A Maltese National, Jo Debono, from Studio 7, has been chosen for the presidency of the CRN - Congress Rental Network, a worldwide network of top-quality companies fully equipped to cater for the audio visual requirements of meetings and congresses of any calibre, such as the Nato Defence Ministers Conference (Berlin, 2005), the G8 Summit (Scotland, 2005) and the Summit of the Americas (Argentina 2005).
At the CRN annual general meeting in Athens, Jo Debono, managing director of Studio 7 Audio Visual Services, has been unanimously voted and elected as president of this prestigious network as of last month. This brings Malta at the forefront within this worldwide network incorporating 38 companies in 35 different countries.
CRN - set up 16 years ago with the support of Philips (now bought over by Bosch) - is the world leader in the field of simultaneous interpretation equipment and audio visual rental, providing its services not only to political figures but also celebrities, sporting personalities and thousands of press representatives, delegates and the public at large. CRN has business partners like Technomight (UAE), ICCA (Netherlands), IAFCO and other organisations. Organisations like these utilise only the best Bosch congress systems and peripheral equipment.
From the smallest gatherings in hotel suites to the largest international events, CRN members not only supply and install the equipment, but operate and manage it as required. It is like having an extension to one's own team, with immediate access to experts in the field of audio visual rental, for smooth, problem-free events.
Mr Debono said: "I was very surprised to see all members of the association accepting me as the third President of CRN. It goes to show that although Malta is a small island, we are still appreciated for our potential."
Mr Debono is doubly proud of the presidency because it coincides with an award given to Studio 7 for its excellent and outstanding contribution to the group.
A success story 28 years long, Studio 7 was set up following an initial 11-year-long experience in equipment rental, a business originally started by Jo Debono's father who was heralded as a local pioneer of the genre.
When in 1978 Jo Debono looked to venture into the conference services, it was because he realised all the best events were being held elsewhere. Malta was simply not on the conference map. Today, Studio 7 boasts its very own sound stage, editing studios, recording studios, stores and workshops with props and sets that can be erected to clients' specifications. International conference work also requires the need to be rigged up complete with simultaneous interpretation language facilities comprising 31 language booths to date.
"I believe it was during the 2004 CRN conference held in Malta, that our company continued to forge its name amidst other specialists in this sphere. All members were greatly impressed with our one-stop shop services, so much so, that another member country, Greece, is now using our methods of practice."
Meanwhile, Rhodes will be hosting ICCA's next annual meeting. The International Congress and Convention Association represents the main specialists in handling, transporting and accommodating international events and comprises over 750 member companies and organizations in almost 80 countries worldwide. For this event, Jo Debono shall be representing Malta not only in the vestiges of a private entrepreneur, but more importantly as president of CRN.
"I see this presidency not only as a prestigious honour but also as a great opportunity to work towards bringing in major conferences to Malta. Efficiency and latest technology upgrades, even related to simultaneous interpretations systems, makes this absolutely possible. In fact the presence of CRN services puts a lot of weight on final corporate and diplomatic decisions as to where certain conferences are eventually held," Mr Debono said.