Association Insight International & European Association Insights Spring 2015 | Page 12

Association Insights | Article

Lausanne,

Olympic Capital
By Louise Clarke
Over 200 association executives attended this year’s International &
European Associations Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland in May. Here
we find out why the city of Lausanne and the SwissTech Convention
Center is the ideal location and meeting venue for associations.

When it comes to organising a conference; reliability and punctuality are qualities
associations value highly. The Swiss are a reliable and punctual nation; it’s a country
with political and economic stability and authenticity. And it’s a beautiful place with
true nature to discover, ranging from palm trees to glaciers.
Lausanne
The Swiss city of Lausanne is at the centre of Europe. According to Lausanne Tourisme there are ten key
reasons for choosing Lausanne as an event destination:
Easy access. As Switzerland’s fourth biggest city you can
get to Lausanne easily by train, car, boat and aeroplane –
it’s just 40 minutes from Geneva airport.

Idyllic setting. Situated on Lake Geneva with spectacular
views of the Alps, Lausanne is surrounded by vineyards,
countryside and forests.

Wide selection of venues. From the new modular Swiss
Tech Conference Centre, to rooms in palaces, chateaux,
museums and on boats.

Sustainable development. Energy management, waste
sorting and ecotourism can be incorporated into events.

 fficient public transport. Two metro lines and a compact
E
bus network. And all hotel guests are given a Transport
card entitling them to free public transport.
Culture and leisure. The sheer variety of attractions and
cultural events means plenty of social activities for team
building exercises.
Hospitality. The choice of hotels is countless, ranging from
international chains to palaces and boutique hotels. On the
gastronomy front Lausanne is also home to a number of
award-winning chefs.

12 | © Associations Network 2015

Swiss reliability and security. Lausanne has a stable
political environment and a climate of safety appreciated
by business travellers.
Olympic capital. The International Olympic Committee
and a number of international sports federations make
Lausanne the ‘Olympic Capital’.
Research & excellence. Lausanne is home to a number of
international higher education institutions including the
Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL).

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