The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has launched regional offices in South Africa and the Middle East, due to membership growth and the expansion of the international congress market.

Chris Prieto from Johannesburg’s CMP Network will become the South African-based regional director, with Gamal Sadek from the Al Ketbi Consultancy regional director for the Middle East, based out of Dubai.

Announcing the appointments, ICCA president Arnaldo Nardone said: “This isn't simply a move to deliver better services to our existing members in these two regions, but a recognition that the international association meetings market is continuing to evolve, and it is in the growth of regional meetings that we anticipate some of the most dramatic future developments.

"This trend is already well established in Asia and Latin America, and it is certain that Africa and the Middle East are starting to move down the same road, as we have seen from recent moves to create an African society for association executives. What this implies is that there is going to be more business for our existing members in these regions, more new events to identify and add to the ICCA Association Database, more new infrastructure developments, more understanding of the strategic importance of association events by city and national governments, and more interest in ICCA by potential new members. It is strategically important for ICCA to build a long-term presence in these markets.”

ICCA now has five regional offices in addition to its head office in Amsterdam, with operations serving Asia-Pacific, North and Latin America as well as the two new offices.

Pictured: ICCA president Arnaldo Nardone