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The 2009 AIPC Annual Conference from July 6-8 in A Coruna Spain provided delegates with insights into a wide range of critical industry issues along with the election of a number of new Board members and the winners of the 2009 AIPC Innovation Award.
The conference program focussed primarily on the impacts the current global recession is having on the convention centre industry as well as the strategies available for member centres to respond and even strengthen their position in the face of related challenges.
Keynote speaker Dr. Linda Yueh, a renowned global academic on macroeconomics and a regular media commentator set the stage for discussion by outlining the anticipated course of the financial crisis and the ways in which various sectors will likely respond. Simon Anholt, founder and publisher of the Anholt Nation Brands Index and the Anholt City Brands Index wrapped up the conference with an analysis of how the industry can use the situation to advantage in terms of repositioning itself in the broader business community. In between, an extensive series of presentations ranged from situational overviews by key corporate and association clients to assessments of how the crisis is being felt in various parts of the world.
These discussions were supported by the presentation and analysis of a variety of current research results including changing client circumstances, member business expectations and changes in projected demand over the coming year. In terms of strategies for centres to respond to business challenges, delegates heard from PCO’s, architects and clients on the available options for coping with changing conditions and participated in a workshop on how management innovations can be implemented in an organization.
The presentation of AIPC Innovation Award candidates this year was accompanied by a poster session for entries and an opportunity for members to vote for their own choice as to the best innovation alongside the selection made by the formal Award judges based on a detailed analysis of entries. As a result, there were two awards made from the wide range of projects submitted for consideration:
The overall 2009 Innovation Award was made to the Adelaide Convention Centre of Australia for their comprehensive recycling and food management program;
The delegates choice award was made to the Darwin Convention Centre for the Darwin Workforce Development Strategy.
The General Assembly which took place on the final day of the conference was prefaced by a series of status reports on key AIPC program activities including the Quality Standards, communications and industry relations programs along with educational initiatives such as the AIPC Academy and ongoing seminars and Summits at the major trade shows.
AIPC Board elections also took place at the General Assembly, resulting in a new slate of Directors. The AIPC Board now includes President Edgar Hirt of Hamburg, Germany; Vice President Geoff Donaghy of Cairns, Australia; Treasurer Jonas Scharf of Basel, Switzerland; Clare Amsel of Athens, Greece; Jacquie Rogers of Liverpool, UK; Marisa Marin of Bilbao, Spain and Carol Wallace of San Diego, USA.
"These are demanding times for AIPC members, and we were determined to make this conference as meaningful as possible in terms of both information and strategic planning", said AIPC President Edgar Hirt. "As always, we do some of our best thinking when we work together, and while supported by the kind of quality insights we get from our industry colleagues and global speakers. I believe that everyone took away something of value, while at the same time contributing to the overall knowledge base that makes our association interactions so valuable".
The AIPC Academy 2010 takes place in Brussels, February 2-7.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
