WORLD – The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), has noted an upsurge in members’ permanent staffing levels of over four per cent over the past year. The increase in staffing levels last year (4.42%) among association members reverses a fall in numbers in 2012 and 2013.
Meeting for the first time for 46 years in Portugal, the IAPCO General Assembly put education and quality at the forefront of its agenda.
Over 80 delegates from 29 countries took part in the debates.
“Education drives quality,” IAPCO president Michel Neijmann told the Assembly, adding that “quality is the core driving force of IAPCO”.
IAPCO has 120 members from 41 countries who organised 7,075 events last year with an estimated economic impact of over €4.63bn (US$5.18bn).
This year’s General Assembly was hosted by the two Portuguese members: Leading Congress & Association Management and AIM Group International Lisbon.
IAPCO announced the winner of its 2014 National Supplier Award, which was received by Carlos de Brito, President of AMTC (Associação do Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações) on behalf of the Alfandega Porto Congress Centre. The award was the first ever IAPCO recognition of a Portuguese winner.
The Congress Centre was nominated for “outstanding service, co-operation and flexibility”.
Dubai, meanwhile, is to host the 2017 IAPCO General Assembly.
Photo courtesy of Samuara Morais
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