1st ECM Academy in South Africa puts ECM as reference accelerator for Meetings Industry professionals worldwide
European Cities Marketing is going global and exports its ECM Summer School education programme outside Europe. The first edition of the ECM Academy will be organised in Johannesburg, South Africa from February 19-23, 2016, prior to Meetings Africa.
Like its sister the ECM Summer School, the ECM Academy will be 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.
Ignasi de Delàs, ECM President & Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism for South Africa
Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism for South Africa declared: “We are most excited that the European Cities Marketing (ECM) programme is coming to South Africa. South Africa, as a world-class business events destination, will position itself to respond to the next decade to the rising interest in the African continent. We want to improve our service delivery and bring job creation through the ECM Academy at Meetings Africa, and we hope that the rest of the continent can grow as well. We have a heart for this industry to make it happen in our country and our region.”
Speaking at the press conference alongside Minister Hanekom, ECM 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.”
An anticipated 40 to 50 participants will attend the Academy. Faculty members will be composed of senior people with recognised positions in the Meetings Industry: Anne Wallin-Rødven (former Director VisitOslo Convention Bureau), Anja Loetscher (Director Geneva Convention Bureau), Barbara Jamison (Head of Business Development Europe, London & Partners), Christian Mutschlechner (Director Vienna Convention Bureau), Jonathan Cohen (Azimuth Marketing Communications), combined with local perspectives. “I am really proud of this first 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 www.europeancitiesmarketing.com/ecm-advantage/education/ecm-academy and on Meetings Africa Website www.meetingsafrica.co.za
More information for the 30th ECM Summer School and programme can be found on ECM website.
European Cities Marketing is a non-profit organisation improving the competitiveness and performance of leading cities of Europe. ECM provides a platform for convention, leisure and city marketing professionals to exchange knowledge, best practice and widen their network to build new business. European Cities Marketing is promoting and linking the interests of members from more than 100 major cities in 36 countries.
Contact information
Flavie Baudot
Tel: +33 380 56 02 00
South African Tourism (SAT) is the national tourism agency responsible for marketing South Africa as a destination internationally and domestically. It aims to make tourism the leading economic sector in South Africa, and promote sustainable economic and social empowerment of all South Africans. At the same time, South Africa is marketed as an integral part of Africa, particularly the subcontinent of southern Africa.