DOHA – Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) announced Tuesday that Qatar will be hosting the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO) Regional Seminar. The seminar titled "Delivering Professional Congress Organization: Engaging All” will take place at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) on March 10-11, 2015. The IAPCO Regional Seminar will provide specialized training for all those involved in the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, including professional conference organizers (PCOs), destination management companies (DMCs), convention and visitor bureaus, venue operators, and exhibition management companies. IAPCO's education program is regulated by the IAPCO Training Academy where over 1,700 people worldwide have obtained an IAPCO Seminar certificate of Attendance. Since 1975, when the first IAPCO seminar on Professional Congress Organization was held, IAPCO has built a reputation second to none in the field of international meetings management training. QTA is inviting all its stakeholders from the public and private sector to take part in the seminar, as it believes the seminar will provide them with invaluable insight into the business' latest methods and trends. QTA pointed out that the seminar is specifically structured to suit Qatar and the Gulf region for world-class knowledge, training and best practices. QTA further said that participation in the seminar is strictly limited, adding that the deadline for potential attendants to submit applications is by Thursday 26 February 2015. QTA added that a certificate of attendance from IAPCO will be awarded to all participants. All professional conferences organizers, destination management companies and travel agencies, tourism entities, venue operators, hotels, special venues and hotels, international associations, exhibition management companies, association management companies, and event management companies are welcomed to attend the event. QTA stressed that it is keen to host the IAPCO Regional Seminar as it allows the exchange of views and discussions with decision-makers and event organizers to serve and develop the MICE industry based on international standards. Talking about the benefits of the seminar for the local business meetings industry, Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Exhibitions at QTA, said: “In line with the objectives set by the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, QTA exerts significant efforts to support the international meetings sector, eventually leading to a successful and sustainable tourism industry. Within this context, the IAPCO Regional Seminar is designed to provide all those who are involved in the meetings industry with tips, trends and current planning, thus with the vital detailed organizational and operational elements to manage international association meetings.” IAPCO's Training Academy planned an exciting program covering all aspects of the business, including project and financial planning of meetings, as well as how to market a congress using traditional and tomorrow's communication tools. The introductory session will be focused on the organization of international association meetings, providing insight into the principals that can be applied to all kinds of congresses. It will also highlight the changes and future trends of the international association market, the different players involved and how their demands affect successful delivery of events. The seminar's session entitled project planning will offer invaluable advice for those who have just won bids to host conferences on where to start from and how to create the structure for the congress, to ensure that nothing is forgotten, and how to direct the teamwork to ensure detailed implementation of the project. — SG
