ECM online and on the ball for 35th Summer School edition

The 35th edition of the European Cities Marketing (ECM) Summer School took place 24-26 August and attracted 95 participants. The online course this year was designed to provide upskilling and preparation for the coming revamp of the meetings industry that will affect all professionals working in convention bureaux, DMOs, hotels, PCOs, DMCs, airlines as well as corporate planners, association executives and other meeting professionals. For years, the ECM Summer School was an introduction to the secrets of the meetings industry for the newcomers, to allow them to acquire some insight from a non-academic perspective, from senior professionals of relevant European organisations. Professionals were invited to the 35th ECM Summer School no matter their level of experience, to give them the opportunity to interact with senior experts and learn from each other through relevant presentations and engaging activities. Key to the format was the opportunity to create a moment where all the actors in this multifaceted industry could discuss at a higher level the new formats, patterns and protocols that regulate the meetings industry after such a period of big changes. The three half-days programme covered interactive sessions that focused on the pillars of the meetings industry: BUSINESS, PEOPLE and PLACES: presentations about data, clients and stakeholders, partnerships and sponsorships, business plans for virtual events, bidding for virtual and hybrid events, trade shows, ambassador programmes, convention bureaux, sustainability, diversity, communication, social media, well-being at work, and more. “I would like to thank the organisation for the tremendous effort they must have put in this event in gathering such a great panel of speakers and for the energy they put into it. I attend a lot of digital events, often multiple days, and I never follow everything. This is the first time I went through every session with lots of interest,” said Sam Versele, project manager at Visit Flanders. “We took advantage of the online world to deliver more content and create a space fit to exchange and challenge ourselves with different formats and sessions, while allowing students and faculty members to network with their peers, all from the comfort of their home and office,” said Pier Paolo Mariotti, Certified Meeting Manager at EURAC Research and course director of the ECM Summer School since 2011. The ECM Summer School was moderated this year by Patrick Delaney, managing partner at SoolNua  specialist MICE agency. The faculty are all members or partners of ECM and gave their time on a voluntary basis. “Traditionally, European Cities Marketing has shown itself to be highly relevant and to be by the side of its members and the meetings industry. This online ECM Summer School dedicated to all meetings industry professionals represented a unique opportunity to interact with our peers and learn from each other with relevant presentations and engaging activities. We are really looking forward to organising the next edition of the ECM Summer School next year to meet in-person!” said Petra Stušek, ECM president. Next ECM Summer School will be held in Turin, in August 2022.