BIC 'Scrubs Up' for International Surgeons

The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) is ‘scrubbing up’ to welcome more than 1,500 delegates from around the world with the announcement that the International Surgical Congress of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland is coming to Bournemouth in 2008.

The four-day event in May next year will attract top surgeons and healthcare professionals from around the world for the largest annual congress of its type in Europe.

The Association (ASGBI) holds its annual congress at a selection of large UK venues but, for the newly expanded congress – which incorporates a state of the art trade exhibition - a doubly stringent selection process was applied, explained chief executive Dr Nicholas Gair.

“This event is a big launch for us and will draw leading surgeons of today and tomorrow from around the world, together with other associated professionals. It’s very important we get it right to set the precedent for the future and so we have been highly critical in shortlisting potential venues and the BIC ticked all our many boxes,” he said.

With an anticipated 1,500-plus delegates, as well as partners/ families, trade exhibitors, associates and international media, the BIC could not have accommodated the event prior to its £22million expansion and the Association will take over the whole venue and use additional facilities at the Pavilion.

“Our event will be a real gathering of the worldwide surgical community and the elements that make it up are complex including conference, exhibition, seminars and a series of receptions and ceremonial dinners. The BIC can now offer us the flexibility to stage it all under one roof, and we’ll be ringing the changes by having our evening ceremonial dinners in the Pavilion,” added Dr Gair.

Bournemouth’s location, transport links, selection of hotels within walking distance of the BIC and facilities for partners of delegates were also crucial elements in the Association’s decision-making process.

“Bournemouth has a good vibe and should meet all the demands of this very discerning audience. Many of our delegates will bring partners and families to enjoy the area and having a good choice of easy access hotels, a selection of places to visit and a super location makes all the difference,” he said.

The BIC is developing business and targeting the surgical, medical and healthcare-related professions as a growing market. The International Surgical Congress is the latest to confirm a booking, and 2008 will also include large capacity events organised by the British Association for Surgery to the Knee, the Association of General Practitioners GP Forum, followed by the British Geriatrics Society in 2009.