CEO Leadership Programme
IAPCO President & CEO column
Fáilte Ireland - Our New Destination Partner
IAPCO Council Meeting in Prague
IAPCO Innovation Award 2022
Convention Centre Partner - Messe Basel
IAPCO Job Board
EDGE Antwerp
NZICC-IAPCO Partnership supports growth of Business Events Industry
JNTO - IAPCO Partnership Extension
Destination Partner - Japan
Destination Partner - Toronto
EDGE LATAM
Destination Partner - Hong Kong
Celebrating Ten-Year Anniversary of the Hong Kong-IAPCO Partnership
Destination Partner - Melbourne
The value of Engaging Participants and Enhancing Interaction Through Interactive Educational Programs
Roslyn McLeod’s Japanese Language Passion Sets Up a Lifetime Career
Unleashing the Power: Embracing Social Media for Congress Project Managers
snaPCO
Convention Centre Partner - Messe Frankfurt
The PCO: published by IAPCO
Welcome to our latest edition of “The PCO”!
Engagement is the cornerstone that underpins the success of any group. It drives open conversation, enhances understanding, and fosters collaboration, enabling us to thrive collectively.
Engagement within our community isn’t merely about participation; it’s about a meaningful connection. It’s about actively listening to diverse perspectives, sharing ideas, and working together towards common goals. It’s about making sure every member feels heard, valued, and involved.
The past month or so we have had many opportunities to be engaged with our Business Events community. I don’t think we will take for granted the opportunity to be with our community in person again!
The power of engagement cannot be understated. Recently, the gym I was a member of closed unexpectedly. Our gym community was devastated as this is a group that stuck together during the lockdowns doing zoom workouts most days! The power of the partnerships created in this environment is so great that a few of the members have grouped together and have resurrected the business. This has brought joy to the members of our community and the support the community will show is a testament to the power of these partnerships created.
We have some exciting engagement opportunities on the horizon for our community and I encourage you to become involved where you can.
Enjoy!
Sarah Markey-Hamm President, IAPCO‘Engagement’ - quite an open concept when you consider the impact such a word can have on communities and audiences. Creating immersive and captivating experiences that leave lasting impressions with all parties involved is, I believe, at the core of engagement.
Our recent engagement with our Members and community at the IMEX Frankfurt trade show was clear to see. Over 11,500 global participants met, conducted business and learned from peers and experts. IAPCO hosted 29 Members across the 3 days including 3 dinners, 5 seminars, 4 partner receptions, 3 new public announcements and conducted well over 60 inperson meetings.
Our global engagement focus continues as our President joins strategic partners, IFES, at their Singapore conference and I look forward to advocating for our IAPCO Members at FIEXPO, Panama and at COCAL’s conference in Cuba in the coming weeks.
Yes, in-person engagement is vitally important but so too is that with our remote audiences.
Engagement is high with university students at Leeds Becket University in the UK where the webEDGE Congress Management course is now part of their curriculum and due to its success, we plan to replicate this across other universities and colleges globally. Our online APAC Next Generation Leadership Programme, in partnership with NZICC, is about to kick off as is the 3rd programme in our very popular CEO Meetup online series.
It is with pride that I read of others across our community with as strong a sense of the value of engagement as we do here at IAPCO and I hope you enjoy some of their stories in this edition.
Martin Boyle CEO, IAPCOFáilte Ireland, Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority, signs 2-year Destination Partnership agreement with IAPCO at IMEX Frankfurt trade fair
Frankfurt, 23rd May 2023 – At IMEX Frankfurt, IAPCO announced the destination partnership with Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority, sealing the 2-year Destination Partnership agreement at the industry trade fair.
As an official IAPCO Destination Partner, Fáilte Ireland will strengthen its relations with the international community of Professional Congress Organisers through IAPCO’s highly accredited network of PCO members. Fáilte Ireland will also leverage the partnership, via its Business Events brand “Meet in Ireland”, to showcase Ireland as a leading sustainable and socially conscious destination for international conferences.
Sarah Markey-Hamm, President of IAPCO, said: “We are delighted to have Failte Ireland as a new IAPCO Destination Partner. IAPCO’s global membership and community reach provides destinations with access to those that are at the sharp end of both destination and venue selection and congress delivery. Destinations that understand the strategic long-term social and economic value that can be achieved when working collaboratively with PCOs and their clients remain at the centre of our Destination Partnership programme and Failte Ireland exemplifies this commitment.”
Paul Mockler, Head of Commercial Development at Fáilte Ireland, said: “We are looking forward to collaborating with IAPCO and see this partnership as an important milestone and platform to share the strides that Ireland’s business events industry is making in the area of sustainability and in working towards net zero carbon events. As part of the partnership, Fáilte Ireland is sponsoring a series of IAPCO’s UNSDG Spotlight features, which will be focused on Ireland’s plans to support our client needs around Sustainable Development Goals including climate action, equity, and inclusion, and ensuring that business events hosted in Ireland, have a positive and lasting impact on our residents, communities, and society as a whole.”
Ireland is the 9th destination to form a Destination Partnership agreement with IAPCO, joining Hamburg, Melbourne, Toronto, Dubai, Hong Kong, Rwanda, Athens, and Japan.
As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Fáilte Ireland works in partnership with Government, State agencies, Local Authorities, representative groups and industry, to develop tourism across Ireland by creating destination development plans and networks, investing in infrastructure, activities, visitor attractions and festivals. Fáilte Ireland also provides consumer and buyer insights, mentoring, business support and training programmes and buyer platforms to help tourism businesses innovate and grow.
Fáilte Ireland collaborating with IAPCO is an important milestone and platform to share the strides that Ireland’s business events industry is making in the area of sustainability and in working towards net zero carbon events.
took place at the Prague Congress Centre. The workshop programme consisted of sharing the global perspective by IAPCO President, CEO, ICMS Pty Ltd, Sarah Markey-Hamm and included presentations by Barbara Calderwood, MCI UK, Ori Lahav, CEO Kenes Group, and Sissi Lygnou, CEO, AFEA S.A. Travel & Congress Services.
The presentations were followed by group discussions reflecting on topics relevant to convention bureaus, PCOs and client collaboration case studies, emerging technologies, trends and perspectives of their application in congress design and marketing, and an international conference's social and economic impact.
From 17 to 20 May 2023, the IAPCO Council Meeting was held in Prague with the participation of ten council members hosted by Prague Convention Bureau.
IAPCO’s administering body - the Council, holds 3 meetings throughout the year, one of them in Europe. To bring the May 2023 IAPCO Council Meeting to Prague, the Prague Convention Bureau initiated communication with IAPCO in 2018.
Apart from the closed Council sessions, on 18 May the IAPCO Council attended “The Art of Attracting Business Events: Global Best Practices for Success” workshop with the participation of around 50 Prague Convention Bureau members and partners
After the workshop, the Prague Congress Centre offered all participants a guided site visit with a presentation of their new projects.
The IAPCO Council Meeting in Prague also included social events and sightseeing hosted and provided by the Prague Convention Bureau members and partners.
We would like to thank the main partners: CzechTourism –Czech Convention Bureau, Prague Congress Centre, Zátiší Catering Group, Almanac X Prague; and Červený Jelen, ADO Services and Prague City Tourism for their collaboration in hosting the IAPCO Council and organising the engagement programme.
IAPCO’s Annual Award, supported by IMEX, recognises Kenes Group’s Unlok Education as the most innovative solution
Kenes Group, a leading global meetings and events organiser, is announced as the winner of the 2022 IAPCO Innovation Award for its Unlok Education platform at a gala Awards evening on Wednesday, 24th May at the IMEX 2023.
The Innovation Award judges picked Unlok Education as the most innovative new product or service in the meetings and events industry in 2022 from the nominations submitted.
Audrey Alloul is the current Chief Digital Officer, in charge of the recently created Digital Department at Kenes and, subsequently, the development of Unlok – the visionary online educational platform for healthcare professionals. Audrey has been part of Kenes for over 17 years holding several leadership positions.
Unlok Education is an AI-powered video library that integrates several technologies into an easy-to-navigate, crossspecialities learning space. The platform allows healthcare professionals to access Continuing Medical Education (CME) - accredited content from Kenes’ Original Events, the Global Education of Medicine and Science – GEMS Association, and other leading medical organizations.
Unlok Education was created in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation or postponement of many in-person medical congresses. Kenes Group was committed to enabling a platform for medical collaboration and advancement no matter what, and Unlok Education is the result of that commitment.
Unlok Education uses algorithm-based matching systems and artificial intelligence to facilitate the knowledge exchange between users themselves and between users and speakers. It automatically generates captions and translations to 120
different languages, identifies highlights of keynotes in the speakers' speech, and accurately recommends similar content to create personalized CME-accredited learning programs based on users' searches.
Unlok Education is currently available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese. The platform will be translated into additional languages in the coming months.
On winning the Award, Audrey said, “This award represents both the recognition of 1.5 years of the Digital Team working hard to materialize a vision that is only possible thanks to our six decades of expertise and knowledge about the continuous learning journey of healthcare professionals and the momentum of our Unlok Education space – designed to be a turning point in the field of continuous medical education. We understand the great value that the IAPCO Driving Excellence Awards hold within the associative sector and it is an honour for me to receive the Innovation Award on behalf of Kenes Group and everyone involved in the Unlok Education project. Without a doubt, this accolade has already awakened significant interest in Unlok Education and I am very much looking forward to further sharing insights about it in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at the next IAPCO Annual Meeting.”
Ori Lahav, CEO of Kenes Group added, “We are honoured to be recognized by IAPCO for our innovation in the field of CME. Unlok Education is a game-changer for healthcare professionals who are looking for a convenient, effective, and engaging way to stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge.”
The IAPCO Innovation Award is presented annually to the organization that has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of the meetings and events industry. The award is judged by a panel of industry experts.
“Innovation is crucial to the success of any organisation and Kenes Group is a true innovator in the meetings and events industry,” said Sarah Markey-Hamm, President of IAPCO. “Unlok Education is a ground-breaking platform that will revolutionize the way healthcare professionals access CME. This brilliant innovation has created endless opportunities for professional development and cross-speciality knowledge exchange between healthcare professionals around the world. We are proud to recognize Kenes Group with the IAPCO Innovation Award.”
The IAPCO Innovation Award winner received the prestigious trophy as well as a complimentary registration and speaker’s slot to attend the IAPCO Annual Meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2024.
IAPCO Driving Excellence Awards are presented annually and have long been coveted by those who seek acknowledgement for their quality and contribution to the meetings industry by IAPCO.
Art Basel is regarded as the most important fair for modern and contemporary art. In June of each year, more than 200 carefully selected galleries turn this Swiss city of the same name into a major temporary museum. And to make sure that the exhibitors and visitors feel at home not only on the exhibition site but also in its immediate vicinity, Canton BaselStadt, Basel Tourism and other stakeholders have recently teamed up and launched the “I’m pART of it” initiative.
Although Art Basel now has offshoots in metropolises like Miami Beach, Hongkong and Paris, it has its origins at the Basel exhibition site. It was staged at the headquarters of parent company MCH Group for the very first time in 1970. And the expansion strategy of the past few years has motivated those involved in tourism to further improve their welcoming culture in a bid to strengthen Basel’s status as a location. Two taskforces have thus been set up, which have compiled a comprehensive package of measures. These include:
• Exclusive welcome package in all hotel rooms
• Reservation platform for restaurants offering greater planning security
• Extended opening times for restaurants until 2 a.m.
• "Charter against excessive prices and for greater hospitality", signed by 149 establishments (43 hotels and 106 restaurant businesses)
• Attractive overnight accommodation offers for the Public Days
• Rhine swimming event for gallerists organized by Basel Tourism and the Art Basel management
• Launch of the new "Bebbi Zine” scene magazine
• Special cultural and event program in Basel's museums and cultural institutions during Art Week
• Support for the "Basel Social Club" initiative, which offers free performances, readings, concerts and art exhibitions on a daily basis during Art Week
• Staging of the Art Parcours, and art installations and concerts on Exhibition Square
• Organisation of a closing party on Theaterplatz under the motto “Finally Saturday”
• Reduced-price day tickets for residents of Canton BaselStadt (CHF 54 instead of CHF 67)
• Increased flagging along the main axes
• Greater visibility in public transport
• Optimisation of the building site situation in the city centre
• Contemporary welcome and information desks at EuroAirport and the railway stations
• “I'm part of it" button for all service providers and friends of Art Basel
• Communication via testimonial, influencer, PR and social media campaigns
MCH Group also welcomes this campaign. "Cooperation between all the players who contribute to the overall Art Basel experience has moved to a perceptibly new level since last autumn. We are delighted to be part of this inspiring and encouraging development," says group CEO Florian Faber. Art Basel is being held from Thursday, June 15 to Sunday, June 18, 2023 at the Messe and Congress Center Basel.
Further information: www.artbasel.com www.messe-basel.com www.basel.com
iapcoedgeantwerp.org
We are excited to announce that IAPCO’s next European EDGE Seminar will take place in Antwerp, Belgium from January 16th – 18th 2024. Longtime IAPCO Member, Luc Neville from Semico is hosting IAPCO’s flagship three-day education seminar with the support of colleagues from Meet In Flanders and the Antwerp Convention Bureau.
In addition to a full education program, designed by lead faculty Nicky McGrane of Conference Partners International, EDGE attendees will have ample opportunity to network with colleagues from across the globe while enjoying Antwerp's rich cultural heritage, culinary delights and state-of-the-art conference facilities.
for travelers seeking a seamless blend of business and leisure. We are dedicated to creating a unique and memorable seminar experience for EDGE attendees in the remarkable city of Antwerp.”
EDGE seminars are an opportunity to further your career through education taught by meetings industry experts while creating lasting connections with colleagues from around the world.
Save the date for EDGE Antwerp in January and register your interest at the link below to be notified when registration opens in September.
Located in the heart of Europe, Antwerp is in the historical region of Flanders in Belgium. It is easily accessible by train from major European destinations or by plane with an international airport in nearby Brussels.
Tuya Beyers, International Association Expert at Meet In Flanders said, “Antwerp is a vibrant city with a captivating blend of old-world charm and contemporary urban development. Known as the diamond capital of the world, it is a thriving hub of international trade and an ideal destination
Frankfurt, 23rd May 2023 – With the much-anticipated convention centre in Auckland’s city centre nearing completion, the NZICC is looking to bolster the global Business Events Industry by developing a multi-year leadership programme in partnership with the International Association for Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO).
The Programme is aimed at IAPCO members who fulfil the criteria and are seeking to enhance their leadership skills and capabilities. This programme, in partnership with NZICC, will be designed specifically for IAPCO Members in the APAC region through a series of online education workshops organised by NZICC alongside IAPCO.
One participant each year will also secure a coveted scholarship, named after former IAPCO President, The Conference Company founder and New Zealand industry savant Jan Tonkin, to attend IAPCO’s Annual Meeting and General Assembly alongside senior leaders within the global business events community.
Sarah Markey-Hamm, IAPCO President says, “Without Jan’s involvement with IAPCO our association would not be in the place that it is in today. She lives and breathes the business
event sector and has been instrumental in developing the IAPCO education programmes over the last 15 years. Her wisdom and counsel are cherished and freely given when asked. Even though her formal involvement with IAPCO Council has concluded, she remains a strong contributor to the educational content across IAPCO’s products whilst serving on Faculty. It’s an honour that she has agreed to lend her name to the scholarship programme in our region.
“We’re anticipating strong interest from our Asia Pacific members. The online format of the workshops has opened up this opportunity to a vast audience. I’m excited to see the impact of this programme and the benefits it will bring to the participants involved and to the wider business and professional events industry in New Zealand and beyond.”
NZICC General Manager, Prue Daly said, “It’s a real privilege to be partnering with IAPCO, an organisation that shares our commitment to the growth of talent within the business events industry and we are excited about showcasing New Zealand’s and NZICC’s commitment to embracing cultural awareness and community impact as part of the education content.”
NZICC is committed to supporting the development of future talent both locally and within the Asia Pacific region to support the growing business events industry. The venue, in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, has already secured several large international conferences. The World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) has been confirmed as one of the first to use the world-leading NZICC facilities in November 2025. The conference will see 3000 international visitors welcomed to the city, delivering an estimated economic impact of more than $6m.
NZICC, the largest convention centre in New Zealand, has been designed by world-class architects, event industry experts and its future clients collaboratively. Versatile, flexible and adaptable, the convention centre presents opportunities for a wide range of events on all 4 levels, with a capacity for 4,000 people, a Theatre with 2,850 seats, divisible Halls of 6700sqm which are truly multi-purpose and 33 meeting rooms for breakout spaces or one-off smaller events. With a focus on manaakitanga (care for the people) and kaitiakitanga (care of the land), NZICC will showcase sustainable and community legacy-focused operations, not only providing economic impact to Aoteroa New Zealand but also social impact to the local Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland community. NZICC will open in 2025. www.nzicc.co.nz
Applications are now open and can be submitted either by an IAPCO member employee or employer in the Asia Pacific region at the following linkwww.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YJPX7H3
NZICC looking forward to running the first workshop in July 2023.
Jan Tonkin is the founder of The Conference Company and a long-time leader and advocate for the New Zealand and Australasian business events industry. Jan has previously been chair of the IAPCO Training Academy and was President of IAPCO from 2016 to 2018.
www.theconferencecompany.com/about#meetour-people
"I am very pleased with the renewal of this Destination Partnership with IAPCO, continuing to strengthen our relationships with IAPCO members, headed by Sarah Markey-Hamm, current IAPCO President.
"Under this partnership, we have organized a Hosted EDGE seminar, creating opportunities for our stakeholders to learn about the latest trends in the meetings industry, directly from the IAPCO faculty members.
"Last year, following visa-free independent travel and the abolishment of daily arrival cap as of October 11th2022, we
could welcome to Japan seven core IAPCO member PCOs to a study tour in December 2022.
"I would like to extend our warm welcome with all our hearts and invite IAPCO members to the fam/study tour for the second consecutive year to foster an understanding of Japan’s potential as the destination for international "
With the many challenges common to all of humanity, such as climate change due to global warming and the depletion of natural resources, it is more essential than ever before to make business events sustainable. The Japanese business events industry is making the most of Japan's strengthssuch as its extensive public transport network, its clean and safe society, and the passing down of its unique culture to future generations-to strengthen its efforts to increase eco-friendliness and sustainability on multiple fronts.
Individual business event-related facilities are also taking positive steps in regard to SDGs. For example, PACIFICO Yokohama, a large MICE facility in Yokohama, has reduced water consumption by 65% through rainwater harvesting, and the recycling rate of waste generated in the facility has now reached approximately 90%. The Yokohama “Minato Mirai 21” area, where PACIFICO Yokohama is located, has been selected as a decarbonization leading area by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, and is working to build a model for decarbonizing metropolitan cities. Yokohama will host the 22nd World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control in July, which will bring together more than 2,500 delegates. The congress will enable the realization of a super-smart society through advances in areas such as the environment, energy, natural disasters, and health.
The International Conference Center ACROS Fukuoka, located in the west of Japan, has a rooftop green space to mitigate the heat island effect. It held 37,000 trees of 76 species in 1995 and now holds 200 species, brought in by birds. Fukuoka City will host the 27th Asian Pacific Congress of Rheumatology in 2025 with more than 3,000 participants.
Osaka, which will host the Osaka Kansai Expo in 2025, is focusing on the LGBTQ travel market as part of its efforts to create a diverse society. Proactive efforts are underway to accommodate travelers, including the launch of an LGBTQ website and the planning of events, and in 2024, Osaka will host the IGLTA Annual Global Convention, IGLTA’s first event in Asia.
In order to promote and educate Japanese local suppliers on the need for sustainability in business events, JNTO organized a seminar last year in partnership with IAPCO. JNTO will be releasing a new digital brochure in the coming months that will introduce Japan’s sustainable initiatives and strengths and inspire ideas for future business events in Japan. Please stay tuned!
When it comes to sustainability, the events and conference industry in Toronto continues to initiate, innovate and inspire.
Working towards greater sustainability within the events, meetings and conference industry is paramount, and Toronto is proud to be leading by example. Committing to solid sustainable practices involves taking stock of what we can do, making a viable to-do list and seeing it through.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre works toward sustainability in so many ways. Every year, the facility redirects 90% of event waste from landfill from its 442,000 sq.ft of exhibit space. In 2019/2020, almost one million kilograms of waste was diverted or recycled, the equivalent in weight to 500 cars.
The building itself — part of Enwave Energy’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system — is a model of energy conservation. Other innovative practices at the MTCC include the upkeep of an apiary on the roof, a rooftop Chef’s garden, textile recycling and the local procurement of food.
With its award-winning LEED Platinum Enercare Centre and the LEED Silver Beanfield Centre — the only heritage building in the world to have achieved this accreditation — Exhibition Place spearheads environmental initiatives and cutting-edge green technologies across the board.
Exhibition Place’s GREENSmart environmental stewardship program includes a thermal energy distribution system that reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool its buildings. Energy-efficient systems are also in place to conserve power with regard to lighting, including LED streetlights. The complex also works with clients to recycle items created during events via more than 40 different streams. Two green roof projects reduce HVAC costs and greenhouse gas emissions. As well, an urban forestry program of 2,770 trees on its 152-acre site further reduces pollution.
Toronto has the third-highest percentage of sustainable hotels in the world.
According to data provided by comparison firm Uswitch and Booking.com, nearly one-quarter of the hotels in Toronto are certified sustainable, incorporating a variety of best practices into their operations. These include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow water systems, eco-friendly bathroom products and cleaning supplies, reducing plastic use, setting up filtered water stations in hallways and encouraging guests to reuse towels and linens. Décor and furnishing material options include organic fabrics, unfinished and sustainable wood, reclaimed materials, and recycled metal and plastic.
Toronto is committed to building on the foundation of sustainable practices, achieving them and then setting new ones. To learn more visit DestinationToronto.com/Meetings.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has applauded Hong Kong’s convention segment’s robust recovery with the city’s strong line-up of conventions in 2023. The great momentum solidifies the city’s position as a preferred convention destination.
This year, the city is already recording an exciting calendar of conventions, in which the medical sector has taken the lion’s share, including the 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 (APDC 2023) and the 12th Hong Kong International Dental Expo and Symposium (HKIDEAS) which concluded successfully on 11 June 2023. Thanks to the influence of our long-time partner and Hong Kong Convention Ambassador (HKCA), Dr Nelson Wong Chi-Wai, as President-Elect of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation, the event successfully attracted some 2,000 dental professionals and researchers from around the world to gather in the city to chart innovative ways forward for the global dental industry through the 3-day programmes of lectures, workshops and exhibitions. For the next half year, there are more significant international medical conventions in the pipeline, covering multiple disciplines from cardiology, paediatric radiology, spine, and so on.
“The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently held a delightful drinks reception at IMEX Frankfurt to celebrate a remarkable milestone - our 10-year partnership with IAPCO. The event was filled with joy and camaraderie, and a delightful cake-cutting ceremony took place to commemorate this special occasion. We couldn't be prouder of the wonderful collaboration we have cultivated over the past decade, and here's to many more years of fruitful partnership ahead!
“But that's not all! As part of our commitment to fostering strong relationships and providing valuable insights, HKTB organized a lunch seminar exclusively for IAPCO members. During this seminar, we had the pleasure of introducing attendees to the immense opportunities awaiting in the Greater Bay Area when hosting international conventions in Hong Kong. Additionally, we offered an enlightening overview of the benefits of utilizing ChatGPT for event management. It was an informative and engaging session that left attendees inspired and ready to explore the possibilities.
“We've put together a video capturing the exciting moments and insightful discussions. Click HERE to watch the video and immerse yourself in the energy and enthusiasm of the occasion.”
The annual Club Melbourne Ambassador Program Awards recognise those who have helped to promote Melbourne on the world stage by securing future international business events.
The annual Club Melbourne Ambassador Program Awards were recently held to recognise individuals who have contributed to promoting Melbourne on the global stage by securing international business events.
This year, eight ambassadors were awarded for their successful efforts in bringing conferences to Melbourne, which are expected to attract a combined total of over 16,400 visitors and generate an economic impact of more than $23 million over the next five years.
The recipients of the awards include Associate Professor Neil Hewson, Professor John Bertram, Professor John McNeil AO, Professor James Whisstock, Professor Tony Costello AM, Associate Professor Geoff Sussman OAM, Professor Grant McArthur, and Professor Hans Westerbeek. The first seven
were recognised for their support in securing bids to host prominent medical conferences at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Professor Hans Westerbeek received the prestigious Club Melbourne Award for Excellence for his contributions in driving e-sports events across Victoria.
The awards ceremony took place at Victoria by Farmer's Daughters, a renowned restaurant operated by Chef Alejandro Saravia, who joined the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program earlier this year. The event featured a menu highlighting Victorian food and wine and was designed in collaboration with leading First Nations suppliers, including Alchemy Orange, Mabu Mabu, and Djirri Djirri Cultural Services.
Club Melbourne Ambassadors have worked with Victoria's lead agency for acquiring and delivering business events, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) to secure six events for the state this year. Since the program was established in 2005, Club Melbourne Ambassadors, together with MCB, have been central to attracting more than 160 events to Melbourne. These events have brought tens of thousands of visitors to
the city with a combined benefit of more than $1 billion to Victoria’s economy.
The Club Melbourne program includes over 80 Ambassadors who are business and community leaders in a range of disciplines including science, medicine, agriculture and technology.
Club Melbourne is owned and led by MCEC with support and collaboration from MCB and the Victorian State Government.
MCEC Chief Executive Natalie O'Brien AM, expressed the importance of the Club Melbourne Awards in celebrating and appreciating the ongoing efforts of ambassadors in bringing world-leading events to Melbourne.
“The program has attracted thousands of thought leaders from around the world, creating a lasting legacy for the community and reinforcing Melbourne's reputation for research, business excellence, and extraordinary events.
MCB Chief Executive Julia Swanson, commended the ambassadors for their integral role in winning business events for Melbourne.
“Through MCB’s role in identifying and managing the international bid process, we are proud of the many Ambassadors we’ve worked with, who are integral to winning business events for Melbourne.”
“Our Team Melbourne approach is a genuine, collaborative effort between MCB, MCEC, State and Local Governments, strengthened by the intellectual capacity of our worldrenowned Ambassadors.
"Our strong partnership showcases exactly why Melbourne is a leading global destination for business events.
“Thank you to all the Ambassadors for their significant contribution and dedication to securing business events for Melbourne.”
The Award winners are:
• Associate Professor Neil Hewson – 2027 General Session of the International Association for Dental Research
• Professor John Bertram – 2026 Congress of International Federation of Associations of Anatomists
• Professor John McNeil AO – 2024 World Health Summit
Regional Meeting
• Professor James Whisstock – 2024 World Health Summit
Regional Meeting
• Professor Tony Costello AM – 2023 Society of Robotic Surgery Annual Meeting
• Associate Professor Geoff Sussman OAM – 2023 Asia Pacific Diabetic Limb Problems Meeting
• Professor Grant McArthur – 2023 VCCC Alliance Conference, 2024 World Indigenous Cancer Conference
• Professor Hans Westerbeek - Club Melbourne Award for Excellence for his work in driving new event opportunities in the e-sports sector
PCOs are leading new forms of educational sessions for young scientists
Professional Congress Organizers who invest in quality and understand the value of high-end education have showcased their adaptiveness and active response to the needs of the Scientific & Science Community. Continuing Medical Education as a key element and tool to a multi-level network of education, professional as well as personal development is identified as top priority in future strategies focusing on the design of customized scientific meetings, offering a strong element on interaction and engagement.
PCOs can offer all available resources to accommodate such needs and especially in the field of Surgery, a variety of interactive and engaging educational sessions can provide young HCPs the opportunity to be educated quickly and efficiently in new trends and techniques. This form of scientific education has shown an increase in and demand in the last few years and can reach even higher levels with the support of event organizers, in collaboration with scientific & research institutions.
The art of engaging Health Care Professionals through interactive learning experiences –The NoDE Institute example
Research has found that interactive sessions and hands-on exercises are particularly effective in engaging participants, young scientists and students and in enhancing their learning experience. The inclusion of practical stations with surgical simulators, models, or cadavers allows young surgeons to practice the newly learned techniques under the supervision of an experienced faculty. This active participation and realtime feedback contributes to the development of their surgical skills.
An example of a leader in the field of continuing medical education and interactive knowledge of surgery, providing an innovative service, is NoDE Institute, based in Athens, Greece.
Τoday, at a time when developments in medicine, especially in surgery, are progressing rapidly, NoDE offers opportunities
for continuous education and training in state-of-the-art know-how, so that both doctors and patients have access to the latest medical developments and benefits of specialized surgical expertise in Greece and beyond. NoDE is the only non-profit educational organization in Greece to systematically offer labs for hands-on surgical workshops using fresh cadaveric models for surgery. AFEA proudly supports NoDE in the organizational element of all its activities, via a long-term partnership.
Education is an unending process exploring new possibilities. Lifelong learning and continuous easy-access training in advanced applications and cutting-edge methodologies allows NoDE to stay abreast of medical advances and offer the best possible care to patients.
The digital reality and remote access to new knowledge have changed the balances in high-end education and it really takes serious discipline to sit still and give ear to what someone has to say.
It is important to make the task of listening and learning easier for the audience by actively engaging with them, which can be achieved through the new forms of interactive educational sessions presented in this article.
There are a variety of elements which can be implemented in these training models that can achieve audience interaction, participation and engagement, such as training on next
generation virtual reality systems, live surgeries, training programs, continuing medical education, advanced cadaveric courses, observerships, hands on courses in collaboration with experimental research centers, interactive talks, as well as live cases observations. All the above are very efficiently implemented by NoDE institute.
Especially in the case of hands-on workshops, experience has shown that they intend to have positive effects on the
engagement and effective learning for young surgeons.
Meeting Planners should never stop exploring new methods of attracting the attention of attendees, when it comes to designing and delivering upscale education in collaboration with their clients, organizations, and Institutions.
In our efforts to shape the future of meetings, we should shift our attention to new forms of educational meetings, adapting to practical, interactive training, empowering engagement and interaction of participants, especially when it comes to young professionals. The global Meetings Industry, and especially the IAPCO Community, can offer the expertise, quality, commitment, and professional support to this direction.
Article by: Sissi Lygnou, CEO, AFEA Martha Kornarou, Senior Project Manager, AFEA Elena Fifi, Digital Marketing Specialist, AFEAThe
NoDE Institute, GreeceIt would be hard to list many Australian business leaders who have been at the helm of a company for 50 years.
But Arinex founder, Roslyn McLeod OAM, has done just that. In the five decades since her tour guiding business started at the kitchen table with her Mum’s help, she has both witnessed and been a major architect of Australia’s visitor economy growth.
Firstly, as a Japanese interpreter, then tour guiding and ultimately a major organiser of business meetings and exhibitions.
Outstanding commercial acumen, passion and professionalism are what she is best known for – and big doses of discreet and well-articulated advocacy at times when the business events sector was desperate for recognition and support.
She spoke with Joyce DiMascio about the historic milestone –and passing the baton to the new owner, CEO Nicole Walker.
It’s a marvellous Australian story which deserves to be celebrated.
………
Roslyn McLeod OAM has always been one to speak up. She commands respect and admiration the world-over for this quality.
Half a century after starting her business she has a lot to be proud of, especially as the company is now on a new trajectory under new owner, Nicole Walker.
In corporate Australia – in sectors like mining and agriculture - celebrating a 50th anniversary would easily make it into the Financial Review and mainstream media.
But as this achievement is in business events, it may go unnoticed outside the community of peers in the sector. All the more reason to shine the light on one of most important pioneers of tourism and business events in Australia.
The consummate networker, Roslyn McLeod has invested heavily in nurturing relationships and working not only in her own business – but contributing to a multitude of peak bodies.
They included roles on the board of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), IAPCO, INCON, Meetings Industry Association of Australia (MEA) and also Business Events Council of Australia (BECA).
BECA Chairman, Dr Leo Jago OAM, says after a half century in business events, few have her sectoral knowledge and wisdom.
“Although she is quietly spoken, when she does speak, everyone listens,” he said.
“Throughout her time as a Director of BECA, Roslyn was a driver of the need for the many business event related organisations to collaborate for the benefit of the sector and to speak with one voice.”
Stepping up to collaborating on committees is in her DNA and it started way back as a student leader in the Rotary youth movement called the Interact Club.
While at Bankstown Girls High School in 1965, Roslyn became Interact’s first president. She learnt a lot from those days –about organising people, working together and also about connecting with the rest of the world. She was selected to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and after a year in Tokyo her world opened up.
Roslyn’s Japanese and English bilingual fluency was something unique and one which opened many doors. Her first jobs were possible because of this skill, at a time when Japanese inbound tourism and business ties were on a growth trajectory.
She attributes so much of her success to this.
“I believe it's been the grounding for me in everything I've done,” she said.
“Roslyn, was even the first Japanese speaking tour guide for what was then the Australian Tourist Commission.” Robin Mack confirms.
Executive General Manager, Commercial & Business Events
Australia at Tourism Australia, Robin Mack, said the Arinex founder has been a trailblazer, and major contributor to the success of inbound tourism and business events for Australia.
“Her passion and love for the industry, as well as her country, are felt by everyone she meets, and I believe, is a key contributor to the success and longevity of Arinex,” he said.
And from her work assisting with groups her reputation grew and soon she began to operate a business in her own right.
“In 1971 Rotary came to Australia for its international convention - there were 1,000 Japanese participants and I was asked to organise the tour guides. I recruited and trained them and started my business while also escorting for the Australian Tourist Commission,” she said.
In the mid-70s her business scaled up as the boom in Japanese tourism took off.
She says hers was the first company to charter a vessel specifically for Japanese visitors on New Year’s Eve from fellow pioneer, Captain Trevor Howarth, founder of Captain Cook Cruises.
“We were the only boat out there. That was an important first – we were the first to do that,” she said.
From a focus on Japanese tour guiding, other countries also began to emerge as strong markets for Australian tourism.
“I opened my first Sydney office in 1973. The first staff member was Japanese. We then also moved into the German market - providing German speaking tour escorts. That was the beginning of multilingual as opposed to bilingual tour guide services.”
Appointed the first Japanese-speaking tour guide for the Australian Tourist Commission in 1970But Roslyn had developed an interest in the conference market. It was 1976 when she decided to become an international conference specialist and the enormous professionalisation of conferences began.
Roslyn and her team travelled the world sourcing opportunities and cultivating the relationships in order to convince organising committees to entrusting their events to Arinex and to Australia.
“I really enjoyed the collaboration and partnership of the conference committees that we worked with.
“It enabled us to work with some of the most eminent people in Australia, putting together programs and satisfying the international delegates - constantly improving the quality of their experiences,” she said.
Things were small in the beginning but Tour Hosts and later Arinex grew strongly – weathering many ups and downs, including the Pilots’ Dispute, SARS, the GFC and, most recently, the COVID pandemic.
began to recognise the power of business events to ignite the economy, and Roslyn’s role in advocating for the industry was at its peak.
Her drive comes from the joy of getting things done.
“I thrive on achievement,” she says emphatically.
Roslyn McLeod has been omnipresent internationally over recent decades – a constant presence at international business events expos and also supporting the work of associations.
Angela Guillemet, Executive Director INCON’ said Roslyn has been an incredible asset to the international meetings industry.
“She has always been at the forefront of exploring innovations and new ways of doing things ensuring the industry stays competitive.”
Geoff Donaghy, CEO, ICC Sydney and Group Director, Convention Centres, ASM Global (APAC) also a veteran of the business events industry, holds Roslyn in the highest regard.
He says she has been instrumental in shaping the business events industry across the globe over five decades.
“I’ve worked with Roslyn in many roles and positions across much of this time and experienced and enjoyed first-hand her passion and advocacy for the industry as well as her commitment to service excellence.” Geoff Donaghy said.
The company was also involved in many major events including the Festival of Sydney, the Bicentennial, and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. They were exciting times she says – when Australia was coming into its own on the world stage.
The company was at its biggest in 2012, when as Tour Hosts it employed 127 people and delivered 65 conferences in that year alone. They were also the times when Governments
But she has also had a big impact in helping to create opportunities for women to have enduring careers in business events providing rewarding, flexible and empowering roles.
She is very proud of this. With a tradition of hiring only women in the first three decades of the business –Roslyn says the work they did was the passport to their economic independence.
“It was interesting to see how our jobs enabled women to get their independence. I had wonderful people that came through Tour Hosts and Arinex – that has been inspiring. And I learned so much from them. They've always been my greatest teachers,” she said.
For Roslyn McLeod the development of high standards for the industry – and delivering work with integrity were key legacies.
“We managed to manoeuvre through the minefields and have lots of successes – it’s the integrity of what we did and raising the standards in the tours, in the technology and event operations.”
She is generous with her praise and gratitude especially for the support of her family and also for the loyalty and skills of her staff. She singles out her husband, Angelo and mother Beth McLeod who backed her for the first 12 years, her sister Lorraine for 25 years of working in the business and her assistant, Bridget who has assisted her for 22 years.
Passing the baton to one of her own “feels wonderful” she says. To be able to see the company’s future in the hands of a staff member who, over eight years, learnt the business and is now poised to see Arinex transition into its second half-century.
The Arinex 50th anniversary celebration in May 2023 is a fitting time to recognise the achievements of its founder.
She has contributed to the greater good of the industry through a wide range of roles on the national and international stage – generously devoting time to help build a strong and well recognised industry. She has been an ambassador at large for her company and Australia, and most deserving of the Order of Australia Medal bestowed on her in 1999.
“Nicole has been amazingly resilient, amazingly patient. I am extremely lucky. She has wonderful attributes to lead the business into the future,” she said.
Social media has revolutionized the way businesses operate and connect with their targeted audience - congress project managers are no exception to this trend. By leveraging social media platforms effectively, these professionals can unlock a plethora of benefits that can significantly enhance their work and contribute to the success of their projects.
One of the primary benefits of social media for congress project managers is the ability to amplify their reach and engagement. Traditional marketing channels often have limited reach, but social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide an unparalleled opportunity to connect with a global audience. By utilizing these platforms, congress project managers can extend their reach beyond geographical boundaries and target specific demographics and interest groups. To optimize communication efforts,
it's important to identify the target group and strategically define and utilize 2-3 appropriate channels tailored to their preferences, ensuring effective and targeted communication.
Real-time updates and communication are crucial aspects of successful congresses, and social media acts as an effective tool to facilitate this. Congresses are dynamic events with ever-evolving schedules, speaker lineups and session details. This ensures that everyone stays informed and engaged, leading to a smoother event execution. Additionally, social media provides a channel for attendees to ask questions, offer feedback and interact with the managers, creating a sense of community and enhancing the overall experience.
Another significant advantage of social media for congress project managers is the facilitation of networking and collaboration. Congresses are known for being networking
hubs and social media platforms can act as catalysts for fostering connections and collaborations among attendees, speakers, and sponsors. By creating dedicated event hashtags, LinkedIn groups, or online communities, congress project managers can encourage participants to share insights, exchange ideas and build valuable professional relationships.
Social media platforms offer robust analytics and data insights, which can provide valuable information. By leveraging these analytics, managers can gain insights into attendee demographics, preferences, and engagement patterns. This data can be utilized to refine marketing strategies, tailor content to specific target groups and optimize future event planning. Social media's data-driven insights allow managers to make informed decisions, leading to more effective and targeted marketing efforts, which ultimately increase attendance and the success of the congress.
To ensure social media success, creating an effective content plan is crucial. This plan facilitates consistent and engaging social media posts throughout the event, capturing the audience's interest. Managers must carefully consider deadlines when developing their plans, allowing sufficient time for content preparation, scheduling, and seamless execution of the social media strategy. Assigning a dedicated person to oversee content creation, posting schedules, and audience engagement can greatly benefit the process. Furthermore, close coordination with the board and corporate head office ensures alignment of social media efforts with the overall organizational objectives and messaging, resulting in a cohesive and integrated approach that maximizes impact.
In conclusion, social media provides congress project managers with a wide range of benefits. By leveraging social media platforms effectively, they can amplify their reach, enhance engagement, facilitate networking and collaboration, harness user-generated content and gain valuable datadriven insights. Additionally, taking specific actions such as actively engaging with images, creating effective content plans, considering deadlines, promoting relevant content, and conducting keyword research further enhances the effectiveness of their social media strategies. By embracing these opportunities and strategies, congress project managers can maximize the impact of their efforts, driving success and achieving their goals in today's digital age.
Furthermore, conducting keyword research is a valuable practice that should be incorporated into social media strategies. By identifying relevant keywords and phrases, managers can optimize their content for search engines and social media algorithms. This research allows them to understand the language and interests of their target audience, enabling them to tailor their messaging and increase the discoverability of their posts.
Author: Iman Leanora Gaehwiler, Marketing Manager, CPO HANSER SERVICE GmbHIman recently presented a webinar on this topic for this year's INCON Learning Month. You can find the recording on the INCON website
www.incon-pco.com/incon-learning-2023
To ensure social media success, creating an effective content plan is crucial
Connecting with the IAPCO Community and industry professionals from around the world.
Joint Workshop with AMCI - Exploring successful business models of the future.
Shared session with PCMAInteractive session managing uncertainties
Client and People Management –Developing positive relationships
RFP of the Future with Destinations International
The IAPCO Innovation Award (supported by IMEX) - Recognising innovative solutions to overcome challenges in our industry
The National University in Athens, a venue of great historical and cultural importance, was the host venue for the international meeting on Bioavailability and Bioequivalence.”
With its unmistakable architecture and highly functional and flexible venues, the locations of Messe Frankfurt are ideal for congresses of all sizes. A full-service portfolio with individual consulting and one of the most state-of-the-art infrastructures make it an ideal venue for congresses and events.
4 event locations and 11 halls are as multifunctional as they are individual offering ultra-modern architecture with a view of the skyline as well as historic ambience. And they adapt effortlessly to the size and style of the event. Thanks to the covered moving walkway, the Via Mobile, buildings can be seamlessly combined with each other.
• The Congress Center is ideal for congresses requiring extensive space. It offers direct access to the new hall 5, providing 18.000 m² for large-scale exhibitions
• Kap Europa congress center is situated close to the fairgrounds and next to the Skyline Plaza shopping centre. The certified sustainable building offers space for 2.400 guests.
• Festhalle Messe Frankfurt is a historic jewel. Under its 30-metre-high dome, it provides a spectacular setting for major events or accompanying galas.
• Forum Messe Frankfurt has two large halls that can accommodate 2,000 people each. Striking and transparent, with glazed fronts and a wonderful view:
A very important aspect, especially for sustainable arrival and departure of your participants, is the incomparable city location of the venue. Perfectly connected by public transport, you can reach Frankfurt Airport in 15 minutes, the main railway station in 5 minutes and the city centre in 10 minutes.
As an international hub the city of Frankfurt offers an extensive international infrastructure from hotels to gastronomy and shopping. Not to mention the natural hospitality of an internationally experienced host city.
Further information:
linktr.ee/MesseFrankfurtLocations
linkedin.com/showcase/messefrankfurtlocations
twitter.com/mflocations
AFEA were honoured to be the long-term PCO Partner of the European Organization PAGE (Population Approach Group Europe), a partnership which counts more than 10 years in the field of events as well as association management.
The next stops in the history of PAGE Events, supported by AFEA, will be Spain, in June 2023 and Italy, in June 2024. The 2022 PAGE Event was hosted in the beautiful city of Ljubljana, in Slovenia with great success, attracting more than 800 participants, top researchers, esteemed members of the academic society, and key opinion leaders in the field of pharmaceutical research and development from around the globe.
Arinex
Australasian event management company, Arinex, marked its 50th anniversary by launching a refreshed brand with new logo, and paying tribute to its visionary founder.
The brand was unveiled to over 250 Arinex clients, past and current staff, partners and industry leaders at its 50th anniversary celebration at the ICC Sydney on Friday, 12 May.
Arinex Managing Director, Nicole Walker, said the refreshed brand would take the company forward into the next 50 years.
"Arinex has a proud history of delivering exceptional event solutions for our clients around the world. Our refreshed brand stays true to our legacy while emphasising our commitment to innovation, creativity and connection,” Ms Walker said.
PAGE is a not-for-profit organization, representing a community with a shared interest in data analysis using the population approach. During PAGE Meetings, scientific and clinical developments on model-based methodology using the population approaches are presented to a high-end target audience represented by academics in pharmaceutical science, researchers, software developers in drug analysis, pharmaceutical companies' employees as well students in pharmaceutical faculties.
The 31st General Assembly of the Japan Medical Congress along with its affiliated Scientific Exhibition and public Expo took place in Tokyo in April 2023. Congrès Inc. was the PCO in charge of both the congress and scientific exhibition, which together drew a total of approx. 40,000 attendees, far and away the largest medical meeting in Japan. It is nicknamed the “Doctors’ Olympics,” as it is convened every 4 years. The primary venue was Tokyo International Forum, with related events taking place all over the Marunouchi area in downtown Tokyo. READ MORE
CONVIN
The World Tunnel Congress (WTC 2023), held May 12-18, 2023, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre and organized by CONVIN S.A., was concluded with great success.
Athens welcomed more than 2000 delegates and journalists from all over the world for the World Tunnel Congress 2023 (WTC2023), the largest international technical conference ever organized in Greece.
In a particularly enthusiastic atmosphere, the opening ceremony took place on Monday, May 15, in which the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and the General Secretary of Infrastructure, Maria-Elli Gerardi, addressed a greeting welcoming all the participants and underlining the significance of organizing such an event in Greece.
The Greek Capital was in the spotlight at IMEX Frankfurt, the world-leading tradeshow of the meetings and events industry that took place from 23-25 May in Germany.
The City of Athens was on hand to promote the city’s strengths through events and B2B meetings that reinforced the city’s connections with international meetings and events industry professionals. Athens was represented at IMEX by the This is Athens-Convention & Visitors Bureau as part of the City of Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA).
The participation of the City of Athens in international tourism and MICE tradeshows plays an important role in the city’s strategic plan for the development of Athens as a sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and quality destination for meetings and leisure tourism. READ MORE
The Greek Mixology Experience, a showcase event of traditional Greek spirits creating a variety of one-of-a-kind cocktails was successfully completed at the international trade show on MICE @IMEX.
The event was a joint initiative of the Greek Meetings Alliance and the Greek National Tourism Organization, with the objective to present the Alliance to global key stakeholders and partners and to create a pleasant networking opportunity highlighting “Greek hospitality “. Representatives of the Greek team @IMEX had the opportunity to network and meet their peers, partners and special guests from around the world in a relaxed environment.
The Greek Meetings Alliance (GMA) is the ground-breaking partnership between This is Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB) and the
Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers and Destination Event Specialists (HAPCO & DES), with the aim to promote Greece as a unique meetings destination worldwide.
HAPCO & DES is a proud strategic partner of the Global Task Force of National Associations of PCOs, led by IAPCO. This is Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) is a proud and very active Destination Partner of IAPCO.