Madrid
The Madrid City Council was a key supporter of the Madrid Agency Forum and the stakeholders hope it can become an annual event . The event surely demonstrated the city ’ s commitment to being at the forefront of the MICE tourism market together with the MAF lead organiser , the Madrid Convention Bureau ( MCB )
The ( secret ) agents from Italy , Germany , Belgium , Switzerland , and the UK were all impressed with the messages coming out of Madrid , a city so long living in Barcelona ’ s international MICE shadow .
The city and its MCB deserve great credit for putting in so much work during the pandemic to spark the imagination and create a programme of intrigue and fascination that should inspire many of the agents present to return with their own groups and experience the thrill of the conference corrida .
Other partners deserving credit for putting on ‘ the Missing Spy ’ activity were the Spanish Tourism Institute ( Tourspain ) and the DMCs B Destination Services and In Out Travel & Events , which were in charge of planning the tour , game coordination and the activity ’ s exclusive app .
Above : The launch of MCB ’ s PLUS tool Below : Plaza Mayor
Madrid ’ s PLUS factor
CITY LAUNCHES COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY TOOL FOR MEETINGS
Madrid Convention Bureau ( MCB ) has launched a new digital platform for social and environmental sustainability and legacy – PLUS ( Platform for Legacy with us ). It claims to be the first Spanish city to implement a comprehensive sustainability tool for meetings and events .
This new service can generate specific reports for meetings in Madrid before they are held . In this way , their impact can be reduced from the initial planning stages and the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) implemented in real time .
PLUS also aims to connect event organisers with local agents , with a view to promoting positive actions that result in long-lasting benefits for society from a social , environmental and cultural perspective .
PLUS will sit alongside other specialist tools available through Madrid Convention Bureau , such as its MICE Sustainabilty Guide .
Sustainability , legacy and positive impact are three key aspects of Madrid ’ s MICE tourism strategy . And , the new PLUS tool aims to integrate these three pillars into professional conferences and events held in the capital .
The various kinds of reports that can be generated by PLUS can be adapted to an event ’ s specific characteristics , i . e ., attendees , venues , type of layout and set- up , catering services , etc . Additionally , the platform also generates a post-meeting report , which calculates the total CO2 emissions and , in a later phase , will suggest ways to compensate the event ’ s impact on a local level within the city of Madrid .
A major feature of the new service is related to creating legacy , by promoting contact between event organisers and local agents ( NGOs , associations , foundations , etc .) and suggesting actions to contribute to this legacy project in the city .
Available in Spanish and English , PLUS can be used to upload any necessary documentation to the ISO 20121 management system and to view statistics on sustainable events . It also includes a database for sustainable meetings with environmentally friendly resources , such as a list of Madrid-based suppliers of sustainable services and products which meet the SDGs . MCB is allowing all organisers and companies responsible for managing conferences and events in the capital temporary access to the new tool . Additionally , MCB will run free training sessions for its partners , targeting DMCs and PCOs , to promote the advantages and benefits of using this digital platform .
ISSUE 115 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 31