Immediate take-off for the 1st ECM Academy in South Africa

SAACI express Volume 29 No.3
 
European Cities Marketing is going global and exports its ECM Summer School education programme outside Europe. The first edition of the ECM Academy was launched on Friday February 19, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The ECM Academy is the bridge for African professionals to a successful career in the Meetings Industry. ECM consolidates its position as the educational reference in the sector, counting on 30 years of expertise with the ECM Summer School, to be celebrated next summer in Zagreb.

European Cities Marketing President, Ignasi de Delàs, said: "We are really thrilled to have our first ECM Academy organised in South Africa. It's a new landmark in ECM development to host the derived version of our successful ECM Summer School. We use our 30 years of experience to guarantee the success of the ECM Academy in Johannesburg by maintaining the highest standard of course content, recruiting the best speakers, and giving the latest examples showcasing the most up-to-date trends in the Meetings Industry."

This 1st ECM Academy edition is already fully booked with 68 participants coming from African convention bureaux, convention centres, tourism boards, hotels, travel agencies and event agencies.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer at South Africa National Convention Bureau added: "The South Africa National Convention Bureau is most excited that the European Cities Marketing programme is coming to our shores. This will be the first time that such an event takes place in South Africa just ahead of Meetings Africa 2016. Through Meetings Africa, South Africa and the rest of the continent is able to position itself as a real contender in the global business events industry and the ECM Academy is one such initiative that will help our industry achieve this."

The faculty is composed of Jonathan Cohen (Azimuth Marketing Communications Ltd), Nina Freysen-Pretorius (ICCA), Barbara Jamison (London & Partners), Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo (South Africa National Convention Bureau), Anja Loetscher (Geneva Tourism & Conventions), Christian Mutschlechner (Vienna Convention Bureau), Esmare Steinhofel (ICCA Africa), Marcel Vissers (MIM and HEADQUARTERS Magazine), Anne Wallin Rødven (InspirAR) led by the course leader Pier Paolo Mariotti, CMP CMM (EURAC Convention Center).

"I am really proud of this first ECM Academy Faculty team and I am looking forward to exchange with participants and interact with them to enhance the quality of the Meetings Industry and contribute to create career paths" concluded Pier Paolo Mariotti, course leader for the ECM Academy and the ECM Summer School.

More information about the ECM Academy can be found on ECM Website and on Meetings Africa Website.

More information for the 30th ECM Summer School and programme can also be found on ECM Website.