IAGG-ER 8th Congress by Conference Partners

The four-day IAGG-ER Congress was officially opened by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. The strength and appeal of the scientific programme brought 1,300 gerontology experts from 65 countries around the world to Dublin.

Delegates: 1,300
Client: Irish Gerontological Society
Event: International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Region (IAGG-ER) 8th Congress 2015
Type: Conference and Exhibition
Date: 23-26 April 2015
Days: 4

Brief

Conference Partners had previously worked with local conference host, Professor Desmond O’Neill of Trinity College Dublin to bring the 6th Congress of the EUGMS to Dublin in 2010. EUGMS 2010 was one of the first major conferences to take place at The CCD and, following its success, Professor O’Neill and Conference Partners decided that The CCD would again be an ideal venue to host IAGG-ER 8th Congress in Dublin in 2015.

The theme of the IAGG-ER Congress was ‘Unlocking the Demographic Dividend’. Conference Partner’s IAGG-ER brief included online registration, accommodation management, delegate services, venue management, account management, budget and financial management, speaker management, social programme design and delivery, sponsorship and exhibition management, onsite management and website design and content management.

Solution

There is a strong tradition of research and education in gerontology within Ireland. The Irish Gerontological Society is one of the oldest societies in the world dedicated to research in ageing. The strength and appeal of the scientific programme for the IAGG-ER Congress brought 1,300 geriatricians, old age psychiatrists, gerontological nurses, social gerontologists, gerotechnologists, economists, scientists in the biology of ageing, policy makers and nutritionists from 65 countries around the world to Dublin to discuss, debate, network and experience our renowned Irish hospitality.

The four day conference was officially opened by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. The opening plenary took place in The Liffey Suite with a welcome reception in the exhibition area in The CCD, giving delegates the opportunity to reacquaint with old friends and make new connections. Nearly 1,200 abstracts were accepted and delivered via 185 oral presentations, 99 symposia and 607 posters, rotated on a daily basis. In addition, 30 high profile international keynote speakers were invited to address topics such as geriatric syndromes, neuropsychology and successful aging throughout the duration of the conference. The complexity of the extensive programme required excellent communication and cooperation between Conference Partners and The CCD’s AV and onsite teams to ensure a seamless, informative and relaxed meeting experience for all stakeholders.

The Forum in The CCD formed the hub of the conference, housing 30 exhibitors and sponsors, the poster boards, all refreshment and lunch breaks. Once again, Conference Partners worked successfully, hand-in-hand with The CCD, on managing all aspects of catering, dietary requirements and planning to ensure minimal queuing for delegates at break times.

The social aspect of any conference is always hugely important in terms of strengthening bonds between delegates and creating informal opportunities for learning and relationship building. With this in mind Conference Partners designed a social programme that offered a balanced mix of Irish culture, fun and entertainment for IAGG-ER delegates, including a gala dinner at the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the option of a traditional Irish Night at Taylors Three Rock at the foot of the Dublin mountains, and an Accompanying Persons Programme that included a guided tour of Georgian Dublin taking in Trinity College and the world famous 9th century gospel manuscript, the Book of Kells.

Results

The IAGG-ER Congress was an outright success, with the high quality, thought-provoking programme, appealing destination, world-class city centre conference venue, outstanding organisation and energising and sociable atmosphere all contributing to uniformly positive feedback from all stakeholders. The Irish Gerontological Society was delighted with how well the congress was received and appreciated the fact that attendees had travelled from not only across Europe but from five continents to participate.

The organisers were very pleased to work with Conference Partners. They were very professional, effectively organised and provided a very thorough and professional service to delegates and organisers alike. I would be more than happy to recommend them to organisers of European congresses. Professor Desmond O'Neill, IAGG-ER 8th Congress Dublin 2015 Chair