The European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) brings together specialists worldwide who are dedicated to the care and treatment of patients with vascular disease. Their Annual Meeting is the key moment where education and international collaboration converge and… when science connects. After previous editions in Rotterdam, Belfast and Kraków, we were once again appointed as core PCO in 2025, this time in Istanbul. In doing so, we continued the trajectory: from resilience, through optimisation and sustainability, towards a forward-looking, inclusive and boundary-crossing edition.
1873
Participants
4 days
Duration
Istanbul
Location
74
Countries
By design
Preparations in Istanbul brought unique challenges: complex logistics, political uncertainty and high inflation. This demanded extra attention for participant safety and meticulous coordination of freight and congress materials for sponsors. Thanks to close cooperation with local partners and timely communication with all stakeholders, everything ran smoothly. To enhance interaction, we introduced a renewed seating plan for the plenary rooms, dynamic stage design and adapted furniture. This created an open setting in which participants could easily engage and actively take part. As the venue offered no dedicated exhibition floor, the exhibition was set up in a big meeting room. By directing visitor flows strategically, sponsor visibility was safeguarded and the space grew into a lively meeting point. With an eye on sustainability, we opted for reused materials and collaborations with suppliers who work responsibly and with care.
Result
The congress in Istanbul not only broke records but also forged new connections. Greater accessibility increased the participation of delegates from Asia, further enriching international diversity. Despite the new setting, sponsors were highly satisfied thanks to our smart approach to managing visitor flows. With a record 1,873 participants from 74 countries and 44 sponsors, the congress became a successful and boundary-crossing edition. For ESVS, this marked an important milestone: the meeting is fully back at pre-Covid levels and continues to grow in both size and impact. The partnership once again demonstrates its strength: award-nominated, sustainable and ready to take the next step in Belgrade in 2026.
