DUBLIN’S NEW convention centre has secured another major international health conference eight months before it opens. The decision by the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) to hold its congress in Ireland means that the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) has already secured a half dozen international health conferences although it is not due to open until September.
A further five conferences have been confirmed, but not announced yet. Some 2,000 delegates are expected for the ECCO conference between February 24th and February 26th of next year. The conference will focus on the latest research, therapies and procedures in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
The International Conference on Emergency Medicine will also bring 2,000 delegates to Dublin in June 2012.
The British Orthopaedic Association conference will attract 1,000 delegates in September next year and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland will bring 900 delegates in July 2012. In addition, the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society conference, with 750 delegates, and the European Dialysis Transplant Nurses Association/ European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ ERCA) international conference, with 900 delegates, have been scheduled for its opening month.
International medical conferencing is a lucrative business, with 7,500 meetings a year worldwide and an average spend of €1,400 per delegate.