“The University of Florence has strong roots to the city, but it dialogues with the world. Evidence of this is seen in our degree courses in English, courses that result in joint or double qualifications, the significant number of international and Erasmus students, partnerships with foreign universities and initiatives with the foreign universities here in the city,”
commented Alessandra Petrucci, dean of the University of Florence.
“All these activities are based on dialogue, meetings and events. They can only have positive repercussions in the promotion of Florence, hence the local congress system. By sharing the academic excellence of Florence, we help the city to have ‘ambassadors’ around the world: not only our lecturers and students, but also the students who come here for varying lengths of time.”
“The conference industry is a driving force of the Florentine economy, even if we sometimes aren’t aware of it. International congresses bring thousands of highly qualified guests to the city who have a high level of culture and spending capacity,”
commented Leonardo Bassilichi, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Florence.
“These are prestigious tourists for whom Florence must improve its level of hospitality, starting with local infrastructure. I’m convinced that the conference sector will become one of the fields that will drive our economy in the post-pandemic era.”
“The success of the Florence Ambassador Awards 2021 is proof of the value of the conference industry for Florence,”
explains the president of Firenze Fiera, Lorenzo Becattini.
“We are seeing a growing trend in the confirmation of events by loyal customers and the arrival of new requests, more than in 2019. It’s a sign of renewed enthusiasm and the drive to meet up in person again. About 30 events have been scheduled between now and the end of the year, including company conventions and congresses which, in addition to the many bookings for the first half of 2022 and the work done on international bids with Firenze Convention Bureau and the City of Florence, bodes well for success and growth next year.”
“This is an important time to turn the spotlight on the conference industry and its centrality for the city’s image as a place to meet and exchange knowledge after the forced stop for the sector and the hardships experienced by many companies,”
elaborated Cecilia Del Re, city councillor for tourism, fairs and conferences.
“This is an opportunity to relaunch Florence as a conference destination, the result of hard work and planning that never stopped during the pandemic aimed at attracting quality events to Florence.”
The 32 “Ambassadors” are Paolo Dabove, President, GFOSS Geographic Free/Open-Source Software and Researcher, DIATI, Department of Environmental, Territorial and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino; Luca Delucchi, chair, Local Organizing Committee, FOSS4G Congress, GIS expert, Fondazione Edmund Mach (Trento); Sara Bagassi, board member AIDAA – Associazione Italiana di Aeronautica e Astronautica, Executive Committee Member ICAS – International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences; Erasmo Carrera, President AIDAA – Associazione Italiana di Aeronautica e Astronautica; Laura Biancalana, Director General, Andrea Bocelli Foundation; Claudio Cerasa, Editor, Il Foglio; Kelly Livers, CMP, CTE Vice President – Meeting and Events Department, Global Atlantic Financial Group; Iacopo Olivotto, Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Department Head, Careggi University Hospital, Florence; Katia Baldini, Nursing Coordinator, Careggi University Hospital, Florence; Carlo di Mario, Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases, Careggi University Hospital; Marco A. Cassatella, Professor, Department of Medicine, General Illness, Università degli Studi di Verona; Francesco Annunziato, Professor of General Illness, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Stefan Knipe, CEO, Superior Choices; Francesco Prati, Director, Urgent Cardiology Ward and UTIC, Ospedale San Giovanni Addolorata, Rome; Anna Paola Concia, coordinator of the organizing committee, Fiera Didacta Italia; Sergio Serni, President, SIUD Congress; Vincenzo Li Marzi, President, SIUD Congress; Federico Chiesi, President, SICREA; Mauro Grassi, Director, ETE – Earth Technology Expo; Andrea Riccardo Genazzani, President ISGE; Grazia Tucci, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Marco Bellandi, Professor, Department of Economic and Business Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Alessandro Mugelli, Professor Emeritus, Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Child Health, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Giovanni Caridi, ARS Hotel; Lorenzo Leoncini, Professor, Department of Pathological Anatomy, Università degli Studi di Siena; Alessandro Bianchini, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Giovanni Ferrara, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Andrea Arnone, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Agnese Pini, Editor, La Nazione; Cinzia TH Torrini, director; Lorenzo Melani, President, Fondazione Internazionale Menarini; Zubin Mehta, Honorary Life Director, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
