SUSTAINABILITY: DESTINATIONS INSPIRE CHANGE MARTA GOMES IS THE NEW ICCA PRESIDENT OFELIA COLLECTS AWARDS 10,00 € NOV 2022 » APR 2023 BIANNUAL NUMBER 18 YEAR IX Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa Rui Ochôa OUR FUTURE MUST BE SUSTAINABLE The promotional video for Turismo Porto e Norte de Portugal, starring the Portuguese adoptive Ofelia de Souza, has collected awards all over the world, and is proof of how it is possible to innovate in the communication of destinations for the MICE segment. After several years, in which sustainability issues seemed to inexorably bump into a wall called ‘costs’, here we are entering an era where we have no choice but to be more sustainable, and that includes the events we organize. Throughout this new edition of Event Point International, we bring several examples and ideas that deserve our reflection. The Portuguese Marta Gomes is the new president of ICCA, and here are her first impressions after the recent election. And we end up by showing you a less likely destination for the Meetings Industry: Iceland. It can be an awesome choice. OWNER Estação Livre, Comunicação Porto | Portugal Phone: +351 221 113 202 | info@eventpointinternational.com www.eventpointinternational.com DIRECTOR Rui Ochôa [rui@eventpointinternational.com] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa [claudia@eventpointinternational.com] NEWSROOM Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa Maria João Leite [mj@eventpointinternational.com] Alexandra Noronha [alexandra@eventpointinternational.com] Olga Teixeira INTERNATIONAL MICE CORRESPONDENTS Ramy Salameh, Rose de Almeida TRANSLATION Diana Reis Marques [diana@eventpointinternational.com] DIRECTOR OF SALES Filipe Silva [info@eventpointinternational.com] ASSISTANT Rita Costa COOPERATING WITH THIS EDITION Maria João Ramos and Sven Bossu DESIGN Norma Design [info@normadesign.com] COVER PHOTO Visit Porto and North of Portugal PHOTOS Minifoto PRINTING N.Print - Artes Gráficas R. do Progresso, 256, Lote 25 4760-841 Vilarinho das Cambas | Portugal LEGAL DEPOSIT NUMBER 358113/13 CIRCULATING 1.000 copies FREQUENCY Biannual It is strictly forbidden to partially or completely reproduce texts or illustrations by Event Point. Information in the ads are the sole responsability of the advertisers. Consequently, we can not be held responsible for any incorrect information shown. EDITORIAL 04 SUSTAINABILITY: DESTINATIONS INSPIRE CHANGE 08 Companies: FIL for XL events 10 Portugal at ICCA rankings 12 MARTA GOMES IS THE NEW ICCA PRESIDENT 14 OFELIA WINS COUNTLESS AWARDS 16 How is your knowledge about the Algarve? 18 Don’t invent, by Maria João Ramos 20 Lviv: hope in war times 24 Brand ‘Berlin’ boosted by ‘Bestival 2022’ 28 We need you!, by Sven Bossu 30 Iceland’s tectonic MICE plates are shifting 34 Companies index DATASHEET CONTENTS TABLE SUSTAINABILITY IS ALREADY A MANDATORY WORD © Pasi Mämmelä Gothemburg WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM 4 SUSTAINABILITY: DESTINATIONS DESTINATIONS INSPIRE CHANGE FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE EVENTS Sustainability is already a mandatory word on the destinations websites, all over the world. In Europe, there are good ideas on how to reduce the environmental impact of professional events and there are already many initiatives to make the meetings industry better and greener. Get to know some of the actions that are being carried out by Convention Bureaux: Madrid The new digital tool PLUS (Platform for Legacy with Us) is available to all event organisers that make professional events in the Spanish capital, with the aim of estimating the carbon footprint of the events they are planning. In practice, and taking into account the profile of each event, the platform calculates the CO 2 emissions produced and presents a report with measures and suggestions to be implemented so that the environmental and social impact on the destination is minimised, in line with the 17 Goals of Sustainable Development (SDG) of the United Nations (UN). The PLUS tool distinguishes itself from other initiatives by allowing decision-making and the inclusion of good sustainability practices even before the events take place. The platform also includes information from two databases that facilitate contact with organisations, partners and local associations that can help implement actions with a positive impact, which bring lasting benefits to society over time. Copenhagen A practical guide to more sustainable events is the proposal presented by the Copenhagen Convention Bureau to professional event organisers. In a clear invitation to reflection and then to action, the Copenhagen Sustainability Guide 2.0 is a pre-planning tool, with indications for tangible choices, insights on CO 2 indicators and presentation of sustainable effects. Ensuring that events in the Danish capital minimise their carbon footprint and contribute to the SDGs is a big challenge. The guide foresees three steps: creation of the event (definition of the © Carlos Bonilla Madrid duration and expected number of participants), definition of the level of sustainability ambition (the guide is divided into six themes and within each category a level of ambition must be chosen High, Medium or Moderate) and download of results (the entity that is planning the event can download a summary with an overview and the reduction of CO 2 emissions that can be obtained with the choices made). Gothemburg For four consecutive years, Gothenburg has been distinguished as the most sustainable destination in the world by the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Among the numerous tools available to professional event organisers -such as the exclusive access to databases with the most sustainable choices and calculators of the environmental impact of the events they are planning -, Göteborg & Co decided to share this knowledge with the world and launched a website with “101 sustainable ideas for better” and more responsible tourism. The 101sustainableideas.com platform is constantly updated and gives visibility to projects around the world, but also to local entrepreneurs and professionals in the tourism and events sector. The big challenge is to inspire change and achieve the SDGs. Glasgow The Scottish city aspires to become one of Europe’s leading sustainable tourism destinations. Glasgow aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 and recognises the destination’s role in promoting and encouraging responsible tourism. For ‘greener’ and more sustainable events, the Convention Bureau has launched the Go Greener in Glasgow initiative, a set of online tools to help organisers find venues, vendors and activities that best align with their green aspirations. It is quickly presented, for example: a list of the most suitable places and service providers from a sustainable point of view; information on best practices for moving around the city, such as the OvoBikes bicycle rental network, considered by the destination as “the most economical, ecological and healthy way” for participants to move around; suggestions for team-building activities and workshops so they can relax outdoors, while helping to plant and make Glasgow’s parks even greener; suggestions for sports activities that can be associated with the event; a free tool to calculate the carbon footprint, among many others. Bordeaux Along with Valencia, the French city was distinguished by the EU as the “European Capital of Smart Tourism” 2022, a classification that recognises notable achievements in the planning of ‘smart tourism’. With the aim of bringing together all interested parties in a common reflection on the future of events activity in a sustainable perspective, the Convention Bureau of Bordeaux created the website The Agora Tourism Bordeaux, a collaborative platform where, since 2021, visitors, residents and professionals are invited to exchange ideas so that the best sustainability practices can be adopted in events organised at the destination. © Pirkko Seitsenpiste © Niki Nagy © lachrimae72 Copenhagen Glasgow Bordeaux WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM 6 SUSTAINABILITY: DESTINATIONS LISBON VENUES FIL FOR XL EVENTS FIL – Lisbon Exhibition & Convention Centre is the main exhibition centre in Portugal, with a total area of 100,000 sqm. But the 4 pavilions, each with an area of 10,000 sqm, can host much more than fairs. This year alone, 28 national and international major events were held here, mainly association congresses, with between 1,500 and 12,000 participants, but also corporate events, “the number of which is expected to grow in 2023”. WWW.EVENTPOINTINTERNATIONAL.COM 8 COMPANIES For these XL events, FIL has several turnkey solutions, which go through the construction of auditoriums, breakout rooms, complementary exhibition sectors and catering areas. And also a design department which is capable of transforming that venue “into a unique, versatile and welcoming place”. Auditorium solutions The construction aspect of the auditoriums is intended to “enhance the flexible and multifunctional architecture of each pavilion”, featuring “the most diverse and innovative solutions which meet the needs of our clients”. “We develop solutions increasingly geared towards the specific requirements of each event, and as such, we invite you all to discover our soundproof auditoriums, inside the pavilions”. More about FIL In addition to the 4 pavilions with enclosed meeting rooms and 1 multi-purpose pavilion with a modern architecture and fully equipped spaces, FIL also includes the PT Meeting Centre, with 3 auditoriums, 5 meeting rooms and 2 foyers. Located in Parque das Nações, near the river-side, FIL is just 7 minutes from Lisbon airport and 200 metres from Gare do Oriente, a multi-modal transit hub, were you can find all public transportation for the city centre. About Lisbon Venues Lisbon Venues has over 65 years of experience in congresses, conventions, events and fairs. With 2 distinct venues that combine a total area of 129,000 sqm, the Lisbon Congress Centre (CCL) and the Lisbon Exhibition & Convention Centre (FIL), Lisbon Venues is “the ideal partner for your project”. Offering “a wide variety of services and 2 appealing locations that allow you to explore Lisbon, our venues are just a trip away from hosting the most memorable event”. Lisbon Venues also aims to be a partner that helps to position Lisbon as the Hub for Sustainability and Innovation. LISBON VENUES CCL – LISBON CONGRESS CENTRE FIL – LISBON EXHIBITION & CONVENTION CENTRE Lisbon . Portugal | +351 218 921 400 | lisboacc@ccl.fil.pt www.lisbonvenues.ptNext >