From July 14-17, Vilnius successfully hosted two events of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA): The Baltic Forum and the Research, Sales & Marketing Programme. Meeting professionals from all over the world gathered together in the capital of Lithuania to gain more knowledge and experience. This is the first time that ICCA has chosen to organize its events in the Baltic States.
The Baltic Forum, targeted at the meetings industry and its stakeholders of three Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – was held before the regular programme, with the aim of educating, forging relationships and creating a dialogue between the various stakeholders.
The forum was led by ICCA speakers Martin Sirk, CEO of ICCA (Netherlands), Rob Davidson, a senior lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster (UK), and Christian Mutschlechner, director of Vienna Convention Bureau (Austria).
The delegates from all three countries belonging to academia, business and public sectors discussed the strategic importance of the meetings industry, direct (economic) and indirect (educational & knowledge) impact of meetings, infrastructure development opportunities, and cross-country collaborations. The strengthening of local collaboration and mutual support between different sectors within each country was stressed.
“Every conference is a temporary dislocated university,” stated Christian Mutschlechner pointing out the importance of academic events.
The Baltic Forum took place in Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva and gathered together up to 70 representatives of meetings industry from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It is hoped that the Baltic Forum will become a prominent annual event, rotating between the Baltic States.
After the forum, the annual three-day ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme took place, with the attendance of 134 delegates from 31 countries.
The Baltic Forum and the Research, Sales & Marketing Programme were organised by ICCA in collaboration with Vilnius City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau.
“These two events were invaluable for Vilnius in general and for those who took part. The feedback from delegates of both events has been highly positive. I am sure we created up to 150 ambassadors for our city and region,” said Jolanta Beniuliene, Director of the Vilnius City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau. “I hope the success of these events will provide a new inducement to the development of meetings industry in Vilnius, Lithuania and Baltic countries in general.”
