MCI Mid Year Review

About financial results, sustainable reporting, growth and leadership within associations

Geneva, Switzerland – May 25th, 2010. MCI announces audited results for the business year ending December 31st 2009 with a EUR 230 M (210.2 M in 2008, +9.4%) volume of business and a gross margin of EUR 65.1 M ( 58.7 M in 2008, + 10.9%). For 2009, our corporate and association clients represented 52% and 48% respectively of our revenues.

Our growth is attributed to the integration of new offices acquired and newly consolidated into the Group accounts which represents a 5.3% increase from 2008 while organic growth increased by 5.6 %.

Our profitability before taxes has doubled compared to 2008, reaching EUR 6 M. This result was achieved by the careful management of general expenses, the development of our Account Leadership structure and a two year initiative to consolidate financial and operational processes and systems across the Group.


MCI and the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Coalition have recently announced the release of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP15) sustainable event report and the Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Protocol (CSMP) – COP15, the first United Nations event to achieve compliance with the BS8901 sustainable event management standard, has sparked the content and approach of the CSMP. These documents outline strategies and actions for sustainable business and events. They are among the first of their kind and reflect the industries’ most advanced thinking to date.

The Copenhagen Sustainable Meetings Coalition (CSMC) consists of: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (logistical organiser of COP15), Bella Center A/S (the venue for COP15), VisitDenmark (Denmark’s official national tourism organisation), Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau, The City of Copenhagen, MCI Copenhagen and Novo Nordisk A/S.

MCI Sustainability Services, a professional consultancy for the meetings industry, served as sustainability guide for COP15 and were responsible for the content and design of both reports on behalf of, and with input from the CSMC. Available on the www.lessconversationmoreaction.com and www.visitdenmark.com sites, the documents were released to industry on Earth Day, April, 22 2010.


MCI continues growth with office in Marseille – After Lyon, Paris, Montpellier and the French Riviera, MCI continued its development in France with the opening of a 5th office in Marseille. With the organization of many national and international events each year and with rapid economic growth, Marseille has become a strategic location for events, meetings and congresses within France and Europe.

Iréna Bardinet, who has extensive experience in the hospitality and event management sector, has taken the role of Managing Director of the Marseille office. Iréna is responsible for the development of regional, national and international events and congresses.


Sébastien Tondeur Elected Chairman of MPI’s International Executive Committee – Effective July 1st 2010, Sébastien Tondeur will assume the role of Chairman Elect of Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) International Board of Directors.

“As our industry recovers, essential skills and competencies are required for our volunteer leadership serving on the international board of directors,” said Larry Luteran, chair of the MPI governance and nominating committee.

Nominations and selections to the International Board of Directors are based on a candidate’s skills and experience.


Philippe Fournier Elected President of IAPCO – Philippe Fournier, Managing Director of MCI in France, has assumed the role and responsibility of President of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) after being unanimously elected during IAPCO’s General Assembly held in Athens, Greece.

“It is a tremendous honor to become president of this prestigious institution and to serve our profession. In these challenging times, where the meetings sector requires the attention of all stakeholders, IAPCO has an important role to play as a quality-driven association, and I look forward to continue improving the professionalism of our industry. With the implementation of our Quality programme, we can now go a step further and continue our work with education and our commitment to produce events and meetings that are environmentally and socially responsible”, says Philippe Fournier.


For further information, please contact:

Vanessa Sharp
Group Communication Director
MCI Headquarters | Geneva
vanessa.sharp@mci-group.com
Phone: +41 22 33 99 544