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HEADQUARTERS E U R O P E , M I D D L E - E A S T, A F R I C A

the EMEA Magazine for Association Executives Supported by ESAE, European Society of Association Executives, and UIA, Union of International Associations, Europe

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Meeting Media Company Meetings Industry Publishers Afgiftekantoor 2800 Mechelen 1 Bureau de D茅p么t 2800 Malines 1 Published 6 times a year: March, April, June, September, November & December Edition June 2012 - P3A9029

Unveiling Another Batch OF CONGRESS PEARLS ESAE Emerging association markets

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HQ > CONTENTS

Colophon HQ or Headquarters is a niche publication for European and international associations headquartered in Brussels and all major European cities dealing with the organization OF worldwide congresses. It is published 5 times a year. Circulation is 5000 copies.

Subscriptions Subscription amounts to 65 EUR (all incl.) in Belgium, 75 EUR (all incl.) in the EU and 95 EUR (all incl.) in the rest of the world.

The subscription entails 5 editions of HQ per year including the special edition Meeting Trends, as well as an online access to the website.

To subscribe: www.headquartersmagazine.com Editor in Chief Marcel A.M.Vissers T: +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T: +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@headquartersmagazine.com Account Manager - International Sales Kelvin Lu T: +32(0)761 70 59 kelvin@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Editor Rémi Dévé T: +32 (0)2 761 70 58 remi@headquartersmagazine.com Contributor Rose Kelleher Design WALLRUS, Kortrijk T: +32 (0)56 24 94 44 info@wallrus.be Print Cartim - Destelbergen Supported by ESAE and UIA Address 59, rue René Declercq B - 1150 Brussels (Belgium) T: +32 (0)2 761 70 50 F: +32 (0)2 761 70 51 www.headquartersmagazine.com Responsible Publisher Meeting Media Company Marcel A.M. Vissers Mechelseplein 23, bus 1 B - 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium)

marcel’s comment

The New City Icons Europe has the biggest number of second and third cities in the world: niche cities, as they are now called. In all of them, historic buildings stand, often gems of architecture at the service of the local economy, such as stock exchanges. There was a time when goods played the lead role in daily life, when commodity trading was the main goal. But as always, times change. Most of these buildings have lost their original function and got a different destination, often cultural.

But they are still standing proud, like the pearls they are. In the 1980’s, governments worldwide started building other venues, venues to exchange knowledge and experience: conference venues. Often architectural monstrosities: empty, impersonal and uninviting to the visitor.

Fortunately, a great change came in the design of these buildings in early 2000. Cities sought new icons and turned their attention to MICE. A building had to support the conference industry visually and practically, and architects came up with bold projects highlighting the intellectual and artistic aspirations of the people.

Headquarters renamed this new wave of architecture ‘Congress Pearls’. No more boring entrances, no more cold concrete, no more endless dark corridors but projects full of light, space and artistic design. They’ve become the new icon buildings of the cities that built them. Visitors don’t take a detour to avoid them anymore, but they take a look inside and ask questions about the function of the building. And that function is also new: serving the knowledge society, from

Marcel A.M. Vissers Editor in Chief

material to spiritual wealth.

They’ve become buildings where people like to come together to support social progress. Where are these buildings and why are they so special? Have a look page 14.

» Read more on www.headquartersmagazine.com

CONTENTS UIA

General

Cécile Caiati-Koch

Rémi Dévé

Meetings Forest News Association Portrait IAPCO Lastminutemeetingroom.com

5 6 8 10 44

SPECIAL FEATURE Congress Pearls

14

Extracting Transparency

26

DESTINATIONS Prague Brisbane Montreal Qatar Riga Switzerland

29 33 35 37 41 46

ESAE HQ magazine sets great store by sustainable development and therefore chose responsible FSC® certified paper which comes from a controlled source.

More info: www.fsc.org ® FSC, A.C. FSC-SECR-0045

Emerging Association Markets

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HQ

> MEETING FOREST

The Millionth Tree in THE Caledonian (Meetings) Forest Who would have thought the Caledonian Forest in Scotland, which houses our Meetings Forest, would see its millionth tree planted so quickly. That’s what was celebrated on Sunday 20 May 2012 when acclaimed wildlife cameraman and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan planted Trees for Life’s Millionth Tree.

A tree costs just £5

and you can buy / donate it on www.headquartersmagazine.com The event took place at a celebration event held at the award-winning conservation charity’s Dundreegan Estate near Loch Ness, in Glen Moriston, Inverness-shire.

‘Every single tree planted in the Caledonian Forest helps to restore one of the world's greatest woodland habitats. One tree will be used by a thousand species in a forest that will stand for 10,000 years, which in that time can be enjoyed by a million people.’ said Gordon Buchanan.

Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life’s founder and executive director, said: ‘Planting our Millionth Tree is a major moment, made possible by the dedicated support of countless volunteers and generous donors over almost a quarter of a century. It’s an achievement that shows that we can all help to create positive environmental change.’

Among the ‘generous donors’ Alan mentions are Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) and us, at MIM Europe and Headquarters magazines.

We have indeed been proud supporters of this charity for some time, have made a massive contribution to achieving this goal, and are committed to the planting of a number of groves to compensate the meetings industry’s negative impact on the environment.

Marcel Vissers states: “Our combined efforts with the SECC have yielded fruit.

As a publishing company using a lot of paper and travelling a lot, we are playing an important part in the development of the Forest. As founding partners together with ‘Trees for Life’ I think we have created something which has actually done a lot of good.”

We are committed to the planting of a number of groves to compensate the meetings industry’s negative impact on the environment

for Life and even prouder of the combined efforts with HQ & MIM Europe magazines.’

The SECC and HQ & MIM magazines’ contribution to the restoration of the Caledonian Forest is vast.

Renowned contributors from the meetings industry include ICCA, Robin Lokerman, Hong Kong Tourism Board, China National Convention Center, Adelaide Convention Centre, European Specialist Printing Manufacturers Association, or the International Conference of Posture and Wheeled Mobility, among many others.

More info www.headquartersmagazine.com > meetings forest

‘Corporate and Social Responsibility continues to grow in importance amongst our clients, visitors and staff,’ comments Ben Goedegebuure. ‘We’re really proud of our green credentials; it gives us the chance to balance any negative effects our events have on the environment. Everyone at the SECC is incredibly proud of the massive contribution our venue has made to Trees

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Introducing ICC Jerusalem

ICC, Jerusalem

Acropolis, Athens

gastronomic stage, who will potentially be given the opportunity to sample authentic Greek flavours for the first time. The event has never before been held in a European city of the Mediterranean. www.athensconventionbureau.gr

The International Convention Center (ICC) - Binyanei HaUma has been a byword for excellence for the past 60 years. Its lounges and halls tell the story of a center that has seen it all: receptions of presidents and world leaders, exhibitions by distinguished artists, monumental business conventions and spectacular performances. The venue's immense space and numerous halls can be divided according to the needs of each client. This flexibility and the abundance of entrances and exits allow a single major event to be subdivided into as many smaller groups as required. The area can hold up to 10,000 people, with smaller areas comfortably hosting ten or hundreds of guests. www.iccjer.co.il/en

Mumbai

La CitĂŠ Nantes Events Center Achieves AIPC Quality Standards Certification Athens to host the 37th WACS Congress Athens will be the venue for the 37th World Association of Chefs Societies Congress in May, 2016. The decision was taken by the majority of the 75 countries who participated in the voting process, during the 35th WACS Congress held in Daejeon, South Korea. Through this decision, Greece establishes its prominent position in the international gastronomic scene, since the 37th World Association of Chefs Societies Congress is expected to attract over 2,000 participants, including internationally acclaimed chefs, as well as talented chefs now emerging on the

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La CitĂŠ Nantes Events Center has become the latest AIPC member centre and the 1st French convention center to achieve AIPC Quality Standards certification with the successful completion of their audit in May by the designated external auditor. They join a group of 19 AIPC centres which have now successfully achieved this international certification, with a number of additional centres in various stages of the certification process. www.lacite-nantes.com

2nd India Association Congress at The Westin Mumbai in August The 2nd India Association Congress will be

held on 24th-25th August 2012 at The Westin Mumbai, India. The two day program will witness panel discussion of various subjects like Competition law, Coalition and advocacy, Future of Association, Professional help for managing associations, Membership retention mechanism, ideas behind opening Indian chapters of International associations and its complications, importance of Events- A source for revenue and engagement, etc. Dedicated session to address the needs of medical associations will be organized stressing the importance of CME, ethics, etc. www.indiaassociationcongress.com

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Tallinn

50% Growth Helps Estonia Rocket to 41st Place in ICCA Rankings Estonia has gained an impressive amount of ground in the newly-released 2011 ICCA rankings list, moving up five slots from the previous year's position to reach 41st place. The number of association conferences held in the country jumped from 43 to 61 between the two years, an increase of nearly 50%. The nation’s capital, Tallinn, also scored big in the list, going from 65th place to 43rd. The city

hosted 49 ICCA conferences last year compared to 28 in 2010. According to the ECB, the improvements can be attributed to its close cooperation with Enterprise Estonia and the cities of Tallinn and Tartu, introduction of a Conference Ambassador Programme, increased flight connections and improvements made to venues. It also credited Enterprise Estonia's Conference Support Scheme for attracting more international events to the country. www.ecb.ee

IMEX trade fair in Frankfurt in May, where the partner cities presented themselves jointly. The goal of Meetropolis is to significantly increase the international visibility of the attractive congress destination KÖLNDÜSSELDORF in order to increase the number of events and therefore the number of visitors in the region. www.meetropolis.de

Köln and Düsseldorf join forces With their concept ‘KÖLNDÜSSELDORFThe Meetropolis’, Köln and Düsseldorf, two diverse metropolises on the Rhine, have bundled their attractive offers and will market themselves even more strongly on the international market as a congress destination region. The communications campaign, which will run for three years initially, was launched officially at the

2012 Meetings Industry Fairs Worldwide: Make Your Choice!

AIBTM // 19-21 June 2012, Baltimore // www.aibtm.com CIBTM // 12-14 September 2012, Beijing // www.cibtm.com IMEX America // 9-11 October 2012, Las Vegas // www.imexamerica.com EIBTM // 27-29 November 2012, Barcelona // www.eibtm.com

At this very moment meeting architecture is being combined with Viennese creativity.

When will you design your meeting here?

Messe Wien

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HQ

© Guillaume de FENOYL/EASL

© Guillaume de FENOYL/EASL

> ASSOCIATION PORTRAIT

International Liver Congress™ 2012, Barcelona

The European Association for the Study of the Liver A profile

EASL - the European Association for the Study of the Liver - is a medical society and the leading liver association in Europe. It aims to promote liver research and improve the treatment of liver disease throughout the world. Jacqui Sisto, Communications Project Manager, tells us more about the way the association works...

HQ: Could you briefly present EASL? Jacqui Sisto: In the forty plus years since EASL was founded, it has grown from a small organisaJacqui Sisto tion to becoming a leading liver association with over 3,500 individual hepatology experts as members, and attracting over 9,400 participants at its annual congress. EASL has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.

In addition to various events and courses, EASL provides webcasts and interactive

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e-posters of selected scientific sessions of specific meetings, and manages the Journal of Hepatology - a monthly scientific publication. EASL has recently developed the iLiver - an interactive and dynamic smartphone app delivering instant medical information and clinical recommendations to medical experts (i.e. hepatologists, gastroenterologists and internal medicine specialists) specifically related to liver disease (www.iliver.eu).

HQ: What do you find most challenging to achieve as an association?

Jacqui Sisto: The most challenging aspect of an association is to constantly comeup with new ideas, continually find new means of funding and of course maintain high-standard, innovative and high-quality scientific meetings. An association has to be managed as a commercial entity in

order to sustain its educational activities but must also respect and understand the NGO’s bylaws.

HQ: What kind of events do you organize?

Jacqui Sisto: EASL has a full yearly calendar with a range of educational activities all focused on the liver; 2 clinical and 1 basic school of hepatology gathering approximately 30 trainee doctors in local institutions and hospitals, 3 Monothematic Conferences gathering 150-300 participants and 1 Special Conference gathering 500-800 experts, all meetings are hosted in Europe. As well as these events, EASL also hosts its annual meeting, the International liver Congress™ every April in a large European city. This year in Barcelona, the 2012 congress was a record meeting: the International Liver Congress™ attracted 9,415 delegates!

> ASSOCIATION PORTRAIT

HQ: What is the association's decision process concerning the organization of your annual meeting?

Jacqui Sisto: Our decision process is primarily based on location, capacity and size, accessibility, adequate hotel accommodation and finances.

As a European association, EASL selects venues exclusively across Europe for the International Liver Congress™ and other conferences. The choice of venue depends very much on the size of the building and its capacity to host multiple scientific sessions in halls with seating for up to 3,500 people per session. It is also essential that delegates can easily access the venue from many parts of the world, so good airport and transport links are a key decisional factor.

The city must be attractive and appealing of course, but should not be perceived as a ‘holiday’ destination. The surrounding hotel accommodation and availability of a wide range of rooms is extremely important in order to accommodate all guests appropriately. The support of the local convention bureau and city is also crucial. Being made to feel welcome is essential for the organisers and visitors alike. Finally, there is obviously a financial consideration to be taken into account.

HQ: What kind of venues do you need and what criteria must they satisfy?

Jacqui Sisto: The ideal venue for EASL needs to be well linked by an important international airport. Ideally, a venue that can offer a plenary room with 4,500 seat capacity would be preferred. Since EASL decided to set-up the exhibition area to include the poster display a large hall is required, but obviously cost is the most important criteria.

HQ: Do you work with a PCO or a DMC? Why? Jacqui Sisto: We have worked with a PCO for several years, but are gradually taking more and more tasks in-house in order to have greater control over the decisions taken and management process. Despite having existed for almost 50 years, EASL

has only been managed centrally since 2009 when the EASL Office was created in Geneva. EASL now employs full time staff to manage the daily business, but it was necessary to rely on a PCO until now to ensure that every meeting was managed correctly from A-Z.

networking is also progressively playing a greater role in congress organisation and management. EASL has recently created a facebook page and twitter account to talk to its members and visitors, and used Google+ to share photos following the congress in Barcelona.

EASL expects the PCO to fully understand the society’s position, mission and objectives, to anticipate the needs and to put forward suggestions in order to drive the association forward. Congress organisation is composed of three crucial elements; pre-planning and anticipation, onsite service and follow-up. All three aspects are required for success. It is essential to ensure good preparation before any event, to have excellent onsite support and service, and finally to maintain contact with participants after an event.

HQ: Any memorable destination for one of your events?

If yes, why?

Social networking is progressively playing a greater role in congress organisation and management Our aim is to provide visitors with the information they require, as well as motivation to return to another EASL meeting in the future, and to encourage others to also attend or join the association as a member.

HQ: How would you summarize new trends in the association congress world?

Jacqui Sisto: In two words: paperless and IT. In the past, congresses used enormous quantities of paper for printing. Nowadays the excessive use of paper shocks delegates and organisers, and rightly so. With the evolution of electronic messaging and IT, less and less paper is being used.

Invitations and envelopes are replaced by emails, eposters that are accessible online replace traditional paper posters and apps contain everything delegates need to know about a congress. Social

Jacqui Sisto: There are 2 annual meetings that come to mind: the International Liver Congress™ 2010 in Vienna, Austria and the International Liver Congress™ 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.

Vienna remains memorable as the ultra-modern Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center is excellent, light and very easy to reach via public transport, but the reason this meeting comes to mind is that as our congress took place, the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull began to erupt, causing airspaces across Europe to close down and widespread disruption across the planet! Despite this, EASL’s scientific programme remained intact. Speakers that were grounded and unable to travel were swiftly replaced by speakers already onsite in Vienna. The meeting was a huge success and thankfully everyone managed to return home safely.

The Centre Convencions Internacional (CCIB) in Barcelona, on the other hand, is also an excellent well-spaced congress venue positioned on the sea front with spectacular views from the top floor and close to the airport for easy access.

Barcelona was also memorable for EASL as the congress obtained record attendance: 9,415 delegates. EASL has come a long way since its very first meeting held in Marburg, Germany in 1966 that was attended by 70-80 scientific colleagues! www.easl.eu

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HQ > PCO

IAPCO Annual Seminar

The importance of continuing education The meetings industry is changing, evolving at the speed of light. Like any other industry, it’s got challenges to overcome, opportunities to grasp, and must respond to changes in a very competitive world. PCOs are evolving too: from logistics to consulting, from promoting to marketing and communicating, from data collecting to data managing, and so on, they must be quick in adapting. Attending IAPCO Annual Seminar in Wolfsberg, Switzerland, in January was, to me, an eye-opener to the ever-changing role of PCOs in the meetings industry.

Report Rémi Dévé

IAPCO doesn’t really need to be introduced anymore. But for those of you who have been living on a planet far away from the meetings world, it enjoys a world-class reputation as the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers.

Like any association, IAPCO dedicates itself to continuing education to make sure the meetings industry doesn’t stand at a standstill, shares best practices, and stays competitive. In the specific field of international meetings’ management training IAPCO has built up a reputation second to none since the first-ever IAPCO Annual Seminar in 1975. Already.

Union Bank of Switzerland. I’m told over 1,600 people worldwide have obtained an IAPCO Seminar Certificate of Attendance.

That number only speaks for itself.

Given my relatively new position in the meetings industry, I was worried I was too much of a rookie to attend the Seminar.

Will there only be senior executives looking to brush up their knowledge and learn what they might not have been exposed to yet ? Sarah Storie-Pugh, IAPCO’s Administrator, was quick to reassure me.

She said: ‘Anyone involved in the meetings industry is welcome, and the programme benefits those of all levels of knowledge, whether new to the industry or having many years of experience.’

The Seminar is indeed designed for anybody, experienced or not, employed by professional congress organisation companies, national or international associations, congress centres, travel agencies, congress hotels, convention bureaux, national tourist bodies, corporate meeting planning departments… you name them.

My group was a good mix:

Who is it Before I registered, I had been warned that the Seminar would be quite intensive. On this side, I was not disappointed the least.

The Seminar is indeed a super-tiring but super-interesting 5-day residential course held at the end of January each year - and it used to last 7 days in the not so distant past!

In the meetings industry, it is also known as the ‘Wolfsberg Seminar’ because for the last 38 years, it has taken place at the Wolfsberg Platform for Executive and Business Development Center, a training centre of the

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some of the more creative students

> PCO

from professional associations to local PCOs, from Asia to Turkey, from association management companies to venue finders, from Israel to France, it seems like all clients and all suppliers of the industry from every corner of the globe were represented. And while the Seminar is recognised as the most comprehensive course for beginners, it proved, this year again, to be equally challenging and rewarding for those who have been active in the meetings industry for many years.

While the Seminar is recognised as the most comprehensive course for beginners, it proved to be equally challenging for those who have been active in the meetings industry for many years

The bid project In addition to a bunch of master classes covering pretty much all the topics of interest for those working in the meetings industry - from marketing to communication, from logistics to sponsorship, from data collecting to client management (all variously interesting in my humble opinion) - the main challenge of the seminar was a group project for which we had to work on a bid. Each group was assigned an event to bid for (could be a super large medical conference, could be a small corporate meeting, we ended up with a medium-size financial meeting ‘with a lot of accompanying persons, spouses and children’) and we had to work on it for a few hours everyday, before we made a

The Faculty and some 'students'

(filmed!) group presentation of it in front of the Faculty, who had the difficult task to appreciate it.

Of course a friendly competition between all the groups quickly took place and when presentation time came, it seems like each and everyone of us went over the top to impress the jury. I personally liked my group tried to incorporate new technology during our speech (we did a QR code as a ‘Save the date!’ for the event and even came up with a short movie presenting the destination we selected!), which John Martinez of Shocklogic Global on Technology, appreciated too.

I won’t tell you at this point if we won or not, I’ll just say this bid project was more an opportunity for anyone involved to share their knowledge, to learn how others did things, to find new, creative ideas that would impress potential clients. On that level, the whole thing was a success. And on a side note, one of the key messages I will always remember came from André Vietor, of Viajes Iberia Congresos : ‘A bid should be perceived as a destination bid, not a PCO bid. Searching for the added value is also paramount. What is there for the client to ‘gain’ by coming here or there?’

The view from the congress centre

One more word on a particular change that took place at the Seminar this year and that proved extremely successful.

More than half of the learning time was dedicated to shorter overviews followed by a choice of tutorials where smaller groups, and even one-to-ones, were accommodated. In an industry that is constantly emphasizing the importance of face-to-face meetings, it just made sense. www.iapco.org

IAPCO's 39th Annual Wolfsberg Seminar will take place on 19-24 January 2013.

Working on a bid

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> PCO

PCOs are becoming co-thinkers Every industry has its cornerstones. In the meetings industry, PCOs are important ones because they (co) shape conferences. How this shaping has changed in the course of time is a fascinating story. A story that was told in April in Paris during IAPCO's 43Rd Annual Meeting, where Isabel Bardinet, CEO, European Society of Cardiology, impressed the audience with her keynote speech "What future for PCO's?"

Report Marcel A.M. Vissers

By themselves

The vision of the AIM Group

There was a time when (medical) associations weren’t always happy with the input of a PCO in a conference.

Following that discontent, some decided to organize conferences by themselves.

After the IAPCO Annual Meeting in Paris on this subject, I had a conversation with a former association executive, who has jumped over to the other side of the fence. Luc Hendrickx, who used to work for the International Federation of Diabetes, now works at Kenes: ‘I was one of those who, at some point, decided not to work with a PCO anymore. Perhaps it was motivated by the pride of some PCOs who call themselves “untouchable” and pontificated that a conference of some size and professionalism could only be organized by a PCO. IAPCO went a step further: a decent conference could only be properly organized by a IAPCO PCO. That was a bit too much for me.’

More and more I find that smaller PCO companies or AMCs communicate better and stronger than their larger siblings.

The messages are more direct and sometimes illuminating for the customer or prospective customer. They don’t only speak about how good and how successful they are, but about how successful a congress can become by thinking together with the client. A good example was the presentation of Patrizia Buongiorno (AIM Group Int. Rome) and Suzanne Kostka (AIM Group Int. Vienna) during the Insight & Networking Evening in Brussels, organized by Glocal Solutions EU HQ.

He continued: ‘Because of the decision of those pesky associations who thought they could do everything alone, PCOs had to reinvent themselves a little bit.

They evolved from masters of congress with full control to servants of congress controlled by the associations. Back then, they were servants of brute logistics, now they are mutating again, into partners and co-thinkers around the concept of the congress, the learning goals and what the participants will finally gain from it. The latter is what Kenes is trying to do.’ You can read more about this subject on www.marcelsblog.typepad.com

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The subject was ‘What does it take to make your event stand out?’ They shared their experiences on how to create a successful event. Both women drew sharp lines (often with humor) by focusing on the five drivers of a meeting at this time. One of the major drivers is the new business model that Suzanne Kostka described as ‘taking care’ of the event.

Listeners not familiar with meetings could learn a lot from both speakers.

Inge Hanser and Isabel Bardinet

IAPCO 2013 Annual Meeting The official website for the IAPCO 2013 Annual Meeting and General Assembly has now been launched, and can be found at www.iapco2013.ie.

The conference, which will take place in Dublin on 14-17 February 2013, will be organized by three of Ireland’s foremost PCOs, MCI Dublin, Conference Partners and Keynote PCO.

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CONGRESS PEARLS Icons in the City Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre

How many purpose-built congress centres are there in the world?

I wouldn’t know. How many are there in Europe? I estimate about a hundred and fifty. And how many new iconic buildings (I mean congress centres) have been recently constructed or are still in scaffolding? I can give an answer to this last question. Let’s do a little world tour.

Text Marcel A.M. Vissers

Swiss Tech Convention Center

Ottowa Convention Centre

People evolve, and so do buildings It is generally assumed that the first eyecatching convention centres were built around the '80s. In Europe, the Nice Acropolis (1984) is a fine example of this period.

Worldwide you have to look at Hong Kong (1988). It was a time where centres got a serious makeover or were given a contemporary architectural design. After the turn of the millennium, the first iconic buildings started to appear. A stunning example is The Convention Centre Dublin, designed

by Pritzker-winning architect Kevin Roche.

Dublin waited for more than twenty years for it, and the venue proved to be a new beginning for the Irish meetings industry.

Congress centres are of the utmost importance for cities wanting to boost their economic engine. Everyone benefits from them - especially now. The shape and layout of the buildings are still something not everyone agrees on, not even the conference organizers themselves! Often, big-name architects are called upon and not all of them understand the culture of conference-going. Sometimes people also lack the courage to go for something dramatically different, but it’s perhaps too

QNCC at dusk HEADQUARTERS 14

early to talk about that. That’s a subject for the next generation of buildings.

Where are the world’s Congress Pearls?

In general we know little about the ins and outs of congress buildings in America. Canada is an exception.

Montreal boasts the first ever purposebuilt congress centre, it dates back to 1983. Canada’s latest icon was built in the capital Ottawa. The following comments say it all: ‘Ottawa experienced the biggest opening event of the year when Canada’s Meeting Place, the new Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC), opened its doors on April 13, 2011. The excitement was great. But the new facility is about much more than interior space. The physical design, by local architectural firm BBB, is a metaphor for Ottawa.

The shape of its striking glass facade is analogous to a ship’s hull, while the Wall of three Rivers that runs through all four levels is made from 150-200 year old logs that were reclaimed from the Ottawa River. Convention delegates aren’t the only ones to meet at the new OCC; history, functionality, beauty and environmental responsibility meet there as well.’

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Convention Centre Eurocongresso Roma

From North America to Europe and the Middle East Staying in Europe, I would like to take two more examples of iconic buildings: the Swiss Tech Convention Centre in Lausanne and the Cloud in Rome.

Congress centres are of the utmost importance for cities wanting to boost their economic engine.

Everyone benefits from them - especially now

The new Swiss Tech Convention Center is unique in Europe, and it’s to be opened in 2013 on the EPFL site in Lausanne. It will become the world’s first fully-automated congress centre. The resulting infrastructure, which will include ultra-modern equipment, will be flexible and modular, with the possibility of being divided into auditoriums with 330, 468, 1,670, 2,135 or 3,000 seats, using computer commands. In a few minutes, the amphitheatre seating 2,135 people will be easily convertible into a banqueting hall of 1,890 m2. The gallery will have 865 places, and at garden level will feature around 15 breakout rooms. Solutions for the production of electricity using solar cells are being examined, and it’s intended to cover the shell that will act as the roof of the building with state-of-the-art solar sensors.

QNCC

The new Convention Centre Eurocongressi Roma, the so-called ‘Clou’ because if its futuristic shape, designed by Roman architect Massimiliano Fuksas, will be finished by 2013. It is a work of great importance for the whole city, designed to attract the national and international demand of the meeting industry.

Qatar, a leading force in the Gulf States One of the most stunning congress buildings that I visited lately is the newly opened Qatar National Convention Center. The building is not only spectacular, and thus iconic, but the overall concept of the environment speaks to the imagination.

Architecture, art and gastronomy are interwoven into one big feature. It is one of the first buildings in the world that radiates a new philosophy: the importance of knowledge in our society. Opened in December 2011, QNCC is an unparalleled convention

facility, boasting iconic design and cuttingedge facilities in a world-first green-technology venue. QNCC is located alongside elite universities, research and technology institutions in Education City, a new global hub of ideas and innovation.

Oman, a Middle-Eastern congress pearl Let’s stay in the region for a while. I’m really looking forward to the opening of the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, due for completion in late 2015.

It is set to become an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman.

Located in its own precinct, this worldclass facility is perfectly suited to host international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions and business events. Read all about it in the next pages: our seasoned journalist Rose Kelleher was amazed by what she has investigated!

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CONGRESS PEARLS An architectural view

In a time of rapid economic change, congress centre clients are experiencing significant challenges that are changing what they expect from venues. In a survey conducted by the IACC (International Association of Conference Centres) called ‘Tomorrow's Conference and Convention Centres’ published in 2010, 59% of venues surveyed had a new building or expansion project underway, while 65% said they were considering an expansion or development project of some type. These long-term investments will need to perform competitively for many years, and as a result, destinations are looking at ever more creative ways to differentiate their brand. We talk to the brains behind some spectacular expansion and construction projects around the globe about the changes and challenges they face.

Text Rose Kelleher

Larry in Adelaide Larry Oltmanns has achieved international acclaim for his work as an architect and master planner of largescale mixed-use developments worldwide. He is Larry Oltmanns currently leading the charge in the expansion of Adelaide Convention Centre: ‘What's interesting about the expansion is that it’s aimed not so much at being bigger to accommodate bigger groups, which most expansions are all about. It’s about being smaller: we’re creating three separate buildings connected together, and each building has its own identity. Smaller events tend to feel lost in traditional, big venues. We’re able to accommodate different aspects of each event in different buildings, so for example, you might have

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the exhibition in one building, the plenary session in another building and the banquet in another building. And because they’re all connected, you’ve still got flow.

'Associations are talking a lot about adaptability, they want the event to dictate how the building is configured, rather than the building forcing them to organise the event in a certain way.’

Larry Oltmanns

It’s a very exclusive proposition, and I think this is a new idea in convention centres.’

Larry Oltmanns says that this is not something that he necessarily noticed was a concern for association clients, but he points out that ‘until people realise that there are other solutions, then they don’t really think about it. But associations are talking a lot about adaptability, they want the event to dictate how the building is configured, rather than the building forcing them to organise the event in a certain way.’

‘There are probably three trends in congress centre design that you can rely on in the next ten years.’ says Oltmanns.

‘The first is integration with location, or “interaction with context”, if you will.

The second is cost effectiveness, and the third is unique identity, which means finding an expression with the building so that it’s not like an airport terminal, a generic silver-grey building. These things will be important because the market is so competitive.’

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Busy in Jakarta Mr. Oltmanns has also been busy with the development of Jakarta's International Exhibition and Congress Centre, Indonesia’s first world class dedicated congress centre. Set in a stylish and green environment, it will feature excellent meeting facilities with 60,000 m2 of exhibition space, 20,000 m2 of multi-purpose arena and a plenary hall for 10,000 delegates.

There's also a ballroom and 30 meeting rooms, as well as ample outdoor space.

The new construction is modern and flexible and located in greater Jakarta Indonesia’s meeting capital.

The centre’s location inspired its designers to work towards developing a harmonious relationship with its surroundings, a common consideration in modern venue design. Mr. Oltmanns says: ‘In Jakarta, we took a different approach to Adelaide, because it’s not in the urban centre of the city, so we actually integrated the building into the landscape. It’s an interesting notion, and you don’t find many examples of convention centres like that.’ The design of the centre, which is due to open in 2014, was inspired by the Longhouse which, says Mr. Oltmanns, is ‘the traditional meeting place of village communities throughout the 6,000 islands of Indonesia. The facade features a series of glass bands that filter the sunlight like a rain forest canopy.’

What do associations say?

Florence Bindelle

Florence Bindelle is the executive director of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations.

FERMA selects

Adelaide Convention Centre Expansion

Jakarta's International Exhibition and Congress Centre

a city every second year for a major convention of 1,500 delegates. Ms. Bindelle puts emphasis on adaptability, which, she says, is attached to the increasing ‘value’ of delegates’ time. In these fraught financial times, she says, nobody is willing to waste a minute, making some associations think twice about going for bigger venues. ‘You might think that being in a big city having a big congress centre is an advantage, but delegates lose time that could be spent networking, and you need to choose a venue that will allow them to better use the time, to get the maximum benefit from the event. So that's what we’re looking for when we look at the congress centre: the ability to be adaptable and flexible.’ She adds: ‘Our concern is to keep people on site. Most of our sponsors have their own hospitality suites for discussions with clients. And if a venue cannot offer additional meeting rooms for sponsors, then sponsors go outside and the delegates don’t come back.

We need enough flexibility and enough additional rooms to keep the event concentrated.’ In terms of design she says: ‘New congress centres try to have as much daylight as they can. Old congress centres don’t, even those that were built a few years ago, and it makes such a big difference.’ Another area of concern for associations is a focus on technology.

The emphasis is on the attendee, enduser experience, particularly in relation to wireless internet access and higher quality, high-tech meeting rooms. Venues are increasingly expected to keep up with technology says Ms. Bindelle. ‘There is very big difference between convention centres. The technology needs to be up-to-date, and wifi included. I don't even question that anymore!’

The name is Harpa Harpa is a new concert hall and conference centre that is also home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera.

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It hosts contemporary performances as well as meetings and events. It’s famous for its glittering façade, which shifts constantly in the light and appears to change with the seasons. With a large conference hall seating up to 750 people and an 1,800-seat auditorium, the centre covers about 28,000 m2 and boasts two meeting rooms for 63 people each and eight smaller meeting rooms. It was designed by visual artist Olafur Eliasson together with Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects, and the team behind it say that it is a symbol od ‘Iceland’s renewed dynamism’.

Suitable for a broad range of concerts and cultural events, Harpa also has the flexibility to host big and small meetings without interfering with one another.

The vision behind the construction is dialogue with its surroundings. Architect and design manager Ósbjørn Jacobsen says that Harpa was developed ‘at the intersection between functional requirement and the wish to design a building that actively engages in dialogue with its context’ indicating a recurring trend to really make large-scale congress venues interact and integrate fluidly with their location. Jacobson adds: ‘One of our focus areas was the changing light and how the structure and coloured glass are reflected in the spaces. Visitors experience the city and fantastic surrounding Icelandic landscape through the distinctive facade and its changing expressions.’

The Concert Hall consists of two main interacting parts: the inner concrete

massif, which houses the concert halls, and the exterior, dynamic facade.

‘The dialogue between these elements has been the driving force behind the architectural design of the building.’ says Jacobsen. The architects’ starting point, he says, was the wish to create a simple and clear layout. ‘Entering the building from the outside, you pass through a central orientation zone with access to a large staircase leading to the second floor where you have a clear, visual overview of the building and its three large halls. Logistically, this makes the relatively complex building easy to navigate.’ Designer/artist Olafur Eliasson adds: ‘When all comes to all, the use of the building will define its qualities. It is a building that should be used and not only have a beautiful expression.’

Harpa Audio

As home to Iceland's Symphony Orchestra and the Icelandic Opera, Harpa enjoys some high tech audio gadgetry. It’s got a massive two-piece overhead reflector canopy system, acoustic control chambers with mechanised doors, and a comprehensive system of motorised sound absorptive cloth. In situ cast concrete is used as the all-embracing material for the main music auditorium, a solid material known for its amazing acoustic properties.

Harpa, Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre

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the façade of Harpa

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Extra something in Oman Associations often struggle to find venues that not only match their specific needs, but that also provide that extra something that makes the difference to a meeting. The new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, due for completion in late 2015, is a great new venue that’s set to become an iconic landmark for Muscat ans the Sultanate of Oman and a jewel in the Middle East’s choice of quality meetings venues. Surrounded by nature, the venue overlooks a wadi that is a haven for Oman’s exotic bird life.

Auditorium, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre

Another area of concern for associations is a focus on technology.

The emphasis is on the attendee, end-user experience Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is built to host international conventions, exhibitions and business events, and boasts a tiered auditorium for 3,200 people and more than 22,000 m2 of exhibition space divisible into five separate halls. Ideally, meeting space design should support the meeting’s purpose, take into account attendees’ comfort, and promote learning and minimise distractions. The venue is architecturally advanced in design and capability in this respect. It will be among the first to be built to meet the rigorous LEED Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, while halls 1 and 2 will include specialised acoustics plus advanced lighting and rigging to serve as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, and gala events for up to 10,000 people.

Denmark Meetovation Full of Beans The insides of congress centres are not immune to novel design ideas, either. Denmark, one of the world's most sustainable meetings destinations, is full of forward thinkers who aren’t afraid to use their imagination when it comes to physical meeting setup. The latest bright idea to come out of Denmark is as simple as it is genius - it’s beanbags. Ditching tables and chairs in favour of these comfy, squishy low-lying seats, the Danes reckon unconventional physical setup approaches such as this are rooted in their nature, as is the Danish concept of ‘Meetovation’.

The idea behind it is to use different meeting setups to motivate delegates at events and create a better experience and, in turn, higher return. Jonathan Cohen, International Sales & Marketing Manager of Business Tourism for VisitDenmark says: ‘It’s crucial to have an open mindset with regards to how to create successful meetings these days.’ They conducted a survey of the country’s biggest congress venues to figure out each venue’s beanbag capacity. ‘By trying to visualise over 1,000 bean bags in the largest conference hall at the Aalborg Culture and Congress Centre in north Jutland, for example, we conjure up the Danish notion of thinking “outside of box” and hopefully inspire clients to do so, too.’

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NEW ASSOCIATION MARKETS KEEP EMERGING During my years in Asia, it always struck me how strong associations were in India, whereas in most countries with a less democratic government the association sector was weak or did not exist.

Text Luc Maene, President of ESAE and Director General of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA)

Coming back to Europe at the end of the 80’s, I witnessed the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the opening up of countries in Eastern Europe. Again, I noticed the lack of associations and the great potential for assisting these countries in building a strong association movement.

For ESAE and the associations in Western Europe, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

e

en Luc Ma

has always been a very rich source of knowledge and innovation. Even today, we continue to benefit from the wealth of information that ASAE provides.

The determining factor for a strong association is leadership.

Association executives are professionals and, just as in any other economic activity, success depends on their strong leadership

It would be logical for ESAE to play a similar role in providing assistance to associations in the emerging economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Recent visits to Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have reinforced my conviction that there is a great role for ESAE to play in this respect.

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The determining factor for a strong association is leadership. Association executives are professionals and, just as in any other economic activity, success depends on their strong leadership.

Hence, the need for education, training and accreditation for all those who are active in the world of associations.

There again, ESAE could play a major role in facilitating this process.

We are currently experiencing a communication explosion. Strong and regular communication with all stakeholders, including the media, is needed in order to be effective in serving the members. For associations to be successful, they have to provide added value to the membership, and to be proactive in their public affairs and strong in communications. Those factors hinge on effective leadership.

All of these attributes require professional skills. Networking and training are at the core of ESAE. Given the means, so much could be done to assist associations in emerging economies. Anybody out there to assist?

www.esae.org

Emerging Association Markets India & China A Conversation with Congrex’s Managing Director for the Nordic Region, Lena Fletcher

The associations industry has been thriving in developed markets now for many decades and its expansion has served and continues to serve its stakeholders well. But what of the trends in China and India?

Congrex, a leading conference and association management company, has just announced its alliance with two key partners in India and China to pursue key initiatives in the Lena Fletcher emerging association markets of these important regions. To get better insights of what is happening on the ground we had a chat with Lena Fletcher, Regional Managing Director, Nordic Region, who will be heading up operations together with Alain Pittet, Regional Managing Director, Congrex Switzerland, with the two Congrex partners in these regions.

HQ: Congrex has just completed two key agreements for associations business in Asia. Can you tell us about your new partners and what is significant for associations about these collaborations?

Lena Fletcher: Very importantly, these collaborations mean the potential for the exchange of delegates and a brain trust from which all three markets - European, Indian and Chinese can benefit. If we can find a way for India and China into Europe, then we have massive potential for associations that will lead to continued development and growth in the sector.

These collaborations are both about sharing knowledge and expertise, and the big distinction is in the way we are going to work with each partner.

Although both markets are experiencing enormous growth and are very dynamic, the two markets are in a completely different level of maturity. Our Indian partner CIMS has been active in the market since 1997 and is a big player in that market with tremendous knowledge on meetings. Because of their level of experience, they are very seasoned and are in their own right meetings experts.

In China, the associations meeting market is still in its development stages, and our partner CITS is greatly successful in the MICE sector, but are still learning how to best apply PCO services for association meetings. The great value CITS brings is its success in the market there, and its enormous growth potential.

HQ: What is the situation now in both India and China with regards to the emerging associations market there?

Lena Fletcher: India has quite a mature associations market, and the next step is to attract European associations to their destinations. In order to do this they must improve on European standardisation since the level needed to deliver to European organisations and participants is very high.

While their PCO services are very developed, India has infrastructure limitations such as no permanent conventions centres in their major cities, with few exceptions, and this means they deal with this lack of infrastructure by building temporary ones. These get torn down once the event is completed. Of course this has a very negative environmental impact - a deterrent for many European organisers who are sustainability minded.

India has quite a mature associations market, and the next step is to attract European associations to their destinations

I know of a few European associations looking at India but they are a bit hesitant because it is a different culture and they don’t know the lay of the land.

They question whether they will receive a high level of service needed to successfully run their events.

They need to be able to trust and depend on destinations and services providers to deliver on the high standards they have come to expect.

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That’s where the collaboration between a European provider like Congrex and its Indian counter-part CIM is very valuable.

to these networks. Reaching the networks in both these two countries is key to working well, and for the long-term.

With regards to China, the whole PCO meeting expertise is not as developed as in the Indian market. There is great potential but they are at the beginning of an important learning curb, and the ensuing task is to support China to grow in its professionalisation of the associations market so it can become attractive for European associations.

HQ: What is important to know about going forward in each of these markets?

This is made challenging due to Chinese associations not being independently run but government-run. This has implications across the board because it means that networks are difficult to access. If we wanted to invite endocrinologists to meetings in Europe, we have no direct way of reaching these professionals so part of the role of our Chinese partner is to facilitate the path

Lena Fletcher: It’s to realise that it’s not going to be easy because there are substantial cultural differences. What is important is the commitment to finding the best way of working together. The long-term benefits to all stakeholders will far outweigh the short-term challenges on the way to a truly productive level of collaboration.

HQ: As Europe and the USA are mature markets and have contributed much expertise in the past to the development of the industry, what can we learn from working in these new markets?

Lena Fletcher: For European associations there is a tremendous potential for professionals from India and China to increasingly participate in European meetings and for organisers to host more meetings in their regions. These new and dynamic markets are home to people with a lot of knowledge and Asian delegate participation will increase the quality of European meetings and provide richer content and the increasing know-how and expertise of their fields. We expect that there will be great synergies with association clients from all our offices and anticipate that all will benefit from the development of these emerging new markets. www.congrex.com

Association services in India A key catalyst in expressing change

As the world’s largest democracy and second most populous nation, with an ever expanding urban middle class set against a backdrop of huge cultural diversity, India’s ongoing growth story is a continuous point of debate amongst both optimists and skeptics. Text Bob Lewis, Chairman Interel Association Management, Preeti Bakaya Managing Director, Interel India, Prabha Nair, Chief Operating Officer, Interel India

Whilst there have been sweeping changes and reforms in many sectors, there are nevertheless some areas where the status quo remains. With so many varied opinions and interests trying to outdo each other and vying for the attention of various stakeholders, associations have a chance to emerge from the pack as credible voices for various sector and professional interests.

the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India) have been mascots of liberal reforms in India. Together they have voiced and captured the mood of the business sector, both domestic and foreign, as it pushes for increased liberalization.

Mascots and trade bodies

Trade bodies have been amongst the most vocal and professionally run organizations in India. They have been able to lobby with the government on a variety of issues facing industry and have for the most part

As in most other markets associations in India generally fall into the two categories of Trade bodies and Professional Associations. The former, which includes the likes of

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managed to create an appropriate equilibrium in balancing the interests of the domestic market with those of the many large multi nationals present in India.

Tensions and contradictions do occasionally surface however. For example, CII, through the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), has been working to promote positive economic perceptions about brand India to a global audience. Though the rivalry between FICCI and CII has been quite legendary within India itself, the increased focus on global engagement means it is now increasingly manifesting itself in different parts of the world.

Preeti Bakaya

When a senior CII functionary recently arrived in a foreign land, his host invited him to join him at an ‘India event’ in that country. The CII functionary discovered that the event was being co-hosted by FICCI. So, he insisted that he could be present at the venue only if CII also had a role to play.

His host was not sure how FICCI would react to a ‘gatecrasher’, but he did wonder aloud whether this organizational rivalry was in India’s national interest or not!

“They can slug it out at home for influence, but can’t they get together when abroad?”

He asked his other Indian interlocutors.

Nevertheless, the role of the trade bodies remains an important one in India, particularly for the large and medium enterprise sector, although there is a growing desire that they should also start targeting the small scale players who typically relay on the support of the chambers of commerce.

Organizing support for this sector could be the first step towards creating a real change in the business and trade sector in the country.

Creating the change Professional Associations and Societies on the other hand have had a very mixed history. While some of them have been able to develop a very professional approach to addressing the needs and issues of their respective memberships, many of them have not been able to create the change mainly because, in spite of being experts

Prabha Nair

on the on-the-ground realities of doing business in their respective sectors, the chambers do not see them as reference points for their sectors. The focus of professional associations as a rule has been narrow, it has been left to the industry associations to create a broader view.

Of the more professionally organized associations, some of them like NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India), SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India) and others have been very successful in presenting their views concretely to both the government and other stakeholders. More recently, organizations such as the HR Certification Institute and the Project Management Institute have begun to make inroads into the Indian market by bringing professional standards and certifications to their sectors.

This push towards professionalization of sectors represents the biggest opportunity for associations looking to work in the Indian market. Professional certifications and affiliation to foreign bodies are increasingly valued by the emerging Indian middle class for example.

It is also apparent that entire sectors are now starting to professionalise. This is evident for example amongst the real estate

Bob Lewis

developers in India, who have setup CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India), as a new professionally run industry body replacing what was considered its much less effective predecessor.

On the supply side, as associations and association management companies continue to raise standards within the Association industry itself, this will also drive change. According to one writer, the coalition politics of India has created a state where pressure groups have been most catalytic in pushing for change. In such a scenario it is most critical for associations to be more forceful and professional in presenting their case to not only the government but also other stakeholders who affect their industry.

Professional associations play a significant role in legitimating change. They play an important role in theorizing change, endorsing local innovations and shaping their diffusion*.

The current state of Indian politics has made it all the more necessary for associations to be more organized and articulate. There is a growing need for them to represent their sectors and their professions with both the government and other stakeholders. www.interel.in * Source: Theorizing change: The role of professional associations in the transformation of institutionalized fields, R. Greenwood, R. Suddaby and C. R. Hinings.

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ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST A FOCUS The Middle East North Africa ‘MENA’ region, as defined by the World Bank, contains 20 countries, spans five time zones, and is home to 362 million people. In population and land area, it is comparable to the United States. Text Tarnbir Kaur, CAE, Director- Association Management & Consulting, MCI Dubai

Tarnbir Kaur

The Arabic language and Islamic culture that dominate within the region have created a shared cultural heritage, and people’s shared historical experience has to a certain degree strengthened a regional collective consciousness. But there are also enormous differences both within and among the countries of the Levant (Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria), the Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen), and Egypt and other countries of North Africa.

There are many successful regional and local associations engaged in activities similar to the western associationsnamely conferences, meetings and small events. Events function as the lifeline of such association providing funds to sustain continued operations.

The chart below gives an overview of the types of the events that were organised in Middle East.

Types of events organised in Middle East in the last 12 months Incentive travel 36% Meetings 27% Events and exhibitions 18% Conventions/congresses/conferences 15% Not Stated 4% Source: GIBTM

Percentage of buyers

Dubai Abu Dhabi Egypt Moroco Oman Jordan Qatar Bahrain Tunisia Saudi Arabia Lebanon Kuwait Syria Sharjah Libya Algeria Umm Al Quwain Source: GIBTM

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The visual below also gives an overview of the various countries where events were organised in 2011 in the Middle East. Clearly Dubai and Abu Dhabi lead the region with Egypt as a surprising #3.

Destinations for events in 2011 0%

Official statistics about associations in the region are hard to find especially in the wake of the Arab Spring however within the region Egypt and Saudi have the most vibrant local and regional associations.

Associations in the Levant region are more developed in nature and have been around for around 60-70 years due to a greater freedom for set up and operations of not for profit entities. The culture of volunteerism is prevalent throughout the region largely due to the religious influence.

Some associations especially the medical ones find it easier to raise funds through sponsorship by pharmaceutical companies.

Others rely more on membership fees and revenue generated out of their certification programmes. While training conferences are conducted by associations for skill enhancement, associations also come out with regular publications that provide up to date information for the readers. International associations with certifications and strong professional development courses will find many takers in the region.

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

One of the repercussions of the Arab Spring has also been a greater scrutiny of associations in the region. Egypt is passing a new legislation that will involve much more government control in the operations of associations as well as legal hurdles in setting up of not for profit associations especially those headquartered abroad.

Some associations especially the medical ones find it easier to raise funds through sponsorship by pharmaceutical companies It is easier to legally incorporate local and regional associations as most of board have local members and this is a key requirement for most associations. In Dubai there are plans to set up a Dubai Association Centre (DAC) which will enable international, regional and national associations to set up their Middle East HQ in Dubai. The legislation is currently awaiting approval in the Rulers Court.

International associations keen to have a presence in the Middle East region will have success if they review alternative approaches to a Chapter or Affiliate model.

Another area that international players will need to remember is the increased influence of Government and semi government organisations. According to the Economist the Middle East has strikingly few private companies, less than one-third of the number per person in Eastern Europe. In Egypt the public sector accounts for 40% of valueadded outside agriculture - an unusually large share for a middle-income country.

Such private firms as do exist tend to be large and closely connected to the state.

The average Middle Eastern company is ten years older than in East Asia or Eastern Europe because new entrants are kept out by pervasive red tape. Given this scenario cooperation with big National players such as Qatar Telecom, Saudi Telecom, Mubadala in Abu Dhabi, Kingdom Holding and others will be critical for success.

There are many reasons for associations to be positive and invest in Middle East region.

Some of them are:

Need for skill development: Half of the population in Middle East is below the age of 20 and where unemployment rates of 25% ‘exceeds that of any other region in the world’, the International Monetary Fund said in its April 2011 regional outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia. Joblessness ‘is largely a youth phenomenon’, with people between the ages of 15 and 24 accounting for 40% of all people without jobs in the region, and this figure rising to as much as 60 % in Egypt and Syria, the IMF said. There is also a serious mismatch between the skills young people possess and those that firms seek.

Focus on education from government: The region’s leaders are committed to improving education as most of the current leaders and rulers were educated in the US and Europe thus giving them a wider view of the world and a commitment to transform their countries as well.

Increasing role of women in the workforce: In Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah has vowed to get more women working and his government is hiring too. He pledged 66,000 jobs in teaching and healthcare, mostly for women. In 2006, Kuwait’s parliamentary elections allowed women to cast ballots and stand as candidates for the first time. Today more than 30 women hold ministerial positions in the MENA region.

Increase in mobile and internet penetration: The role of the digital media has been amplified by the Arab Spring where social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have enabled change. As per a Booz & Company report the number of broadband users in the region is expected to reach 143 Mn in 2014 and the number of mobile users to 393 Mn.

Dubai

www.mci-group.com/associations

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UIA ı Union of International Associations

Extracting transparency Landmark legislative proposals for extractives and forestry companies to disclose their payments to governments are under discussion in Brussels. These proposals promise three significant outcomes: EU leadership on a global issue, wider momentum for the principles of transparency and accountability, and the elusive promise of EU policy coherence. Text Neil Campbell, Head of EU Policy Development, Open Society Institute, Brussels

‘Publish What You Pay’ is the simple idea behind the intricate details of the issue. It is a mantra, a global network of over 600 civil society groups, and a 10-year campaign. It is not a panacea for countries rich in natural resources and poor in governance, but it is a crucial step to allow citizens to hold their governments to account.

Golden triangle Initially, the campaign focused on building a voluntary base, leading to the 2002 launch of the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an innovative approach that exploits the ‘golden triangle’ of government, the private sector and civil society to report on and monitor payments to governments.

EITI has been successful. 21 countries are following the process to join the 14 that are already ‘EITI compliant’. However, as

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one observer noted: ‘Step one was win the argument and build a critical mass, step two was to use that power base to push for a stronger approach.’

In July 2010, the US Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law by President Obama. Section 1504 requires all companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to publicly report on an annual basis what they pay governments for their oil, gas and minerals. In parallel, the European Commission began to prepare its review of two legally binding documents that govern accounting and transparency standards. The Commission’s subsequent proposals from October 2011 included many elements that could lead to strong ‘publish what you pay’ type legislation, and a couple of elements that would undermine it. Meanwhile the industry lobby,

caught napping in the US, has started to energetically target decision-makers in Brussels.

At the time of writing, the position of the European Parliament and member states are yet to be fixed. Final decisions and negotiations are expected over the summer months and it is likely that it will not be until closer to the end of 2012 that we will see EU legislation emerge.

Three links The proposals can be laid out as a chain with a series of links; weakness in one could undermine the whole. There are three links in particular that parliamentarians and member states should retain intact.

The first is ‘project-level reporting’. This was contained in the Commission proposal and matches US legislation, allowing for disclosure of payments at a level that makes them useful to local communities. This requires a definition of project that reflects the legal basis on which the extractive and timber industries are organised, equivalent to a legal agreement between the company and the host government. Interpretation of project in terms of the local context, rather than the company’s own definition or internal reporting, would ensure a common standard.

The second is a realistic threshold for ‘materiality’. This refers to the lowest level of payment which is actually significant enough to be reported. The European Parliament is debating between e50,000 and e100,000.

The Council has suggested e500,000. One company has even gone as high as e1 million, completely failing to grasp the benefit of the law. The local context means that anything over e50,000 would not reveal payments that are meaningful to local communities.

Lastly, the Commission included an exemption clause for countries with criminal laws against disclosure. It is debatable as to whether such laws exist, and the inclusion of the clause might act as an incentive to do so. Other attempts have been made to exempt companies from reporting intra-EU payments. This would be an unfortunate message of EU double standards. In reality, most European companies would be covered by the US law.

What would a strong EU disclosure regulation, with each link in the chain supporting the next, achieve both for the communities in which extractives industries operate and the companies themselves?

Exemptions for companies reporting in countries where they already report in voluntary initiatives (read, EITI) have also been suggested. Reporting practices vary widely between countries and an attempt to establish an artificial equivalence between the EU Directives and the EITI would be time-consuming, politically controversial and likely to fail.

Strong disclosure What would a strong EU disclosure regulation, with each link in the chain supporting the next, achieve both for the communities in which extractives industries operate and the companies themselves?

Enabling access to information, one of the EU’s own operating principles, is not an end in itself. It is only the start towards empowering individuals, communities and societies with the tools to ensure their government is representative and responsible. Had the extent and destination of European oil and gas company payments been systematically disclosed, the context of the Arab Spring would have differed significantly.

What’s the Union of International Associations (UIA)?

At the same time companies, far from being dragged into costly reporting requirements or giving away sensitive information would be competing on a level-playing field.

Rather than hurting them it would support their competitiveness. There have been no undue costs reported from companies that have already started reporting under US or Hong Kong disclosure rules. Bids for contracts would not require endless and expensive additional sweeteners. Each company would be competing on the merits of their service rather than having to exploit other avenues for securing contracts.

Since its foundation in 1907, the UIA is a leading provider of information about international nonprofit organizations and a premium networking platform between international organizations and the meeting industry worldwide.

Commitment to transparency and accountability are almost a thread through the EU’s external action. The European Commission is already a signatory to the International Aid Transparency Initiative, publishing what it funds. The Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs plans to make EU development assistance more targeted and effective. ‘Budget support’ is to be rebranded a ‘good governance and development contract’ that also contributes to the fight against corruption and fraud. Criteria for engaging in such contracts will be transparent and competent management of national budgets.

+ International Congress Calendar - with information on over 350,000 international meetings. Available online, in pdf, and on paper.

Disclosure rules at EU level, consistently applied, would close the information gap between public and private funds to third governments. They would also signify a broader remedy for the economic crisis that requires accountability for the use and abuse of revenues; an important step away from exclusive gains and towards inclusive growth.

The Union of International Associations - UIA - is a non-profit, independent, apolitical, and non-governmental institution in the service of international associations.

Main activities: + Yearbook of International Organizations - contains information on over 64,000 international organizations active in all fields of human endeavour, in all corners of the world, and over centuries of history. Available online and in book form.

+ Annual Associations Round Table - features both open-space / networking and discussion oriented sessions as well as practical skills training sessions for associations.

See www.uia.be/roundtable

Who can use the UIA’s research and networking platform? Everyone with an interest in international associations and cooperation: international associations, the businesses which provide services to them, media and press, research centres, universities, libraries, government offices.

Associate Members have quick access to first quality material to benefit their business. To join, see www.uia.be/associate-members.

For more information www.uia.org

HEADQUARTERS 27

There’s nothing like A ustralia to inspire the world’s grea te st minds

This year we chose Australia for our global congress. It was an easy choice, as Australia’s proximity to Asia gave us the opportunity to attract many new delegates.

The program was one of the best in years.

New Australian developments in our field attracted a lot of interest and strong international research partnerships were established.

Australia is on everyone’s list to visit, and it lured our highest number of delegates yet.

There’s no doubt they’ll be talking about this convention for years to come.

Dr Louise Wong International Board Member Visit businessevents.australia.com/associations for everything you need to plan your Australian event.

HQ > PRAGUE

Charles Bridge

Prague Castle

Prague Back on the map There was a time when big conferences and Prague went hand in hand.

This time has gone by. But now, thanks to the effort of a dynamic, young convention bureau, the capital of the Czech Republic is rediscovering its glorious past when it used to be an unmissable meeting destination.

An extraordinary place in the heart of Europe, maybe one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Prague is back as never before - believe me, I saw it with my own eyes.

Report Rémi Dévé

The ICCA statistics for 2011 say it all. Prague has moved up five places over just one year.

With 98 association meetings that took place in the city last year, it seems Prague is a most attractive congress destination in the Czech Republic… and in Europe. But the capital of the Czech Republic won’t rest on its laurel. In fact, the city keeps thriving and Prague Convention Bureau has big plans for the future, as Director Lenka Žlebková says: ‘The goal is to enter the Top 10 of the most successful meetings cities by 2014, and the Top 5 by 2020. It’s definitely feasible.

Prague used to be a very successful MICE destination not so long ago, and there’s no reason why we should be held back.’

Lenka is quite right. Today’s Prague is a synonym for an advanced infrastructure

for the MICE industry. It offers a large variety of congress centres, exclusive venues and hotels - classic, modern design or

Today’s Prague is a synonym for an advanced infrastructure for the MICE industry cozy boutiques to large business properties in several categories, as well as a range of unique facilities such as noble palaces, galleries or museums. All this will surely make any event a success.

Another of Prague’s assets is its location, right in the geographical middle of Europe.

It’s located at a significant traffic crossroads, very well connected by all the major, as well as budget airlines, and 53 airlines fly to 130 destinations in 52 countries. And getting around is easy and inexpensive : everything can be reached within a few minutes, even by foot.

Of course when you visit the city (try it on Segways, I did it myself, and saw in 3 hours what would have taken me 18 hours if I had done it by foot, and without breaking a sweat!), Prague almost sells itself.

As the European epicentre of fine arts and architecture, it’s the most significant Czech conservation area included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - nothing was destructed during World War II. At the same time, it is a fast developing and dynamic city where you can find listed objects standing next to modern buildings designed by world-famous contemporary architects.

Let me simply take two examples.

A few meters from the astronomical clock, lies the beautiful Municipal House, a national heritage building, one of the most important Art Nouveau buildings in Prague, which I was lucky enough to visit at off hours.

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> PRAGUE

DOX

It houses the famous Smetana Hall, where the most important concerts in Prague are held, and a large art gallery - there a gala dinner or a walking cocktail will definitely be memorable. But if you want to go more modern, I would advise you give DOX a go, a fascinating centre for contemporary art, that used to be a steel factory. A cultural space as much as a dynamic forum for social interaction, it provides spaces for any kind of events for the demanding organizer.

This symbiosis of the old and the new is what makes Prague an attractive place both for history lovers and for the organizers of congresses. There is a wide range of venues on offer: from ancient palaces with an unforgettable atmosphere to modern buildings equipped with state-ofthe-art conference technology and with large capacities. Of course I can’t list them all here: I suggest you give a shout to the people at Prague Convention Bureau, they will have the pleasure to answer all your questions and requests…

MORE INFO Prague Convention Bureau Rytířská 26 110 00 Prague 1 +420 224 235 159 info@pragueconvention.cz www.pragueconvention.cz Smetana Hall, Municipal House

Prague Congress Centre everything you need under one roof

Prague Congress Centre

Inside Prague Congress Centre

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One of the largest and best equipped European centres, Prague Congress Centre is definitely a highlight of the city. Situated a mere 25 minutes from the airport, it’s specialized in medical and IT conferences, and can pretty much cater to any kind of events. The high technical quality, flexibility of its inner spaces and the exclusive view from the congress foyers and neighbouring halls makes this modern complex one of the most sought after congress facilities. And built during the Communist regime, its attention to security issues are unheard of, at least to me!

As far as figures are concerned, it can hold congresses for up to 9300 participants in more than 50 halls, reception rooms and conference rooms of various sizes. The useable exhibition area, primarily situated in its spacious foyer, is 13,000 m2.

The largest auditorium accommodates up to 2,764 persons. Thanks to the excellent acoustics it is ranked among the thirteen best concert halls in the world - believe me, I tested it with my own voice.

Prague Congress Centre hosted some pretty

important international events, among which the Annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in 2000, the NATO Summit in 2002, the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2009 and ERA-EDTA in 2011.

Let me add that there are 2 hotels in the direct surroundings of the centre: the four-star Holiday Inn with 251 rooms ad Hotel Corinthia Towers with 539 rooms, making up a handy total of almost 800 rooms at walking distance.

Who could ask for more?

CONTACT Prague Congress Centre 5. kvetna 65 140 21 Prague 4 +420 261 172 222 booking@kcp.cz www.kcp.cz

GO PLACES EXPAND YOUR VIEW. ENGAGE YOUR MIND.

IN A WORLD-CLASS CONVENTION DESTINATION Our river flows through the city centre exposing Australia’s largest Gallery of Modern Art, a plethora of internationally recognised restaurants, over 50 inner-city hotels and the multi-award winning Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. When it comes to business, we were recently recognised by McKinsey & Co. as a ‘Hot spring of innovation’ - breaking boundaries in life sciences, energy & resources and digital industries. Add to the package one of the world’s most laid-back yet vibrant lifestyles and we welcome you to Australia’s new world city.

Brisbane – the destination for people who want to go places.

goplacesbrisbane.com

HQ > BRISBANE

BRISBANE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE (BCEC) ON GREY STREET A shining new star Boutique in concept, dramatic in architecture and innovative in design and functionality, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s expansion sets new standards both aesthetically and operationally.

Located in Brisbane, Australia’s new world city, BCEC on Grey Street, the country’s only boutique convention centre, custom designed for smaller and medium sized meetings, has received wide acclaim from the international association market, proving popular with scientific meetings.

International meeting planners say the iconic design and niche nature of the venue and its unprecedented flexibility are significant influencing factors in their decision making process.

Designed by the architects of the existing building, Brisbane based Cox Rayner, BCEC on Grey Street is built on a long narrow area of land adjacent to and adjoining the existing Centre, providing an additional 25,000 m2 of space and housing 20 new meeting rooms including two tiered auditoria.

With its iconic glass facade, the cleverly designed building engages with the river and the city, dramatically changing the landscape of the South Bank Cultural and

Convention Precinct. With a five storey sky lit atrium, expansive foyer space and terraces and with 85% of its dramatic facade being glass, one of the central features of the building is its sweeping access to natural light.

Principal architect, Michael Rayner, says the design of BCEC on Grey Street was an opportunity to compliment the original convention and exhibition centre with a venue that offered a different kind of appeal. BCEC on Grey Street, he says, has a more intimate atmosphere: ‘The difference is reflected in the architecture which creates a vibrant interface with the vitality of the South Bank Precinct. Inside it contrasts the spatially dramatic - a five storey skylit atrium - with the boutique feel in its function spaces. The linear nature of the building means that it has extensive daylight access and outlook.’

The Centre’s usability and functionality has been lauded by both first time users and experienced meeting planners.

Organizers of Antimicrobials 2012 declared: ‘It provided the perfect space for our conference needs and performed magnificently. We received outstanding feedback from delegates, many of whom were seasoned international conference goers, who said it was the best conference space they had experienced for its size in the world.’

Professor Rajiv Khanna, Director of the Australian Centre for Vaccine Development at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, believes the boutique facilities of BCEC on Grey Street will greatly enhance the smaller scientific meetings: ‘I really appreciate the new concept design of the new facilities on Grey Street as small-medium size meetings can be more interactive with enough space for exhibitors and poster presentations/discussions. In addition BCEC is the only conference centre in Australia with dedicated 300-500 seat tiered auditorium to the best of my knowledge.’

MORE INFO Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre: www.bcec.com.au Brisbane Marketing: www.brisbanemarketing.com.au

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Experience the joie de vivre of Montréal, the only city in the world to embrace North American efficiency and a laid-back European mindset. In Montréal, we’ve got all the nuts and bolts to help you plan a successful event—like our ultramodern convention centre, the Palais des congrès (with more than 50,000 m2 of meeting space), over 26,500 downtown hotel rooms and Team Montréal, always on hand to make sure your event runs flawlessly. We’ll bring artfully creative, customized solutions to craft that extra touch of magic your attendees will never forget. tourisme-montreal.org/meet

THERE’S

SOMETHING

different

ABOUT

MONTRÉAL.

HQ > MONTRéAL

Montréal is the new green Montréal has become one of North America’s strongest proponents of green living. From its hotels to its transit system to its own convention centre, who now offers new turnkey green packages, the city has implemented a series of initiatives that are securing Montréal’s position as a leading eco-responsible tourism destination.

Commuting without polluting Hailed by Bicycling Magazine as the ‘number one city in North America for cycling’, Montréal boasts more than 500 kilometres (310 miles) of bike paths and a popular BIXI (Bike + Taxi = BIXI) selfserve bike rental system. For pedestrians, an increasing number of streets are being transformed into walkable, car-free thoroughfares, especially during the summer. Plus, with annual events like ‘In Town Without My Car’, thousands of vehicles can be left at home, thus significantly reducing emissions and allowing Montrealers the chance to take advantage of the efficient, local public transportation system, which is currently testing the use of hybrid biodiesel-electric buses.

Green architecture and responsible consumption Home to the first residential building in North America to receive Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum accreditation, Montréal also displays innovative eco-practices through its commercial architecture. Over 80 commercial buildings proudly display their green status, with the TOHU (Montréal’s creative and performance circus arts centre that was built on the second largest urban landfill site in North America) as the proverbial green jewel in the city’s eco-crown.

The key to a good night’s sleep is green In Montréal, green is key, especially when it comes to our hotels. For example, the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Delta Centre-Ville, Delta Montréal, Le Centre Sheraton, Sofitel Montréal Golden Mile, and Le Westin Montréal are among the establishments that have earned a 4 Green Key Eco-Rating from the Hotel Association of Canada. Also, it was at the Hyatt Regency Montréal that the

Canadian conference on ‘Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth’ took place in 2008.

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, recipient of the prestigious 2010 Grands Prix du tourisme québécois Sustainable Tourism Award, offers complimentary Running Club and Walking Club memberships to all its guests, and, through its Eco-Meet Program, provides planners with the opportunity to minimize the ecological footprint of meetings and events through the reduction of waste and conservation of valuable resources.

As a model for successful and rapid environmental action, Montréal is looking greener than ever Meanwhile, Le Centre Sheraton, with its electric vehicle charging station, promotion of bike touring, BIXI stand sponsorship, and offering of BIXI keys to its guests, received the Coup de Coeur prize at the City of Montréal’s ‘Recognition Gala for Environment and Sustainable Product Development’.

Find out more at tourisme-montreal.org/meet

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HQ > QATAR

Qatar National Convention Centre

Doha

Qatar The birth of a new country How is a new city or country born? It’s always an extraordinary story.

And in the case of the Gulf state of Qatar it is definitely one. In 1952, the country only had deserts, Bedouins, fishermen, pearl divers and camels.

In 1972, oil and gas were found and changed everything. Now, change is happening every day. Qatar is now one of the richest countries in the world.

It hasn’t taken long for it to be a prime meetings destination as well.

Text Marcel A.M. Vissers

THIS IS WHAT THE HISTORY BOOKS TELL US In 1930, Qatar was going through a rough period: poverty, disease and starvation dominated the picture. In 1952 the first school opened. Qatar is a young country that became independent in 1970. It’s an emirate and has known peace and stability for a long period of time. It is also the first gulf state where women were allowed to vote (1999).

Most people know it to be a peninsula and it’s one of the smallest but richest countries in the Arab world. The largest natural treasure are the dunes that can rise up to 60 meters high. Hunting with falcons and hawks is a national sport.

At present, Qatar is undergoing a big metamorphosis. It now has the best schools, hospitals and research centers in the world. And yet, what few people know is that Qatar and its capital Doha

have become one of the key meetings destinations in the Gulf. If you have a lot of money, good things will come to you.

And that is something that interests us.

A CONGRESS CENTRE AS AN ICONIC DRIVING FORCE To become a recognizable meetings destination, two conditions have to be fulfilled: one must have a purpose-built convention centre (which Qatar gladly boasts) and a good convention bureau.

In December 2011, the palace gates of the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) opened to the public. The structure rests entirely on the (artificial) branches of a giant, iconic sidra tree, a work of art that has no equal in the world of convention architecture.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, the artwork consists of a 250 metre long, curved steel tree structure

reaching up to support the exterior canopy. I can safely say the new centre is the newest and most advanced convention facility in the region. Whoever walks into it is immediately enthralled by the 10-metre high work of Louise Bourgeois, an image of a spider ‘Maman’.

And then they haven’t even seen the large meetings spaces. With a 2,300 seat lyric theatre, three auditoria, a multipurpose conference hall for 4,000 guests, 40,000 m2 of exhibition space and 52 meeting rooms, the Centre can accommodate 27,000 people in the venue at the same time. QNCC is also the first of its kind built to the gold certification of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED).

DESTINATION IN THE MAKING In Doha, they know perfectly well that a state-of-the-art convention centre does not make a meetings destination by itself. Delegates want to see something of the environment and experience the local culture. They want to know what a country under construction is doing. It is for these reasons that the city created a partnership between QNCC, museums, hotels, airlines, DMCs and PCOs. This cooperation may later result in a convention bureau.

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> QATAR

A good introduction to the Qatari culture is Katara or ‘the Cultural Village’, a prestigious project that brings culture, art and cuisine together. Venues to visit include: the Qatar Photographic Society, the Visual Art Centre, the Falconer Centre, Al Jazeera Broadcasting, the Qatar Music Academy and the Qatar Fine Art Society.

Katara can also be a possible venue to host a cultural reception in during a conference and can accommodate 1000+ delegates. Two museums are definitely worth a visit: the Museum of Islamic Art (where a 200-seat auditorium and a five star restaurant are due to open soon) and the Arab Museum of Modern Art. Doha tries to combine tradition with modern lifestyle. Tradition is abundant in Souq

Waqif. There is a maze of stone-clad alleyways, lined with dozens of small shops, cafés and restaurants. I myself ended up in the shop of Saad Ismail AL. Jassim, the old Pearl Diver as they call him. And as is the custom in all of the Gulf states, no trip to Doha would be complete without a visit to the desert.

The dunes of Qatar make even strong men tremble. W Doha and Gulf Adventures can set up a camp in the desert where you can have a memorable traditional dinner.

MORE INFO

>> The Sidra Tree story

Irette Ferreira Sales Manager, International Qatar National Convention Centre iferreira@qatarconvention.com

The sidra tree is native to Qatar and flourishes in the country's harsh desert climate. Traditionally, poets, scholars and travelers would gather in the shade of the branches to exchange knowledge and opinions. This tree occupies a special position in the hearts of the Qatari people, and is an appropriate symbol for the Qatar Foundation. In Qatar Foundation's logo, the three sections of the tree's trunk relate to the tripartite mission of education, scientific research and community development.

Katara

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Sidra Tree

Museum of Islamic Art

> QATAR

Qatar NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE In full swing Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), one of the world’s most sophisticated convention and exhibition centres, is poised to attract more international and regional events - when you visit the centre, just like Marcel A.M. Vissers did a few months ago, it’s easy to understand why.

Speaking at IMEX in Frankfurt, QNCC’s Director of Business Development, Trevor McCartney said the AEG Ogden-managed Centre had already exceeded its revenue target well before the end of the first year of operation, hosting an impressive 128 events, catering for more than 128,000 visitors.

Two major conferences and exhibitions will be staged at QNCC toward the end of this year: the 25th Universal Postal Union Congress (UPU) from 24 September to 15 October, and one of the world’s largest conferences, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (referred to as COP 18/CMP 8) from 26 November to 7 December, with a minimum of 15,000 delegates representing governments, international organizations and civil societies from all over the world in attendance.

Trevor McCartney says: ‘The sustainable QNCC building is the perfect setting for climate change discussions as it is purposebuilt to gold certification in accordance to the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) standards governed by the US Green Building Council. The Centre was designed to be approximately 32% more efficient compared to a similar designed building.’

As part of its drive to attract regional and international interest, QNCC has been actively courting associations in Europe and the Middle East, targeting events from the healthcare, education, information

technology and oil and gas sectors.

The Centre has already attracted a number of high-profile international events, including the recently concluded 13th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII), the 4th UN Global Forum of Alliance of Civilization, and the prestigious 20th World Petroleum Congress.

Through its sales and marketing initiatives and participation in regional and international trade shows such as IMEX, the Centre is marketing its strengths of capacity and cutting edge facilities backed by a safe and robust economy in Qatar, to tempt organizers and buyers who until now had never considered the Middle East for their events.

The impressive size and highly flexible Centre appeals to conference, exhibition and event organizers, which allows all the breakout sessions to take place simultaneously under one roof such as the UNCTAD XIII event. That event was attended by 3,500 delegates with all conference and meeting rooms in use for the duration.

CONTACT Trevor McCartney Director of Business Development Qatar National Convention Centre +974 4470 7050 www.qatarconvention.com

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HQ Finding the right place IN RIGA

Why choose the Latvian capital to host your next meeting? Quite simply: because Riga is the perfect fit! This city just has the right size for either small board meetings, with only a handful of colleagues,

styles and the rich, multicultural heritage bestowed by the city’s 800-year history which has helped turn the modern-day city into a vibrant cosmopolitan capital.

or large conferences with over a thousand participants anyone can easily be accommodated‌ Riga is compact enough to visit on foot and is large enough to offer a variety of venues and accommodations. Not only a wide range of hotels - from classical masterpieces to boutique design hotels - but also many different types of conference facilities, with services at competitive prices that are far lower than other cities in the region.

This sheer variety is an essential aspect of Riga, and draws thousands of travelers from around the globe every month. Visitors value the quick and easy connections to Riga, with direct flights from almost a hundred international cities and daily ferry services from Stockholm. They appreciate the stunning range of architectural

Let your guests benefit from this diversity!

Organise your board meeting, conference, kick-off event, and gala dinner in settings from various historical periods.

Riga offers a wide range: from medieval castles in the countryside, to opulent Baroque ballrooms in Old Riga, to Soviet-themed events in historic Communistera spaces.

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Š LIVE RIGA/RTAB

> RIGA

> RIGA

Conference facilities in Riga are fully equipped with the latest high-tech equipment, broadband internet access and first-class catering services. And if you choose, you can even take your conference outside to one of the city’s verdant parks and gardens, with Wi-Fi connections through outdoor access points. Whatever kind of event you choose, Riga’s experienced conference experts will help you plan it down to the last detail, be it a gourmet dinner in a country manor or a gala concert featuring a star musician.

Riga is compact enough to visit on foot and is large enough to offer a variety of venues and accommodations

resources. Cater your events with fresh, organic products from the city’s farmer’s markets, and enjoy the full bounty of Latvian nature.

Why not go local and hold your meeting or conference in a rural setting? Latvian countryside locations are available all year long: The country is filled with glittering blue lakes and swiftly flowing rivers, with more than 500 kilometers of pristine coastline. Treat your colleagues to a seaside picnic to taste local culinary delicacies, or a day of fishing or boating in the gulf. Follow this up with a short ride back to Riga and a sumptuous dinner at one of the city’s fine gourmet restaurants - a contrast that perfectly exemplifies the diversity of milieus and the variety of offerings defining this fascinating, everchanging city.

MORE INFO Meet Riga Ratslaukums 1, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia www.MeetRiga.com

© LIVE RIGA/RTAB

Sustainable conferences are Riga’s specialty: walk to and from almost all the venues in the city and minimise your carbon footprint, or stay in an eco-friendly Green-Key hotel protecting the planet’s

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E-Hospitality bvba Laurent-Benoit Dewezplein 3 Poortgebouw links B-1800 Vilvoorde T +32 (0)2 344 25 50 F +32 (0)2 343 24 50 info@lastminutemeetingroom.com

HQ > WEBSITE

The team at the E-Hospitality

www.lastminutemeetingroom.com

A new platform for booking Belgian venues in real time Too often when looking for meeting venues for a specific location the customer’s experience is an uphill

struggle and a lot of time elapses between the search for the location, the request for a quote and finally the reservation. The brand-new website www.lastminutemeetingroom.com makes it easy for association planners to find and book what they need in a blink of an eye… or almost as such!

Since the end of May, you can obtain on lastminutemeetingroom.com real-time availability suppliers and prices for a wide range of meeting venues in Belgium.

Users can contact suppliers to request additional information and reserve a location directly via the platform in just a couple of minutes.

suppliers, which offer a wide range of locations, from meeting and conference centres and hotels, golf clubs, castles, farms to well-hidden 'gems' located throughout the country.

on its laurels: its managers are already focusing on growth in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and England, looking to expand the number of locations in the near future.

Various meeting venues belonging to large hotel chains such as Starwood

Thierry Vermeiren, Managing Director of E-Hospitality, says: 'Up-to-date information on a performant platform means that it is easier than ever to reserve your ideal meeting venue. Our professional and experienced staff are at hand to provide support to suppliers and their customers by offering a range of training courses, so they can get the most out of the platform, and a call centre that helps customers in three languages (Dutch, French and English) on working days between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.'

On lastminutemeetingroom.com, you can obtain online and real-time availability and prices for a wide range of meeting venues in Belgium The aim of the website is quite simple: to increase the meeting sector's accessibility by communicating to the association planner the online availability, for the next sixty days, of all meeting venues in the network. Prices, discounts, exclusive special offers as well as information concerning all the meetings venue's relevant infrastructure (Wi-Fi, parking, hotel rooms, etc.) are included. Requests for quotes can be immediately sent to

Hotels, Radisson Blu, Dolce Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Thon Hotels, Best Western, NH, Prem and Ramada have already joined the network.

It’s safe to say this service is unique in Europe, if not globally. The novelty also lies in the fact that reservations are made in real time, so not fear of unavailability or last-minute cancellation. And the website, with such a good start, won’t rest

CONTACT Thierry Vermeiren & Martin Duchateau Managing partners E-Hospitality +32 2 344 25 50 info@lastminutemeetingroom.com www.lastminutemeetingroom.com

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HQ

> sW I T Z E R L A N D Rondo Convention and Event Centre

Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau presents

ENGADIN ST. MORITZ Where strategies are made with vision!

Engadin St. Moritz offers the perfect environment for meetings, incentives and conferences in an unspoilt and glorious natural setting. Located at an altitude of 1,800 metres, this high valley is famous for its sunny climate.

Breathtaking panoramic vistas, the seemingly endless expanse of the lakestrewn valley of the Engadin and the exceptional quality of the light combine to enchant visitors from all over the world. Scintillating St. Moritz and the inspiring glacier village of Pontresina are two of the most appealing incentive and conference destinations in the Alps.

The ultra-modern Rondo Convention and Event Centre, numerous top-class seminar and conference hotels as well as various mountain inns are available as venues for all manner of events with up to 500 participants. On all sides, the natural landscape of the Upper Engadin forms an unrivalled backdrop for a host of outdoor activities and social events.

Rondo Convention and Event Centre Pontresina The highest-altitude conference centre in Europe offers a versatile infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet the highest expectations. A large auditorium accommodating up to 500 people as well as seven seminar rooms and three

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foyers make ideal settings for small and medium sized meetings. The Rondo now runs 100% on eco-friendly power. Plus: with more than 1,000 hotel rooms at walking distance of between 0 and 10 minutes, the mountain village of Pontresina makes the perfect home for conference guests.

The journey is an adventure in itself Make use of your journey to the Engadin for a first get-together, by hiring a carriage of the Rhaetian Railway as a ‘meeting room’. Or how about travelling in the Alpine Classic Pullman car from the 1930s, restored in period style? Take advantage of the attractive Congress Ticket, which offers return travel from any railway station in Switzerland for just CHF66 (2nd class) or CHF99 (1st class). Available for groups of 100 upwards. And did you know that the Upper Engadin even has its own airport - Engadin Airport in Samedan?

Inspiring Social programmes In summer, Engadin St. Moritz is home to 580 km of footpaths and 400 km of biking

trails set against a spectacular alpine backdrop as well as three high-altitude golf courses. In winter, Engadin St. Moritz is transformed into Switzerland’s largest snow sports region. Sports, culture, culinary and wellness options abound, providing the most varied pastimes for conference participants.

CONTACT + FOR ENGADIN ST. MORITZ Engadin St. Moritz, Tourism Organisation Convention Services +41 81 830 08 13 meetings@estm.ch www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/meetings

+ FOR SWITZERLAND Myriam Winnepenninckx Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau +32 (0)2 345 83 57 myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com www.myswitzerland.com/meetings

On today’s agenda

info.mcb@esmadrid.com (+34) 91 758 55 28 www.esmadrid.com/mcb

8:30 am Madrid’s transport is excellent. It only takes us 5 minutes to get from the airport to the city’s main convention centre.

11:00 am What a productive morning. Many good ideas and contacts to take home.

2:00 pm A stroll down Gran Via with colleagues.

Time for tapas and drinks in this buzzing street.

9:00 pm Warm evening and fantastic views. Feels more relaxed than most business dinners.

11:00 pm Need more time to explore Madrid.

I’m staying until Monday!

AS GOOD AS OUR WORD

What if your

event

is remembered for all the Wrong reasons?

We have over thirty years’ experience in providing specialist event insurance. if your event is affected by unforeseen circumstances, our cancellation and abandonment cover can help protect your investment and your reputation.

Event Insurance +44 (0)1206 773 851 | hiscox.co.uk/events Policies are underwritten by Hiscox Underwriting Ltd on behalf of certain underwriters at Lloyd’s (managed by Hiscox Syndicates Ltd). Hiscox Underwriting Ltd and Hiscox Syndicates Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. 10302 06/12