EIBTM and ICCA are calling all young professionals to join the industry’s premier educational event

EIBTM and ICCA are once again seeking enthusiastic young professionals with a full-time job in the events business, to join their peers from across the world and participate in the annual Forum for Young Professionals (FYP) taking place from 24-27 November 2007 in Barcelona. The event takes place alongside EIBTM and enables participants to improve their knowledge of the industry they work in as well as networking with other professionals

The FYP brings together 20 young industry professionals, not older than 30, from many different countries and continents. The event is facilitated by one of the industry’s well know trainers, Tony Carey, CMM, CMP. Tom Reiser, Executive Director of the International Society of Nephrology, will join him. Also confirmed for this year is Corbin Ball, CSP, CMP, MS, who will present a session on the latest trends in technology. The programme will include a conference project, interesting debates, educational sessions, a preview of EIBTM conducted by the organisers and networking events.

Martin Sirk, CEO for ICCA, comments: "The Forum is like "fusion cuisine" for young meetings professionals: more than a dozen nationalities thrown together from wildly different backgrounds, demonstrating tremendous creativity and enthusiasm, and guided by the solid business experience of the faculty. It adds up to a uniquely flavoured educational experience that participants consistently enthuse about."

The whole experience has proved to be very useful to previous participants and key benefits are:
* Familiarisation with the global meetings industry and its potential for a young professional
* Enhanced professional skills
* A network and support group of international colleagues (and friends)
* The ability to plan their own careers in the industry
* Knowledge of ICCA, its organisation and membership benefits
* Renewed motivation and enthusiasm for their chosen profession

The FYP is complimentary and includes accommodation and a return flight to Barcelona (free flights from within Europe are offered by EIBTM and ICCA will cover extra flights, up to €1000, for non-European participants). Also included are lunches, coffee breaks and dinners. As the event takes place mainly over a weekend, time out of the office is kept to a minimum.

In order to achieve cultural diversity and a mix of experience, selection is based on country of origin, current employment and a short essay.

Applicants should be 30 years of age or under and reasonably fluent in English. They should either work for an ICCA member or someone in their organisation should be registered to attend EIBTM as a Hosted Buyer.

The deadline for applications is Friday 14 September 2007. For further information about the programme and how to apply go to www.iccaworld.com/dbs/fyp or contact Jill Harrison – jill@icca.nl

EIBTM 2007 will take place from 27-29 November 2007, at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.