I attended the IBA (International Bar Association) Annual Conference from 7 to 12 October at the newly completed Roma Convention Center La Nuvola.
The Roma Convention Center was so new that the construction fence was still in place around it.
In contrast to its plain glass wall facade, inside on the auditorium levels the structure is sinuous and has a 'wow' factor. The many levels are connected with adequate numbers of escalators, and the exhibition level is vast. There is room for many thousands of delegates, exhibition stands, lunch serving and seating areas.
Down below, on the bottom level the 20 plus presentation rooms are large and small, depending on requirements, and the sound systems and projection systems work well. The wifi works well throughout the building.
See photos.
So what's the missing practicality? First, inadequate toilets on the exhibition level, the poor connectivity between the exhibition level and the presentation rooms (10 minutes walk) and the inadequate size of the auditorium (maximum 1,800).
Transport connectivity to and from the Convention Center is poor - true there is the Laurentina Metro Station 5 minutes walk away, but unless your hotel is on that line, your options are limited. There are not enough taxis. And the buses hired for the convention took up to an hour to travel to the hotels at Via Veneto, the designated conference hotels, due to heavy traffic. Hotels closer to the Convention Centre were hampered by a lack of taxis, and no public transport. Work on the half completed high rise hotel next to the centre has stopped - only the shell has been built.
My advice? Conference organisers of large conferences such as the IBA with 6,000 delegates have little choice but to use the Convention Centre in Rome. But they must do better for transport. And delegates? Choose a hotel near the Metro B Line which goes to Laurentina.