19th World Federation of Building Service Contractors’ Congress, 11 to 14 October 2012, Curitiba, Brazil
The Brazilian city of Curitiba has become a good choice in the international business and conference market due to its excellent infrastructure and logistics; green metropolis; and rich cultural traditions.
The WFBSC Congress will be held simultaneously with the 22nd Regional Higiexpo – Hygiene, Cleaning and Maintenance Products and Services Exhibition; and the 23rd ENEAC – National Meeting of the Cleaning and Maintenance Companies. The three meetings will assemble more than 5,000 delegates.
‘Those coming to Curitiba will find not only a model city in terms of cleanliness and organisation, or a construction site for the 2014 World Cup, but also a sustainable city, where provincial charm mingles with modernity, keen on preserving green areas and the well-being of locals and visitors alike,’ states the organiser.
‘Tourists and delegates will see in Curitiba the considerable ethnic and cultural contribution made by settlers, from Ukrainian, Pole, German, Portuguese, Italian, Arab and Eastern descent, among others, in the history told by several buildings and monuments, such as the immigration memorials, the historic district, museums, old mansions and centuries-old churches.
‘In addition to the historic-cultural tourism, Curitiba is strongly linked to ecology, being the greenest metropolis in Latin America; with over 1.5 million people, it still manages to keep 55 sq m of green area per inhabitant. Tourisms taps into (in the good sense) the green: the ecological options encompass 26 large parks and wooded areas, among which the Jardim Botânico, Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente, Bosque do Papa, the Tingui, Tanguá and Barigui Parks stand out. Strolling there is part of the daily routine of the locals and cannot be missed by tourists, just as the Curitiba-Morretes train trip, offering breathtaking views of the Serra do Mar natural landscape.’
Curitiba is also favoured by tourists because of its closeness to Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguaçu, a city renowned for its natural beauty, with several ‘must see’ attractions such as the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, a World Natural Heritage site where the Iguassu Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world, are located; and the Itaipu Power Plant, the largest clean energy plant in the world. The plant has a tourist complex including an Ecomuseum, the Refúgio Biológico Bela Vista, and offers the beautiful Lighting of the Dam show.
When choosing Curitiba as a destination, tourists will find all classes of hotels and residential hotels offering the ideal infrastructure both for those who seek recreation and those who come for business purposes. Most hotels are located in the central area of the city, but there are also hotels in the surrounding neighbourhoods with excellent lodging choices, totalling 170 hotels and 18,000 beds.
The WFBSC Congress website www.wfbsc2012.com offers plenty of information for attendees and intending delegates.