By Robin Lokerman
As associations continue to expand and grow globally, meetings become a key strategy for organisations to open and penetrate international markets, especially the emerging ones which show a huge thirst for latest content offered through multiple products and services…
Read MoreBy Oumar Counta
Director of BC&A Tax advisers
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax that is implemented in many countries around the world. In principle VAT should always be refundable to companies; most of the VAT incurred on business expenses linked to organizing an event is refundable. In countries outside the EU this tax is also known as Goods and Services Tax (GST)…
Read MoreBy Shaun Casey
Regional Director EMEA
Pacific World
There has been much discussion around the best practices in hotel procurement for international congresses. Clearly there is significant value for the delegate to be able to book accommodation whilst completing the online registration. For the association, the inclusion of the housing component in the overall offering assures better control. So why is it so hard to get it right?…
Read MoreBy Robin Lockerman
President Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer
MCI Group
Tight budgets and growing competition are prompting associations to squeeze extra value out of their conferences. Web-based libraries of digitised abstracts and recorded sessions are dramatic value enhancers for members. But they yield many other benefits too…
Read MoreBy Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno
Vice-President
AIM Group International
Key drivers of change in the business environment are fluctuating economies, political pressures and environmental and social aspects. Each business segment has its own specific levers and industry trends that drive change. There are those organisations that stagnate when faced with the challenge of change while others prosper…
Read MoreConference 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…
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