Italy has a new national convention and MICE bureau. Founded in Florence in June 2014, the new organization is a privately held network composed of travel, hospitality and congress companies.
Promoted by some of the most important Italian tourist associations,including the three national hospitality industry unions Federalberghi-Confcommercio, Confindustria Alberghi and Assohotel-Confesercenti, the Italia Convention Bureau also benefits from the cooperation of the national promotion agency ENIT and the country regions.
It presently counts 29 members, most of which are local convention bureaus, congress centres and hotels with more than 200 rooms, but it aims at including more partners soon. Its mission is to foster business opportunities for its members and to promote Italy as a meeting destination, as well as to coordinate and represent the national MICE supply and to spread congress culture by means of adequate education programmes.
President of the new organization is Carlotta Ferrari, Director of Florence Convention Bureau and already Vice President of Federcongressi & Eventi (the national association dedicated to the congress industry).