference for galleries, bodies and media linked to the sale and publication of prints, photography and video art.