“Bringing to Portugal the most important international medical events”
16/01/2017
FactorChave, an integrated marketing agency established in 2000, is an example of the internationalisation process many Portuguese companies are experiencing, supported in part by EU funds that are to extinct in 2020. But it is also a privileged showcase to witness the metamorphosis that many PCOs - Professional Congress Organisers are required to undergo.
Vasco Peres de Noronha and Paula Almeida, the two main FactorChave faces, both have over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical market sector in which they are specialised. In recent years, as a result of a focus on internationalisation, they decided to grow their team, redesign their website, strengthen their communication and digital marketing, and attending some of the most important sector meetings in the world.
The strategy here has three faces. A strong presence in the major forums of the industry associations of which they are members, ICCA - International Congress and Convention Association, EFAPCO - European Federation of the Associations of Professional Congress Organisers and APECATE - Portuguese Association of Congress, Events, Outdoor Leisure and Cultural Activity Companies. Having a stand at trade shows such as IMEX in Frankfurt and ibtm world in Barcelona. And finally, being present at conferences or international seminars in the medical field because there they can find the decision makers of many medical events still still to be held.
Certification
To raise awareness among the international markets, FactorChave is also implementing the Quality Management System. This certification serves as an extra guarantee to customers that the company meets all the requirements recommended by this standard, accepted and recognised internationally.
FactorChave managers thus recognise that these changes "were necessary, and were imposed by the change in the economy paradigms, particularly the Portuguese." The main goal is to "bring to Portugal the most important international medical events, which have a significant impact on the tourism sector," and more. An impact that is increasingly recognised by governments, to the point of being created different support mechanisms to attract international events.