Neil Pompan stands to applause at the first European IAAC Conference, where this current IACC North American President was elected to the role of Global President of the international organization.

The International Association of Conference Center put the International back into IACC in August when about 100 conferees from 10 countries participated in the first European IAAC Conference, entitled “Expanding Our Horizons.” The four-day conference program was held at Scarman House at Warwick University, a conference center located in the English country, was attended by English countryside, attracted delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Spain. Workshops covered a wide array of sales & marketing topics, operational workshops and environmental trends. A three-day comprehensive Study Tour preceded the conference during which delegates were able to visit and benchmark some outstanding IACC conference centers along with some of the region’s celebrated attractions—including historic Warwick Castle.

IAAC attendees toured historic Warwick Castle, where they were treated to the unique
Medieval events in an authentic setting.

At a Global Board of Directors meeting immediately prior to the conference, directors unanimously elected current IACC North American President Neil Pompan to assume the role of Global President for a two-year term beginning in January 2009.  Other elected officers were Steen Broby of Denmark’s Comwell Klarskovgaard as First Vice President and Carin Skoglund of Sweden’s Bergendal Kurs & Konferens as Secretary.  The Global Board of Directors also introduced the Global Distinguished Service Award “to recognize the contribution of one member annually who has made a sustained contribution and commitment within the conference centre industry across chapters and at the global level.”  The first award will be presented at the North American Annual Conference in March 2009. The Board also created the IACC Global Future Leaders Scholarship to recognize and honor outstanding up-and-coming young people in the conference center industry and encourage them to continue to grow within the industry. 

About 100 conferees from 10 countries participated in the first European IAAC Conference, entitled “Expanding Our Horizons.”