Meetings Around the World
The annual Congresses–both national and international–serve five major functions:
- The annual business meeting and open forum discussions allow members to stay focused on the well being of the association.
- The educational symposia and/or guest speakers impart new knowledge and provide continued training for the concierge professional.
- Highlighted features of the destination cities promote the travel and tourism industry in general and allow the concierges to experience the best of the cities firsthand.
- The meetings cement old friendships, create new ones, and ensure that the networking efforts of concierges, both nationally and globally, continue to grow and flourish.
- The display and exchange of collateral materials provide concierges with a receptive sales and marketing forum where they can showcase their hotel properties.
In an effort to assist its neighbors to the north and south, USA’s Congresses have become, in effect, Pan-American gatherings, with members from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and other Latin/South American countries also in attendance. The first Pan-American Congress was held in 1991 in Chicago.
International Host Cities
1952 Cannes
1953 San Remo
1954 Munich
1955 Marrakesh/Paris
1956 Montreux
1957 Dublin
1958 Brussels/Berlin
1959 London/Lourdes
1960 Amsterdam
1961 Vienna
1962 Copenhagen
1963 Nice
1964 Tangier/Casablanca
1965 Madrid
1966 Geneva
1967 Athens
1968 Brussels
1969 (annulled)
1970 St. Moritz
1971 Dublin
1972 Palma de Majorca
1973 Munich
1974 Tel Aviv
1975 London
1976 Lisbon
1977 Copenhagen
1978 Vienna
1979 Rome
1980 Monte Carlo
1981 Dublin
1982 Barcelona
1983 Funchal/Madeira
1984 Munich
1985 Sorrento
1986 Tel Aviv
1987 Washington, DC
1988 Budapest
1989 Paris
1990 Gothenberg
1991 Costa del Sol
1992 Tangier/Marrakesh
1993 Singapore
1994 Sydney
1995 Jerusalem
1996 Rome
1997 Budapest
1999 Prague
2000 China
2001 Brussels
2002 Athens
2003 Biarritz
2004 Tangier/Fes
2005 Manila
2006 Washington D.C.
2007 Vienna