How has the business event sector faired with the recent financial meltdown?
Panel debate:
(Robin Lokerman, MD, MCI Asia Pacific; Jill Henry, Sarawak Convention Bureau; Sandra Chipchase, CEO, Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau … moderated by Elizabeth Rich, Executive Director, Business Events Council of Australia)
> investing in new software to drive delegate numbers
> improving number of foreign languages on a given website
> don't forget on PR during these difficult times
> interactivity between staff - bringing global offices together through technology
> conference delegates/clients: new IT platforms
> conference capture: capture content, repackage and sell information from events
> virtual meetings: you can never beat face-to-face, video conferencing complements face-to-face, important to build interactivity into the system
> destination brands are once again very important
> to go face-to-face you need to get good value, on time delivery and on budget … and a value add
> in destination marketing it's the experience and people that are important
> key drivers are technology and procurement (selecting which suppliers clients work with)
> at events before, you could be controversial and challenging because it was assumed to be between 4 walls. Nowadays … what happens in the room goes global instantaneously
folloWIT - Web in Travel