Sicily: new time for MICE, new life for the Convention Bureau

Sicily Convention Bureau announces at IMEX America what resides at the core of its strategic plans for 2017. SCB is ready to add attractiveness to the destination for international buyers and go beyond the original MICE identity of Sicily.

The gem in the upcoming development strategy consists in the Ambassador Program SCB is going to launch. By developing a well defined program, in fact, the Convention Bureau will be able to collect a network of local experts in various fields – from science and finance to education, engineering and many more areas of interest – to work in concert with PCOs and DMCs to bring successful congresses, meetings and medium- large events in Sicily. Ambassadors – from both Associations and private companies - will help Sicily to deal with important international bids, to attract grant opportunities and to increase the competitiveness in the global meetings arena.

Ten representatives among Associations and companies are the goal SCB is aiming to reach to start the Program at the beginning of 2017. The ambassador program is only one of the novelties in the strategic plan 2017 of the Convention Bureau. Furthermore, SCB is going to broaden the boundaries of its sales focus and look overseas to the United States as the target market for 2017, together with Eastern and Northern Europe (Sweden, Denmark, among the other potential markets), and in the next future India, without forgetting the loyal markets like France, Germany, and UK. All this thanks to the opening of new routes. In detail, the direct flight New York-Palermo operated by Meridiana and the number of one-stopover connections between Sicily and America will help to increase the flows between the two.

A big international event organized by the European Financial Planning Association (EFPA) that Sicily hosted in May 2016 with more than 1000 participants; the return of Google for the third time in the Valley of Temples for the exclusive Summer Camp reserved to top managers, politicians and stars from the show-biz; the new partnerships with local public institutions, airports and airline companies (Turkish Airlines among the top). All these positive signals, better to say results, let perceive a new time for MICE in Sicily.

This ambitious plan comes together with a new life for the Convention Bureau. SCB is going to transform its governance model and open the board to private companies of the local tourism and meeting industry. More stakeholders for a strengthen decision-making process.

‘Attending IMEX America for the first time is the gateway opening this new business route for Sicilia Convention Bureau. Also leisure tourism flows, from America to Sicily, are increasing year by year as reported in the official statistical data 2014-2015 by Sicily Region – says Daniela Marino, Director of Operations at SCB – “We know Sicily is ready to welcome a new MICE business. Not only incentives, but a wider range of events by operating on an international basis. Now it is time to bid globally”

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