The 35th edition of the ECM Summer School took place on August 24-26. More than 95 professionals (students and faculty) attended this year’s edition dedicated for all Meetings Industry professionals.
All generations, need upskilling and a proper preparation for the coming revamp of the Meetings Industry in the wave of digital/hybrid events that affects all the professionals working in convention bureaux, DMOs, hotels, PCOs, DMCs, airlines as well as corporate planners, association executives or meeting professionals.
For years, the ECM Summer School was an introduction to the secrets of the Meetings Industry for the newcomers, to allow them to acquire some insight view from a non-academic perspective from highly appreciated senior professionals of relevant European organisations.
Based on last years’ experience, ALL Meetings Industry professionals were invited to the 35th ECM Summer School on August 24-26, 2021, no matter their level of experience, to give them the opportunity to interact with senior experts and learn from each other with relevant presentations and engaging activities.
It is paramount for all the meeting professionals to create a moment where all the actors in this multifaceted and complex industry can finally discuss at a higher level what are the new formats, patterns and protocols that regulate the meetings industry after such a period of big changes.
The three half-days programme covered interactive and insightful sessions that focused on the pillars of the meetings industry: BUSINESS, PEOPLE and PLACES: presentations about data, clients and stakeholders, partnerships and sponsorships, business plans for virtual events, bidding for virtual & hybrid events, tradeshows, ambassador programmes, convention bureaux, sustainability, diversity, communication, social media, well-being at work, and more!
“I would like to thank the organisation for the tremendous effort they must have put in this event in gathering such a great panel of speakers and for the energy they put into it. I attend a lot of digital events, often multiple days, and I never follow everything. This is the first time I went through every session with lots of interest. Great job, I will be looking out for more ECM educational programs. Two thumbs up!” said Sam Versele, Project Manager at Visit Flanders and student at the 35th ECM Summer School.
“We took advantage of the online world to deliver more content and create a space fit to exchange and challenge ourselves with different formats and sessions, while allowing students and faculty members to network with their peers, all from the comfort of their home and office.” said Pier Paolo Mariotti, Certified Meeting Manager at EURAC Research and Course Director of the ECM Summer School since 2011.
An experienced and dedicated faculty
The ECM Summer School was moderated this year by Patrick Delaney, Managing Partner at SoolNua a specialist MICE agency helping destinations, hotels and venues with strategy, marketing and training based on 6 decades of expertise as global leaders in the industry.
The faculty are all members or partners of ECM and give their time on a voluntary basis – a way of giving back to the Meetings Industry: Richard Allchild, Senior Sales Manager, IMEX Group ; Melissa Baird, Chief Storyteller, Global Destination Sustainability Movement ; Tamara Bernstein, Europe Regional Director, ICCA ; Guy Bigwood, Managing Director, Global Destination Sustainability Movement & GuBi Consulting ; Rob Davidson, Managing Director, MICE Knowledge ; Benjamin Dunster, Head of Partnerships, Reed Travel Exhibitions ; Ahmed El Shal, Chairman, ICOM Group ; Adriaan Fourie, Business Development Manager: Conventions, Meetings & Incentives, Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau (Wesgro) ; Angela Graun, Senior Director, Head of Meetings & Events EMEA, Radisson Hotel Group ; Olivier Henry-Biabaud, Managing Director, TCI Research ; Jenny Holland, Sales Manager IBTM World & WIRED, Reed Travel Exhibitions ; Barbara Jamison-Woods, Head of Business Development Europe, London & Partners ; Ruud Janssen, Designer, Event Design Collective ; Sam Johnston, Manager, Convention Bureaux of Ireland ; Catherine Kalamidas, Account Manager Congresses, Rotterdam Partners ; José Luis Lanchas, Head of Field Marketing Engagement, SAP ; Cain Leathem, Exercise & Nutrition Consultant, GB Fitness ; Sissi Lygnou, CEO Operations & Devt. PCO Services, AFEA Travel & Congress Services ; Heike Mahmoud, CMP, Chief Operating Officer, CCH – Congress Center Hamburg ; Pier Paolo Mariotti, CMM, CMP, Meeting Manager, EURAC Research Bolzano – ECM Summer School Course Director ; Christian Mutschlechner, Member of the Board of Directors, Congrex Switzerland & former Director, Vienna Convention Bureau ; Miguel Neves, CMP, Editor-in-chief, EventMB ; David Peacock, Senior Advisor Future Tourism Group, Simpleview Inc. ; Riccardo Pizzuti, Sales & Marketing Manager, Roma&Lazio Convention Bureau ; Olivier Ponti, Vice-President Insights, ForwardKeys ; Annika Rømer, Senior Manager for Copenhagen Legacy Lab, Wonderful Copenhagen ; Annamaria Ruffini, President & CEO, Events In & Out ; Petra Stušek, CEO, Visit Ljubljana & President, European Cities Marketing ; Katarina Thorstensson, Smart Tourism & Sustainability Strategist, Göteborg & Co ; Daniel Waigl, Executive Director, CIRSE ; and Robert Wright, Managing Director, Davies Tanner.
“Traditionally, European Cities Marketing has shown itself to be highly relevant and to be by the side of its members and the Meetings Industry. This online ECM Summer School dedicated to all meetings industry professionals represented a unique opportunity to interact with our peers and learn from each other with relevant presentations and engaging activities. We are really looking forward to organizing the next edition of the ECM Summer School next year to meet in-person!” said Petra Stušek, ECM President.
Next ECM Summer School will be held in Turin, in August 2022.
