The general meeting of members of the Association “Russian Convention Bureau” (RCB) traditionally took place at the site of the Eurasian Event Forum (EFEA) (St. Petersburg, Lodeynopolskaya str., 5, CC “PetroCongress”). The meeting participants were presented with the main indicators of the Association’s activities during 2023, a report on implemented projects and a work plan for the future.

Commenting on the activities of the Association, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov noted: “The geopolitical situation has given a certain impetus to the proactive development of the congress and exhibition industry as the primary source of business tourism. The event industry, as a driver for the development of economic sectors, the country’s scientific potential and the development of territories, including infrastructure, has reached the state level. In this paradigm, the activities of the Russian Convention Bureau Association emphasize its role as one of the leading institutions for the development of industry and regions, an effective integrator for event companies and an industry ambassador.”

Summing up the activities of the Association in the reporting period, Director of the Russian Convention Bureau Sagid Zaremukov noted in his speech: “Recently, our industry has come a long way and has maintained a sharp turn. In 2023, many interesting tasks were implemented and successful events took place. Each of the member companies of the Association has made a great contribution to our common cause!”

As part of the industry activities of the Association, work was noted as part of specialized committees, expert councils and working groups at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation on the formation of legislative initiatives and measures to support the industry. Together with representatives of leading industry associations and unions, as well as with the participation of the Roscongress Foundation, a lot of work was carried out:

• on the Development Strategy of the convention and exhibition industry until 2030,

• the draft federal law “On exhibition and congress activities”,

• development and approval of an action plan for the implementation of the Development Strategy of the convention and exhibition industry,

• the draft federal law “On tourism and tourism activities in the Russian Federation”,

• Strategy for the development of tourism in the Russian Federation for the period until 2035

and others.

During the year, work was carried out by the specialized section on the development of business and event tourism of the Expert Council of the Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on Tourism and Tourist Infrastructure Development, headed by the Director of the Russian Convention Bureau Sagid Zaremukov. The specialized section, in addition to members of the Expert Council, includes representatives of companies that are members of the National Convention Bureau. The work of the specialized section was separately noted at the December meeting of the working group of the Committee for the preparation of the law “On tourism and tourism activities in the Russian Federation.”

During 2023, at leading platforms and forums, the RCB signed agreements on strategic cooperation with regional representative offices, public organizations and scientific associations: the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Government of the Amur Region, the Ministry of Tourism of the Kamchatka Territory, the Association of Exporters and Importers, the Association of Directors of Communications and Corporate Media Russia (AKMR), Russian Association of Business Tourism (ABT), Union of Translators of Russia, Russian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, Fereshte Parvaz Sarmad company (Islamic Republic of Iran). The Russian Convention Bureau became part of the scientific and educational consortium "Sustainable Tourism", which includes the largest industry associations in the tourism industry, corporate hospitality schools, and the country's leading scientific and educational organizations that train personnel for tourism and the hospitality industry.

Over the past year, the Russian Convention Bureau took part in the business program of 42 Russian industry and general business events, where it highlighted the problems and prospects of the industry. These included such major forums as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which was visited by a delegation of representatives of companies - members of the RCB, the Russian-Chinese Economic Forum "AMUREXPO-2023", the XIV International Economic Forum "Russia - the Islamic World: KazanForum", the forum “Far East - Winter of Discovery” in Kamchatka, Siberian Hospitality Forum “Wild Plants” in Novosibirsk, Russian Tourism Forum “Travel!”, INNOPROM in Yekaterinburg and others.

RCB held eight of its own events for industry representatives and members of the Association, both business and informal.

In September 2023, with the support of the Russian Convention Bureau, the International Conference “Russian School of Colorectal Surgery” was held, attended by more than 1,300 practicing doctors from Russia, the CIS countries, as well as from China, India, Singapore, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Ireland , Australia.

RCB participated in the business agenda of one of the most significant current projects - the All-Russian Exhibition and Forum "Russia", in particular in events during the Day of the Kamchatka Territory and the Day of the Samara Region, as well as in the plenary meeting of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the MANTERA Group of Companies at the Coordination Center of the Government of the Russian Federation.

In 2023, five meetings of the RCB Club, a community for informal communication between members of the Association, were held. Meetings took place both in Moscow and in the regions - Samara, Ekaterinburg, Sochi and Kaliningrad.

In 2023, the fourth season of the online educational project “RCB Summer Academy” took place, organized by the Russian Convention Bureau and the Exhibition Research Center (VNIC) R&C with the support of the Roscongress Foundation. Every summer, the Academy covers the most current topics and experience on its site, because the lecturers are successful industry professionals, including representatives of RCB member companies, who readily share practical expertise and cases. Over the four years of operation, the Academy's audience amounted to more than 1,000 students. The course is free, and all lectures are subsequently available on the channel and in the RCB mobile application. The technical implementation of the project was provided by partners from among the companies that are members of the RCB: SK-Informika (creation of a mobile application), AV3.studio (broadcasts), Expodat (registration of listeners).

At the General Meeting site, participants welcomed new companies that joined the Association in 2023. They were the AV3 Agency and Studio, the Eurasia Events and Concerts company, the Russian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, the SKYWATERLAND company and the Tu Yu Project communications agency.

The Association will continue to work within the framework of its industry activities and international agenda, and also plans to develop the Congress Consulting project launched in 2023, aimed at providing consulting services on the entire range of congress and exhibition activities and the development of territories through the event industry and business tourism.

In the evening, an event in the format of a musical apartment party was held for companies that are members of the Association.

The partner in organizing and holding the General Meeting of the Russian Convention Bureau was the PetroCongress Congress Center.

The annual report on the activities of the Russian Convention Bureau for 2023 is available on the Association’s website.