AIPC 2017 Annual Conference:Current Centre Issues Meet Emerging Geo-political Challenges

A combination of member expertise and global insights addressed an overall theme of “Transformation” at the 2017 Annual Conference of the International Association of Convention Centres （AIPC） from 2-5 July in Sydney Australia. Enhanced by a destination and a new host facility – the ICC Sydney – with a lot of very recent experience in the re-invention process， the theme embraced a series of topics ranging from potential impact of current geopolitical challenges to more immediately practical issues such as cyber-security， evolving client expectations and emerging competition in the industry.

“The AIPC Annual Conference program takes full advantage of our members’ expertise， in combination with the broader perspectives we achieved by incorporating leading experts in areas related to our interface with governments， communities and the global economy”， said new AIPC President Aloysius Arlando. “To us， “Transformation” is now an omnipresent process that enables us to respond to constant change， whether in terms of new industry demands； discerning clients or changing international business conditions. By bringing together our own experiences with those of international observers who can advise us on broader areas that will impact our ability to advance our business， we can provide members with the best possible insights for use in responding to their current challenges or their own future planning”.

Other sessions explored areas of immediate centre concern including the growing spectre of cyber-security， the opportunities associated with the rise of a powerful Asian industry， and how key client groups are re-shaping event formats， centre expectations and traditional business practices. At the same time， a range of new AIPC programs and research results was unveiled that directly addressed some of the most important challenges and provided members with both insights and tools to respond to these.

The highlight of the General Assembly which accompanies the Annual Conference was the election of a new Board of Directors， including Aloysius Arlando， CEO of the Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre and former AIPC Vice President as President， Greg O’Dell， CEO of the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington DC， USA as Vice President， Jan van den Bosch， Senior Vice-President of the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre， Netherlands as Treasurer and two new Directors： David Pegler， Chief Executive of ExCeL London in the UK and Peter King， CEO of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia. The existing directors， JulieMay Ellingston， CEO of the Cape Town International Convention Centre； and Marc Rodrigues， General Manager of the CCIB –Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona， complete the 7-member AIPC Board of Directors.