The aim of the new board of directors is to increase the chapter’s influence in the association meeting market.
Alexandra Toregao of the Lisbon Congress Centre (Portugal) has been electedas the new ICCA Iberian Chapter president for the period 2013-2104, substituting Frank Garcia of CCIB (Barcelona). New board members also include Maria del Mar Carnero (FIBES-Seville) as vice-president, as well as Maria Jose Alvez (Estoril Convention Bureau) and Sonia Serracarbassa (Catalonia Convention Bureau). Carmen Aguirregomezcorta was re-elected as chapter secretary.
From left to right: Maria Jose Alves (Estoril CB), Maria del Mar Carnero (FIBES Seville), Alexandra Toregao CC Lisbon), Carmen Aguirregomezcorta (Secretary), Sonia Serracarbassa (Catalonia CB)
The chief aim of the board of directors – elected after the assembly that the ICCA Iberian Chapter held in the Azores last April – will be to boost the chapter’s presence in the MICE market by means of seven lines of action.
Objectives
- To establish closer relations with official institutions so as to obtain recognition and the long-term support of the public authorities for the work of ICCA and, generally speaking, that of the meetings and event industry.
- To strengthen strategic alliances within the meetings and event industry with other related national and international associations, corporations, universities, and specialist media, as well as through the chapter’s participation in industry shows.
- To explore new markets, with a special focus on Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, as well as the world’s emerging markets (BRICS).
- To improve information management by encouraging members to interact and adapting the ICCA database to the real needs of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).
- To introduce new meeting formats for both members and clients.
- To streamline marketing and communication through more dynamic events, with education content or geared to business development, creating synergies with other chapters and using social networks more efficiently.
- To implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with the aim of promoting team spirit among members and benefiting local communities and the chapter’s own image.
Assembly in the Azores
As in previous editions, the annual assembly of the ICCA Iberian Chapter, held at the Marina Atlantico Hotel in Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Island, in the archipelago of the Azores) from 16-19 of April, featured an interesting educational programme revolving around three keynote addresses: "New Meetings Architecture", delivered by Elling Hamso of the ROI Institute; "Catalysing Sustainable Change", by Pedro Norton de Matos (Gingko); and "Business Opportunities in New Emerging Markets: Brazil/Latin America and Asia", by Oscar Cerezales of MCI. Lastly, the "Business Ambassador Exchange Programme" allowed members to exchange information on international events.
Furthermore, members were encouraged to participate in a CSR activity – a now customary element of the chapter’s events and meetings – geared to reforesting an area next to Furnas Lake, marked by the island’s unique volcanic landscape. The saplings were planted in such a way so that when they grow they will form the logo of ICCA, which in the future will be visible on Google Earth. The assembly was organized in collaboration with Turismo de Azores, Bensaude Turismo, and the airline SATA, among other local companies.
CSR activity
Next assembly in Girona
The bid to host ICCA’s 2014 assembly was won by the Girona Congress Centre, with the support of the Catalonia Convention Bureau.
About ICCA
ICCA represents the word’s chief meeting and event venues and service providers. The association provides its 950 members from over 88 countries with privileged information, communication channels, and business opportunities. Created at the beginning of the 1990s, the Iberian Chapter currently has 59 members in Spain and Portugal. Its chief aim is to help both countries attract new congresses.
