Associations
| July 29, 2010 Two ICCA Events Deemed Successful | |
| On July 14-17, Vilnius successfully hosted two events of the world's largest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): The Baltic Forum and the Research, Sales & Marketing Programme. Meeting professionals from all over the world gathered together in the capital of Lithuania to gain more knowledge and experience. It was the first time ICCA came with its events to the Baltic States. The Baltic Forum was added prior to the regular programme targeted at the meetings industry and its stakeholders of three Baltic countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with the aim of educating, forging relationships and creating a dialogue between the various stakeholders. The forum was led by ICCA speakers Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA (Netherlands), Rob Davidson, a Senior Lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster (UK) and Christian Mutschlechner, Director of Vienna Convention Bureau (Austria). The delegates from all three countries belonging to academia, business and public sectors discussed the strategic importance of the meetings industry, direct (economic) and indirect (educational & knowledge) impact of meetings, infrastructure development opportunities, cross-country collaborations. The strengthening of local collaboration and mutual support between different sectors within each country was stressed. "Every conference is a temporary dislocated university" - stated Christian Mutschlechner pointing out the importance of academic events. The Baltic Forum took place in Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva and gathered together up to 70 representatives of meetings industry from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It is supposed that the Baltic Forum will become a prominent annual event, rotating between the Baltic States. After the Forum an annual three-day "ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme" took place. 134 delegates from 31 countries attended the Programme. The Baltic Forum and "Research, Sales & Marketing Programme" were organised by ICCA in conjunction with Vilnius City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau. "These two events were invaluable for Vilnius in general and for those who took part. The feedback from delegates of both events has been highly positive. I am sure we created up to 150 ambassadors for our city and region," said Jolanta Beniuliene, Director of the Vilnius City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau. "I hope the success of these events will provide a new inducement to the development of meetings industry in Vilnius, Lithuania and Baltic countries in general". | |
