Opening Soon: Panama Convention Center, Panama, Central America

You know the meetings and events industry is making a comeback when you hear news about major tradeshows taking place or cities hosting large conferences.

Panama joins in and makes industry headlines with the opening of the Panama Convention Center (PCC).

Set to begin operations in August, the country’s newest state-of-the-art facility is located on the Amador Causeway, facing the Pacific side of the Panama Canal on the west and toward Panama City to east. With about 33,000 sqm of space available, the center has the capacity to hold 23,906 attendees.

Amidst the challenges presented in the past year, PCC will be one of the pillars in the recovery of Panama’s economy. It will aid in boosting hotel occupancy, as well as the entire hospitality sector.

Four international events are scheduled to take place in the coming months, with up to 5,000 attendees. COVID-19 protocol will be in place, of course.

Read more about PCC’s capacities, features, and more on their official website.

What Influences Decision-making?

An attendee’s experience and decisions at an event, venue or destination can be analyzed using behavioral science.

Do we understand how and why stakeholders make ?

In the inaugural episode of World Lab, Stephanie Cheung, Director of Strategy & Insights, interviews Zarak Khan, Senior Behavioral Researcher at Dan Ariely’s Center for Advanced Hindsight. Prior to his current role, Zarak was at Maritz Global Events, an experience design company, as the Behavioral Innovation Director, driving innovation by leveraging a deep understanding of human behavior and modern market trends. He was cited by McKinsey & Company as an expert forging the future of behavioral science.

Behavioral science is an interdisciplinary field that combines psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, etc. Simply put, it explains why people do what they do by looking at key actions or behaviors that drive decisions.

In the travel and events world, those decisions can be influenced by first understanding and then designing the specific decision-making moments. Before you think about how to re-engage your attendee at the event or venue, Zarak encourages thinking more broadly about the principles that have been in psychology for decades and what people’s basic needs are.

The foundational needs are safety and security: Are you able to and do you feel safe? Are the people that they care about safe? That’s a need that has to be met before you can move on to the higher order things that typically relate to travel and events. Once that need is met, a person considers autonomy: to exert influence and control over the environment.

When you can effectively, efficiently, and ethically influence people’s behavior, you can better achieve your business objectives. To learn the rest of Zarak’s tips on what you can do the short term to influence behavior (the “3 C’s”) and some opportunities he sees in the industry, tune into World Lab.

Global Events Visionary: Mr. Scott Young

A Visionary is by no means perfect. However, their proactive approach to planning for the future sets them apart.

Since starting the Meeting Company more than two decades ago, Scott’s experience is clearly an added value to his diverse roster of clients. From navigating through the tech crash at the start of the millennium, through the upheaval of 9/11, and now during the pandemic, Scott is skilled at adapting to change and providing solutions.

As he preps for what he believes will be an unprecedented season of events—even beyond rebooking and modifying existing meetings–Scott spared some time to share how he has been able to stay ahead of the game during this unprecedented nightmare the industry has collectively experienced.

JN: The importance of strategic partnerships and long-term relationships in our industry is key. What are some takeaways you have learned in the last year?

SY: I am a firm believer that good communication is the key to success in this industry. Honest and open communication ensures things are done correctly and delivers positive results.  This is especially true in the event world where different entities interconnect to create a successful event.  During the pandemic, amidst all the closures and lack of business, it might have been easier to shut down.  We took a different approach – staying connected with clients and vendors was imperative to ensure smooth program transitions and bookings without losing details.  It also allowed us to stay ahead of changes and pivot to meet the new challenges expected in the future of meetings and events. Collaboration is more important than ever as we begin to integrate more partners in our system to deliver information and results throughout the entire planning and strategic management process.

JN: Your PlanIT platform is designed to “help plan, track and document even the most complex meeting.” How has the platform been a resource to you and your clients during this time?

SY: From the start of the pandemic until now, our business has been all about changing dates and renegotiating contracts. PlanIT Platform has been a north star for us, to keep everyone on the same page with the information shared across our platform.  Prior to the start of the pandemic, PlanIT Platform had begun to evolve, and we shifted our thinking in how the platform could be offered moving forward. The unexpected lockdown year allowed us to evolve beyond the original project scope.  We expanded our focus to consider the needs of the entire industry.

When we completed the initial design and build of our platform in 2003 and started using it in production, it empowered us all to be successful by freeing us from minutia. The platform provided access to every bit of data and information on each meeting, so the team could be hands on no matter where we were.  It was a good decision – we effectively streamlined the process of planning meetings using this highly-integrated, web-based environment.  The RFP and hotel search processes were more straightforward, budgeting/planning/registration/transportation became simpler, and final closure of the program, including reporting and measurement was much less complicated.  The platform saved extraordinary amounts of time and money for both The Meeting Company and our clients. It also turned out to be a roadmap to designing what we needed to do next.

 

During the pandemic, we all felt the catastrophic negative impact on our industry. There was a silver lining, however – the time to rethink and redesign what PlanIT Platform could be moving forward, and how it might benefit other planning organizations as we come out on the other side. Thanks to that gift of time, we are excited to launch the newly updated PlanIT Platform in early 2021.

JN: What was some advice you shared with your team or clients as you navigated this crisis?

SY: I love baseball. I know many people consider baseball to be boring and slow. However, I had the good fortune of coaching and mentoring little league players. I would often catch kids not paying attention. I ‘d tell them “baseball is the fastest slow game you will ever play”.  In baseball, it takes a split second of not paying attention to have something go very wrong, and you need to be prepared to move quickly when necessary.  This also applies to the meeting and event world. You need to be prepared to be agile and flexible, even when it appears nothing is happening.  Everyone in the world has been impacted by this pandemic and the only constant is the need to adapt and change. Flexibility is the key to survival, now more than ever.

 

JN: Other key advice to share with meeting professionals and destinations alike?

SY: Think like you’re the customer. As the owners of the meeting, it is their money that is being spent and the customer has the right to expect their interests will be met whenever possible. Nobody sets out with the intention of making the process of planning a meeting difficult. However, to avoid the pitfalls a complex meeting planning process presents, it’s essential that all parties work toward the same common goal. Every meeting a customer holds is one part of a much larger goal for their organization. Do your part to help ensure the customers total meeting experience is a success. Each time we deliver on our part, their organization gets closer to its larger goal.

Dubai, Welcoming the World with Open Arms!

Since March 2020, Dubai has been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic. Implementing health and safety measures along with proper protocols to ensure the success of the city. Dubai started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in December 2020 and the UAE currently ranks top 5 in the distribution of vaccination doses administered per 100 people.

Now, exactly a year later, Dubai has continued to demonstrate incredible resilience ranking top 15 countries in the world as rated by Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking.

In continuation with keeping proper tracking and safety practices, effective January 31st all tourists and residents arriving to Dubai must hold a printed negative PCR test certificate, taken no more than 72 hours prior to the time of departure. If traveling from one of the destinations detailed here, arriving individuals must take an additional test upon arrival to Dubai and remain in you hotel or place of residence until results are received.  Upon entry, all tourists are required to register all their details in the COVID-19 DXB app. As of January 5th, 2021, should you test positive, it is mandatory to quarantine for 10 days.

Moreover, the city of Dubai has been opened for business since July 2020 and welcoming international business events as of September 2020. Today, with proper social distancing, we are happy to advise that meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions continue to take place with great success. International and local visitors can enjoy restaurants, amusement parks, public beaches, family, and entertainment facilities amongst many other activities.

Overall, Dubai has done an excellent job with maintaining confidence, comfort, and compliance within locals and international visitors.

If you are looking for a resilient destination to hold your upcoming event, please look no further.

We encourage you to contact with us to answer any questions and/or to connect!

Welcome Back!

Global Events Visionary: Ms. Justine Friedman, CMP

Justine Friedman is the Event Sourcing Manager for The Linux Foundation, “a neutral home and unmatched support for cutting-edge projects — fostering burgeoning communities that breed collaboration, power innovation, and attract the best engineering talent in the world.” Justine’s career began in luxury hotel conference management, amassing over 20 years of experience in the meetings and events space. In all my conversations with Justine, she has provided invaluable insights into the inner workings and needs of LF’s several programs. Justine and her team plan meetings for up to 100-20,000 attendees. As they navigate the challenges ahead, Justine remains hopeful! Her visionary approach has kept their meetings afloat, adapting where needed.

Justine shares her take on the future of meetings and the importance of building long-lasting relationships.

 

JN: You are currently sourcing for some 2021 meetings for The Linux Foundation, how has your position as the Event Sourcing Manager evolved in the last 9 months?

JF: I am very lucky that my role hasn’t changed too much. I am still working on events in 2021 and beyond but I do dedicate additional time to the “what if” factor. We are all hopeful that we will be back in person soon, however, we need to think about and plan for any changes. I do check-ins with all my venue partners and destination reps, I research government regulations, vaccine timelines and airline policies. I reach out to my network to get a feel for the industry and I take advantage of all the great content out there. So many destinations, venues, and hotel brands have put together a wealth of information to address what is going on now and how we will move forward.

 

JN: How has The Linux Foundation responded and adapted its meetings to the current crisis?

JF: I am on a team with brilliant individuals that pivoted very quickly and gracefully to virtual platforms this year. Although the method of which we deliver events has changed for now, we spent a lot of time ensuring we did not miss the key touch points our events are known for: inclusivity, engagement, critical thinking, collaboration, and connection.

 

JN: More than ever, the importance of partnerships and relationships in key markets is crucial. How has it benefited you in your role?

JF: The relationships I have fostered along the way have been invaluable to me. These bonds created a safe space for us to be comfortable and open and to come up with creative solutions that benefit all parties involved. It’s also afforded me the opportunity to learn how my partners work, how decisions are made, and what the goals are for each organization.  Really understanding the people you work with is a wonderful gift. You will learn so much from them and, in turn, you can be a better partner.  I believe all parties should walk away from the table happy and I think building relationships helps achieve this for everyone.

 

JN: What was some advice you shared with your team as you navigated this crisis?

JF: There is always a solution, and even if we don’t know what that is at the very moment, one will come in due time.  An old colleague of mine used to say, “don’t worry twice”, and I have been carrying this lesson with me for 15+ years. Don’t worry or stress before something may happen. Take that energy and make it action; research, ask questions, come up with a solution with the people around you.  You will be amazed at what you will achieve and you will feel much better doing it.

 

JN: Other key advice to share with meeting professional and destinations alike?

JF: As we enter a new phase of events, however this may look and the changes that may ensue, I believe simply going back to the basics is a good place for all of us to review again. Overcommunicate, listen, be candid, seek to understand, and always, always respond in a timely manner. Not only do these save time and issues later on, it’s respectful to the person and the work they are trying to accomplish and it’s a great way to create a long-lasting partnership.

 

Dubai Leading the Way

PCMA Convening Leaders took place virtually on January 11-15, 2021 and was described as an “omnichannel experience for event professionals.”

During the event, PCMA’s President & CEO, Mr. Sheriff Karamat sat down via Zoom with Mr. Steen Jakobsen, Assistant Vice President at Dubai Business Events (DBE) and City Operations to discuss DBE’s leadership role in reopening the meetings and events sector in Dubai.

Steen shares that Dubai adopted a proactive approach and implemented strict safety measures in the first stages of the crisis.

Reviving the events industry took a close collaboration with local industry stakeholders and government entities—working together to develop a set of guidelines, health, and safety protocols for event organizers. DBE acts as a facilitator between event organizers and the local community (corporate sector, scientific/research entities, and universities), associating every entity to reach a common goal to in order to create events with a substantial impact.

Their efforts resulted in the business events sector reopening this past September. A few weeks ago, Dubai hosted the 2021 GITEX, gathering 1200 international exhibitors from over 100 countries with several thousand attendees at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dubai’s leadership has always recognized the importance of business events as a driver of the economy diversity. Steen expresses his enthusiasm of being part of Dubai’s transformation. He emphasizes the critical role of business events for Dubai’s economic diversification.

Further, Steen shares that through innovation such as AI and FINTECH, Dubai is recognized as a global innovation hub. Steen expresses his optimism for the future of our industry.

To see the full 20 minutes interview, click here.

Photo description: GITEX in Dubai, December 2020.

Photo credit: Arabian Business Industries