ICCA has announced that the first in-person ICCA Skills Certified International Convention Specialists (CICS) course in Africa was successfully completed for staff of the Ethiopia Convention Bureau in November. Delegates had gathered for an intensive, one-stop week-long course at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa to gain essential industry knowledge skills in community engagement, conference bidding, and industry advocacy.
The study programme was set up with the support of the IFC/WBG which is closely supporting the Ethiopia Convention Bureau in its endeavour to develop competitive Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
Regarding the collaboration between ICCA and the Ethiopia Convention Bureau, Bizualem Getu (Director) states: “International industry-wide collaboration, cooperation, and consensus is key for future development of Business events.” ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath, agrees and adds: “The ICCASkills programme with the Ethiopia Convention Bureau shows our shared commitment to developing and improving industry talent in the whole of Africa.”
The ICCASkills programme was conducted on-site by Patrick Delaney, Managing Partner, SoolNua; and Deanna Varga, Founder, and CEO, Mayvin Global and Adjunct Associate Professor (Industry), the University of Technology of Sydney.