Sustainable Success and Social Impact: Highlights from Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre 2023
Helsinki, the cool capital of the happiest nation in the world, proves to be an ideal hub for scientific congresses as organisers introduce green initiatives, set participation records, and create a lasting legacy in Finland.
Congress organisers at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre made waves in the fall of 2023, hosting a series of international events that not only set new participation records but also left a lasting legacy in the heart of the Finnish capital. Here are the highlights of the remarkable events that took place at one of the largest convention centers in the Nordic region.
Sustainability Initiatives and Inclusivity
Under the theme of sustainability, both Helsinki city and the convention center are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The ESE 2023 congress, led by Professor John Whitworth, President of ESE Congress, embraced this vision wholeheartedly. “We are conscious that the ESE Congress is a very large meeting, which has a huge impact in terms of environmental impact. It has been so fantastic this year working with Messukeskus! What a better place than Finland to start rolling out green initiatives. “
The event was carefully planned, incorporating the three pillars of the sustainability – economic, environmental, and social responsibility. It brought economic gains for the organization, all the partners and the city itself. Environmental sustainability was in the heart of running the conference; for example, single-use plastic was eliminated and celebrated by signing the IAPCO plastic pledge, making sure that the fight against plastic waste continues by all the main partners of this event.
Social responsibility on the other hand was run by SPESIA students. They delivered surplus food for homeless people, and they greeted & guided the ESE participants at the train station, 300 meters from the venue. SPESIA offers education for students with learning problems. Participating in the international ESE congress was valuable working experience defined by themselves as “sunny weather, friendly people, great to speak languages, little scary”.
Record-Breaking Attendance
Helsinki is still seen as a novel and exotic destination. Many have not visited the city before and see it as an opportunity by joining an international conference of their field organized in Finland. Through the years we have witnessed time after time, how the organizers break their participation records in Helsinki. It was also the case for the EuGMS 2023 and Alzheimer Europe Conference 2023.
The record-warm temperatures in the end of the month of September 2023, encountered the largest number of geriatric specialists in Helsinki. The European Geriatric Medicine Society presented its highest number of abstracts in the sunny meeting spaces of the Conference Centre of Helsinki Messukeskus. The seamless collaboration between the venue staff and the PCO, Aristea, achieved perfection in the event execution. The only surprising element at the venue was the inclusive, unisex toilets, style “Ally McBeal”. However, the traditional female-male toilets also available did not attract the same attention of active EuGMS-photographers. The reception hosted by the City of Helsinki and the friendliness of the local inhabitants were praised by the numerous conference participants.
Legacy of Change
The long-lasting impact of an international event is frequently discussed. The 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference certainly left its mark to Helsinki. The discussions during a site visit led our venue to find a way to give surplus food for an association of homeless people. It started way prior to the AE conference days and continues ever after.
The Conference Centre of Messukeskus Helsinki was chosen as the venue for the event thanks to its clear architecture, making it easy to navigate. 10% of the participants of the Alzheimer Europe Conference are people with dementia. The whole event catered these important guests. All the staff working for the event was trained, how to host them, including for example the AV technicians. The outcome was positive; Chris Roberts, Head xxx of comments “The venue has been excellent. The staff has been so helpful and friendly, and especially having dementia myself, I just need that a bit of patience. It has been tidy, clean, the sound has been good, the volume.”
The local hosting committee, The Alzheimer Society of Finland, did not only organize the training video for our staff but also managed to the get a lot of attention to their topic in the national media. The event truly changed the Finnish understanding of dementia; we learnt how common it is, but on the other hand that you can still live your life to the fullest with this condition.
Briefly, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre stood as a beacon of sustainability, inclusivity, and positive change in 2023. Through these events, the venue not only achieved new heights in terms of attendance but also contributed significantly to the global conversation on environmental conservation, social responsibility, and inclusivity, leaving an enduring legacy for future generations.
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (brand name Messukeskus) is Finland’s largest event organiser. In the heart of the capital it produces high-quality events and rents its premises and services as an arena for various events, such as Slush, Nordic Business Forum and numerous other international congresses and business events every year. The premises include 7 halls, 40 flexible meeting rooms, 21 restaurants and an own event hotel. Messukeskus it is a well-experienced event organiser. The owner company, The Finnish Fair Corporation, was founded in 1919.
Meet us at the Finland stand H43 at the IBTM23 exhibition.
Further information: Congress Manager Paula Blomster, +358 40 456 6066, paula.blomster@messukeskus.com|www.messukeskus.com
Photos: https://mediabank.messukeskus.com/
