Florence, November 15, 2024. The 18th edition of the UIA Associations Round Table Europe 2024 concluded successfully today at the Palazzo degli Affari in Florence. For the first time, this event brought together delegates from around the world for a stimulating and constructive exchange on best practices aimed at fostering meaningful global change through the sharing of experiences and knowledge for increasingly qualified organizational management.
The event was promoted by the Union of International Associations (UIA) and organized by OIC Group, Destination Florence Convention Bureau, and Firenze Fiera. UIA, headquartered in Brussels, is an independent, non-profit, and non-governmental research institute and documentation center that has been a leader since 1907 in researching, monitoring, and providing information on international organizations and their global challenges. The success of UIA Round Table 2024 was further supported by Toscana Promozione Turistica and Convention Bureau Italia.
The central theme of the UIA Round Table Florence was “It’s Up to Us,” which actively engaged all delegates on various perspectives related to the association world, including Professional Congress Organizers, convention bureaus, and conference venues. A key focus was the alignment of the event’s main theme with the United Nations Global Goals and the EU’s 2030 Agenda.
Among the various success stories presented during the two-day event, a highlight was the synergistic collaboration between Destination Florence Convention Bureau, Firenze Fiera, and OIC Group, which secured Vision 2025, the 15th International Conference of the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR). This event will take place at the Palazzo dei Congressi from September 8 to 12, 2025.
The session featured contributions from Ilenia Pasi (Head of Sales and Business Development for Destination Florence Convention Bureau), Annarita Buracchi (Commercial Office and Congress Development, Firenze Fiera), and Ginevra De Bellis (Head of International Relations at OIC Group), alongside Prof. Paolo Limoli, President of the Local Organizing Committee of Vision 2025, and Prof. Gianni Virgili from the University of Florence, Chair of the international scientific committee for the conference. Both professors were recognized as Florence Ambassadors in 2023 for their efforts in securing Low Vision 2025. The session explored the unique bidding strategies used and the significant legacy the event will leave for the region.
The outcomes highlighted the excellent results achieved through teamwork and the commitment of all involved organizations to optimize and enhance their services. The goal is to host a prestigious international event with the utmost attention to safety and accessibility, both on-site and online, offering a unique, barrier-free emotional experience for all participants in the heart of Florence.
