The Board of EFCLIN and the EFCLIN Secretariat are pleased to announce yet another resounding success in the form of the Annual Congress & Exhibition held two weeks ago at the Melia Valencia Hotel in Valencia Spain.
When it comes to congress destinations there are few that can match Valencia for the breadth of the cultural experience on offer. However, such was the interest in the 2016 EFCLIN Lecture program alongside what is now regarded as the industry leading trade show, it’s no surprise some delegates were running out of time to combine business with pleasure!
With more than 320 participants, records of last year were touched again on the first day. By the close of the event many exhibitors were also reporting record amounts of business having been done. With a congress theme of “The Architectures Of Your Business” the EFCLIN Congress hoped to capture some of the modern and historical connection Valencia has with trade and commerce – most delegates seem to report that objective was well and truly achieved.
The Contact Lens Lecture program featured important offerings from Nick Dash, Prof. José Manuel González-Méijome, Cristian Mertz and Craig Norman to mention just a few names from the high quality line up of speakers. However delegates from the ocular surgery side of the industry were not disappointed where a bespoke program of lectures headed by Prof. Pablo Artal and Prof. James Wolffsohn caused the organisers to go looking for more chairs such was the demand from delegates wishing to see this part of the program!
The trade exhibition at the EFCLIN Congress has always been well attended with this year some 24 exhibitors crammed into every sq. cm. of available space. The organisers reported that such was the demand for space that two exhibitors had to be turned down as there was just no more room. Not something the organisers like to do it must be said so the message is clear – if you want space at the foremost trade show in the industry get your request in early! Some images from the event can be found here.
Somebody famous once wrote about the effects of “all work and no play” and fortunately the organisers of the EFCLIN Congress are familiar with the sentiment. Thanks to the major sponsors of Contamac and Ltd, Bausch & Lomb and Gobal Contact all participants were treated to an evening of good Spanish Tapa and Pella food in the lovely place of La Ferradura directly at the seaside on Thursday evening. Saturday evening saw the climax of the event marked with the Congress Dinner in the Laguna Palace Hotel. The tables were set for 140 places and all seats were taken. New Executive Director, Mrs Marion Beeler, who took over “the baton” from Steve Wheeler at the beginning 2016, welcomed the EFCLIN community. After an excellent meal EFCLIN President Armin Duddek was pleased that he and the EFCLIN Board were able to welcome 5 new EEFCLIN members in this circle. All were warmly welcomed by the assembled members and invited guests.
With arrangements already well advanced for the 2017 event the EFCLIN President and Board urge all those interested in attending to make a note in their schedule for the 44th EFCLIN Congress & Exhibition which will take place from the 27th – 29th April 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. Further details will be featured in the “Congress” section of the EFCLIN website over the coming weeks and months.