Congress Center and Villa Erba, between technology and elegance

Among the villas of Lake Como, the Congress Center of Villa Erba is known for hosting many major business events and more. Innovation, catering, entertainment, luxury goods, culture, automotive, furniture: the splendid setting of the residence in Cernobbio blends classicism and technology and the modern exhibition pavilion hosts conferences and corporate events belonging to the most diverse sectors. A location for important events even more suggestive, since it is immersed in the Larian nuances between lake and mountains, among exotic vegetation and elegant architectural structures that belonged to the noble families of Como create a truly unique context. In times of "normal administration" Villa Erba hosted the Ferrari World Première welcoming more than 800 guests, the TEDxLakeComo dedicated to progress and the future, the World Manufacturing Forum, the Proposte fair, dedicated to international textiles. Moreover, Villa Erba has been the wonderful location of commercials (such as the one of Samsung and Nespresso with George Clooney and Jean Dujardin) and prestigious film sets. Organizing events of this kind is a complex operation. This is especially true for congresses: an articulated type of event that requires different levels of organization and hospitality, like a perfect machine that runs in response to a demanding target with high expectations.

Organize a congress, create a convention.

The first step to take in organizing a congress or convention precedes the operational phase and concerns conception and planning. It is essential to identify the needs to which the event must respond and to establish the objectives that it sets; subsequently, one's target audience must be engaged in order to deepen their interests, expectations and desires, so as to sew - almost literally - a tailor-made event. Once the identity of your event is clear, you can progressively move on to the operational phases. Every event requires a program, which is even more important in the case of conferences: attention to detail must be high, so precise planning is essential to allow the event to take place at its best. The essential ingredient is the people: the speakers who take part in the event make the difference. Experts in the field, important personalities, figures who can make a relevant contribution to the congress are the roots from which to make the event grow. A strong attention to detail must be expressed in all aspects of the event, which must harmonize in a frame of equally high level: here is where the location turns out to be of primary importance. The setting is not only the passive background of the congress, but it turns out to be the solid base of a successful "show", able to stand out and leave a positive mark. Often, what makes the difference is an elegant and evocative place, but also a suitable one: the functionality of the environment is a factor that cannot be taken for granted. The key is the balance between aesthetics and practicality, which resonates even more strongly in a period of great difficulty and change. The covid-19 health emergency and all the consequences it has entailed and is still entailing have certainly affected the events sector, with a loss in turnover of 80% in 2020. (Source: https://www.eventsliveindustry.it/).

Events and Covid.

Villa Erba has responded to this exceptional situation by rethinking itself and becoming a vaccination hub: it has become the scene of a very powerful action of change and hope. In the meantime, it has reopened to the public with the project "The Culture of Villa Erba 2021", which is declined in a new edition of the Lake Como Film Festival, a film festival en plein air this year dedicated to the beauty of the landscapes of Lake Como, to rediscover and love them even more. This is an opportunity to enter the gates of Villa Erba, beyond which are unique and well-characterized spaces. Immersed in the centuries-old Park, overlooking the beautiful Lake Como, the Congress Center is a project by Mario Bellini able to combine high-tech and tradition. The central pavilion of 1500 square meters is among the most prestigious structures in Italy to accommodate large events with a high number of participants. The circular environment allows for excellent acoustics and for hosting large conferences and screenings. From the central square branch off three wings of about 2000 square meters each, which can be divided into 28 rooms or 200 exhibition stands. There is also the ancient Villa, sumptuous and elegant, which can accommodate up to 500 guests for galas and receptions from the nineteenth century flavor, other possibilities of use are represented by the charming terraces. Enchanting places rich in history, art, beauty, but also functionality of space and ability to meet the needs of a high-level event. In addition to the beauty that distinguishes the location on Lake Como, Villa Erba offers a consolidated expertise related to the preparations, logistics and entertainment. A range of opportunities to create tailor-made events, in the unforgettable setting of Lake Como.