Padua Congress, represented by Stefania De Toni, a member of Federcongressi & Eventi’s board of directors, was also present at the 14th Convention of the main association of reference for the sector: a record edition in terms of the number of participants, which sanctioned the great attention of institutions and stakeholders for congress tourism.
From March 3 to 4 at the Palazzo degli Affari in Florence, more than 300 congress and event industry professionals gathered for the annual discussion, networking and training event promoted and organized by the Italian meetings industry association. The Convention was attended by top national and local institutional figures: Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè, President of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani, Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella (video message), ENIT CEO Ivana Jelinic, Secretary General of the Florence Chamber of Commerce Giuseppe Salvini, Director of Destination Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau and President of Convention Bureau Italia Carlotta Ferrari, and President of Firenze Fiera Lorenzo Becattini.
In her speech, Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè pointed out that “Congress is an important segment of Italian tourism. The most important international congresses are held in our country because of the undoubted ability of the operators but also because we know how to offer more and better than our competitors: in fact, Italy is the third largest brand in the world. Until now, however, politics has taken little interest in the sector, moreover among those most affected by the pandemic. Today, however, the government and the minister believe in the sector: we are ready to team up, without divisions, to work together, to invest in training and thus make tourism a social elevator for our young people. Not only that: the Ministry of Tourism has launched a call for 1.380 billion for the hospitality sector with the aim of offering more locations to host conferences, capable of deseasonalizing tourism. Growing MICE means growing the national economy.”
“Participation in this event,” explains De Toni, “was an extraordinary opportunity for us to exchange and share: I am convinced that even in the meetings industry-the ability to network is really essential to compete in an increasingly complex and challenging global market.
