The Valencia Conference Centre wins the World´s Best Congress Centre award

The Valencia Conference Centre (VCC) has been chosen as the World´s Best Convention Centre, a highly prestigious international award through which the International Association of Congress Centres recognises a conference venue´s excellence in management, facilities, equipment, services, accessibility and hotel capacity, among other factors. The AIPC President, Edgar Hirt, handed over the prize during the annual conference award dinner which, on this occasion, was held in Liverpool.

The process to select the finalists was based on a detailed study carried out by experts from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, an independent organisation at the University of Brussels. The School carried out an evaluation process that ensures an objective analysis of the venues based on customer satisfaction data, which gives the AIPC Apex Award unrivalled credibility in the meetings industry and contributes to its top-class reputation. Out of a total of 160 AIPC member centres, the Valencia Conference Centre was chosen as one of the 36 entrants. It subsequently went on to be chosen as one of the 27 finalists, and was then named as one of the three shortlisted candidates before finally carrying off the award as the World´s Best Convention Centre.

The Valencia Conference Centre´s CEO, José Salinas, expressed his satisfaction and pride on receiving the news and indicated that “prestigious international awards such as the World´s Best Convention Centre are the reward for all our efforts towards achieving excellence and advocating continuous improvement and put the Centre in a privileged position on the international meetings stage. The award also implies the total endorsement of our customers as it is based on their opinions” Salinas pointed out. “It is one of the best presents we could have received just after our 12th anniversary. It sets us apart in a highly competitive market and maintains Valencia´s leading position in the industry“.

Winning the award highlights just how satisfied its customers are with the Centre, as the evaluation is entirely based on the responses of the organisers of national and international congresses and conventions held from April 2009 to March 2010 in the venue and whose delegates have filled the city´s hotels during these events. On this occasion, the VCC received a total of 22 responses, 47% over the minimum required, which shows the excellent level of participation and gives the results even more weight.  

This award, which the Centre was shortlisted for on a previous occasion, adds to the list of accolades won by Foster´s emblematic building over the years. These include being chosen as best European building by the Royal Institute of British Architects and as the best conference centre in Spain by the Spanish Federation of Professional Congress Organisers.

The International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC)
The AIPC was founded in 1958. It has over 160 conference centre members from 53 different countries and over 650 industry participants, which ensures its unrivalled experience and know-how. The World´s Best Convention Centre award initiative arose in 2000 and currently represents the highest international distinction for quality and excellence in conference centre management.

The Valencia Conference Centre
During the twelve years since it opened, the Conference Centre has received 1.3 million visitors, hosted over 1,900 events and generated over 600 million euros for the city, more than 20 times the amount it cost to build. In 2007, the Valencia Conference Centre obtained the highest European management accolade, the EFQM Recognised for Excellence (4 stars) award, and thus became the first and only conference centre in Spain and only the second in Europe to be given this distinction. In addition to this endorsement, it also holds the integrated ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Quality and Environmental Management Systems certificate, and recently obtained the UNE 216301:2007 for Energy Management Systems certification.