INTERSPEECH 2024

Behind every successful conference lies a story, and this one truly took us by surprise.

In 2018, two esteemed professors in the field of Language Processing, Itshak Lapidot from Afeka Academic College of Engineering and Sharon Gannot from Bar-Ilan University, teamed up with the Jerusalem Conference Bureau. Their goal was to bring the prestigious INTERSPEECH conference to Israel. After an open bidding process, Ortra was selected as the official partner to make this vision a reality.

Together, Ortra's sales team and the Jerusalem Conference Bureau worked tirelessly to craft an appealing and detailed proposal to host the 2023 INTERSPEECH conference in Jerusalem. However, despite their efforts, the bid was unsuccessful, and the conference was awarded to Dublin, Ireland. Undeterred, the sales team analyzed the feedback, learned from their experience, and made improvements to their 2024 bid. Their persistence paid off, and Jerusalem was finally chosen as the host city for INTERSPEECH 2024.

Securing the opportunity to organize INTERSPEECH in Jerusalem was a major win, but the real challenge lay ahead—convincing participants to register and travel to a destination that many were unfamiliar with. This is where Ortra’s marketing department played a pivotal role, showcasing Jerusalem’s unique beauty, history, and modernity, making the city an attractive and welcoming destination for international attendees.

The organizing committee from the ISCA association visited Israel for a site inspection, and a specially produced promotional video captured the essence of Jerusalem, featuring its ancient streets, vibrant markets, and state-of-the-art venues. Our goal was to give potential participants a glimpse of the city’s blend of tradition and innovation, making them feel connected even before their arrival.

We didn’t stop there. In the years leading up to the planned 2024 conference in Israel, the team participated in INTERSPEECH conferences in Korea and Dublin, setting up visually striking exhibition booths. These booths not only provided information but also sparked curiosity and excitement about attending the event in Jerusalem.

As preparations progressed, a dedicated team of professionals was assembled to handle the complex logistical aspects of the conference. This included a program manager, a registration and accommodation team, sponsorship and exhibition recruiters, a technical and technology manager, and a marketing team—all managed by our senior project manager to ensure seamless coordination. With the venue booked and suppliers secured, we were well on our way.

However, on October 7, 2023, Israel was hit by an unexpected attack, plunging the region into instability. Given the situation, continuing with the event in Israel was deemed too risky. After extensive discussions with ISCA and the organizing committee, a difficult but necessary decision was made to relocate the conference.

Our team, with direct involvement from Ortra’s CEO, scrambled to find an alternative location. Several destinations were considered before Kos, Greece, was selected. Its modern conference facilities, ability to accommodate over 1,500 participants, and convenient accessibility made it the best option. In this transition, we teamed up with our Greek colleagues at AFEA Congress, who supported us as the local PCO. Their involvement was key in helping us secure the right venues and logistics to ensure the event’s success.

Within just two months, the entire event was reimagined—from rebranding the conference and updating the website to securing new hotel accommodations and renegotiating contracts with suppliers. Despite the tight timeline, Ortra delivered a seamless transition, ensuring the event would go forward without disruption.

Relocating the conference turned out to be a success. INTERSPEECH 2024 attracted over 1,700 on-site participants from 51 countries. The event featured a robust program filled with insights and advancements in the field with a total of 1,031 papers accepted, 7 parallel oral sessions, 8 poster sessions (changing three times per day), 4 keynote speakers, 106 technical sessions, eight tutorials, 11 special sessions, 4 Show & Tell sessions, and 13 survey talks.

The conference saw an impressive level of engagement, with packed halls throughout the week and 1,500 logins to the conference app, reflecting the active participation of attendees.

Despite the significant challenges, INTERSPEECH 2024 upheld its reputation as the world’s leading conference on spoken language processing. Participants engaged enthusiastically in the sessions, contributing to lively discussions and actively networking throughout the event. The social events were a highlight, with attendees embracing the full spirit of the Greek culture—dancing, celebrating, and enjoying the vibrant local music and atmosphere.

Ortra's team demonstrated remarkable resilience and capability in overcoming challenges, no matter how extreme or unexpected. The seamless transition from Jerusalem to Kos highlighted the team’s adaptability, collaboration, and unwavering dedication. Contributing to this success were the strong partnerships with the professional team at AFEA Congress and the establishment of a solid professional collaboration. Together, these efforts ensured the conference maintained its high standards and delivered a memorable experience for all involved.

Looking ahead, we still hope to have the opportunity to host INTERSPEECH in Jerusalem in the coming years. This city offers a unique blend of history, culture, and innovation, and we believe it’s a destination that the conference should not miss.