AIPC hits 170 members up for the challenges

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From a warning that the global economic concerns are far from over to the kinds of specific strategies and actions that convention centres should be taking in response, this year’s AIPC Annual Conference in San Diego, USA, addressed both the challenges facing the industry and the opportunities available to those who respond appropriately.

"There are a lot of questions about where we are in global recovery, what kind of industry is now emerging from the crisis and what we should be doing about it," AIPC President Edgar Hirt told the conference.

Keynote speaker David Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, and Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, advised delegates that a return to growth should not be taken for granted and that a long period of slow recovery punctuated by periodic setbacks was more likely.

“During this period, governments will be looking desperately for economic stimulus tactics and centres need to keep that in mind,” Blanchflower said.

New approaches to revenue generation, facility design and refurbishment and the rise of premium food and beverage and managing change in a centre environment were identified.

A comprehensive member survey was hardly music to the ears of those of us hoping for a speedy recovery

“But,” said Hirt, “there was general agreement that a realistic assessment of business conditions combined with a spirited discussion of tactics for response provided members with the best possible value for their participation. I think we all consider ourselves to be better prepared for the challenges of the future as a result of what was conveyed in the course of the Conference and this is the best outcome we could have achieved".

In the AIPC Board elections, Iker Goikoetxea Mendoza, MD of the Kursaal Congress Centre in San Sebastian, Spain, replaced Marisa Marin as a Spanish representative and Peter Gunn, Chief Executive of the Bournemouth International Centre, replaced previous UK Board member Jacquie Rogers.

Re-elected for subsequent terms were Carol Wallace, CEO of the San Diego Convention CenterCorporation; Treasurer Jonas Scharf, MD of Congress Centre Basel; Vice-President Geoff Donaghy, representing Cairns Convention Centre in Australiaand President Edgar Hirt of Congress Centre Hamburg.

These elected members join current Clare Amsel, Director of Conferences of the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, who was re-elected in 2010.

AIPC also welcomed seven new centre members to the Association: John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, Boston (USA); Atatürk Congress Culture Center, Bursa (Turkey); ICE Krakow Congress Centre (Poland); Las Vegas Convention Center and Los Angeles Convention Center (both USA); Centro Banamex Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mexico City, and Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre, Moscow(Russia).

These new additions bring AIPC membership to a total of 170 members representing 54 countries.

Do you have news for CN? Email: pcolston@mashmedia.net

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