Mediterranean congress sector leaders gathered in Istanbul

The Mediterranean Regional Meeting of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) took place in Istanbul. During the event, while aiming to enhance the potential of the Mediterranean, discussions were held on how to leverage the region’s cultural and financial values in the global market.

With more than 1,000 members in 91 countries, the ICCA, the umbrella organization of the global congress and convention sector, held its Mediterranean Regional Meeting in Istanbul. The meeting was attended by around 80 ICCA association member congress bureaus, congress organization companies, destination marketing offices, and industry professionals operating in Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

The event aimed at expanding the potential of the Mediterranean, discussions were also held on how to benefit from the region’s cultural and financial values in the global market. The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘Mediterranean in Motion’.

The ICCA’s 2024 Mediterranean Regional Meeting was hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB), a member of the Mediterranean region. The meeting was supported by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency and Turkish Airlines.

In the sessions attended by top industry professionals from Mediterranean countries, current developments in the congress sector, the impacts of national associations and intellectual capital on the congress sector were discussed.

“We are very happy to hold our meeting in a magnificent city like Istanbul”
ICCA Mediterranean Region President Riccardo Pizzuti, in his speech, said, “We are very happy to hold this year’s meeting in a magnificent and beautiful city like Istanbul. We thank the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau, and all the Turkish tourism stakeholders who hosted us here and contributed to this meeting. As Mediterranean countries, we are one of the largest communities within the ICCA association. Through this meeting, we will discuss what we can do for the Mediterranean and together we will enhance the potential of the Mediterranean by acting collectively.”

Şekib Avdagiç, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and ICVB, also expressed their great pleasure in hosting the Mediterranean Regional Meeting of the prestigious organization ICCA. Avdagiç mentioned that they introduced the 8,500-year history and ancient heritage of Istanbul to guests from all around the Mediterranean, stating, “As ITO and ICVB, we closely monitor the general situation of the global congress sector. We are involved in an effort that benefits both Istanbul and the entire Mediterranean. The heart of tourism is the Mediterranean. Thanks to this event, Istanbul has also become the heart of the Mediterranean. I sincerely believe that the results of this meeting will contribute to the Mediterranean, our country, and our ancient city.”