First EDGE Seminar resounding success

First EDGE Seminar resounding success

“It was with some trepidation that I agreed to host the first EDGE Seminar” commented Jan Tonkin, MD of The Conference Company, “as New Zealand is often perceived to be a faraway destination, possibly even on the edge of the world. With a new educational offering, I felt this might be a challenge. I was delighted therefore to well exceed our target numbers, with participants travelling from Zimbabwe and Australia to take part in this innovative environment. The support I received from Tourism New Zealand Business Events and the Auckland Convention Bureau was a major contributing factor to the success of this seminar“.

Michel Neijmann, Figur, Istanbul; Mathias Posch, ICS, Vancouver and Jan Tonkin comprised the international faculty, sharing their extensive experience. Listening to presentations, however, formed only a small part of the programme: interactive and conversational discussion, sharing experiences, deep dive sessions on topics such as Bidding and Serving the Clients of the Future played a key part allowing participants to engage with the themes and bring away insights and strategies that have an immediate impact on the way they work in today’s fast pace environment. Over 40 participants took part, representing an even split between PCOs, Convention Bureaux and venues, engaging in a programme that was intensely focused on the future of the meetings industry and the rapidly changing realities of life as a PCO. Participants took an in-depth look at a range of issues preoccupying the meetings world right now including delegate engagement and experiences, hybrid meetings and managing project finances.

While time to showcase Auckland was limited, the group dined on two occasions at offsite venues and enjoyed great views of the city’s harbour on one side and a park on the other from the daylit meeting room on the top floor of the Pullman Hotel.

“EDGE lived up to its name” commented Jan, “this truly was dynamic global education, and I am proud that New Zealand lived up to its reputation as a first-class destination and that IAPCO is continuing its remit of providing expert education for meetings industry professionals”.

CONVENE – Baltic Sea Region Exhibition for Meetings, Events and Incentives

2014 CONVENE – Baltic Sea Region Exhibition for Meetings, Events and Incentives
CONVENE is a new business to business two day event for the meetings industry for the countries of the Baltic. It is intended to create an annual international show case for the regional meetings industry and accelerate the interest in, and demand for, holding meetings, incentives and conferences in the region.

Launched by Vilnius Convention Bureau the event offers a fully hosted buyer programme which will accommodate 160+ qualified buyers from whole Europe. Up to 100 exhibitors including convention bureaux, hotels, conference centres, special venues, DMCs, PCOs, specialist suppliers from Lithuania and six other countries of the region (Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Russia) will showcase their meeting products and services. The event will again be supported by a major professional education programme and a series of high quality business networking events. CONVENE will offer a number of fam trips to Lithuania and neighbouring destinations that wish to host the international buyers attending the event.

With a strong focus on education and knowledge, CONVENE aims to equip the buyer and supplier communities with the tools to create more effective meetings and events.

Contacts
Vilnius Convention Bureau Tel. 370 5 212 2599
Fax. 370 5 262 8169 info@convene.lt

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS SET TO BOOST MICE MARKET IN AFRICA

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS SET TO BOOST MICE MARKET IN AFRICA

Press Release: 7th January 2014 – BTM Africa (www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmafrica) confirms significant international buyer interest for first event set to take place from 28-30 April 2014

The rapidly growing demand for meetings industry suppliers within Africa, has been reflected in the unprecedented interest witnessed from International Hosted Buyers applying to attend the first IBTM Africa, (www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmafrica) set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa.

David Dodgeon, Green Route, who will attend IBTM Africa with a group of qualified international buyers commented, “Trade shows are one of the most effective ways of obtaining and securing new business. We have supported EIBTM, the flagship event of the IBTM Global Events Portfolio since the early days and we are very pleased to be bringing a group of 16 International Buyers to their new show set to launch in Africa.

“Africa provides a perfect meetings industry destination for a number of reasons. The continent offers a huge contrast in terms of culture and history and is well situated in terms of flight routes and global access. The table-top format which IBTM Africa will offer, will allow us to spend quality one-to-one time with potential clients.”

Part of Reed Travel Exhibitions’ Africa Travel Week, IBTM Africa will reflect the core values of the IBTM Global Events Portfolio providing one-to-one business appointments, education and networking over an exclusive tabletop format.

IBTM Africa will match 50 regional exhibitors through a pre-scheduled appointment system with 50 qualified Hosted Buyers from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, all of whom will have proven purchasing power and guaranteed business to place in Africa.

Shinu Pillai, Project Manager, Reed Travel Exhibitions, IBTM Africa commented, “We are extremely excited about the launch of IBTM Africa within our IBTM Global Events Portfolio. Africa is emerging rapidly as a destination of choice when it comes to hosting meetings and incentives, with many global associations looking to include Africa in their rotation patterns.”

IBTM Africa will provide the opportunity for 50 African and Indian Ocean suppliers including Hotels and Venues, National/State Tourism Organisations and Convention Bureaux, Travel Management Companies, Destination Management Companies, Event Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Airlines, Technology, Business Travel and MICE related suppliers to showcase their products to an international audience of Hosted Buyers attending.

Pillai concludes, “ As the world’s largest organiser for meetings and incentive exhibitions, we are committed to providing all of our attendees with the best level of return on investment for their participation. Each international Hosted Buyer attending will participate in a minimum of 36 pre-scheduled business appointments, which will ensure that every supplier attending will achieve a significant amount of opportunities to showcase their products to an international audience.”

For further information, please see www.ibtmevents.com/ibtmafrica. For further Africa Travel Week information, please see www.africatravelweek.com.