Florence, March 3, 2026. A day of celebration to trace the origins and envision the future of the international congress system. Today, at the Palazzo degli Affari in Florence, an event was held organized by Firenze Fiera and the Destination Florence Foundation, in collaboration with Federcongressi and Convention Bureau Italia, to mark 130 years since the first congress in contemporary history, held in Detroit on February 19, 1896.

The history of modern business tourism traces its roots back to that year, when the first congress took place at the Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, alongside the founding of the world’s first Convention Bureau, the Detroit Convention and Businessmen’s League—a pioneering initiative that laid the foundation for an organized model of attracting and managing large-scale congress events. Since then, the meetings industry has grown to become one of the most dynamic drivers of the global economy, offering strategic opportunities in both economic and cultural spheres, fostering international relations, and contributing to the development of cities and territories.

Today, Florence is one of the most important and sought-after congress destinations in Italy and worldwide, thanks to the synergistic work of its institutions and the exclusivity of the venues in its trade and congress district: the Fortezza da Basso, Villa Vittoria (home to the Palazzo dei Congressi since 1969), and the renovated Palazzo degli Affari. These venues, managed by Firenze Fiera, combine the beauty of a unique real estate heritage with excellent logistics and cutting-edge technological infrastructure. The congress sector is growing and represents high-quality tourism, planned well in advance, making visitor flows predictable. Florence is particularly attractive: it is estimated that congresses hosted in the territory see about 20% more delegates on average.

The celebratory event featured participation from Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera; Laura Masi, President of the Destination Florence Foundation; Carlotta Ferrari, Director of the Destination Florence Foundation; Gabriella Gentile, President of Federcongressi; and Tobia Salvadori, Director of the Convention Bureau.

Institutional greetings were also delivered by Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region, who highlighted the importance of the congress sector as one of the region’s most strategic assets, and Jacopo Vicini, City Councilor for Economic Development, Tourism, Fairs, and Congresses of Florence.

During the celebration, two prominent Florentine figures in the Italian and international congress system were honored for their contributions since the founding of the Palazzo dei Congressi: Anna Rita Bonamici and Maria Cristina Dalla Villa, founders of OIC Group and Enic, respectively—two leading event management agencies—along with Andrea Torricelli, son of lawyer Raffaello Torricelli, the first president of the Azienda Autonoma per il Turismo di Firenze, who purchased Villa Vittoria to transform it into the Palazzo dei Congressi.

“It was Milton J. Carmichael, a journalist for the Detroit Journal, who first wrote in February 1896 about the strategic value of congresses for promoting the city’s business,” stated Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera. “Celebrating 130 years of MICE in our venues is therefore an acknowledgment of the strength of a sector that has evolved alongside society. Florence has been and wants to continue to be an innovation laboratory in the congress system. This day represents not only a celebration but also an opportunity for dialogue among institutions, operators, academics, and stakeholders to build a shared vision for congresses in the decades ahead.”

“Firenze Fiera,” Becattini concluded, “together with Federcongressi, Destination Florence Foundation, and Convention Bureau Italia, confirms its role in a 130-year-long story and is ready to write the next chapter of the international congress industry.”

“The congress sector,” added Laura Masi, President of Destination Florence Foundation, “has the ability to circulate knowledge, skills, and relationships that extend far beyond each individual event: it is an immaterial infrastructure that strengthens a territory’s international vocation and enhances its position in scientific, academic, and business networks. But there’s more. In an era when destinations must carefully manage tourist flows to ensure harmony with the lives of residents and city users, the congress sector represents a balancing tool: it is programmable, distributed throughout the year, capable of activating specialized supply chains, and able to engage with the local university and production systems.”