The 2011 Annual Conference and 53rd General Assembly of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) takes place June 28 – July 1 at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA. The conference is themed around the concept “It’s All About Change” as a reflection of the realization by centre managers everywhere that continuous change has become the new normal for facility operations.“We’re living in a time when constant change is the ongoing reality, and the only logical response is to accept and adapt to the need to be anticipating and providing for changing markets, expectations and technologies on a continuing basis,” says AIPC President Edgar Hirt. “An acceptance of this basic premise leads to a whole variety of new ways of looking at our approaches, and many of these are dealt with in this year’s program as a means of encouraging new ways of looking at the design, operation and management of centres”.
Conference topics will range from global economic conditions and prospects as they impact the industry to how centres are adapting to the rapidly changing expectations of event organizations and related corporations in areas as diverse as new technology, increasing event complexity and a growing role in the critical areas of knowledge transfer, innovation and economic stabilization. Given this year’s location, the conference will also serve to build and strengthen the relationship North American members have with industry counterparts in different parts of the world – and emphasize the essential role of meetings and other business events in a globalized world.
“Our location this year in San Diego will add an extra dimension to the theme, given California’s traditional image as a place of innovation and experimentation”, said Hirt. “At the same time, the San Diego Convention Center has been a real industry leader, not only in terms of its own operations but how it interacts with the broader economic interests of its community”.
Carol Wallace, the President and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, said, “It’s an honor to host AIPC and to have the opportunity to cultivate stronger relationships with our global colleagues. This is an exciting opportunity to compare strategies, glean insights and explore new opportunities to advance an industry that generates enormous economic benefits.”
AIPC represents a global network of 170 leading centres in 54 countries with the active involvement of more than 750 management-level professionals worldwide. It is committed to encouraging and recognizing excellence in convention center management, based on the diverse experience and expertise of its international representation, and maintains a variety of educational, research, networking and standards programs to achieve this. AIPC also celebrates and promotes the essential role of the international meetings industry in supporting economic, academic and professional development and enhancing global relations amongst highly diverse business and cultural interests.
For additional information, please click on the link to access the San Diego Convention Center Corporation’s Press Kit.
