Event 22nd World Congress of Dermatology
Venue Coex, Seoul
Organiser Koconex
Delegates 12,000
Date May 24-29
The brief
The World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) is hosted every four years by the International League of Dermatological Societies. This year’s congress attracted 12,000 attendees from 110 countries to Seoul to exchange knowledge on the latest developments in dermatology.
Challenges
As this was such a large conference, around 500 MICE industry professionals and experienced volunteers were needed. To be certain that those hired for the job would be qualified and provide a high level of service, a headhunting company was used to recruit people months before the event, conducting systematic interviews to select the final 500 people.
Another challenge was the sheer distance between scientific sessions in the south end of Coex and other sessions in the north. Six golf carts were used to transport attendees so they could reach sessions on time.
Execution
After a day of ancillary meetings, a cocktail party was held as the opening ceremony to welcome attendees and give them a chance to network. The following five days offered a range of scientific sessions, some were two hours while others required a full day. Various education programmes ran at the same time, such as plenary sessions and workshops. A WCD smartphone app was available for download on iTunes for the congress, providing instant access to important information for the sessions.
For those unable to experience Korean culture due to their tight schedule, a Korean village was organised in the display hall so delegates could try on costumes, taste traditional food and rice wine, try mask making and purchase souvenirs.
A gala dinner at Seoul Olympic Park on the fourth evening offered more Korean food and entertainment in serene surroundings, giving attendees a chance to relax and chat with each other.
Comment
Maureen O’Crowley, vice-president for international marketing and conventions at Seoul Tourism Organization, says: “WCD 2011 was an excellent opportunity for Seoul to further prove our strong ability to host events of great size and scope, indicating that our efforts are on the right track.”