Over 1,800 participants arrived from 90 countries over 5 continents. In June, the 23rd European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition gathered experts in poultry nutrition, manufacturers and research scientists at the Palacongressi for 4 intense days of sessions combined with a well-executed social programme that enabled attendees to fully enjoy and experience the destination.
Until recently, Rimini did not have the reputation abroad as being an attractive conference destination. It was considered difficult to reach and had a name as a cheap summer fun destination. Nothing could be more different today, after a major make over, the city is now a hub for business travel as well as leisure and has left visitors pleasantly surprised.
We asked the PCO for their thoughts on Rimini and we asked the promotor what type of feedback their guests provided. We were delighted with the confirmation that our city’s offer is rightfully on a par with its Italian peers on the international stage. Here’s what they said.
Feedback from PCO VET International srl
RIMINI FOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
"The 23rd edition of ESPN was a resounding success both in terms of participation – 1,800 delegates from over 90 countries gathered in Rimini from the 5 continents – and of the unanimous appreciation for the event’s scientific content".
"Planning an international conference is a long and complex process. Its success depends on multiple factors, and we all have to work on various aspects to pull it together and create a winning event that goes beyond national borders.
In this sense Rimini is a real challenge because on paper it doesn’t seem to be ideal in terms of reachability; but with our experience of organising events abroad, we know that this hurdle can be compensated by the quality of the conference venue and by the myriad of advantages the destination can offer, including a city that is just the right size to enhance any event.
The destination has no trouble convincing thanks to its state-of-the-art venue, a vast selection of accommodation options to suit every taste and budget, professional local operators, a local area where hospitality is innate and of course, endless culture, wine and food that have always been appreciated by foreign visitors".
new waterfront
Tiberius bridge
show at Castel Sismondo
THE LOCATION
"Palacongressi di Rimini was designed to offer highly functional logistic solutions: wide open spaces and extensive versatility are, in my opinion, a major strong point. We really appreciated having the option to gradually modulate the services in the areas dedicated to the event. People flow management was made easy, and high-impact stands were simultaneously basic. This enabled us to make the most of the space (from meeting rooms to exhibit areas, from accreditation to poster areas), while keeping it all people-friendly".
SUSTAINABILIY
"The event sends an important message on sustainability. On this specific occasion, we believe that choosing the Palacongressi was further enhanced by the features of the actual venue (bright spaces, choice of material, attention to the environment, eco-friendly local transport)".
foyer
plenary hall
poster area
AN A-Z PARTNER
"In our experience, the Palacongressi di Rimini is not just a benchmark for valid logistic solutions, it’s also a partner involved in organising the entire project, from the moment the bid is put forward.
While the process was underway, a synergy was created between all the local professionals involved: our heartfelt thanks to the team at the Palacongressi, the suppliers and all the technical crew for having assisted us and worked so inconspicuously yet extremely efficiently for the entire duration of the event".
Francesca Corona, VET International srl - International Business Unit Coordinator
Over to the promoter, prof. Massimiliano Petracci
"ESPN2023 registered record numbers of participants, surpassing those of Spain 2017. Our expectations were more than fully met. Our foreign colleagues were extremely impressed with the high-profile scientific content, the organisation, the quality of the venue and the services provided.
The opening ceremony and the social dinner were made even more unique with the Federico Fellini narrative throughout. The dinner held in restaurants in Borgo San Giuliano and the entertainment at Tiberius Bridge made it all an unforgettable experience".
social evening
Fellini's characters
Borgo San Giuliano
"Reaching Rimini was initially regarded with some doubt by its foreign colleagues, more familiar with destinations such as Venice, Rome and Florence. As a result, the bid needed to be adequately reinforced. The excellent results obtained in the organisation of ESPN2023 were undoubtedly owing to the spot-on choice of the conference venue, the quality of the services and outstanding professionalism. The alliance of LOC, PCO and Palacongressi made for a triumphant success of a technical-scientific event such as ESPN in terms of hospitality and connection with the venue and local area".
Prof. Massimiliano Petracci, Secretary-Treasurer WPSA Italian Branch and member of ESPN2023 LOC.
