Press Releases
2010
Face to Face Meetings empower our World
The keynote session at the ICPB's Convention India Conclave was presented by Philippe Fournier, President, IAPCO, on Conferences in the Knowledge Economy: Face to Face Meetings are changing and empowering our World. "We are a global world, which means global meetings! Meetings have been a solution over the centuries and today's globalisation can only enhance the need to meet, not, as a perceived advantage of social communication, detract. When people meet, things happen, things change, things improve, economy rises. Face to face meetings power the economy."
August 2010
IAPCO gets Tough on their Members' Non-compliance!
Association are being clearly identified on the IAPCO website. “We have to get tough” says new President, Philippe Fournier, “IAPCO stands for quality and we have to ensure that all our members maintain the standards and criteria by which they entered the Association, how ever many years ago that may be”. Five members failed to comply with the stringent quality criteria set in place.
July 2010
Confucius say: A Clear Pond has no Fish. Is Transparency the Enemy of Profit?
Transparency has different meanings for different clients. Some want the assurance that all costs are included in the budget - no late surprises while others want all costs detailed in a budget and to understand who ends up with the money. The misperception of transparency is the belief that there is an obligation to know every tiny detail whereas the real obligation is to obtain value for money.
June 2010
Operational Success: EORNA presented with IAPCO Regional Client Award
Last year, Copenhagen was the host city for the European Operation Room Nurses Association Congress 2009, with 1800 delegates in the Bella Centre, as a result of which, during IMEX, the host of the congress was delighted to receive IAPCO's Regional Client Award.
June 2010
Over 3,4 B€ from leading PCOs in 2009!
The total number of meetings handled by the 100 IAPCO members rose by 9% over 2008, a staggering total of 5641 run over the year. Association meetings rose by 15%, Governmental by 46% and Corporate meetings by just 2%, reflecting a 46% drop in the international corporate market. The total number of participants rose from 1,968519 to 2,117915.
May 2010
SECC honour IAPCO as World Champions
In recognition of the importance that International PCOs have played over the last 25 years to the business of the SECC, representing many hundreds of international clients, the Scottish Exhibition+Conference Centre, Glasgow, recognised IAPCO with one of their 25th Anniversary Champion Awards.
May 2010
Incredible India welcomes IAPCO first Regional Seminar
62 participants from 6 of the 8 major cities in India descended on the incredible emerging valley development of Lavasa, 2.5 hours north of Mumbai. The organiser of the regional seminar said "this is a milestone event being the first meetings industry training seminar to be held in India. Such a strong gathering of industry professionals sustantiates the fact that this is a great step towards building intellectual capacity within the Indian industry".
April 2010
"Great and better talent is worth fighting for. People are the only source of competitive advantage that cannot be replicated by the competition overnight". Energy, commitment, motivation, loyalty; none of these characteristics can be instantly copied, "because it is the superior talent that will be tomorrow's prime source of competitive advantage", Oscar Maril, Praesta, Spain.
April 2010
The First e-learning Face-to-Face Meeting
Delegates have access to the internet on their laptops during the seminar, following the speakers on their electronic programmes circulated in advance. Delegates can tune in and out of presentations as they feel appropriate to their needs.
March 2010
Understanding Procurement - Fighting Back
Purchasing, Buying, Sourcing, Supply Management, Procurement - all mean the same - all mean buying at the best price. It is not the purchasing of raw materials that provide the greatest scope for the rise of the procurement manager, it is in the area of services, travel, investments, and yes conferences.
March 2010
France wins Presidency of IAPCO for the first time
At the recent General Assembly held in Athens, Greece, Philippe Fournier, of MCI, was unanimously elected as IAPCO's President. "My goal", says Philippe, "is to prepare the members to be ready and get adapted to the changes that are coming. Let's lead to change by leading the trend".
February 2010
80 of the World's PCO leaders meet in Athens
Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) are meeting in Athens for their annual gathering to discuss issues and answers to this tough economic period and to show that face-to-face meetings are still very important in such times. "An event is an opportunity to create a face-to-face experience and an opportunity to reach out and communicate a brand, a new technology, a new study" said Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, "meetings have a strategic value because they are part of the corporate business marketing mix".
February 2010
If you think Education is Expensive, try Ignorance!
It is gratifying as we look back on the credit crunch of 2009 to know that our industry of meeting professionals does not skimp on the provision of education for their employees and is continually looking forward to the future of their staff and personnel. It is a recognised fact that the IAPCO Annual "Wolfsberg" Seminar is one of the leading educational experiences in our industry today. More than 1750 people have attended the Seminar in its 35 years and, apart from having a great education, building on the network opportunities has given these participants a head start in their careers.
January 2010
2009 Archive
Worldwide Demand for IAPCO National Seminars
IAPCO experienced a record number of requests for national seminars in 2009 and, in line with its quality policy, continues to develop its educational programme. Quality is the goal being driven by IAPCO and, as more of these seminars are hosted, the wider the awareness of quality standards is raised.
November 2009
BE RESPONSIBLE! IAPCO response to "EU to declare war on business trips"
The most recent decision from the EU relates to limiting business trips with the target of reducing them by 20% and replacing them with telecommunication and web-based alternatives. Business trips embrace may aspects, an important one of which is attendance at meetings, conferences and events. By heavily directing the limitation of business travel, and thus attendance at conferences and events, there are serious consequences further down the line.
November 2009
Making your Destination more Competitive in the Eyes of the Buyers
Today's competitve environment for large scale meetings and events is causing destinations to have to increase their service offerings to create a competitive advantage. What makes for good co-operation between the PCO, the convention bureaux and the conference centres?
October 2009
Get it Right the First Time - the RfP Solution from IAPCO
One of the key reasons that profitable bottom lines are eroded is due to time wasted. In order to lessen these many wasted hours accurate information should be provided from the outset, and to assist in this IAPCO has compiled an RfP for the Appointment of a PCO for both national and international meetings.
September 2009
Increase in Virtual Meetings
The inclusion of Virtual Meetings within the conference environ is on the horizon as a normal add-on, and is to be seen as an opportunity and a challenge.
August 2009
Dictionary of Industry Terminology now available in Russian
IAPCO is delighted to bring to the marketplace the Meetings' Industry's leading dictionary, in fifteen languages, of over 900 words, an encyclopaedia of communication, recently translated into Russian.
August 2009
Fiera Milano Congressi wins 2008 IAPCO National Supplier Award
This important Award was given to the President Fiera Milano Congressi, Giuseppe Zola, by Patrizia Buongiorno, IAPCO President, at a recent celebratory dinner at the Palazzo Visconti in Milan.; Giuseppe was one of the driving forces in determining the role played by FMC in the creation of a Milan system promoting the capital of Lombardy in the European City congress circuit, a fact recognised and endorsed by AIM-Group, who nominated them for the Award.
July 2009
Exhibitions are increasingly influencing the choice of destination
This was the message from the IAPCO/UFI/IPCAA Seminar during IMEX. Simply exhibitions create value, but the destination has to be right. But no resorts, no 5-star hotels, no spouses for the pharmaceutical industry. Whilst influencing factors may change the face of the industry today, they merely represent change, of which destinations need to be aware when pitching for their market share.
June 2009
Anticipating 2009/2010 - it's not all bad!
IAPCO members enjoyed yet another bumper year of growth in 2008 according to the results of the latest IAPCO annual activity survey the third in the series. The business generated by IAPCO members during 2008 was immense, representing a 26% increase over 2007 and a combined increase of 44% over 2006. IAPCO members continue to dominate the meetings market.
May 2009
Managing the Crisis
The recent economic and business survey from IAPCO showed that whilst 2009 was realising he expected downturn, 2010 definately shows signs of an upturn. "This is not just a reflection of the economy" says IAPCO President, Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno "but reflects the PCOs ability to manage a crisis".
May 2009
Jorge E. Castex appointed Honorary Member of IAPCO
Jorge Castex, who was twice President of IAPCO (1977/79 and 1990/92), has been unanimously appointed Honorary Member of the Association by the IAPCO Council. The announcement was made during the recent IMEX Event.
May 2009
Events of an Award Winning Standard
The New Zealand Organising Committee of the International Dairy Federastion (IDF) was presented with the IAPCO 2008 International Client Award at IMEX, the worldwide exhibition for meetings and incentive travel held in Frankfurt on 26 May 2009.
May 2009
Times could not be Better
There is the potential to say that “times could not be better for the PCO” but only if driven to meet the challenge and maximise opportunities, whilst providing a cost-effective solution and value add to clients. It is a time to hold fast, maintain staffing levels, ensure quality standards are retained and meet the challenge full on.
April 2009
Raising the Bar
IAPCO Members embrace Sustainable Practice. It is not only a moral obligation but also one of sensible business practice. We have to create a sustainable revolution, offset the environmental catastrophe and embrace the challenge. Raise the bar, be effective, failure is not an option.
April 2009
Meeting Quality - Quality Website
The corporate brand of any association, business or event is the front end, the first impression and the lasting image. It is therefore important that such a brand reflects the modern outlook, clean approach and quality brand of our Association. Meeting Quality reflects the quality of service provided by IAPCO members.
April 2009
The European Group
With 70% of IAPCO's membership emanating from within Europe, organising over 3400 meetings per year, IAPCO's European Group is a sizable force with which to be reckoned. In a bid to strengthen well established links with the EU, it was gratifying to hear from the head of the conference organisation unit, SCIC D1, Isabella Quattrocchi, the esteem with which IAPCO members are held within the DGs.
March 2009
Anniversary ends in Ghent
The 40th Annual Meeting & General Assembly was held in Ghent in February, providing a fitting end to the 40th Anniversary Year of IAPCO.
February 2009
Thinking outside of the Box
Sponsorship: Future Strategies Seminar looks at different ways of overcoming the changes in legislation imposed on the pharma industry. IAPCO is in a position to lead the way - thinking outside of the box.
February 2009
2008 Archive
Minding Your Ps and Qs
IAPCO puts the P in Professional and the Q in Quality
October 2008
Winning that Important Meeting
Detailed project management and analysis of challenges and opportunities are essential if a bid is to be successful. IAPCO’s guideline document Bidding for a Congress takes you through the steps.
September 2008
Find the Best Conference Organiser
As the worldwide economy gets tougher so it becomes more and more important to select The Right PCO for your event.
July 2008
Planning a Convention Centre
The latest document from the IAPCO stable of Publications provides a comprehensive set of requirements and ideal facilities for those designing new facilities or upgrading existing centres.
June 2008
IAPCO Members on a Growing Curve
The 2007 IAPCO Member Survey Results show an increase in business and a massive economic impact on local economy
April 2008
AMC vs PCO Seminar
The Differences and Similarities of the work of an AMC and a PCO is the subject of the ‘standing room only’ seminar at IMEX
April 2008
Alumni Gathering at IMEX
Students spanning 25 years of seminars meet for an anniversary celebratory party during IMEX
April 2008
IAPCO joins CIC
IAPCO is invited and commits to the work of the Convention Industry Council
April 2008
Greece Wins Bid for 2010
The 2010 IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly will take place in Athens
March 2008
Italy Wins Presidency
Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno is unanimously elected as the new President of IAPCO
February 2008
Move Over Gollum
IAPCO’s Annual Meeting & General Assembly takes place in New Zealand
February 2008
Wolfsberg Wait List Stuns Organisers
IAPCO Annual Seminar sold out 3 months in advance
January 2008