Taking place at the Estoril Congress Center from January 12 to 14, the Federation’s 5th Congress will tackle the theme: The World Has Changed – Stop Talking, Start Acting.

It will be looking at a variety of 21st Century Challenges including:

• What the global future holds for PCOs and Event Organisers
• VAT and Competitiveness
• How to maximise ROI
• Information Technology – Internet and Social Platforms making a Congress a year-round experience
• Quality, sustainability and professional responsibility
• The IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum.

Congress hosts including Turismo de Portugal, Estoril Convention Bureau, Estoril Congress Centre, Porto Convention Bureau and APECATE, outlined their plans to make the event a truly memorable gathering.

And running alongside the Congress some of the brightest students in the global meetings and incentive travel industry are set to gather for the next IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum, which offers students lots of opportunities to gain insights into how to build successful careers in the expanding meetings and events industry.

They will attend special presentations from some of the leading meetings industry professionals who make up the EFAPCO membership – along with guest speakers.

EFAPCO Vice President Helena Weinstein, who is hosting the Estoril Congress said: “We have begun lining up some top-flight keynote speakers and the Congress should give the Future Leaders Forum students another excellent experience of our industry. We are also arranging for them to meet members of the Portuguese Young Entrepreneurs Association. ”

Developed and organised jointly by the IMEX Group and MPI, the Forum was held, with great success, alongside the last EFAPCO Congress, in Brussels in 2010.