CWT latest survey on the meeting and event industry. https://cwt.turtl.co/story/2019metrends.pdf?showall=true
Meetings & Events Gets A Digital Facelift!
With IMEX just around the corner, I couldn’t help but take a great interest in this article I had stumbled upon a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I figured most people in the meetings industry would appreciate the thought of shorter waiting times! Who doesn’t love that idea? The meetings industry is rapidly evolving, increasing opportunities to virtually experience corporate meetings and events.
For instance, badged swipes and electric agendas are being used in lieu of paper tickets and itineraries, while implementation of live steam and mobile engagement are already underway, as colleagues who aren’t in attendance can tune in to conferences from the comfort of their homes and offices, and even submit live questions!
Event Management Software is also improving in such a way that attendees can access maps, social media feeds, and even connect with the speakers digitally. Apps are making it possible to consolidate tasks such as registration, messaging, security, data collection and follow-ups to allow for a simpler and more efficient process. In case of an emergency, organizers can send information to attendees which can eliminate confusion, potential risks, and also provide a feasible way to get a quick headcount!
Being a millennial in the events industry, I’ve truly come to understand how much of an impact technology has had. Despite privacy concerns, I believe wholeheartedly that companies benefit more than ever when they invest their time, money and energy into their meetings. The processes are simpler than ever and the benefits are too numerous to count.
To learn more about the evolution of corporate events and recently implemented apps, click here.
Photo Credit: New York Times
The Next Walls to Fall in Berlin
What do you get when you mix innovation, informative discussions, and idea exchange?
You get inspired! This inspiration comes from the Falling Walls Conference organized by the Falling Walls Foundation. The conference is an annual international gathering of 700+ pioneers from nearly 80 countries. Attendees are inspired through breakthrough projects and building new connections.
The conference has been held annually in Berlin on November 8th-9th since 2009. The concept behind the name is derived from the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Head of Programs and Speakers, Mr. Felix Rundel stated, “We invite our speakers and audience to discuss the question: Which are the next walls to fall — and how will this change our lives?”
Brilliant minds such as scientists, scholars, thinkers, entrepreneurs, innovators and artists collectively experience the following:
- Networking: Falling Walls Connect also known as “Brain Dating,” gives the audience the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and expertise to fellow participants through 30 minute one on one meetings.
- Groundbreaking Presentations: Falling Walls Lab Forum for the next generation of innovators provides participants with the opportunity to present their research work, business model, or initiative to peers, a jury and the general public.
- Start-ups Initiative: Falling Walls Venture showcases the most promising research based start-ups from all over the world.
- Results Driven: Falling Walls Circle is an invitation-only meeting, providing a participant-driven platform for presidents and CTOs of research organizations, science- and technology-focused global corporations, senior government officials, outstanding researchers and entrepreneurs.
From various keynote speakers, Brain Dating, to witnessing innovators present their latest work, the conference’s mission is to inspire, create a hunger for science, and encourage mutual collaboration.
To read more on the Falling Walls conference, click here
Healthy Conferences At Messe Wien
When selecting a venue, proximity to hotels and airport, flexibility, and amenities to name a few are some of the top criteria. Not to mention, your delegates will need a coffee break at some point! Providing healthy options may not have made it to your list as of yet but it is worth considering. Have you thought of introducing a healthy feature in your conferences? This can vary from healthy food options to cycling to and from the conference venue.
The Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center has picked this up a notch by becoming the first venue in Austria to be called a “Healthy Venue.” The World Obesity Federation recently presented Messe Wien with this recognition, making it one of 5 in the world! Additionally, Messe Wien’s close proximity to the Wiener Prater Park solidified its ‘Healthy Venue’ status as well as the building’s flexible design that brings in an abundance of natural light.
Alongside their partners, Mr. Binder-Krieglstein, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions in Austria explains that Messe Wien is moving forward to offering more “healthy catering, and encouraging people to take more exercise at fairs and congresses.” The purpose is to combat unhealthy eating habits in the events industry. According to the World Obesity Federation, these improvements enhances productivity, improves attention span, and concentration.
We congratulate the management at Messe Wien, and raise our glasses of water to celebrate healthy conferences in Vienna!
To read more on Messe Wien’s improvement, click here.
Photo source: Messe Wien
Diversity At Work
I walked into a well-kept office, art from all over the world decorated office cabinets, desks and the walls. I was immediately struck by the diversity of the team at Marketing Challenges International. This was my first impression! Since its inception 35 years ago, MCIntl set the bar high in hiring a diverse staff in an industry that is not so diverse. As Jacqueline Hewitt, Managing Partner recalls, “We understood from the very beginning that diversity was paramount to our success because it was/is simply the best decision for any business to make.”
How can diversity be effectively measured?
The HR definition ascribes Diversity as a “feature of a mixed workforce that provides a wide range of abilities, experience, knowledge, and strengths due to its heterogeneity in age, background, ethnicity, physical abilities, political and religious beliefs, sex, and other attributes.” (Business Dictionary) Diversity is more than a minority group representation in your staff or who has a seat in your Board of Directors. It also requires daily practice in speech and action
A perfect example of Diversity in action is Apple. The company believes that “Diverse teams make innovation possible.” For this reason, 36% of Apple’s employees in 2017 under 30 years old are women and 29% make up the leadership team. At the same time, 50% of new hires were from historically underrepresented groups in tech (Apple: Inclusion & Diversity). Apple takes a general approach to diversifying their workforce by recognizing the importance of ethnic, age, and religious beliefs.
Here at MCIntl, there is a diverse representation of cultural backgrounds and experiences. Our team members are from 4 continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America), each bringing a diverse wealth of knowledge and expertise that naturally, creates an energetic creative atmosphere. Michel Couturier, MCIntl’s Managing Partner shares that “diversity is culturally enriching, provides different points of view and adds the advantage of relating to our international clients. It assists in building a better bridge between North American planners and MCIntl’s clients.”
On a personal note, my experience with diversity has fostered new ideas and presented a wider range of solutions to issues I encounter on a daily basis. I learned that diversity is more than a mere buzz word or social/cultural expansion, but when adopted, it fosters a positive and inclusive corporate culture. As much as Diversity has its benefits, there are also some challenges that comes with it. But, I know that the rewards outweigh these challenges. I experience it every day.
Photo description: Some members of the MCIntl team (L to R: Jennifer, Nikki, Cindy, & Alex)
Copenhagen & Vienna Make Top Rankings on Global Charts!
Vienna and Copenhagen have taken center stage in recent news as they both have topped two noteworthy global charts this year!
In mid-August, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) launched their annual list of the most liveable cities in the world and to no surprise, Vienna and Copenhagen made the top 10 out of the 140 cities reviewed for 2018! Various important qualities were considered in determining a city’s ranking including stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education, and infrastructure. Vienna, Austria received a ranking of 99.1% which earned it the number 1 spot on the list! The EIU attributes Austria’s rise to the top to stability, and in turn, an increased security score.
Copenhagen, Denmark followed in the ninth spot, with a very impressive score of 96%.
Additionally, the Reputation Institute released its top 10 list of most reputable cities for 2018. Again, Vienna and Copenhagen are among the top 10! The Reputation Institute ranks cities based on key measures of a city’s reputation, including people’s willingness to visit, live, work, study, and invest in that particular destination. All of these factors taken into account resulted in Copenhagen, Denmark winning third place and Vienna, Austria coming in at the fourth position!
Such top global rankings reinforce the position of both destinations as major hubs for meetings and conventions.
A big congratulations to both of our European clients! It is delightful to see them making such an impact this year!
Meetings Outlook – Summer – 2018 – MPI
Destination KUALA LUMPUR
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a spectacular city for hosting international events. More specifically, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is an excellent option to consider for both small and large programs alike.
Situated at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Central Business District, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) is the city’s most technologically–advanced facility for international, regional and local conventions, tradeshows, and public exhibitions.
The Centre is known as a “city within a city,” as the venue is very large and it incorporates amenities such as a lush 50-acre landscaped park. Inside, The Centre consists of five levels which can incorporate flexible function space such as column free exhibition halls, a plenary hall which can hold 3,000 people, a banquet hall that can accommodate 750 people, and a 470-seat theatre. Additionally, the Centre has 23 meeting rooms that can accommodate 50-256 delegates, a conference hall that fits 1,800 attendees, and even a grand ballroom which can seat 2,000 diners!
Since the Centre’s debut in 2005, it has received a long list of well-deserved awards, such as the ‘Best Convention Centre in Asia’ from MICE Report Awards in 2012. In 2017, the Centre received various awards such as the ‘Human Resource Development Award’ and the ‘Digital Infrastructurer Award’ by INCON. They also received the ‘Purpose-Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Award for Excellence’ by rAWr (Recognising Award Winning Results) Award. In 2018, the Centre received the ‘Best Employer Brand Award’ and ‘Malaysia’s Most Talented HR Leaders’ during the 4th Malaysia Best Employer Awards.
The Centre also happens to be the first Convention Centre in Asia to receive the ‘Gold’ AIPC Quality Standards certification! International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) identifies and evaluates ten key areas of Convention Centre performance, which include Customer Service, Quality of Facilities and Operations, Safety and Security, and Financial Integrity.
Aside from this phenomenal venue, the city of Kuala Lumpur offers a wide range of beautiful sights to see and fun things to do. For all of these reasons, the Centre is certainly an excellent destination to consider when organizing future programs!
Photo credit: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
5 Minutes & A Pen
What is the next step you take after a successful event, meeting or business exchange? Do you think about doing a nice gesture for the other party? You’re on the right track if you send the recipient a thank you email. However, how about we make this even more personal! Showing off your penmanship skills by sending a handwritten card versus an email will leave a lasting positive impression.
A recent study by two psychologists, Amit Kumar, assistant professor at the University of Texas and Nicholas Epley, professor at the University of Chicago discovered that people who handwrite thank you notes don’t realize the impact it makes on the recipient. In fact, what crosses their minds is whether they will be criticized by the reader on the content of the card, their style of writing or the awkward feeling it might give the recipient.
Although, the sender estimated that the recipient’s happiness would only reach a 3 out of 5 on the happiness scale, the recipients rated this act a 5 on the scale. Additionally, the sender expected their handwritten cards to receive a 2-3 on the awkwardness scale. However, the recipient rated less than one on the awkwardness scale.
This study is here to remind us all that handwritten cards make a difference in a genuine and warm hearted way. Here at MCIntl, we have long embraced personalizing our communication with clients. Jacqueline Hewitt, managing partner, is a firm believer of “that” personal touch. Giveaways are gift wrapped, flowers are sent, and scented holiday gifts are prepared. In a world of texts, emails and all forms of electronic messages that “je ne sais quoi” touch makes a world of a difference.
Pick up your pen and write a note on a card! You will stand out!
Global Events Visionary: Ms. Tricia Simpson Montero, CMP
Global Events Visionary: Tricia Simpson Montero, CMP
Tricia Simpson Montero joined the International Trademark Association more than 21 years ago and has held several positions including Manager, Meetings, Conventions & Events Strategy. She currently serves as the Manager of Education – Programs Logistics. The International Trademark Association “is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation.” As the Manager of Programs Logistics, Tricia has been successful in proposing and executing new initiatives that have spearheaded INTA’s global mission.
In between her hectic international site visits, Tricia was able to share some tidbits with MCIntl…
JN: What are the benefits of being part of your organization?
TSM: Our Annual Meeting is the largest of its type (IP focused) in the world and therefore the benefits of participation includes the opportunity to receive high-level education and training with numerous and some unique opportunities to network. Our team is always looking to try new initiatives at the meeting and there have been a number of times when I have proposed doing something that the city had not done before, but that we have ended up doing with our group. Some successful and some not, but at least we did something different.
JN: What legacies are your association creating?
TSM: In terms of legacy, our Annual Meeting’s economic impact this year in Seattle was around US $20M and will continue to grow. I initiated a partnership with Dress for Success Seattle where our staff and registrants provided professional attire for women in need to increase their confidence during interviews and on the job – it was extremely successful. The people who attend our meetings and events are from all over the world (65% international) and they take great pride in participating as well as enjoying all the city has to offer. We hope to continue providing the best experience possible to our registrants and to leaving our host cities for the better.
JN: What are some of the lessons learned from being international?
TSM: The right vendor partners plays a huge role in the success of international meetings and you have to be flexible. This means that you must do your own due diligence well and choose the right partners. Sometimes, the chosen vendor may not be in the destination where you are hosting the event, but it is a matter of trust in their capability to perform. As an international association, we do our best to ensure we have the right partners supporting us during the planning process which usually results in a well-executed event. Site visits as a team are more than just visiting venues and having meetings, it is building new and nurturing existing relationships so that that everyone feels invested. Through INTA, I have gained an international network of colleagues and friends, which is one of the “best gifts” working at INTA has given me.