Meet the faces behind ICCA's famous First Time Attendee programme! ICCA places huge importance on giving First Time Attendees (FTAs) at the ICCA Congress a very warm welcome. Each year, just before the ICCA Congress begins, new attendees are invited to join a specialised session that aims to prepare them for success. Jam-packed full of helpful advice that is delivered from member to member, the programme has been delivered to over 3,000 delegates since it initially began and is designed with care to help them network, do business, learn, and maximise the benefits of attending their first ICCA Congress.

At the centre of the entire programme are the people we couldn’t do it without: our mentors, an amazing group of ICCA members and #ICCAFriends who are Congress veterans and want to help support and steer our New-Bees as they join the ICCA Family.

Carlos de Sebastian Garcia-Sicilia

Graduated in Business Administration and in Advertising, as well has a Master in Commercial and Marketing Management. He is a professional with 31 years experience in commercial and sales, marketing, operation and production of events and as managing director.
During his first 8 professional years worked in Luxury Companies related to jewellery (De Beers, Ebel, St Dupont). Since then, has been involved in the Meetings and Events Industry, with special focus in congresses, many in scientific/medical subjects, so he´s updated on health and pharma/medical device fields.
Started in this Industry in he´s family company in Madrid, Spain. TILESA OPC, specialized in organization of congresses and events. After going trough operations and commercial positions during 8 years, he took over as Managing Director and maintained this position 12 years. In 2009 they merged with an international company (Kenes Group), and he continued as Managing Director for Spain and Latam until 2019, as he also assumed the rol for the expansion of the Group in Latin America.
Along he`s career, Carlos participated the achievement of more tan 900 national, regional or international events between 200 and 14.000 participants.
Since 2019, based in Bogotá, is the Association Relations Director for Latinamerica in a multinational corporation (MCI Group) known as one of the most important companies worldwide in engagement and marketing, which also produces events of all kind and sizes.

Thank you to Carlos, for being a mentor to our New-Bees! Are you interested in helping our New-Bees to settle in? Please email Ksenija.p@iccaworld.org to find out how you can become a mentor.

Let’s get social by using the following hashtags: #ICCANewBee #ICCAMentorBee #LetsGetBuzzing #ICCA2021