ILAN IS A CITY KNOWN for its masterpieces: Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” and the Gothic Milan Cathedral, to name just two — not to mention a wealth of the world’s foremost fashion
designers. So it’s no surprise that the newly expanded Milano Convention Centre, also known as Milano Con- gressi or MiCo, sets a new standard for congresses, trade shows, and conferences held in Europe. With a nod to the city’s reputation as the design capital of the world, the center’s sparkling new Mario Bellini– designed, comet-shaped roof — spanning 15,000 square meters — and the new meeting and event space it covers, is the newest work of art to join Milan’s already covetable collection of masterpieces. The center’s expansion, completed in May 2011,
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BREAKING THE MOLD: The Milano Convention Centre has more than stunningly good looks. After a 65-million-euro expansion — completed in May 2011 — the center is now the largest facility of its kind in Europe, and has already hosted major international medical and scientific congresses, including the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infec- tious Diseases and the International Congress of Chemotherapy.
gives the three-story facility the capacity to host up to 18,000 delegates. A 1,500-seat auditorium, 70 total conference rooms, more than 54,000 square meters of exhibition space, and two plenary rooms accommodating up to 4,500 and 2,000 delegates, respectively, round out the flexible facility’s offerings for con- gresses and trade shows. Meeting spaces have also been equipped with the latest in lighting and audiovisual technologies, including video projectors, translation services, Wi-Fi, and a state-of-the-art sound sys- tem. Easy and quick accessibility remains a key feature at the center, with 15 entrances, 1,100 on-site parking spaces, a direct connection to the subway, and even a rooftop heliport.
The Milano Convention Centre is set- ting the stage for some of the world’s largest congresses and trade shows.
Complemented by an abundance of cultural sites, along with
more than 2,000 hotel rooms within walking distance, the new Milano Convention Centre is setting the stage for some of the world’s larg- est international congresses and trade shows, including World Expo Milan 2015, which expects delegates from more than 120 countries. Delegates will have plenty of sites to explore during downtime, as The New York Times recently ranked Milan fifth on a list of 41 world
pcma convene November 2011
locations to visit in 2011. Even repeat visitors will find new attrac- tions to experience, like the Museo Del Novecento (“Museum of the Twentieth Century”), which opened last December in the Palazzo dell’Arengario and offers glimpses of work by 20th-century artists such as Umberto Boccioni and Carlo Carrà. n
AT A GLANCE Convention facilities: More than 581,000 square feet (54,000 square meters) of exhibition space, 70 conference rooms, a 1,500- seat auditorium, and two plenary rooms accommodating 4,000 and 2,000 delegates, respectively
Hotel rooms within walking distance: 2,000 Nearby attractions: Piazza del Duomo, Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” Teatro alla Scala, Sforza Castle, Galleria Vittorio Emanu- ele II, Basilica of Sant’ Ambrogio, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Brera Art Gallery, La Triennale di Milano, Museum of Sci- ence and Technology, Royal Palace of Milan, and Rotonda della Besana
For more information: Milano Convention Centre, Piazzale Carlo Magno, 1–20149 Milano; +39-02-4997-6271; www.micmilano.it