Professional Congress Organisers in the Czech Republic have formed a special group to become the 13th national member of EFAPCO.

The new grouping will operate on the same lines as EFAPCO’s German members, with Prague Convention Bureau’s PCO group representing the country’s leading event planners: as the PCB – PCO section.

“After lengthy discussions with Lenka Zlebkova, managing director of Prague Convention Bureau I’m delighted to welcome representation from another of the former Eastern European countries into membership, joining the likes of Poland and Hungary,” said EFAPCO President Nicolas Le Brun. “This is our second new Eastern European member in 2011, following Slovakia’s arrival at the beginning of the year.

“Every new member country strengthens our voice at European and global levels,” he added. “And that is particularly relevant in bringing another geographical corner of Europe into our power base.”

“We look forward to welcoming our new member to the next EFAPCO Board Meeting taking place at EIBTM in Barcelona on November 29.”

Lenka Zlebkova said: “We are absolutely delighted to develop co-operation with EFAPCO and look forward to exchanging information and professional experience with our new partners from other Federation countries.

“Our membership offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge within the EFAPCO network of leading European congress professionals.”
 
EFAPCO already embraced Europe’s 11 established associations of PCOs when earlier this year it approved membership for the newly-formed Slovak Association of Professional Conference and Congress Organisers.

This was an indication of how the Federation can help PCOs form their own national association in order to join up.

SAPCO President, Peter Kurti, said: “Our vision is to help our members to deliver the highest business and ethical standards in the management of national and international association and corporate conferences, seminars, meetings, exhibitions and special events and thereby ensure memorable meeting experiences among hosts, sponsors and participants.

“Our membership of EFAPCO is bringing us closer to our common vision and we are doing our best to become a strong part of the foundations of the European PCO house.”

Slovakia is attracting global media coverage as host for this year’s Ice Hockey World Cup and with the country’s second largest city Kosice becoming a European Capital of Culture in 2013.

Le Brun added: “We will be exhibiting at EIBTM (Stand L220) and look forward to meeting participants interested in becoming part of the EFAPCO network.”