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Florence, 21st September 2021 – A new successful result for Florence in the congress sector – the Tuscan capital secured another prestigious international medical congress: the European Congress of Immunology (ECI EFIS), taking place from 5th to 8th September 2027. It will be the eighth edition of this triennial event promoted by the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS). It is one of the most important world conferences in the field of basic and clinical immunology, with each edition bringing an average of over 3,000 participants – in the pre-Covid period – to the organizing city.
The important teamwork carried out by OIC Group, Firenze Convention Bureau, Firenze Fiera, and the Florence Municipality to win this congress was repaid by the fact that Florence’s bid was the most voted by the representatives of the European Immunological Societies, receiving 25 votes versus 9 for Madrid, in a competition which also saw the participation of Geneva and Krakow. Florence thus became the first Italian city to host the ECI EFIS, which was previously held in Paris (2006), Berlin (2009), Glasgow (2012), Vienna (2015), Amsterdam (2018), Belgrade (2021, in virtual mode), and which will take place in Dublin in 2024.
“We managed to bring the 2027 edition of ECI EFIS to Florence – said Federico Barraco, President of Destination Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau – thanks to a great teamwork between public and private. Thanks to this work, we are now winning many congresses, and the success related to ECI EFIS is one of our best results, given the importance of this conference at a European and global level. An importance which now seems even more evident, given the prominent role of immunology in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Once again, this confirms what we have been saying for a long time – in Florence, we operate as a real system, and you can see the results. This way of co-operation must be definitely continued for the future”.
“We are so happy we were able to bring such a great event to Florence – says Nicola Testai, CEO at OIC. Success came from the synergy of all the actors and thanks to OIC’s networking, which is Core PCO of SIICA and ECI EFIS, and which will organise the next congress in Dublin in 2024, in addition – of course – to the Florence congress in 2027”.
“Acquiring this important world congress, to be held at the Fortezza da Basso in September 2027 – says Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera – implies a support to welcome representatives, competitive rates for hotels, catering and transfer services, a support to communication before, during and after the event, along with a financial contribution to reinvest in the city supply chain. It is an important achievement for the whole Florence meeting industry sector, joining the long list of prestigious international events which took place inside our venues, and which will soon be able to benefit also from the new Palazzo degli Affari, renovated in a contemporary and eco-sustainable style”.
“This new important result comes from a programming work and from the relaunch of a sector that never really stopped – said Cecilia Del Re, Councillor for Exhibitions, Congresses and Tourism for the Florence City Council– and which now allows us to encourage the post-Covid restart of the congress sector in Florence. After the halt imposed to our sector and the difficulties experienced by so many companies, securing this kind of events is crucial not only for companies and the induced, but it is also as a key element to fight “hit and run” tourism, making it possible for Florence to welcome visitors who spend more time and pay more attention to our city. The congress world will continue to exist also in the digital era, after surviving the pandemic, because it is the result of meetings, discussions and of a human exchange that will never fail to be effective every time we talk about crucial and important themes, which we are pleased to host in Florence”.