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 newbies as they join the ICCA Family.

Meet Edgars Mikelsons

Being with Riga Tourism Development Bureau for 8 years already from wich last 5 of them more and more in the Meetings and Events industry within MEET RIGA. As a Partnership program manager, I am responsible to put all our business partners “under one roof” to make Riga’s offer more dynamic and interesting for Conference and congress attendees as well as business travellers.

Riga is rather new on the map of Meetings & Events industry, which means we need to work on many things a little bit harder than elsewhere and most probably this is the reason why we never get bored and always looking for some new trends and innovative ideas.

ICCA congress is a wonderful opportunity not only to gain newest industry information from all the education sessions but also to meet and exchange the experience about problems and successes with our colleagues from all over the world. It is indeed invaluable experience for younger generation to come up with your own trendy idea afterwards.

I wish to all first timers to enjoy the ICCA congress as much as I enjoyed it my first time.

See you in Houston!

Thank you to Edgars for becoming an FTA mentor at the 58th ICCA Congress in Houston, U.S.A.! Are you interested in helping our First Time Attendees to settle in? Find out more about the programme or email Ksenija.p@iccaworld.org to find out how you can become a mentor.