THE 2ND AFE APCE CONFERENCE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED
The 2nd joint AFE-APCE Conference was held from 3 to 6 July at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. Organised by the Spanish Trade Fair Association (AFE) and the Spanish Conference Centre Association (APCE), in collaboration with BEC, it was attended by around 240 participants.
The 2nd AFE-APCE Conference, under the slogan “Legacies that transform; Conferences and trade fairs: the impact beyond the event,” brought together representatives from the trade fair sector and conference centres, mainly from Spain, to create synergies, stimulate the strengthening of the industry, and develop strategies to achieve a greater economic impact. The content programme included key topics such as the economic and social impact of MICE, what customers value when choosing a venue or conference centre, Artificial Intelligence, integrated marketing management, talent management and retention, leadership, sustainability, and procurement and contracting as strategic factors.
The event also included spaces for networking, collaboration, and business generation, as well as an outstanding social programme on each of the days, which the attendees highly valued: a guided tour of the San Mamés stadium and welcome cocktail, a guided tour and official conference dinner at the Guggenheim Museum, a boat trip through the centre of Bilbao from the City Hall Bridge to the Zorrotzaurre waterfront, and dinner at the Iruña café. As a post-conference activity, there was a guided visit to the Bizkaia Bridge, a Herri Kirolak (Basque rural sports) exhibition at the Andra Mari Fronton in Algorta (Getxo), and lunch at the La Ola restaurant on Ereaga beach, also in Getxo.
The APCE and AFE awards were presented at the official conference dinner at the Guggenheim Museum. The APCE award went to AECOC (Spanish Commercial Coding Association), received by its Development Director, Jordi Cuatrecasas. The AFE award was presented to the Marva Group, a company celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The award was received by its managing directors, Ignacio and Joaquín Cabral. Both associations also presented a plaque to Xabier Basañez, the General Manager of BEC, in recognition of the work of the entire team for the success of the conference and for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of its current exhibition centre.
In relation to the conference slogan, “Legacies that transform,” a donation of 2,000 euros was made, contributed voluntarily by the conference participants and by APCE and AFE, destined for the La Cuadri del Hospi Association, for parents of children who have undergone an oncological process in the Children’s Oncology Unit of the Cruces Barakaldo University Hospital.
