NEW YORK
In its 35th year, the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) is reinventing its annual meeting with an array of new learning formats and a theme of “Sharing Ideas That Matter.” Renamed IACC-Americas Connect, the former IACC Americas Annual Meeting will be held in New York City from April 19-20, 2016.
The event will feature multiple venues, top speakers, a shorter timeframe and a choice of lodging accommodations in the city. Networking events and highly focused workshops have been designed to attract new attendees, share global meetings experiences and address issues facing the industry.
The event will be held at different New York City locations, including Convene Midtown East, Pier Sixty and locations around Chelsea Market.
“We have created an event that is educational, affordable and focused on the most innovative and effective trends in the industry," says IACC CEO Mark Cooper.
IACC tested its new model at its European-members event in Milan, Italy, this past October.
“New York is the perfect place to launch this revolutionary project,” Cooper asserts. "A goal of the event is to offer different venue experiences, as these are one of the most important takeaways for our members who attend. We are delighted to include Convene Midtown East in our venue line up".
IACC members indicated a preference for shorter, more impactful conferences with good accessibility, affordable registration and dynamic collaborative learning opportunities. To make the conference effective and affordable, the time has been shortened to two days and IACC members can attend for one day or for the entire event. In another break from tradition, members can stay at the accommodation of their choice.
“There is no obligation to stay at recommended hotels,” TJ Fimmano, IACC-Americas president says. “New York offers a wide choice of accommodations and price points.”
Pre-conference tours and culinary experiences in the Big Apple will also be part of the line-up. In addition, IACC expects many delegates to combine IACC-Americas Connect with business meetings and client contacts.
“We want our members to make the most from their attendance next year, including coming together and exploring ways to shape the industry and deliver innovative meetings experiences,” says Jason MacEachen, chair of the planning committee, noting that IACC was looking to attract more junior managers to its event.
IACC says it will also continue its partnership with host-city universities. Working with NYU School of Professional Studies' Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, IACC will give scholarships that enable students to attend as well as contribute to the Conference Planning Committee.
