Conference bidding today pitches destinations against one other in competition that might be described as an economic battle, a contest of competitive strategy to outsmart one other with the aim of winning the conference prize…
Read MoreBy Gary Schirmacher, CMP
Senior Vice-President, Strategic Account Services
Experient
The fluctuating world economy is putting more pressure than ever on associations to find new and creative ways of generating revenue. Declining membership and flat attendance at meetings are real issues that associations have to address…
Read MoreBy Guy Bigwood
Sustainability Director
MCI Group
In a recent survey* conducted by Accenture for the United Nations, 93% of corporate CEOs interviewed said that sustainability is ‘critical to their future success’. Sustainability is a broad concept that includes governance, ethics and anticorruption, human rights, diversity, financial viability and many more issues that go far beyond the traditional concept of ‘green’…
Read MoreBy Inge Hanser
Managing Director
CPO HANSER Service GmbH
In times of high economic volatility, associations strive for new ways to strengthen their field of specialty, offer state-of-the-art services to their members and seek out new long-term and future proof income opportunities. But while the traditional congress-centric revenue models of delegate participation fees, sponsorship and exhibition income can be incrementally optimised and increased through smart strategic operation in collaboration with a PCO, they also represent a fundamental barrier of growth…
Read MoreBy Basak Gurbuz
Project Leader
Serenas Group
Our ways of communication have changed. Today there are powerful communication tools at our disposal which make it possible to reach an audience greater than we can ever imagine. Thanks to social media the world is getting smaller and it is easier than ever to spread a message, share thoughts and make meaningful connections…
Read MoreBy Robin Lockerman
President Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer
MCI Group
Planning and delivering a conference involves many thousands of person hours but even the most impeccably organised event can fail to achieve the anticipated numbers of fee paying delegates. Inevitably this reflects a weakness in the area of event promotion.
How can this be addressed and what are the key elements in successful conference marketing?…
Read MoreBy Emma Aru
President and Founder
ega professional conference organisers
How can a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) develop long term relationships with conference and event suppliers? How do suppliers react to changes in the economic climate? What are the key challenges a PCO faces with supplier contracts? How can PCOs and suppliers successfully align themselves to achieve meaningful benefits for the client?…
Read MoreBy Bannie Kim
President & CEO
MECI
Across the world today, ubiquitous and digital information based technologies are becoming an increasing part of our lives. As their application becomes more widespread across society in general, so too does their impact on the meeting industry. Harnessing the latest in cutting edge technology has improved efficiency in conference administration including registration processes and session room operation, often with cost effective and environmentally friendly implications.…
Read MoreBy Edwina Stevens and Joanne Tovey
Project Managers
Arinex
Establishing strong relationships with clients is key for a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) to achieve success and the Project Manager is the face of the PCO.
It is crucial in the initial stage for the Project Manager to receive a thorough briefing on the background of the client event in the handover from the sales team. The first meeting agenda should allow for discussion of the financial and non-financial objectives, marketing and sponsorship targets and the delegate profile…
Read MoreBy Anastasia Vatsika
Managing Director
AC&C International S.A
In-depth knowledge and understanding of a congress market is key to developing a successful marketing strategy. Defining the key target audience, monitoring competition and setting clear objectives will always be the first step. As competition in the marketplace intensifies, communicating your message to this target audience can no longer be taken for granted. The “Information Boom” has seen a dramatic growth in the use of web campaigns and social networks as a low-cost, far-reaching alternative to the traditional marketing campaign…
Read MoreBy Roslyn McLeod
Managing Director
Arinex
The key to developing a high quality scientific programme comes with forward planning and in-depth knowledge/expertise of the industry. This can be done in different ways but the most common would be via a scientific program committee who are a compilation of international experts or a local appointed from the host country or nearby region or in some cases a retained expert paid to research and capture the most up to date science…
Read MoreBy Robin Lockerman
President Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer
MCI Group
As the world moves into a cycle of economic uncertainty, issues around budget and expense control will increasingly concern Associations and Conference Organising Committees. And rightly so – most Associations are “not-for-profit” entities and do not necessarily possess the “war chest” of financial resources that many commercial entities typically retain to sustain them in times of economic downturn. However, help is at hand – this is the specific area where a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) can perhaps contribute most value, despite the perception that engaging such services actually adds to the bottom line!...
Read MoreBy Bob Guy
Regional Managing Director
Pacific World
A high quality social programme is the result of much planning and input from the DMC / Events department of the PCO and the Organising Committee (OC). An understanding of both the conference destination and local culture combined with an insight into likely delegate preferences will play a seminal role in guaranteeing the success of this vital aspect of the overall conference. The OC
provides a vital insight into the demographics and likes and dislikes of the delegates and often the history of the social program at previous conferences. The DMC / Special Events Manager brings the expertise and logistical management that provide the seamless organisation with particular attention to the hundreds of details that make it seem like an easy task...
Read MoreBy Roslyn McLeod
Managing Director
Arinex
Driving-up conference revenues is ’must do for a PCO’ in today’s environment where the bottom line is continually scrutinised and conference budgets examined.
A conference can maximise its potential receipts / earnings capacity, by aligning itself with other organisations / products / associations keen to ‘buy-into’ the themes and opportunities that a specific conference offers. A key priority for a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) is to accrue maximum conference revenues through sponsorship, exhibitions sales and delegate promotions…
Read MoreBy Inge Hanser
Managing Director
CPO HANSER Service GmbH
Choosing the right destination is the basis of a successful event as it provides the platform upon which congress and meeting goals and objectives can be built. Selecting the right destination means identifying a geographic region that is appealing, accessible and affordable as this “trio” will, ultimately, drive delegate numbers...
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