VOLUME 27, ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2023 Full issue »
Organizer Recognized for Role in Planning the 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) International Congress in Madrid
After two years of virtual Congresses as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and given its favorable evolution, the MDS Leadership decided at the end of 2021 to organize a face-to-face Congress for 2022. The search for a location and the resources required to run the meeting imposed a hectic pace on the MDS staff and members tasked with organizing the event — but ultimately the effort was worth it. Madrid was chosen as the host city of the Congress, and the venue was able to offer a capacity of up to 3,000 attendees.
The International Congress was successfully held from September 15 to 18 and all scheduled activities were carried out efficiently and smoothly. However, the repercussions of the Congress did not end on September 18.
In October, I was informed that, due to my role as Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, and given the importance of the event, the Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) appointed me Ambassador of Madrid. The appointment, along with that of Ambassadors for ten other congresses, took place December 13 in a central theater in Madrid, during a ceremony (Recognition Night) organized by the MCB. The award-winning international conferences were selected for their importance and number of attendees.
A few facts could give an idea of the relevance of recognition:
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Although still greatly diminished by the effect of the pandemic and with statistics for 2022 not yet available, the number of annual congresses and conventions organized in Madrid is very high (more than 2,000 in 2019).
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Madrid has won the World's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination Award for the fourth consecutive year.
This simple information suggests that recognition of the importance of the MDS International Congress has been granted by an entity with experience and know-how in the area.
My final thoughts on this topic are of enormous gratitude to the MDS leadership for choosing Madrid as the venue for the Congress; to all the people involved in its realization, for their excellent work; to those who attended the Congress physically or virtually, because they more than justified the effort; and to the MCB for recognizing the importance of our meeting.
Now, as Ambassador of Madrid, I invite you to return to this city with this event when everything is back to normal. Madrid awaits you and it will be, once again, welcoming and brilliant.
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