City of Athens attends 48th ICCA Congress

As part of City of Athens Mayor Nikita Kaklamanis' strategy to develop conference tourism in Athens and to ensure the city's place among the most popular conference destinations in the world, the Athens Convention Bureau (ACB) took part in the annual congress and general assembly of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), which took place 7-11 November in Florence.

This year's congress drew great interest from the international conference community, partly because of the international financial crisis and its impact on tourism and travel and partly because of the need for extensive information and networking among those involved in the conference market.

During the event, the latest data from international markets were examined, as well as the major trends taking shape in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions sector (MICE). Presentations on specific topics by specialised representatives of international bodies were also presented.

Among the main conclusions drawn at the congress were the following:
• Despite the general impacts of the crisis on the international economy, the international conference sector contracted to scientific organisations and associations does not show signs of being affected. This is in contrast to the company meeting sector, where a marked recession has been noted, both with regard to the number of meetings and with regard to companies budgeting for such meetings.
• Expressions of interest in conference staging coming from contracting authorities have remained steady in number and frequency. Nevertheless, lengthy delays in making final decisions with regard to destinations and associate participation have been noted, as efforts are made to the last minute to achieve the most beneficial prices and terms in attempts to get "best value for money."
• The tendency toward "sensitisation" with regard to choices and consumer behaviours at conferences and company meetings is gaining momentum, in the sense that certain events are avoided in order not to provoke public sentiment by appearing lavish and wasteful. In the US, the trend has already been dubbed the "new sensibility" and it is particularly powerful.
• ICCA will take the initiative to upgrade the MICE sector on an international level and to strengthen its position at the level of policy and government planning. To this end, the possibility of staging an international summit meeting is being considered, where politicians, government officials and market representatives would participate.

The Athens Convention Bureau, which was represented by Athens Economic and Tourism Development Co. President Dr. Aikaterini Katsabe, recorded more than 280 contacts with representatives and tourism market executives, association representatives and representatives of convention bureaus in other cities and countries attending the ICCA congress. It was generally agreed that Athens has shown an excellent course internationally, while the ACB itself drew a positive response on its activity and its presence in general in the conference market.

For more information:
Kaliope Andriopoulou
Τel: 210 3253123
Fax: 210 3216653
kandriopoulou@atedco.gr