FLORENCE, Italy – Yesterday in Florence the Italy Convention Bureau, the new body tasked to coordinate the promotion of Italy as a venue for all kinds of events from the abroad markets, was founded.

The project was sponsored by Confesercenti-Assoturismo, Confturismo- Confcommercio, Federalberghi, Federcongressi&eventi, Federturismo-Confindustria, i.e. all the Italian associations representing tourism and congress companies, with the full agreement of the National tourist office and of the Regions represented in the Table for the coordination of the Italian Mice industry (formed following the Protocol for the coordination of the actions aimed to the development of the Italian congress offer, signed one year ago).

The Governance
The Convention Bureau is directed by a Management Committee composed by eight persons appointed by the companies taking part in the network, albeit indicated by the associations themselves, promoters and sponsors of the project.

They are:
– Giancarlo De Venuto and Paolo Mazza, Assohotel/Confesercenti;
representing
– Alberto Corti, representing Confturismo-Confcommercio;
– Giuseppe Roscioli, representing Federalberghi
– Carlotta Ferrari and Paolo Novi, representing Federcongressi&eventi;
– Annarosa Miele and Giorgio Palmucci, representing
Federturismo/Confindustria.
Carlotta Ferrari was unanimously elected President of Italia Convention Bureau.

Mission and characteristics
The Convention Bureau will enhance business opportunities, promote Italy as a Mice destination, coordinate and represent the Italian offer as well as spread the culture of the Mice industry through proper training.

Participation is structured by “destinations” and “venues”, which are subdivided over several levels according to their technical characteristics and attractiveness; each level corresponds to a different annual contribution, from five thousand euro for major destinations to one thousand euro for smaller ones.

Statement by Carlotta Ferrari, President of Italia Convention Bureau
«It’s an important milestone, which I do not hesitate to call historic, reached at the end of a very quick way and supported by an adhesion which goes beyond any expectations and is scheduled to grow rapidly. Finally also Italy, as well as all the other great nations, has a central office coordinating and promoting its rich offer for meetings and events – an offer that people all around the world appreciate very much if you consider that our country tops the preferences as an incoming destination. Just imagine what this means in terms of turnover and economical growth. The story that begins today is really new, and we will all do our best to live up to it”.

Italia Convention Bureau is a network of companies formed by Confesercenti-Assoturismo, Confturismo-Confcommercio, Federalberghi, Federcongressi&eventi, Federturismo-Confindustria, with the full agreement of the National tourist office and of the Regions represented in the Table for the coordination of the Mice industry, tasked to coordinate the promotion of Italy as a venue for all kinds of events from the abroad markets.

The mission is varied: as well as promoting the destination, it will enhance business opportunities, coordinate and represent the Italian offer as well as spread the culture of the Mice industry through proper training. Participation is structured by “destinations” and “venues”, which are subdivided over several levels according to their technical characteristics and attractiveness.

The feasibility study, which gave rise to the drafting of the contract, was created downstream of precise criteria to classify the congress offer, so as to restrict access and participation to facilities of proven quality.