The Palazzo dei Congressi turns 50

The Palazzo dei Congressi (Congress Center) in Lugano, inaugurated on 6 December 1975, is preparing for the celebrations with a schedule full of initiatives that illustrate the history and the future of this iconic venue. Managed by Lugano Convention & Exhibition, the Palazzo dei Congressi has hosted tens of thousands of events over half a century, contributing to the growth of business tourism and to the international prestige of the City of Lugano.

Lugano Convention & Exhibition is the brand of the City of Lugano's Divisione Eventi e congressi (Events and Congresses Division), which manages and promotes the city's main venues for events and congresses, in particular the Palazzo dei Congressi, Villa Ciani, Asilo Ciani, Centro Esposizioni and the Capannone di Pregassona. In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the largest congress center in Ticino, a rich program of activities and celebrations has been prepared to be shared with everyone.

Launch of the Ambassador Program to promote the congress destination
In March, the Lugano Convention & Exhibition Ambassador Program will be launched with an event. The initiative, the first of its kind at the cantonal level, aims to create a network of local Ambassadors and organize a set of activities and services to support them in promoting Lugano as an ideal destination for national and international congresses.
The Ambassadors, authoritative and influential figures in their professional fields, will be supported by Lugano Convention & Exhibition and by a network of industry professionals to prepare and present bids for significant congresses relevant to their projects and research. Thanks to the Ambassador Program, the destination will increase its appeal and improve its chances of securing new congresses, also in view of the new tourism and congress hub. At the same time, the program will enhance the professional prestige of the Ambassadors and their work at both a national and international level. For more information: [email protected].

(Re)discovering the Palazzo dei Congressi
To celebrate the 50-year history of the Palazzo dei Congressi, a commemorative book is planned for publication, along with a historical exhibition that will recount the transformation of the area, from the Sforza castle demolished in 1517 to the current congress venue, passing through Villa Beroldingen, later Villa Ciani with its stables, the famous livestock fair, the fire brigade barracks, and the Kursaal.

The exhibition, coordinated by the Divisione Cultura (Culture Division) of the City of Lugano, will be open to the public free of charge from June to December in Piazza Castello. From there, free guided tours of the Palazzo dei Congressi will begin in the summer, in collaboration with GuideSì and LuganoRegion.

“Our goal in this 50th anniversary year is to bring the community closer to the Palazzo dei Congressi and to business tourism through several initiatives. The celebrations will conclude in December with a press conference that will crown all the activities and extend our thanks to our partners and suppliers,” says Roberto Badaracco, Deputy Mayor of the City of Lugano and Head of the Dicastero cultura, sport ed eventi (Department of Culture, Sports and Events).

Lugano: an increasingly sustainable destination
Joining the 50th anniversary celebrations is another significant milestone in the area of sustainability.
The ambitious initiatives and objectives of Lugano Convention & Exhibition have been certified by Swiss LiveCom Association EXPO EVENT and Acting Responsibly, in line with the international standards of ISO 20121.

“We are proud to have obtained such an important certification that confirms our serious and ongoing commitment to sustainability, including in the events and congress sector,” continues Roberto Badaracco.

The accreditation allows Lugano Convention & Exhibition to be recognized within the Swisstainable sustainability program with the third and final level classification: Level III – Leading. To find out more, visit the Swisstainable webpage.

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