Piotr Wilczek has a speech “Code of Practice vs Standards or Both?” during the Saturday session on 4th EFAPCO Congress in Brussels. This session has updated participants on developments around standards and professional recognition in the meetings and events sector and the future for these initiatives. The session was an opportunity for participants to debate on sustainable business in the meeting industry.

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The European Federation of the Associations of PCOs has compiled an ambitious educational programme for its fourth Congress which took place in Europe’s “Capital City” from January 7 to 9, 2010. It was one of the first major international conference events to take place in the brand new SQUARE, Brussels Palais des Congres, a venue showcasing Europe’s future in the meetings business. The Congress was set to tackle two of the hottest challenges currently facing the future of the events sector: “Sustainability and Competitiveness in the Meetings Industry”.

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The Conferences and Congresses in Poland Association recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Ten years is a long time, over which we successfully completed a number of projects to stimulate the growth of the meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) sector. The association has made its mark in Poland, earning a good reputation with the Polish corporate tourism community.

We are planning to continue projects we started in the past decade, such as the BTF Fair, the Program of Ambassadors of Polish Congresses we carry out together with the Polish Tourist Organization and a program to develop professional norms in corporate tourism. I would like the Conferences and Congresses in Poland Association to become a nationwide platform to facilitate joint efforts by all people and institutions who work in the MICE sector. We are planning to increase our role in the sector by extending our operations, predominantly in large cities. I hope the strategy will result in several new branches established with a large group of new members. We will achieve this by providing our members with opportunities to refine their professional skills, establish interesting contacts and undertake joint marketing projects. We have such new projects under way with the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the Polish Tourist Organization and regional governments. We will work with many Polish and international organizations to promote Poland and to promote the quality services provided by our members. We shall continue working out and introducing norms and standards for the MICE sector.

Piotr Wilczek in Warsaw Voice - April 8, 2009

Over 130 leading players in the Polish meetings industry gathered at the splendid new Windsor Palace Hotel and Conference Centre in Jachranka, near Warsaw for the Polish Conference & Congtress Association’s Third Business MIXER.
“The high attendance showed just how much such meetings are needed by our industry,” said PCCA President Irena Sokolowska. “Everyone confirmed the high quality of the presentations and debates and the one-day event was also a great place for meeting new partners.”
The MIXER tag accurately reflects a mixture of topics, people and forms of communication – a platform for the presentation of industry news, new products and services – all undertaken in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.
Notable guests included Bartlomiej Walas, Vice President of the Polish Tourist Board; Andrzej Saja, the newly-appointed President of PART (the Polish Agency for Tourism Development); and, representing the science sector, prof. L. Lipkowski, Past President of Polish Academy of Science, Dr. Zbigniew Turlej from the Technical University of Warsaw.
“Our programme also featured a wonderful buffet sponsored by the catering company JANEX and a fascinating tour around some of the Hotel’s new conference centre facilities which add up to a remarkable 37 meeting rooms,” added Irena Sokolowska.
“This third MIXER was the first in a series of events planned to mark the 10th anniversary of the PCCA, culminating in a two-day meeting and grand gala night, in December.”

Poland’s key meeting place for many centuries - Krakow - is preparing to welcome Europe for a special international conference about the meetings industry.

An historic and charismatic city, Krakow will be the setting for a conference about developing professional European standards for the conference and business tourism industry.

It is being organised by the association “Conferences and Congresses in Poland” in co-operation with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Krakow Municipality, the Polish Standardisation Committee, and the European Standardisation Committee. Between them, they have invited PCOs, plus companies and institutions linked to the conference industry and business tourism to take part in a top-level event.

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It is scheduled to take place in Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science on November 19 and 20 and features three events in one: the 11th Central & Eastern Europe Business Tourism Fair, the 4th Motivational and Incentive Event Fair, ADRENALINA, and the 3rd Central European Economic Forum.
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