Case: EAN

10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology – Helsinki 2024

“Highest standards I had in +25 years”

Breaking Congress Boundaries

The International Congress of Neurology took place at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre from June 29 to July 2, 2024. Organized by the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), the congress represented 47 member countries and brought together over 45,000 neurology professionals from around the globe in Finland. Alongside the congress, an extensive exhibition highlighted advancements from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, showcasing the latest in neurology-related technology and treatments.

EAN 2024 set new records, attracting 9,024 participants, with 7,092 attending in person and 1,932 joining virtually. The congress exceeded expectations across all tracked metrics, showcasing Finnish expertise and generating €15 million in economic impact for Helsinki. The congress also had 94 exhibitors which is a record number.

In the organisers feedback they stated that it is extremely likely that they will recommend Messukeskus to others. What is the single most important reason for giving this score?

– The team onsite and in sales. Highest standards I had in +25 years, Congress Manager Florian Wild says.

He emphasizes that Messukeskus stands out not only as a physical venue but also because of the exceptional staff behind it:

– When we speak about the venue, it’s more than just a building; it’s not about the design, it’s about the people behind it! In my  twenty years of working on congresses, I have never heard our main partners mention the venue. But this time, in our debriefing, the venue was mentioned three times. Our partners were impressed with the proximity of the exhibition to the lecture halls, but they also emphasized how amazing the staff is. They truly know what they’re doing, and every single person has been so friendly — from the carpet guys to security!, Wild says

Sustainability at the Core

Messukeskus Helsinki and the city of Helsinki are globally recognized for sustainability. The congress utilized Messukeskus’s ISO 14001-certified services and received a customized carbon footprint analysis using the venue’s advanced tools.

Additional sustainability measures included:

• Vegan-only catering
• Reduction of single-use plastics (e.g., serving tap water exclusively)
• Repurposing event materials, like converting stage backdrops into congress bags by unemployed workers in Vienna
• Minimizing food waste

Looking Ahead: EAN 2025

EAN is returning to Messukeskus Helsinki in the summer of 2025 – years earlier than expected. This unexpected decision reflects the event’s success and the satisfaction of both organizers and attendees. Together, we aim to surpass expectations once again, cementing Helsinki’s reputation as a world-class congress destination.