Sylvia Andres, Deputy Managing Director, Valencia Conference Centre

16/07/2010

“The AIPC award is a great incentive to remain faithful to our philosophy because now we are sure that it is based on a working ethic that our customers truly value.”

It is in the prestigious Town Hall of Liverpool that the 2010 AIPC Apex Award was given to the Valencia Conference Centre on July 5 ^th. A prize accepted by a very surprised and moved Sylvia Andres, Deputy Managing Director. AIPC Apex Award celebrates the management excellence of the centre. A great present for its 12 ^th anniversary! In 12 years, the Valencia Conference Centre welcomed 1,900 events representing 1.3 million visitors and generated 600 million euros for the destination. Andres shares her enthusiasm with BWMN.

BWMN: The Valencia Conference Centre won the World’s Best Congress Centre Award during the last AIPC Conference. Being a great present for the 12 ^th birthday of your centre, what does this represent for you?

Sylvia ANDRES: The fact that the Valencia Conference Centre has been chosen as the World’s Best Convention Centre means more to us than ever this year, and I’m not just saying that because we have won it this time!

I think everybody would agree that the last two years have been extremely difficult, and prospects for the future are not particularly rosy. That’s why this award is a huge boost to our morale and has given us even more motivation to do a good job. We obviously would have been proud to have been given the award at any time but it is particularly special on this occasion because of the circumstances. It is also a great incentive to remain faithful to our philosophy because now we are sure that it is based on a work ethic that our customers truly value.

BWMN: You’ve been selected among 27 finalists. In your opinion, what elements made the difference?

Sylvia ANDRES: All the AIPC member centres have outstanding facilities and offer an excellent service, if not they wouldn’t be members of such a prestigious international association. Yet what has probably tipped the balance in our favour on this occasion, facilities apart, is in the words of our customers, the team that works at the Valencia Conference Centre. They are capable of adding just that extra something which makes our customers proud of the success of their event and drives them to come back time and time again.

The Valencia Conference Centre has been hosting all kinds of congresses, presentations, conventions, shows, etc. for 12 years now and yet the team is still as enthusiastic and determined to do a great job as they were 12 years ago. Our customers are the ones who have valued this resolve to make every event perfect and unique.

BWMN: What are the new challenges you will have to face in the next few years in order to stay competitive and exemplary in your management?

Sylvia ANDRES: As I said before, these are difficult times worldwide, there are more and more conference centres being opened which means increased competition and that negotiating with customers with ever higher standards is much tougher. On the other hand, there are growing concerns about the environment. The Valencia Conference Centre is well positioned to offer sustainable events and plays an active role in reducing its daily environmental impact thanks in part to its 8,000m2 solar panel roof.

Our main challenge however is to continue to maintain the level of service which has brought us international recognition and to remain at the forefront of technological and audiovisual developments in general.

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