Flexible and easy going
Scandinavian flair and more besides hits the spot with meeting organisers. Conference business is gaining in importance in the north of Europe, currently posting buoyant rowth.
Scandinavians are increasingly muscling into international congress trade. Stockholm, for example, is becoming ever-more successful at accommodating big international conventions. "For the fourth time last year we hosted the biggest European congress with more than 25,000 delegates," says Tom Beyer, chief executive officer of Stockholmsmässan. Congress organisers are fond of locations up north: "In addition to suitable facilities, the city also has a correspondingly large supply of hotels and the necessary infrastructure." He is confident that business will continue to expand there, even though international conferences already have a large market share.
Beyer knows: "Exhibition organisers still have a lot to learn from congress planners; but vice versa they can pick up plenty from us trade fair specialists." Meetings professionals are good at bringing together undisputed experts, enhancing event content at the highest level, he explains. What is more, they manage to upgrade events with accompanying programmes in such a way that participants from all over the world get to know their international peers in an uncomplicated but lasting way. "Take the UFI Summer Seminar at the end of June, when exhibition specialists from all corners of the earth travelled to Helsinki." The list of congresses already staged by the Finnish Fair Corporation is quite something. Besides the UFI Seminar the Finns are also particularly proud of the 2004 Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine with 4,100 delegates or, a year previously, the European Quality Management Forum EFQM with 1,000 attendees. In the same year the Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies also took place with 3,200 . Around 10,000 delegates took part in the biggest congress so far in the Finnish capital. "We are contesting this conference year with about seven international events," says Susanne Roinila. The sales director congresses ascribes the currently strong meetings growth to good flight connections with Scandinavia and compact "one-stop-shopping" packages, as well as to the North Europeans reliability. "Our customers greatly appreciate the fact that they can rely on our word." Another drawing card for big events is the high standard of living. What's more, these events are international: only this mid-September the Asian-European Meeting ended in Helsinki, attended by representatives of all the EU member states and of 13 Asian countries. In Copenhagen's Bella Center congresses and exhibitions usually appear as combos, "with 30 % of our business stemming from congresses and events. 70 % is down to fairs," says Congress and Events Director Lene Mortensen. "People appreciate the flexibility of our facilities and the flexibility in our heads as well."
m+a report Nr.6 / 2006 vom 22.09.2006
m+a report vom 22. September 2006