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The Italian region of Emilia Romagna invests in the MICE industry
APT Servizi (Tourism Promotion Association), Unione di Prodotto Citta d’Arte (Cities of Art And Culture Union) and Unione di Prodotto Costa (Coastal Cities Union) organized a FamTrip as part of a 3-year project, by hosting a group of important international buyers, interested in organizing large conferences and conventions in the Region.

The aim was to increase the acquisition of important international events in one of the leading regions of Italy within the Meeting Industry, where a qualified offer constituted by state-of-the-art conference centres and hotels can be found.

This initiative carried out by the Region is of utmost importance as it stands to demonstrate the interest and attention on behalf of the institutions towards this sector, which represents a thriving force not only for the economy of the Emilia Romagna Region, but also for the whole of Italy. The destinations involved in the project, Bologna Congressi and Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini, are among the most important national players within the MICE industry, qualified and competitive on the international scenario.

The cities of Bologna and Rimini position themselves on the conference market with different characteristics which are often complementary, at the same time: Bologna, with the oldest University in the western world, and Rimini with its century-old tradition in hospitality; the cultural itineraries in the city of the “two towers” and the Roman excavations of the “House of the Surgeon” in the hometown of Fellini; Bologna’s hills and Rimini’s seaside. And last but not least, a regional cuisine among the most renowned worldwide, and a staff of professionals working with associations, corporate companies and PCO’s from the choice of the location, to the planning and organization of their events.

Bologna Congressi and Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini welcomed 10 international buyers, hosted in Bologna and Rimini for a pre-tour linked to the 48th edition of the ICCA Congress and Exhibition, held in Florence and for the first time in Italy.

The participants expressed satisfaction after spending three days in both cities, visiting their main conference facilities, as well as the splendid historic centres. They were able to test the easy accessibility of both destinations which, in a range of 100 km’s, can count on the presence of three international airports (Bologna, Forli and Rimini), with connections to the most important Italian and European cities. Bologna and Rimini are, in fact, linked to Italy’s major cities (Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence) - just 200/300 km’s away - via the motorway network and thanks to one of the main arteries of the Italian railways, which find in Bologna their natural hub, also with regards to the high speed trains for national and international connections. Theodore Koumelis - Wednesday, December 02, 2009