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ESAE & Associations Leading the sustainable front

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Colophon HQ or Headquarters is a niche publication for European and international associations headquartered in Brussels and all major European cities dealing with the organisation of worldwide congresses. Published 6 times a year. Circulation: 5,000 copies. Subscriptions 65€ (all incl.) in Belgium, 75€ (all incl.) in the EU, 95€ (all incl.) in the rest of the world. One subscription entails 5 editions of Headquarters a year, including HQ Meeting Trends Special. To subscribe: www.headquartersmagazine.com Editor in Chief Marcel A.M. Vissers T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T. +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@headquartersmagazine.com Account Manager – International Sales Kelvin Lu T. +32 (0)2 761 70 59 kelvin@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Editor Rémi Dévé T. +32 (0)2 761 70 58 remi@headquartersmagazine.com Editor J. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye Design & Print Press Point Poelstraat 167 - 9820 Merelbeke T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be Supported by ESAE, the European Society of Association Executives, and UIA, the Union of International Associations Address 59 rue René Declercq 1150 Brussels (Belgium) T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 F. +32 (0)2 761 70 51 www.headquartersmagazine.com press@headquartersmagazine.com

Marcel A.M. VISSERS Editor in Chief

An Association House in Brussels

I often hear that other cities are jealous of the position of Brussels. The Belgian capital has everything that a successful meetings destination needs, and in particular, all those international institutions. In addition, Brussels is the home of Europe. It also enjoys the prominent presence of many headquarters of international associations. At the last count, there were as many as 2265, according to FAIB. But what Brussels doesn’t have is an Association House. Fortunately, the Brussels Convention Bureau is having a feasibility study prepared for an Association hub in Brussels. Better late than never, I suppose. The European Society of Association Executives (ESAE) has been commissioned to carry out this investigation. This Association Hub, or the Association House, would constitute a central platform in Brussels, creating a space for information, networking and the education of international executives, and a local community linking the Brussels Capital Region to other regions in Europe and the world. This last sentence is essential for me because Brussels should never just focus on itself. The European cause is key to its success. Associations hate the narrow-mindedness of tourism. The Association House should focus on issues related to EU Funding and EU Projects. According to Alfons Westgeest of Kellen Europe, this is the most difficult and the most frustrating question to solve. However, the European meetings industry will have to bite the bullet at some stage. In fact, we haven’t even reached the threshold of the European Institutions yet, so we are still a far cry from developing a European identity. In other words, bringing together the meetings industry and the EU is proving to be quite a challenge.

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Contents

Cécile Caiati-Koch

Rémi Dévé

Kelvin Lu

GENERAL News Association Portrait IMEX SkyTeam

5 7 10 12

ESAE Sustainability and Associations

DESTINATIONS EUROPE Maastricht, Netherlands World Forum The Hague, Netherlands Lausanne, Switzerland Luxembourg

26 29 31 32

Rimini, Italy Berlin, Germany Nantes, France Riga, Latvia Moscow, Russia

33 34 36 38 40

ASIA-PACIFIC Seoul, Korea Shanghai, China Malaysia Taiwan Thailand Macao Brisbane, Australia Sri Lanka

42 44 46 48 50 52 54 57 3

> News

Stuttgart after Business App for business travellers Business travellers represent one of the most important target groups in Germany’s tourist industry. For this reason, the Stuttgart Marketing GmbH has developed an app specifically for them: the Stuttgart After Business App. The offers focus mainly on themes such as eating out, live music locations, special after-work offers, workout facilities and shopping tips. Particular attention has been paid to selecting offers that are all typical of the region. It’s intended that business visitors should gain a distinctive impression of the region’s unique features and be enthused by its range of tourism options. www.congress-stuttgart.de

4th India Association Congress in Jaipur

Daegu

Renewable energy community in Daegu Daegu recently hosted the Green Energy Expo & Conference from 2-4 April 2014. This year marked the international event’s 11th year in the Korean city, drawing 45,000 visitors from Korean and Asian renewable energy markets. Organised by the Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association, Korea Wind Energy Industry Association and Korea Energy News, the Green Energy

Expo & Conference featured approximately 1,000 exhibitor booths from 300 companies and 24 countries. The event leveraged on the city’s long standing credentials in the field of renewal energy events - Daegu hosted the inaugural International Solar Cities Initiative (ISCI) Congress in 2004, and then in 2013, was the venue of the 22nd World Energy Congress. www.daegucvb.com

The 4th India Association Congress 2014 is scheduled 23-24 August 2014 at the historical Fairmont Jaipur, the Pink City of India. The Indian Associations Congress is the must-attend event for association leaders, thinkers, professionals and service providers alike. Now in its fourth year, this annual event will attract over 300 association professionals from India and the region. www.indiaassociationcongress.com

New brand image for EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre The EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre in St. Petersburg has a new brand image. Central to the brand is a Super E symbol representing the architectural layout of the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre, the three exhibition halls and the congress centre forming the four elements of the E. It expresses the idea of a form that can be filled with a variety of content, as they events themselves each give the venue a unique style. As to the slogan, ‘Experience Momentim’ has been chosen. www.expoforum.ru/en

>Association Portrait

International Society of Nephrology (ISN) A talk with Luca Segantini “Advancing Nephrology Around the World”: the mission statement of the International Society of Nephrology is quite obvious. But how does the organisation operate and what are its challenges? Luca Segantini, Executive Director, answers.

HQ: Could you briefly present ISN? Luca Segantini: The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) is a bit of a special organisation: we do all traditional things that you would associate with a medical society (a successful congress, a high-quality journal, education activities and networking events) but a big part of our mission is to provide philanthropic support, directed to bridging the gap in kidney care provision across the world. Concretely, that means subsidizing about 50 young doctors from developing countries to study abroad for 1 year, linking up nephrology centers so they can learn from each other, sending educational ambassadors and so on. We cover the expenses for these activities (about $1,5 Million/ year) with the margin from the “traditional” scientific activities, so it’s a very good model, which our members feel good in supporting.

HQ: How does the Society operate? Luca Segantini: The ISN is an independent organisation incorporated in the USA since 1960, with its own offices in Brussels and in Cranford, NJ, USA. Since two years, we are self-managed, after a long period with two different association management companies, which has helped structuring our processes. I must say that the move to selfmanagement has been a game changer for us, not just in saving money, but in boosting the team commitment and in building a true ISN spirit within the organisation, both across volunteer leadership and the staff (19 people in our two offices). HQ: What kind of events does ISN organise? Luca Segantini: The ISN organises three types of conferences: small gatherings of scientists around a well-defined topic, to explore the latest developments in basic science, named Forefronts. These gather typically around

Luca Segantini

150 people. We also organise Nexus events, which are larger (500-600 participants) and ensure proper dialogue between clinical specialists and researchers. Finally, our biennial congress, the World Congress of Nephrology, gathers 5-6,000 participants and provides a very nice overview of global issues in kidney care, that are suited to any participant irrespective to their country of origin. The latest venues for the WCN have been Milan (2009), Vancouver (2011), Hong Kong (2013), and we are now working hard on the next exciting conference which will take place in Cape Town next year. There are great expectations, as this will be the first major international nephrology congress to happen in Africa. 7

>Association Portrait

HQ: What is the process like for selecting a destination and organising an international meeting and, a fortiori, a World Congress? Luca Segantini: We are a global organisation, so we must ensure proper attention to all parts of the world. It would be too simple to just select the destinations where we know we can have a great attendance and good sponsor support. We rotate across world regions, issue a call for proposal within the selected region for that year, and carefully examine received bids. The ISN Council then awards the congress to the bid that shows the best potential, which takes into account the support local scientific societies and tourism boards, the financial outlook, logistics and ease of access for participants. It is a complex evaluation, which I am sure your readers are familiar with, and we recently strengthened our own congress expertise by putting together a full events team under the leadership of Wessel Nieuwenweg, a very experienced congress director. I must say that all ISN leadership was impressed by the outcome of our recent congress in Hong Kong, which turned out to be a truly “world-class congress of nephrology”, as a participant brilliantly defined it. HQ: What kind of venues do you need and what criteria must they satisfy? Luca Segantini: As I mentioned above, we are looking for an ideal mix between attractiveness, ease of access, nice conference venue and financial

arrangements. This has certainly been achieved in 2011 and 2013, and we are very confident that WCN 2015 will prove to be another excellent experience for our members. Recently, we have become a little smarter in how we handle the bid process, not to let our contractual power with conference venues go away by announcing our choice before proper negotiations, which was the case in the past. We grow and learn every day… HQ: As the Executive Director, could you share what makes the job challenging and interesting? Luca Segantini: I must say that, after a whole career spent in the for-profit world, I was a bit concerned when the opportunity with the ISN turned up in 2009. I was imagining not-for-profits are slow-moving, constantly strapped for money, very bureaucratic and with slow decision-making (and let’s admit it, some of them are). I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the ISN provides the ideal mix between a mission you can 100% subscribe to - who wouldn’t be pleased by receiving phone calls from people we’ve helped to learn medicine, and that tell us how their life was changed by the support they received from the ISN? - and a working environment which is as professional, fastmoving and innovative as a start-up. I must thank all ISN leaders and staff who work with me every day to make our organisation the very efficient machine we are now. If I have to mention challenges, I can only think of positive ones: the very lean

organisation makes decision-making some time a big responsibility, and whilst I am very grateful for the autonomy I am given by the ISN Executive Committee, I sometimes imagine what would happen if something goes wrong… Also, as we grew from 8 to 19 team members during two years when everybody else was downsizing, we need to continuously upgrade our processes, keep on top of innovation and be ready for constant change. All this can be exciting and stressful at the same time. HQ: How would you summarize new trends in the association congress world? Luca Segantini: We are all hearing about the big trends that are shaping the “new” association of tomorrow: social media, less inclination of younger generations to join a medical society, the transformation of medical publishing (open access, anyone?) and the pressure on our traditional supporters, pharmaceutical companies, by their shrinking research pipeline, which reduces the budget they can invest to support associations. We see all this happening in nephrology too, but we are very grateful to our members and supporters for understanding we are not only here to provide the best science to our members but also to help some of them gain access to education and resources they could not afford by themselves. This is, I think, what is unique to the ISN and what will keep us “competitive” in the years to come. www.theisn.org

The local event organizers of WCN in Hong Kong happily jump to celebrate a successful Congress.

> Fair

Strong education programme urges “save people, not associations” at IMEX “Save people, not associations” is just one of the education sessions being delivered at this year’s IMEX Association Day on Monday May 19th. The specialised education and networking event for association professionals working within the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry returns to the Sheraton Airport, Frankfurt, with another rich programme designed to shed new light on some of the biggest challenges currently facing association executives and their members.

Davi Kaur of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO); Benita Lipps from the DaVinci Institute and Christoph Raudonat from the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE). This session is aimed at senior level executives and directors with a focus on strategic design rather than event delivery which is covered separately in the meetings track.

Human-centred

All education gets underway following a networking lunch and rounds off with an hour of small group hot topic discussions led by expert facilitators.

“Save people, not associations” will be led by Irving Washington, Director of Operations at the Online News Association and marks the first in the day’s operations track sessions. Washington will look at the discipline of human-centred design as a driver of innovation. He will also explore the importance of ‘going beyond the data’, putting participants into small working groups to learn a humancentred-design process resulting in a model they can take back to the office. Other sessions during the day will include “Designing for Strategic Impact - Association Events that Matter”, which will be led by a multi-disciplinary panel comprising 10

The free of charge, dedicated programme provides delegates with education choices in three distinct tracks - operations, executive and meetings. All sessions have been designed and will be co-delivered by some of the industry’s leading associations including ICCA, PCMA and ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership.

New for 2014 Once again over 300 association professionals from 40 countries are expected to

IMEX Association Day 2013

attend, with numbers set to reach 900 when IMEX exhibitors and association partners join them for an evening networking reception at the Marriott Hotel. New for 2014 is the participation of members from the AWMF (Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany) who will attend a private tax seminar in the morning and then join the IMEX Association Day programme later in the day. Places are still available for IMEX Association Day and Evening. Delegates must be registered as either a Hosted Buyer or a Buyer Visitor for the IMEX trade show. For more details and to register www.imex-frankfurt.com/events/ education/association-day/

> Airlines

SkyTeam’s Global Meetings product A dream come true for planners

For those of you who are not familiar with SkyTeam, it’s high time we bring you up to speed. SkyTeam’s 20 member airlines indeed provide comprehensive access to an extensive global network of more than 1,000 destinations in 178 countries, and over the years made sure to offer a competitive package to meeting planners. Let’s see what SkyTeam has up it sleeves!

Global reach Organising a meeting with global reach requires partners who span the globe. Global reach is what SkyTeam does every day - that’s why they came up with the Global Meetings product, which aims to facilitate the life of the meeting planners by bringing the ideal event travel solution into one place. The idea is to simplify the organisation of travel to international events, whether it’s a meeting for 50 or a conference for thousands. With Global Meetings, you’ll get discounted fares for your attendees, reward tickets - in short, the whole process of event travel has been made easy. With SkyTeam you can for 12

instance register your meetings quickly, and participants enjoy an attractive discount of 2 to 15% and they have access to SkyTeam’s network of over 1,000 destinations worldwide.

travel agency to handle all ticketing via an efficient automated registration system. - Delegate tracking: up to the minute monitoring of number of bookings. The organisers will this way know when they reach the threshold for reward tickets (one per 50 flown) - Global Meetings support desk: available Monday through Friday to assist event organisers with queries and follow up

Global reach is what SkyTeam does every day that’s why they came up with the Global Meetings product, which aims to facilitate the life of the meeting planners Better news The even better news is that SkyTeam has been working, all through 2013, at enhancing the product itself. This includes: - Travel agent registration: enabling event organisers to nominate their preferred

- Enhanced Communications kit: exclusive web, email or print resources such as promotional material to raise delegates’ awareness and handy tips on setting up travel pages for the event website

> Airlines

Mauro Oretti, SkyTeam’s vice president Sales and Marketing, puts it like this: ‘We’re capitalizing on the positive trend in the meetings industry by removing the complexity of event travel management to deliver a simplified solution. In addition, our leading position in Greater China - a fast-growing MICE market, combined with our extensive network of more than 1,064 destinations, means SkyTeam can fly attendees to all the world’s meetings hotspots on many of the world’s leading airlines.’

More info www.skyteam.com/globalmeetings globalmeetings@skyteam.com About SkyTeam SkyTeam is a global airline alliance providing customers from member airlines access to an extensive global network. Passengers can earn

For event attendees: • Up to 15% off published fares • Online booking for flights on all of SkyTeam’s 20 member airlines • Booking also available via Travel Agency • Earning of frequent flyer points as usual with SkyTeam airlines

and redeem Frequent Flyer Miles throughout the SkyTeam network. SkyTeam member airlines offer customers access to 564 lounges worldwide. The 20 members are: Aeroflot, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China

Whether making a personal journey or doing global business, a journey with SkyTeam affords travelers more flexibility, convenience and choices. For association planners, this Global Meetings product might well be a dream come true: the hassle of event travel won’t simply be a hassle anymore. One-stop shop and flexibility are the key words here: SkyTeam is there to help and, in this area, they surely deliver.

Key advantages of the Global meetings product

Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

For organisers: • Easy contract set-up, in only 3 minutes, online at SkyTeam.com • A dedicated support desk to help you along the way • 1 reward ticket on any SkyTeam airline for every 50 passengers who travel to your event with SkyTeam Global Meetings. • Customizable booking page for your event on SkyTeam.com • New online tools to register your preferred travel agency, or track your bookings online 13

The 10 most unsustainable behaviors of the Association Executive The modern association executive is a schizophrenic individual, divided between the ambition to drive his/her organisation to take over the world (using knowledge as a legal weapon) and the reality of managing a society with very little resources if compared to its level of aspiration. Text Alessandro Cortese, President of ESAE and CEO of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)

Here is a list, in random order, of some of the professional behaviors that can impact negatively (and positively, if you try to avoid those pitfallsâ&#x20AC;Ś) on the sustainability of your organisation. Note to the reader: this list is based on the experience of the author of these few lines. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental!

1 - Failing to admit that the Board owns the strategic thinking Association executives have a tendency to think they know best what is good for their organisation. They usually insist on presenting to their Boards long and articulated plans telling what should be done and what not. And they usually get very frustrated when Boards decline their ideas, blaming it on the Directors for the lack of growth of the association. Sometimes, the association executive feels very alone and not understood by the Board, when thinking he/she brings the responsibility of the strategy of the society. Often, in the same Society, the Board spends hours in meetings discussing operational issues.

2 - Failing to install a positive governance mechanism in the society Who is in charge of what? Who is controlling who and how? How are the powers segregated? A key growth factor for societies is in general linked to enlarging the number of active and engaged members. This can usually be achieved by creating groups working on different aspects of the life of the society. However this implies delegating the responsibilities for running projects and activities. And delegation needs a clear control schema. Sometimes, societies have little layers behind the Board. Often, those Societies have trouble finding new candidates to take up Board and leadership positions.

3 - Failing to survey the members regularly Associations often fail to get back to the membership and conduct regular surveys to understand the needs and reasons to join or leave. With time, the management of the organisation defines its own understanding

Alessandro Cortese

of the members, without real data to support it. Often, the gap between the leadership and the base of the Society becomes hard to fill. With time, the benefits and products offering becomes less relevant, and less people attend events and remain as members.

4 - Failing to plan against market data Some association executives think their organisation is too small to conduct market researches in order to identify and quantify opportunities. As a result the planning of new initiatives and developments is often complex and decisions are taken because of internal or political reasons, instead of objective evidence and measurable returns. Some societies probably never heard the words business and plan in the same sentence. And often societies fail in defining a list of performance indicators to assess if things are going fine or not. 15

5 - Considering the job to be, mainly, meeting planning Many societies make most of their money out of the meetings they organise. What is the point in wasting time in other projects? Let’s do more meetings, instead! Yeah, right… Why do you need an association, then? And why do you need an association executive at all? Just keep the congress team or the PCO.

recommending a new 5D imaging technology allowing to discover the cause of the migraines of the host’s wife. However, the experts are the members of the organisation. Your expertise is in well managing the association and creating the resources for it to meet its objectives.

Sometimes, some societies lose the point to fund raise in order to better achieve the mission and the strategic objectives of the organisation. They deviate to raining funds in order to maintain the professional structure of the organisation. Isn’t there an issue of relevancy?

8 - Fundraising for the wrong cause

While it is true that some professionals have the luck to work for multinational groups with thousands of employees and a strong internal knowledge and training program, that is often not the case of the association executive. With a number of employees closer to the grocery store around the corner, often association executives cannot really rely on a sound internal educational program. Luckily, for the ones who might be tempted to think they can reinvent the wheel every day, there are professional networks where it is possible to meet peers and exchange experiences, tools and practices.

Many societies make most of their money out of the meetings they organise. What is the point in wasting time in other projects? Let’s do more meetings, instead! Yeah, right… Why do you need an association, then? Meetings are a mechanism to disseminate knowledge and create networking opportunities, not a goal per se. There is no meeting without excellent content. There is no content without a healthy and relevant society.

6 - Planning too big “By 2020 we will become the most relevant organisation in the sector, by quadrupling the membership and growing revenue by 170%. At the same time, our congress will go from 200 participants to 6,000 with an exhibition growing from 5 to 100 companies.” I’m not going to push it to the point of claiming that the above is a true citation, but I’ve seen very similar ones. Plan step-by-step and achievable objectives, with a longerterm vision.

7 - Becoming the Expert After a few years in the position in a medical society, the association executive, usually with an academic background in agronomy or anthropology (no offense taken if you are an agronomist or an anthropologist) will become very popular in social occasions while

Some societies have developed the expertise of looking for all niche opportunities for funding at international and national levels and can create new and sophisticated projects to meet all requirements of the funding programs. They have articulated structures of consultants and they manage very stringent agendas packed with deadlines to submit kilos of funding proposals in order to maintain and aliment the structure looking for funds and drafting proposals.

9 - Work in isolation

10 - Renouncing to passion It does not matter how small or big your organisation is. The association executive cannot commit the deadly sin to become a 9-5 employee serving whichever cause or project paying the check at the end of the month. Association management is a job of passion. Passion for the cause you are serving today. www.esae.org

Association Stewardship Serving current and future members through sustainable strategy To be successful in today’s volatile, globalised environment, associations need to find ways of keeping up with the changing world. This requires a new, more proactive approach to association planning and a more inclusive concept of leadership. Text Benita Lipps Three seminal publications have been addressing this very need for more inclusive, sustainable strategies and leadership: Porter & Kramer‘s HBR article ‚Creating Shared Value‘, Nassim N. Tailb‘s book ’Antifragile‘ and Donaldson& Davis‘ ‚Stewardship Theory‘. This article explores if and how their insights can be applied to the field of association management.

The need for a sustainable strategy The rapid pace of globalisation has changed the way people live, work and interact. It has lead to new, dual career paths, hybrid professions and an increasing digital interconnecteness across physical borders. These changes have an impact on the role of associations. Traditional models of membership based on qualification, profession and geographical location may no longer satisfy the needs of today‘s young hyperconnected, globalised generation.

Three key elements of Association Stewardship While there are many aspects to sustainable association strategy, we‘ll only focus on three elements: sustainable strategic planning, sustainable strategy implementation and sustainable leadership through association stewardship. From members to communities: Sustainable Strategic Planning A sustainable strategy has to ”address the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs“ (3). Keeping future generations in mind therefore means a broader view of association stakeholders, shifting from ’members only‘ to an an ever fluid ’community of interest‘. In the times of Web 2.0, associations, can only remain relevant if they act as facilitators to their communities, rather than as a ‚walled garden‘ to a limited group of paying members.

Traditional models of membership based on qualification, profession and geographical location may no longer satisfy the needs of today‘s young hyperconnected, globalised generation It’s impossible to become immune to unexpected events argues Talib (1), but we can stop worshipping at the altar of efficiency and build anti-fragile systems that can react and interact with their environment. This requires a strategic approach that puts long-term sustainability before short-term gains. “Just about every association is dealing with a more complex environment,” said Jean Frankel, in a recent article (2) on the role of association leaders, “more and more, it’s not just the mission of the organisation that defines success, it’s the strategy.”

Sustainable approaches go beyond just serving their communities of interest. According to Frankel, you have to invest in ”two-way interaction with your members [...] to make sure that you’re guiding decisions rather than making decisions.” Jeff de Cagna goes even further, challenging associations to delegate - at least some of the - strategic planning to ‘the crowds’. Crowdsourcing allows associations to ”tap into the insights and imagination of stakeholder networks that extend beyond the boundaries of membership,“ thus increasing anti-fragility. (4)

Benita Lipps

From benefits to value: Sustainable Strategy Implementations When it comes to the actual implementation of strategy, associations may want to rethink the way they create value. In their article ‚Creating Shared Value‘ (5), Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer illustrate that both associations and companies focus on short-term performance while ignoring the broader influences that determine their longer-term success. Too many have lost sight of the most basic of questions: Is what we offer good for our members? Or for our communities? For society? According to Porter and Kramer, there are three distinct ways to create shared value: (1) by reconceiving sustainable products and markets, (2) by redefining productivity, and (3) by building supportive clusters: 17

Conceiving sustainable products or services does not necessarily raise costs. On the contrary, it can invite fresh thinking and innovative improvements through the use of new technologies, operating methods, and management approaches. We have all witnessed how ‘green meetings’, can lead to better products and more interesting services, when taking seriously. Another example would be service delivery, where virtual channels complement, diversify or replace physical ones. When it comes to productivity, an antifragile association will look beyond costs and assess the full value, including possible trade-offs. For instance, outsourcing association events or communication may save expenses, but could cost dearly if the direct dialogue with members is lost. Qualified staff may be an investment, but it ensures that knowledge and relationships are maintained at the very heart of the organisation. The third lesson we may extract from Porter and Kramer is that a sustainable strategy requires cooperation. To paraphrase John Donne: ‚no association is an island‘. Success is affected strongly by our socio-economical environment. Working in “knowledge clusters” with related networks, suppliers, NGO’s, government structures and universities will deepen our work and provide additional value to members.

Stewards as Association CEOs What does this mean for associations in terms of recruiting? According to Kai Peters (6), it is important to „broaden their talent pools“ and think more creatively about the kind of people most likely to lead them to a sustainable future. This could mean consciously recruiting staff with new, complementary experiences. Diverse management teams tend to outperform lonely leaders when it comes to sustainability, innovation and anti-fragility.

Empowering Sustainability No matter how well the recruitment process works, managers are not born as stewards, but made to stewards by their objectives and their environment. The research of Donaldson & Davis (7) shows that managers are more likely to become stewards when they (1) identify with the association mission, (2) operate within a collaborative culture, (3) serve with boards with longer tenure and (4) have an unambiguous and unchallenged role within the organisation. Consequently, if association boards want stewards as leaders, they need to give their managers the responsibility, freedom and trust that enables them to act as such.

Towards Association Stewardship The image of the steward - as a facilitator that is temporarily entrusted with the

steering of the ‚vessel‘ association - reflects the paradigm of sustainable strategy like no other. We may not all be willing or able to open the gates of our associations to the world, to re-design our value proposition, to recruit new talent or reshuffle our boards. However, if we‘re serious about sustainability, we may start by asking ourselves a little more often ‚how do we want to serve?‘

About the Author Benita is a board member of the ESAE and a regular speaker at association events. She works as executive director of the DaVinci Institute - a think tank and consultancy specialising in collaborations for smart, creative & sustainable innovation. http://davinci-institute.eu References (1) Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2012): Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder. Penguin. (2) Rob Stott (3/2014) Are Association CEOs more important today than ever? Associations Now. (3) United Nations Brundtland Commission definition of ‘sustainable development’ (Mach 1987) (4) Jeff de Cagna (3/2013) 5 ‘Next Practices’ for Board Business Model Stewardship. Associations Now. (5) Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer (1/2011) Creating Shared Value. Harvard Business Review. (6) Kai Peters (2013) Developing next generation leaders for a sustainable future - the stewardship model. HR Zone. (7) Donaldson, L., & Davis, J. H. (1991) Stewardship Theory or Agency Theory: CEO governance and shareholder returns. Australian Journal of Management.

Condition for success: A new approach to Association Leadership As always, successful implementation starts and ends with the people. Sustainable strategy cannot be dictated; we need stewards, not rulers to lead the path. Boards and CEOs will require fewer ‚decision-making‘ and more ‚facilitation‘ skills - allowing the voices of both current and future generations to be heard. Stewards are leaders who understand that the reigns have been entrusted to them temporarily, that their task is to serve, not to control. Their emphasis lies on delivering results with others - on bringing networks and resources together in pursuit of a common aim.

So sustainable events are important… But where do I start? Many association executives are hearing the call for sustainable or green events and we all get the philosophy and understand the need in our personal lives. But where does one start in planning a large scale conference sustainably? Roger Simons, CMP, Group Sustainability Manager, MCI Group “Global Initiatives”, an organisation headquartered in Singapore but active in markets across the world, has a driving message and an industry it wants to prosper and flourish. Its cause is to promote partnership solutions to global challenges by sharing knowledge and best practices, and calling on all stakeholders to take action bringing, business leaders, NGOs and policy-makers together. Events are a key weapon in its armoury and following a number of years of great events around the world they wanted to take their 2013 event to the next level, calling on MCI Group on board. With an event focused on sustainability the need is even greater to “walk the walk” and putting together the forum with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Natural Capital Coalition (NCC) and the Sustainable World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the event’s strategic partners agreed to invest in the space. The Responsible Business Forum held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was a showcase sustainability event in Singapore, mostly for the Asian meetings industry. Not only with its content and participants, but also by the use of innovative sustainable event practices including a 100% vegetarian

the shampoo and soap station

and local food menu and one of the highest waste diversion rates ever disclosed for an event of this scale in Singapore.

How did they do it? To promote event industry sustainability and the event management process, the organisers based their approach on the ISO20121 Specification for Event Sustainability and the Singapore Sustainable MICE Guidelines.

• High energy consumption and demand The planning team leaders reviewed these risks and identified other opportunities that affected the Forum. A strategy was developed with clear objectives and actions to increase the sustainable performance of the event. 2. ACT: Through a series of meetings with key suppliers, the organisers shared a Sustainability Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct and the Singapore Sustainability Guidelines for the MICE industry (produced by the Singapore Tourism Board). These helped the suppliers and event team to review, discuss and improve the event management

The Responsible Business Forum held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was a showcase sustainability event in Singapore, mostly for the Asian meetings industry They defined five key steps: 1. ENGAGE: The event management team engaged key suppliers and a selection of key event stakeholders and collectively identified the following key sustainability issues and risks when planning the Forum: • Carbon emissions created by the high volume of international flights to Singapore for delegates and speakers • Perceived scarcity of local food • Waste created by stage set production, delegate communication, catering and materials

practices. The event management team made a series of conscientious decisions in the purchasing of material and services. This included procuring sustainable signage, badge holders, lanyards, printing, catering, communications as well as the selection of venue and location. 3. MEASURE: MCI Sustainability Services provided independent assessment on the sustainability practices of the hotel, venue, catering, food and beverage and suppliers. They collected measurement data and documented results.

4. COMMUNICATE: The organisers communicated widely and early with delegates, key suppliers and event partners. A dedicated sustainability page was created on the website to share details with delegates. The team created a post-event report and an educational video. 5. IMPROVE: The results and experiences from the sustainability initiatives were reviewed and will be incorporated into the planning of future events in order to improve performance. Having set up a strategy, the organisers identified important areas that needed to be addressed:

The issue of waste The organisers set aggressive waste recycling targets diverting 88% away from landfill. Cooking oil was recycled and bottled water was eliminated saving approximately 2,000 plastic bottles. Delegates were provided with glassware and large water dispensers. All signage was recycled. The hotel operated a linen re-use programme for those staying at the official venue, reduced paper usage and increased functionality by implementing a mobile application for Android & IOS systems containing the programme, speakers and event information.

Using suppliers to support goals Sourcing the right supplies is key and not always as hard as it might seem. The organisers managed to source badge holders that were hand made with 100% recycled paper & banana fibre and sourced recycled PET lanyards. Conference bags were eliminated and for signs the organisers switched to “Re-board signage”, constructed of 95% renewably sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and 100% recyclable. Understanding that the events impact reached far beyond the venue all delegate transport was eliminated, holding the event and dinners alike onsite and promoted the local public transport network. Working with the host venue the team selected a 100% vegetarian and locally sourced “harvest” menu with ingredients from Thailand, 22

Indonesia and Malaysia. Herbs used in the menu were also supplemented from Marina Bay Sands’ very own herb garden. All condiments were served in bulk and no individual sachets (except sweetener) were used to reduce wastage. In the meeting rooms there was no pre-setting of paper, mints, and water at tables and chair covers for lunches were avoided. Water dispensers and glasses were provided for delegates in each room to reduce wastage.

Harnessing the power of CSR projects A mainstay of many events across the world, CSR projects are becoming a must have. The organisers wanted to have as broad an impact in Singapore and beyond as possible and undertook a number of initiatives: Food Donation - Donating waste food is easy but can be constrained by local legislation. In Singapore the team donated waste food to “Willing Hearts”, supporting the elderly of Singapore and organised an on-site CSR project in support of the Marina Bay Sands “Soap for Hope” project. Leftover liquid soaps and shampoo from its hotel rooms were collected at a station and delegates helped pour leftover soaps into containers which were then given to charity. Integrating CSR into the programme - Thinking innovatively the team weaved a community project into the programme by hiring a local community group, MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore) to perform the Forum’s opening act. Engaging Youth - Wanting to support the youth of Singapore the team organised a side event in partnership with the Singapore Management University to engage with

high-potential young future leaders and attracted 50 locals. Legacy - What remains after the event is a critical consideration so the team created an educational video and sustainability report to share sustainability best practices and inspire other event organisers to make more responsible decisions.

Carbon emissions Carbon emissions are a hot topic at the international and national government level and recent climate disasters reinforce the need to reduce our impact on the atmosphere. Savvy association executives know that offsetting doesn’t directly address the issue, it merely attempts to balance the damage. Therefore the organisers strategy was to first reduce demand on the earth’s resources and then what couldn’t be reduced would be offset. The event set out not only to save as much energy as possible but to accurately measure impact, partnering with Marina Bay Sands to use their new system for metering energy usage of individual meetings and debuting advanced in-room movement sensors to reduce our energy consumption in meeting rooms. The Forum produced a total of 249.31 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, or an average of 0.55 tons CO2 equivalent per delegate. Typically events in destinations with strong road and rail networks have less carbon emissions but in this case Singapore is a city most if not all international delegates flew to. To read more about the event read the sustainable event report at www.globalinitiatives.com and check out the event video www.youtube.com/ GroupCommunication

JUMP to it! Is Sustainability at the top of your list? Well it probably depends on the year you were born, for clarification, the generation to which you belong. We all know about the various generations: the Traditionalists, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, GenY… and where they fit in to the decades. In order to understand where we are going however, we need to recap where they, within a murky generalisation, fit into the sustainability scheme of things. The Traditionalists, in the main now retired, definitely did not have sustainability high on their list of priorities as they struggled with the aftermath of the Second World War and the meteoric rise of technology in their latter years. The Baby Boomers, having drifted through the late 60s, the Beatles and carefree living, whilst highly aware of the need to preserve the planet, did not perhaps engage with it as much as they should as far as their workplace was concerned. Generation X, currently in the height of their careers, are often characterised as “managing” with the ability to control, to advance, to create, often at the cost of sustainability, which is not necessarily the highest point on their agenda.

Looking good Which leaves us with Generation Y, the youth of today, starting out on their chosen career paths and who are, as a generalisation, nothing less than demanding, wanting, and expecting, instant gratification and constant feedback. By 2025, around three quarters of the world’s working population will be Generation Y:

Sue Daugulis, Venue West, visiting a Grade 3 class at Mt. Currie 1st Nations Reserve

what are those characteristics that will shape the future, and will it include sustainability at their core? Moving away from the Gen X philosophy of all work, Gen Y seeks to create a more sustainable work-life balance, added to which they are social and environmentally conscious. It is therefore looking good for the planet with Generation Y. They care more about Corporate Social Responsibility and green issues, and in principal expect to have some interaction with the local community - giving back. At home, pretty well all of the generation categories automatically recycle their household materials. It is not something to have to think about, the average person just “does it”; the paper in the paper-bin,

the cans in the cans-bin, the plastics in the plastics-bin, the bottles in the bottle-bank, and so on. It is essential that that second nature extends into the workplace. And from the very outset. When putting out an RfP, potentially from an International Association to a PCO, one of the many questions to be asked should refer to their in-house CSR policy, and to their active sustainability programme. Does the company have a CSR project, such as, for example, JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Mathematical Prodigies), where since 2000, PCO Venue West has been spearheading an initiative to spread the work of this nonfor-profit charity to many inner-city schools in Vancouver, helping turn children from failure to success. 23

The foundations for JUMP were laid in 1998, when Dr John Mighton, who has a PhD in mathematics and philosophy, volunteered to tutor failing children in inner-city Toronto in mathematics. With his support, the children’s marks improved dramatically,

initiatives, how green is their venue? Generation Y want different things from their venues today: they want chill-out zones, natural daylight, outdoor areas, green policies… all contributing to the secondnature of their sustainable culture.

When putting out an RfP, potentially from an International Association to a PCO, one of the many questions to be asked should refer to their in-house CSR policy, and to their active sustainability programme from failing to 95% or above, on average. Perhaps the most significant benefit of Dr Mighton’s intervention was that the children, having mastered the challenging subject of mathematics, approached the rest of their education with enthusiasm and confidence as well. In 2011, Dr Mighton was awarded the Order of Canada for his JUMP program. Recently the charity has attracted the interest and support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates himself was of the Baby Boomer generation. This is just one of many hundreds of CSR projects continually supported by companies in the meetings industry. What’s yours? Tenders sent out to venues should ask similar questions. What are their sustainable 24

Not just a checklist Sustainability within the meeting industry is not just a checklist of “Do’s and Don’ts”, it is, and has to be, something permanent and essential. If there is nothing in place, it should either be put it in place or the business will be taken elsewhere. Much is common sense: turn off unwanted lights and electrical appliances when not required, apply technology for marketing rather than printed materials, utilise venues with excellent public transportation networks, increase use of conference apps for communication… This we know and implement. But is there more? Of course there is. And generally it will also assist the budget by making savings!

To find out “more”, regardless of the sector within the meetings industry from which one emanates, before engaging/contracting with any PCO, company, venue, client, insist on receiving a tangible demonstration as to how they are more sustainable than others. This will keep everyone on their toes and help shift the green movement along. By creating competition everyone will think of ways to improve their working practices. Whilst it might be that it is the Generation Y within today’s companies and meetings industry that is propelling the drive towards CSR and Sustainability, it should be second nature to all of the generations.

This article was provided by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, author Sarah Storie-Pugh, Executive Director of IAPCO. IAPCO represents today 116 professional organisers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 40 countries. info@iacpo.org / www.iapco.org

> Netherlands

Maastricht

The most European Dutch destination Maastricht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, has undoubtedly ripened well with age, like good wine, with complex and lively cultural overtones added over centuries by the Romans, Germans and French. This rich cultural palette is the secret behind the city’s attractiveness, drawing visitors and delegates alike to the historic city centre, a wealth of museums and festivals and MECC Maastricht, the city’s main convention venue. Known the world over because of the Maastricht Treaty that basically created the European Union and the single European currency, and thanks to the TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair), the most prestigious fine art fairs in the world, Maastricht has been, for two thousand years, a European melting pot where the major Germanic and Latin cultures have rubbed shoulders.

In short, Maastricht has all it takes to provide the best circumstances for a successful international conference.

Maastricht: Meet Europe Maastricht is well-loved for its feeling of intimacy: it’s compact, easy to navigate, and everything is at walking distance. As one of the top three Dutch conference cities centrally located in Europe and the Euregion

As one of the top three Dutch conference cities centrally located in Europe and the Euregion Meuse-Rhine, Maastricht has a truly European dimension Situated between the rolling hills of the wonderful countryside, it lies at the heart of a EU-region of 4 million people who live in 3 countries and speak 4 languages. The energy that this generates has resulted in a city that bursts with creativity, researchers and innovators. It is a city where people meet and enjoy the way of living in a burgundy atmosphere, with great allure. 26

Meuse-Rhine, it has a truly European dimension, and this is what sets it apart from other Dutch cities. Maastricht enjoys a rich history reaching back to the start of time. It has been a multinational city since time immemorial; down the centuries it has belonged to many different nations and has therefore become

a melting pot and a place where everyone feels at home. The typical Maastricht mentality is characterised by charm, a sense of playfulness, humour that puts things into perspective, joie de vivre and culinary delights. The city centre has a rich cultural history and picturesque medieval streets, beautiful squares and old churches. And yet Maastricht is an entirely modern city thanks to its wealth of modern architecture, top-notch accommodation options (with over 4.000 hotel rooms!), an international environment, top international universities and colleges in a 50km radius and eight airports reachable within just an hour. You can get to Brussels in less than 1 hour, Amsterdam in 2, Paris and Frankfurt in 3, and London in 4,5.

Maastricht Convention Bureau Maastricht Convention Bureau provides services to planners of meetings, incentives, conventions and events. They offer professional, independent and objective information, advice and mediation regarding any aspect of organising business meetings: congress centres, hotels, venues for your party or dinner, transportation, organisational support, catering, social and partner programmes. And all this free of charge of course!

> Netherlands

TEFAF

MECC Maastricht

MECC auditorium

Thanks to the massive support and expertise of Maastricht Convention Bureau, Maastricht has, over the years, gained extensive experience in hosting international groups. Since the opening of the MECC 25 years ago, the city has had the privilege of facilitating thousands of national and international events and conventions. MECC and the city of Maastricht rank in the top 100 international non-corporate conferences worldwide (source: ICCA International Congress and Convention Association). Maastricht is the third city in the Netherlands to make this list, and is currently targeting to rise to the second place when it comes to large, multiday, international congresses. The Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC Maastricht) organises and hosts conferences, exhibitions and events in a multifunctional and intimate conference and exhibition centre with European allure, where custom-designed services are offered along with the chance for people to actually meet each other in the ambience so typical of Maastricht. The venue consists of three flexible, multifunctional floors, all of which are interconnected. There are two auditoriums (1,650 seats) - which may be used separately

or connected to one another - available for the plenary sessions, with direct access to the Expo Foyer (2,500 m2). If an event offers several parallel sessions, the MECC has many large and small rooms to accommodate them.

Maastricht Health Campus & high-tech innovations MECC Maastricht is located in the heart of the Maastricht Health Campus, the only health campus in Europe with its own conference facilities. MECC and the city of Maastricht offer accommodations for a great diversity of international medical conventions lasting several days. The presence of the prominent educational institution Maastricht University and the Maastricht Academic Hospital are key decision factors for planners of medical events. And worth noting is that the fibre-optic connection between the Maastricht University Medical Centre and MECC Maastricht makes live streaming - and live operations! - possible. MECC is also active in a field populated by top players in sectors such as high-tech systems and materials, chemistry (including lifetec), food and the creative industry. In Maastricht and the region, organisations find solutions to problems which are applicable throughout the world.

Maastricht city centre

Talking about Maastricht’s main assets as a conference destination, Frank von Sonnenburg, Former president, and President Elect Fiona Genasi of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), put it like this: ‘Maastricht is a truly international, European city on the cross roads between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, which fits very well with the international nature of the ISTM membership. The city is charming and has good restaurants and cafes, both indoor and outdoor, but is compact enough to ensure the delegates will meet and socialize outside the conference venue as they explore the city. It is a city with an ideal size for a conference of approximately 1,500-2,000 delegates.’

Contact Maastricht Convention Bureau T. +31 (0)43 32 80 838 info@maastrichtconventionbureau.com www.maastrichtconventionbureau.com MECC Maastricht T. +31 (0)43 38 38 383 info@mecc.nl www.mecc.nl 27

> Netherlands

The Hague welcomes you at IMEX, Holland Meeting Point

’Flawless organisation’ of Nuclear Security Summit makes the case for The Hague

> Hall 8, Stand E100

The Hague took centre stage in the world last March, with all eyes focused on the 53 world leaders convening in the World Forum for the Nuclear Security Summit 2014. Over 8,000 delegates gathered in the city of Peace and Justice for the largest governmental summit ever. Despite extreme security measures necessary to ensure the safety of the world leaders, The Hague demonstrated that it can perfectly organise a conference of this magnitude.

And as Obama clearly demonstrated during the NSS, even a visit to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam can easily be fitted into your conference schedule.

Flexibility is key at the World Forum

Here’s what the meeting owner of the recent NSS2014 Summit - US president Barack Obama - said: “Your hospitality has been remarkable. Your organization has been flawless” and “My first visit to the Netherlands has been truly ‘gezellig’.”

The World Forum boasts Holland’s largest auditorium (2,160 seats). From experience with the Afghanistan Summit (2009), the organising Ministry of Foreign Affairs knew an elevated floor on top of the auditorium seating would create the perfect space for the plenary room. The ample branding opportunities allowed the NSS to decorate the various formal and informal meeting rooms with Dutch art and design. Even the exterior was branded in NSS-style. And flexibility is synonymous with The Hague too, as even a last-minute high level G7 meeting was organised smoothly. The Hague and the World Forum have accumulated a wealth of experience with the most demanding and high-security conferences. Excelling in understanding your conference needs, meeting experts assist you in narrowing down the seemingly endless possibilities to exactly those that best support the objectives of your conference.

As proven by the NSS-summit, the entire city easily joins forces to make you and your delegates feel sincerely welcome. And this goes beyond the logistics of your conference. The Hague Convention Bureau serves as your first contact to numerous connections in the business, research and governmental world, aiding you with introductions to high-level speakers and potential sponsors.

Compact size and high-level infrastructure Delegates have easy access from around the world via hundreds of direct flights into nearby Schiphol and Rotterdam-The Hague Airports. Comfortable (high-speed) trains offer an excellent alternative for delegates from Germany, Belgium and France. Numerous hotels and special venues are at your disposal for overnight stays, dinners and special events. The city also has a lot to offer the individual delegate, from local and international culinary treats to museums like the Mauritshuis and the Escher Museum and enjoying the sunset at the attractive Scheveningen beach area.

Don’t take their word for it

Contact The Hague Convention Bureau +31 (0)70 361 88 88 conventionbureau@denhaag.com www.visitthehague.com World Forum +31 (0)70 306 62 28 info@worldforum.nl www.worldforum.nl

About the NSS2014 The Nuclear Security Summit 2014 - an initiative of US president Barack Obama - is aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe. The Hague were chosen due to its reputation as city of peace, justice and security. With icons like the Peace Palace and the International Court of Justice, the city was a perfect fit for the NSS2014.

©Régis_Colombo_www.diapo.ch

©EPFL

> Switzerland

SwissTech Convention Centre

Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau presents

Lausanne, a green destination for business tourism The city of Lausanne, nestled between lake and mountains, has much to offer organisers of international conventions: easy accessibility, hi-tech infrastructures and a strong, long-established commitment to sustainable development. Located 40 minutes from Geneva International Airport, Lausanne now boasts two large convention centres: MCH Beaulieu Lausanne, with its 30 rooms and facilities capable of holding up to 5,000 people, huge gardens and an underground car park; and the brand-new SwissTech at EPFL, the most futuristic congress centre in Europe, fully automated and modular. Seating 3,000, it offers revolutionary technologies in terms of hosting and workspace.

EPFL or Swiss Federal Institute of technology in Lausanne has also long embraced sustainability. Located at the heart of its campus, the SwissTech Convention Centre benefits from the university’s state-ofthe art research on renewable energies: largest parc of solar cells in Switzerland, photovoltaic glazing with dyed cells, natural lighting, geothermal piles, and heating and cooling using waste energy are but some of the solutions implemented in this powerhouse of green technologies. As for MCH Beaulieu Lausanne, it reduces the considerable amount of waste generated by catering thanks to rewashable beakers, disposable materials suitable for biomethanisation and local food supplies.

Pillars of excellence

Green wave

Sustainable development represents one of Lausanne’s four pillars of excellence, alongside culture, education and research, sport and Olympism. The city stands out in particular for its exemplary energy and waste management, the development of renewable energies and mobility.

Tourism is not exempt from this green wave and is becoming increasingly soft. The hotels are well known for their quality and the welcome they reserve for their guests, and many have made a commitment to ecotourism. In recent years, the city has also seen a steady increase in “organic” catering.

Lausanne is actually green by nature. Over half of the Olympic Capital’s area is covered in forests, countryside, vineyards and other expanses of greenery. Guests appreciate the cleanliness, the respect for nature, and the development of green spaces.

Getting about is both quick and environmentally friendly. Lausanne is a compact city with state-of-the-art transport infrastructures, accessible free of charge to guests staying in a hotel thanks to the Lausanne Transport Card. Visitors can

choose between many green options: selfservice bicycle hire, metro, electric or natural gas-powered buses and solar-powered boats. When in need of a break, many choices are available for entertainment and leisure activities alongside a convention or manifestation: a visit to the new Olympic Museum (recently reopened after two years of extensive renovations), a cruise on Lake Geneva with the CGN or an outing to one of the wine-producing estates belonging to the city that promote “soft” tourism.

Contact Lausanne Tourism & Convention Bureau T.+41 21 613 73 61 marketing@lausanne-tourisme.ch www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/meetings & www.lcvb.ch

Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau Myriam Winnepenninckx T. +32 2 345 83 57 scib.belux@switzerland.com www.MySwitzerland.com/meetings

Luxembourg

In the heart of meetings Situated in the heart of Europe, bordered by Belgium, France and Germany and connected to the far corners of Europe by an excellent network of highways and a multitude of rail links, Luxembourg is an exceptional destination for congresses of any size or format. With a variety of conference and meeting venues for meetings for up to 1,000 persons and incentives up to 250 persons, with a savvy mix of technical know-how, flexibility, comfort and aesthetics, the only Grand Duchy in the world is able to respond to the most demanding needs. The city of Luxembourg is well connected to Europe’s major motorway networks. It has

a high-speed rail link to Paris and rail links to Brussels and to Germany’s reputable rail network. The airport is just a 10-minute drive from the heart of the city and serves major European cities with daily connections. The Luxembourg Convention Bureau is the official conference bureau of the City of Luxembourg. As a one-stop shop for meeting, incentive and exhibition planners, they provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach of MICE services in the city. Their advice is impartial, professional and free of charge.

More info convention.bureau@lcto.lu www.lcb.lu

> Luxembourg

> Italy

Palacongress di Rimini

The first Wellness & Congress Valley Location Get fit at Palacongressi di Rimini It’s quite a first in the meetings industry: wishing to combine congress tourism with the well-being and health of its guests, the Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini recently set up a Wellness Foundation within a so-called Wellness Valley. The idea is quite original since it’s about creating a new experience for the congress delegate. Complementing what the Palacongressi already offers with the underlying principles and activities of the Wellness Foundation, the Wellness Valley, the first international district specialised in the quality of life and well-being, promoted by famous brand Technogym, has been designed with fitness and relaxation in mind.

Time out Thanks to a programme which will accompany participants at Palacongressi events throughout their stay in Rimini, it will be possible to take time out from a busy schedule to enjoy moments dedicated to psychophysical well-being, while discovering the city. A new area has thus been set up in the Palacongressi, equipped with Active Sitting Wellness Balls, where a video trainer will demonstrate the simple and relaxing exercises that you can carry out during a break.

Great attention has also been placed on the nutritional aspect, with a ‘wellness Menu’, designed by a nutritionist and the chef of Summertrade, the catering company partner of the Palacongressi, to guarantee that all meals showcase the flavours of the local area and offer healthy alternatives based on the Mediterranean diet. Participants are also invited to take part in physical activities such as a morning run on the beach, walking or cycling to the Palacongressi through the city parks, guided by a GPS, visiting the historic centre or doing a spot of shopping, thanks to directions directly on their smartphones.

Federica Lucini, Marketing Manager at Convention Bureau della Riviera di Rimini, explains: ‘The idea of the Wellness project actually came from a big player in the fitness industry, Technogym, which is also one of the major industries in our region. Sharing the philosophy of wellness as a lifestyle gave rise to the Palacongressi’s choice to become the first Wellness Valley congress location. It is a fantastic promotional marketing opportunity for the venue to offer a range of extras for all the events we host. It also provides companies and associations with the excellent advantage of combining their event with attractive wellness concepts.’

More information www.wellness.riminipalacongressi.it

Already awarded The project was already awarded a prize at the end of March during the Federcongressi&eventi in Venice. This award is presented to initiatives aimed at the development and consolidation of good business/professional practices in the meeting industry, focused on product innovation and creativity and/or organisation. 33

> Germany

CityCube Berlin

Hotel Estrel

Berlin

A whole city for your event Sometimes the selection of the right location for an event is very simple, because who needs to compromise if everything is possible in Berlin? The choice of special locations ranges from the Berlin Zoo Aquarium to the hangar of former Tempelhof Airport accommodating 5,000 guests. Berlin also has one of the most modern hotel landscapes in Europe and offers great value for money. To put it briefly: the German capital convinces as a perfect convention host offering many cultural highlights.

25th Anniversary Fall of the Berlin Wall

New congress hall: CityCube Berlin

9th November 2014 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall. To honour this historic milestone, a series of special events will take place throughout the city. The focus will be on the division of Berlin, the Cold War, and the peaceful revolution leading to reunification. On the weekend around 9th November an impressive installation with thousand of illuminated white balloons will set the scene and stand as a ’symbol of hope for a world without walls’ along the former course of the Berlin Wall.

With the opening of the Berlin CityCube in May 2014, the German capital will become more attractive as a convention destination. This multi-functional congress hall will be able to host events with up to 11,000 participants. It is going to feature two main floors, flexible wall partitioning, numerous conference rooms and has access to the southern section of the exhibition grounds nearby.

To mark the anniversary, a series of new exhibitions devoted to the division of Germany and life in the former GDR will also be opening. In November 2014 the permanent exhibition at the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre will reopen its doors to the public. A new exhibition is also scheduled to open in July: The Spy Museum Berlin will be dedicated to espionage and secret services.

The Estrel Berlin - Germany’s biggest hotel - is the only major venue in Berlin used equally for entertainment, conventions and hotel accommodations. The building complex with the striking glass façade holds a convention hall that accommodates up to 6,000 people, while the adjacent hotel boasts 1,125 rooms. Estrel Berlin is also making plans for building a new 700-room hotel tower and a new convention centre.

Estrel Hotel and Convention Center Expanding its capacities

The exhibition space will be approximately 8,500 m2, hosting events with up to 4,200 participants.

Berlin Convention Office of visitBerlin For thirteen years the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office (BCO) of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH has offered competent support at the organisation of conventions, meetings and incentives. Customers benefit from the experienced team, a broad network of contacts and the free-of-charge agency and reservation services for hotel allotments. The BCO website give customers all the information about Berlin as a meeting and convention destination. With just a few clicks they will find the right tips. Further details can be found at convention.visitBerlin.com. visitBerlin is a member of ICCA, MPI, SITE, ECM, EVENTIA, BEST CITIES, GCB

©Jean-Dominique Billaud - LVAN

>France

Daniel Buren and Patrick Bouchain - “The Rings”

The Grand Elephant, les Machines de l’Ile

La Cité - Nantes Events Center

Amazingly creative Nantes Most of you know Nantes for its moving giants. Seeing them wandering the streets is indeed quite an experience. Those giants might well be the epitome of what Nantes is about: an innovative city where audacity, confidence and imagination have pride of place. The good news is that these values are also to be found at La Cité - Nantes Events Center, delivering high-class service and professional expertise to association planners. Easily accessible by plane, with major European destinations less than two hours away, boasting a good accommodation infrastructure - there’s almost 9,000 hotel rooms available in the area - Nantes has become a meeting city you can’t do without. This is partly due to the attractiveness of the destination itself, but also thanks to the efforts of key players within the local meetings industry. In this regard, La Cité - Nantes Event Center has been instrumental in putting the city and surrounding region on the international meetings map. Launched in 2010, La Cité’s international strategy in terms of business development and international standards (La Cité is the only French convention centre to have received the AIPC Quality Standards certification) has yielded results. The fact that Nantes was designated the European Green Capital 2013 also helped, along with La Cité’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development.

Knowledge in the area certainly acts as a magnet for national and international associations. The region boasts seven competitive clusters, from biotechnology to transport to IT, which reflect the vitality of R&D programmes. As a major tool for economic and cultural development, La Cité Nantes Events Center contributes to the national and international outreach of the local industries dedicated to achieving excellence. To do so, it has developed closed relationships and signed partnership charters with those industries and centres of excellence. Innovation and creativity really define what La Cité is about. No wonder, then, that it will host, for instance, the first International Scientific and Interdisciplinary Conference dedicated to Digital Society and Cultures: Digital Intelligence 2014 in September. And it’s not all. Nantes St Nazaire also boasts pretty much everything you can wish for in

terms of pre- or post-conference options. As Aurélie Peneau, Director of Tourism Development at Voyage à Nantes, puts it: ‘Nantes offers natural hospitality, quality of life and unusual experience to event organisers. The out-of-the-ordinary tourism and cultural activities take the delegates on an utterly different journey. At Voyage à Nantes, we act at as the ‘business and tourism board’ of the city and aim to promote the wealth of cultural sites all around the region. This unique offer makes Nantes a rich, different destination for visitors and an extremely creative venue for events.’

Contact La Cité - Nantes Events Center Development Department T. + 33(0)6 22 79 03 63 or (0)6 26 20 67 46 sandrine.chauve@lacite-nantes.fr or aurencie.ranson@lacite-nantes.fr www.lacite-nantes.com Le Voyage à Nantes - Nantes Tourisme Lucile Legal Suire Business events & Tourism Board T. +33 (0)2 51 17 48 61 or +33 (0)6 33 69 47 11 Lucile.LEGAL@lvan.fr www.nantes-tourisme.com

> Latvia

Latvian National Opera

TIME to MEET in RIGA! What do meeting organisers and planners look for in a destination? At times where budgets are being tightened and everyone keeps looking for the next best thing, it’s important to look beyond the traditional Top 10 destinations. Searching for new and more affordable destinations has become one of the highest priorities in the meeting industry. And what better place than Riga, affordable and safe, while in close proximity of European airports and travel hubs? With an excellent service track record and a strong tradition of hosting meetings, it might be time to MEET in RIGA! In terms of location, the capital of Latvia is ideally located between fellow Baltic and Scandinavian neighbours. And with over 800 years of history, Riga offers an enriching historical cultural heritage with endless incentives. In terms of meeting and event venues, the city prides itself of a blend of historic meeting halls and modern conference venues. With over 80 hotels and a total of 12,500 beds available, Riga is fully capable of hosting large conventions and delegations. And contrary to other destinations, Riga is in full development. Over the next two years over 1,500 hotel rooms will added to an already 38

respectable accommodation figure, including dozens of conference rooms and professional multi-purpose meeting venues.

Combination of Nordic attitudes mixed with historical beauty and affordable living City of Development and Access Between 2014 and 2015 Riga will open its doors to a wide selection of newly built luxury hotels. Only to name a few:

Kempinski Riga Hotel, Mercure Riga Center Hotel, Metropole Riga Hotel, Wellton Valnu Hotel, Pulman Old Town Riga Hotel and many others. It’s important to mention that all hotels and venues in Riga offer Free WIFI Internet, a requirement for all hotels in the capital. In addition, worth noting is that a number of them have Green Key certificates, which perfectly suits associations conferences and planners’ needs. Among them are the modern Radisson Blu Hotel Latvia and Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel. Reachability is another important factor when considering Riga as a meeting destination. The capital of Latvia is allocated within short flying distance from all main European airports. The Northern European Hub is well connected to more than 80 destinations with over 300 weekly flights. And Riga is so compact you can pretty much walk your way around, from venue to venue, making your stay all the more sustainable.

> Latvia

Affordable and service-oriented Whether traveling in a small group or large delegation, the cost-benefit nexus plays an important role. Riga undercuts its competitors in this case by providing very high value-for-money, while outperforming traditional destinations in terms of customer service and personnel. Not only is Riga famous for its rich history and culture, but also when it comes to hospitality, efficiency and service sector. Riga’s welltrained employees are infamous for being delicate and discreet, as well as friendly and welcoming. In addition to the above-mentioned wide variety of hotels, Riga also boasts a number of great MEETing venues. Among them let’s mention the Great Guild House dating back to the 14th century, or the one-of-a-kind Riga Latvian Society House with its contemporary feel made of steel and glass.

As for pre- or post-conference activities, you will be almost dizzy with choice. Riga, rich in a 800-year history, has a great heritage, combining influences from Germany, Sweden and Russia. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to try some modern Latvian cuisine, which offers great variety of flavors to tickle your taste buds, and uses local seasonal products as much as possible. Another example of how sustainable Latvia can be…

Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija

What makes Riga unique? It’s a true combination of Nordic attitudes mixed with historical beauty and affordable living.

Contact Aigars Smiltans Marketing Director www.MeetRiga.com meet@liveriga.lv +371 2232 0416 Hotel Bergs

> Russia

Meet Moscow! White Square

Modern Moscow is a dynamically developing metropolis and one of the world’s major business centres located at the crossroad of Europe and Asia, the perfect destination for business and leisure tourism. Moscow’s location between Europe and Asia makes the Russian capital a unique metropolis combining the best of the West and the East. Conforming to high world standards of business conduct, service and safety, Moscow offers business tourists cultural and recreational opportunities reflecting the peculiar but so attractive national character.

Well equipped Today Moscow has all necessary resources for the successful organisation of business meetings of any scale. The city definitely has a lot of things to offer the delegates, from luxury hotels and fully equipped conference halls to exciting sightseeing activities and delicious cuisine. No less than ten venues in Moscow can easily accommodate large-scale conventions (1,000 delegates and more), while the number of professional congress operators in Moscow already exceeds 30 companies. Five- and four-star hotels not only offer visitors elegant and fashionable rooms and suites but also provide them with wellequipped areas for holding meetings and other functions.

Today Moscow has all necessary resources for the successful organisation of business meetings of any scale Even Moscow’s infamous transportation problems are nowadays successfully managed through the use of alternative means of transport such as the rapid-transit aeroexpress service between the city and its airports. Step by step Moscow is becoming more tourist-friendly, with its new tourist information centres and a considerable amount of English-speaking locals.

Birth of a convention bureau The Moscow Convention Bureau was established last year: as an official and independent source of information on the capital and its opportunities for international meeting planners, it provides advice and expertise on pretty much everything you can wish for. Thanks to the purposeful activity of municipal authorities and representatives of the congress and exhibition industry of the city,

a rapid growth in the number and quality of business events held in Moscow is today witnessed. The Russian capital has hosted and/or organised global events such as the Open Innovations Forum, the Moscow Urban Forum, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, and many more. Moscow is also an ideal destination for incentive trips because of its unique cultural heritage, abundance of sights and worldclass museums, excellent choice of hotels, numerous extraordinary event locations, gastronomic restaurants, and legendary nightlife. In more than 860 years Moscow has become a large cosmopolitan city that should not be ignored by event planners. If you have never been to Russia come to Moscow and see, with your own eyes, the country’s treasures, wonderful architectural edifices and outstanding works of art and beautiful parks - maybe you’ll even get to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Russian soul!

Contact Аnna Ivanko Head of International Marketing Department T. +7 495 225 54 77 info@moscowcvb.org www.moscowcvb.org 41

> Korea

A culinary perspective on Seoul

A city of contrasts Food literally seems to be on everybody’s mouth nowadays, not only in one’s personal life but also in the MICE industry. What it does to your body and what its impact is on people’s minds trigger heated debates. And guess what? In South Korea they’ve known for centuries that ‘food and medicine are grown from the same root’ and therefore that ‘there is no better medicine than food’! I personally experienced it during a trip last October. Report Cécile Caiati-Koch Korean food is a great source of energy, not only for the body but also for the soul. All the more reasons to find out all about Korean cuisine, or ‘Hansik’ as it is called. In Seoul you will find numerous traditional restaurants which have ‘health’ written all over. One of the famous ones is named ‘Gosang’, a fusion Buddhist Cuisine Restaurant where dishes are delicately prepared and the attention to detail is of paramount importance. The food served here is called ‘Temple Food’, which pretty much sums it all! The Korea House is another example of the Korean art of gastronomy. Opened in 1981, it is a traditional Korean building introducing the culture and lifestyle of Koreans, combining great architectural features with fine dining in an elegant classical atmosphere. As to trendy and delicious Jung Sik Dang with its

contemporary Korean cuisine, it brings you back to the modern world: it’s like Psy could walk in there any time and have dinner as well! Quite an experience if you ask me.

way, Wilmotte is also the architect of the beautiful Incheon International Airport. Worth noting is that the venue is an ideal place for events and social functions. Korea Furniture Museum on the other hand has been thought out as a traditional Korean House, called Hanok. It is also situated in a green and beautiful residential area. The place is packed with beautiful carved wooden furniture and can be rented out

Seoul is definitely working hard to develop its MICE offering, highlighting what makes it so unique in terms of culture and cuisine Hyper modern vs. fine traditional culture The following examples show that Seoul combines modernity with traditionalism like maybe no other destination in the world. Boasting the largest floor space in the country, the Gana Art Gallery is located on Mount Bukhansan, a residential green area of Seoul. Designed by world-renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, it reflects the best of modern Western design. By the

for diners and high tea. French chef Simon Dousset serves French based Korean food there – a fusion again, but quite a fusion. Seoul is definitely working hard to develop its MICE offering, highlighting what makes it so unique in terms of culture and cuisine. Great food and great stories come from Seoul indeed!

More information www.miceseoul.com 43

> Shanghai

Shanghai Infrastructure update If Shanghai is a crossroads, it’s no wonder it is also a prestigious meetings destination capable of hosting large-scale events. Thanks to the efforts of Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration (SMTA), Shanghai might well be THE Asian meeting place par excellence. But what’s new in Shanghai? Let’s find out! Text Rémi Dévé Because I was there for the ICCA Congress last November, I had the pleasure to experience it first hand. Thanks to the infrastructure development before and after the 2010 World Expo, Shanghai has developed as a meeting metropolis you can’t do without. If there were hundreds of hotels and venues before, the range of space available for events and meetings has grown rapidly ever since. 2014 has already seen (or will soon see) the opening of new hotels. Among them let’s name Pullman Shanghai South, the second Pullman hotel in Shanghai and the 15th in China, with 338 rooms over 23 floors, a 1,300-m2 pillar-less grand ballroom and 7 multi-function rooms equipped with the latest technology. There is also Hyatt Regency Shanghai, Chongming, which just opened: as the Chongming Island’s first-ever five-star hotel, it boasts 235 contemporarily designed guestrooms

and meeting space for up to 300 people. W Shanghai - The Bund is scheduled to open in June 2015 and will have 5,300 m2 of event space spread over 17 meeting rooms. In terms of pure conference space, there are now three international convention centres to choose from in Shanghai. The latest addition to the city’s portfolio is Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing which totals 25 meeting rooms and two exhibition rooms of 6,500 m2 each. But nothing would be possible without the efforts of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration to boost cooperation within the meetings industry itself: it has set up a Conference Ambassador Programme, as well as a very special MICE task force. Shanghai’s conference ambassadors are selected professionals who are members of the international professional bodies of their

respective fields. After successful bids to host events in Shanghai, SMTA often assists the Conference Ambassadors in terms of site and venue inspection, selection of unique venues for social events, gifts ideas and development of pre- and post- conference tour options. And as far as local cultural elements are concerned, ideas are countless. As Patrick Chen, Deputy Director at SMTA, puts it: ‘Whether you like dance, opera, music, arts or crafts, there’s everything you can include in your event in Shanghai. Kunju Opera is, for instance, of world-fame, Shadow Boxing can be taught here by professional Englishspeaking instructors and Chinese acrobatic shows are a must. And these are only a few of hundreds of examples of activities you can do in Shanghai…’

Contact Patrick Chen Deputy Director International Tourism Promotion Department Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration woya@meet-in-shanghai.net www.meet-in-shanghai.net 45

> Malaysia

Malaysia’s Industry Champions to Bring Malaysia to Greater Heights

The business tourism industry has been identified as a key growth sector under Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme to help Malaysia achieve developed nation status by 2020. Business events (meetings, incentives, conventions and trade exhibitions) are recognised for the numerous direct and indirect economic benefits to the country. They are an excellent platform for the promotion of local innovation, expertise and exports to a global audience, as well as providing professional development opportunities for Malaysians. Business events allow the exchange of

ideas and development of international professional networks. They are also an effective means of attracting world leaders and decision makers to the destination, where they may be encouraged to invest intellectual and financial capital. For national associations and organisations, international business events can provide the opportunity to build local and regional membership, strengthen their international engagement and profile, create an ongoing legacy for the community they serve, and in most cases, and provide surplus funding for research, training and industry development.

A selection of conferences secured for Malaysia Conferences

Year

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, IAS President and Nobel Prize recipient

Malaysia - Asia’s Business Events Hub Malaysia has been the venue for a long list of prestigious international conventions that provide excellent case studies on how to be a successful host.

18 FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics

8,300

2006

16th World Congress on Information Technology

3,225

2008

Why Malaysia?

18 World Congress of Accountants

6,050

2010

• • • •

70 IIA 2011 International Conference (Institute of Internal Auditors)

3,000

2011

21st Asia Pacific Cancer Conference 2011

2,500

2011

25th World Gas Conference

5,300

2012

Women Deliver Conference 2013

4,500

2013

7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention 2013

5,220

2013

12th International Congress on Obesity 2014

1,000

2014

XXV International Federation of Surveyors Congress

3,000

2014

800

2015

1,500

2016

18th Human Genome Meeting 2015 IEEE International Conference on Communications 2016 46

Delegates

Kuala Lumpur City Centre precinct

• • • •

Strategic location Excellent value for money Easy accessibility World-class facilities, product & service providers Strong government and industry support Proven track record Pro-business economic environment and policies Authentic Asian experiences in one destination

> Malaysia

“The Great Gatsby” inspired Kesatria Gala Evening held in February 2014 to celebrate achievements and new appointments

Kesatria 1Malaysia Programme The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), developed the Kesatria 1Malaysia Programme (Kesatria - meaning ‘Knight’ or ‘Warrior” in national language) to help build the business tourism industry in Malaysia. Modelled on the best of similar ventures operating internationally, the Kesatria 1Malaysia programme is formed with leaders of key industry sectors, who have previously hosted large scale international events. They also volunteer to assist in identifying and encourage other potential local hosts to bid for and stage international conventions. The Kesatria Malaysia’s appointed leaders’ roles are to promote the benefits of hosting and/or inaugurating international conventions to their industry peers and colleagues. Since 2012, MyCEB has appointed a total of 33 Kesatria to elevate the business tourism industry in Malaysia. This year, to further the success of the programme, MyCEB has appointed seven more industry champions from the various industries to continue to spur greater alliance in the business tourism industry, not only to place Malaysia on the global map, but also to position Malaysia as Asia’s Business Events Hub.

Contact

Kesatria appointed by The Hon. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia (5th from left)

The newly-appointed industry champions • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Hj. Azhari Rosman – President, National Heart Association of Malaysia • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanafiah Harunarashid – Senior Vice President, College of Surgeons Malaysia and Director - Advanced Surgical Skills Centre, UKMMC • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin – Council Member, Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society, Malaysian Paediatric Association and Malaysian Endocrine & Metabolic Society • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairiyah Mohd Yusof – Secretary, Society of Engineering Education Malaysia and Director, Centre for Engineering Education, UTM

To host your next business event in Malaysia:

• Raja Dr. Elina Raja Aziddin – President, Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists

Tai Lee Fen Association Development Manager T +603 2034 2090 leefen@myceb.com.my www.myceb.com.my

• Alvin Chua Seng Wah – President, Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ansary Ahmed – President/CEO, Asia e University (AeU) 47

> Taiwan

Kaohsiung Exhibition Center

MEET TAIWAN Launch in 2013

2013 ICCA-TAIWAN MICE Bid Workshop

Taiwan

An ideal place to meet the world The meeting, incentive travel, conference, and exhibition (MICE) industry steadily drives economic development and trade while the service sector continues to grow worldwide. To bolster MICE momentum, Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade launched the four-year MICE Industry Pilot Program last year (2013); the program is being implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). The program, which receives strong government support, is intended to steer Taiwan’s MICE industry onto the global stage and includes the MICE Industry Implementation Program and a MICE Certification and Training Project.

MICE Industry Imageenhancement Program

in combination with the mottos “Come Together in Taiwan’s Exhibitions,” “Listen to Your Idea,” and “Encounter Taiwan’s Splendid Life,” they cover every aspect of Taiwan’s exhibitions, meetings, and incentive travel. The project as a whole is designed to enhance Taiwan’s brand recognition and raise Taiwan’s MICE profile.

Taiwan’s MICE Industry Pilot Program (MEET TAIWAN) aims to ‘turn Taiwan into a leader of excellent MICE services” and sets long-term objectives of “leveraging the quality and efficiency of MICE services, sharpening Taiwan’s international image and competitive edge as a MICE brand, and making Taiwan one of the top destinations for MICE business.’

With active government support and extensive practical and professional experience, MEET TAIWAN has helped bring 185 international conferences and 107 corporate meetings and incentive tours to Taiwan’s numerous and diverse venues. In 2013, there were about 63,000 international participants in these events.

As part of its promotional efforts, the MICE Industry Pilot Program created a MEET TAIWAN logo, planned an international marketing campaign and domestic promotions, and set up a cloud MICE portal. A “Love at First Sight” graphic design was introduced to represent the program’s image and,

To promote Taiwan as an ideal MICE destination, MEET TAIWAN attends major convention industry exhibitions such as IMEX, IT&CMA, IT&CM China, IME, and the annual congresses of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and International

Marketing

Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). In 2014, MEET TAIWAN is planning to launch a new online marketing campaign to gain more media exposure. MEET TAIWAN is currently conducting road shows to Mainland China and Southeast Asia to visit potential clients and to invite international media and potential buyers to Taiwan for fam tours, so they can gain a valuable first-hand understanding of what Taiwan offers. To assist domestic industry, MEET TAIWAN arranges one-on-one meetings with professional conference organisers (PCOs) and non-government organisations (NGOs). It also hosts an ICCA-TAIWAN MICE Bid Workshop that offers professional lectures and shares best practices on the process of bidding for international events.

Contact MEET TAIWAN www.meettaiwan.com Tina Chuang T. +886-2-2725-5200 ext. 3533 Email: yating@taitra.org.tw or Emily Lai T. +886-2-2725-5200 ext. 3536 Email: emilylai@taitra.org.tw 49

> Thailand

Thailand CONNECT

Your Global Business Events Connection As the preferred business events destination in Asia for all MICE events, Thailand is an ideal springboard for all categories of business events, offering unrivalled opportunities for collaboration based on the three key industry pillars: Destination, Business, and People. Thailand commits to connecting these three fundamental pillars in order to ensure that your business event will be not only successful, but also unforgettable. The coherence created between these elements results in a strong collaborative global network, providing the basis for the description: “Thailand- Your Global Business Events Connection”. With Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) as your strategic partner, you can be sure of successful collaborations at all levels. As a DESTINATION, Thailand is globally renowned as a superior business events destination, having raised the bar and set new benchmarks for quality, choice and facilities. Thailand has seen major infrastructural development countrywide, and now offers an enormous variety of business hotels and 5 officially designated ‘MICE Cities’ across the nation. MICE cities are including of Bangkok, Chiangmai, Phuket, Pattaya and Khon Kaen. Travel has never been more convenient, thanks to the country’s 6 international airports, offering visitors easy and fast connections to Asia’s top international airports. Thailand also offers 8 dedicated international business event venues, fully certified under ISO and TISI MICE standards. Thailand continues to improve its destination services and facilities; for example, unrivalled wireless

connectivity offers further possibilities for hybrid meetings and virtual exhibitions. TCEB has instigated ‘Thailand CONNECT’, an exciting global marketing campaign focusing on three of Thailand’s key strengths: 1 - Diversity of Destinations: Thailand’s strategic location at the heart of Asia, together with convenient facilities and infrastructure, offer visitors an unrivalled choice of destinations. Thailand’s six international airports across the country connect to 190 destinations worldwide with over 500 flights per day. 2 - Unrivalled Business Opportunities: With fast and convenient connections to all other countries in the region, ASEAN’s second largest economy is poised to play a leading role in the forthcoming unified regional market of the ASEAN Economic Community, or AEC in 2015. 3 - High Quality Professionals: In addition to its legendary hospitality and quality of service, Thailand’s MICE industry has led the world in introducing global standards such as Energy Management (ISO 50001), Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000), MICE Security Management System (TISI 22300), and most recently,

the new Event Sustainability Management System (ISO 20121). Incorporated into this campaign is a number of exciting market promotion packages to support the success of MICE businesses through the ‘Thailand CONNECT Exclusive’ schemethat have made Thailand the leader in MICE in Asia. With decades of high quality experience, Thailand can ensure unmatched levels of coherence and efficiency throughout the country’s MICE personnel. Over the years, staff working in the industry has gained considerable expertise staging well-organised, stylish and popular events. Up-to-date with international standards, globally hospitable par excellence, Thailand’s skilled specialists and friendly hosts will surpass expectations when organising any business events. Plan your next business events in Thailand, they can deliver productivity and inspire success. Connect Thailand Asia’s capital for business events connection www.businesseventsthailand.com

> Macao

Boosting MICE in Macao Until now, Macao’s image was mostly a touristic one, but we reckon things are changing rapidly: a new dedicated MICE department was born and The Cotai Strip might now well embody the new MICE spirit in the small region. Text Marcel A.M. Vissers

The International Meeting and Trade Fair Support Program Early this year, the Macao Economic Services launched a remarkable brand-new promotion campaign: the International Meeting and Trade Fair Support Program aiming to encourage the diversity and to enrich the contents and quality of MICE events held in Macao, and, at the same time, to instigate a boost to the industry’s competitiveness. Under the Program, applicants organising events identified as ‘International Meetings’ and ‘Trade Fairs’ are eligible to receive a series of basic assistance and financial support. For confirmed International Meetings, the Program offers promotion-related basic assistance, and financial support over the costs of accommodation for general attendees, food and beverage, accommodation and transportation for keynote speakers and heads of delegations, promotion and marketing, interpretation and translation, opening ceremony and venue rental for concurrent exhibitions. Information about the program can be obtained at Macao Economic Services (Conventions Department), Email: ddceae@economia.gov.mo, Website: www.economia.gov.mo

A small MICE paradise In this regard, one can only testify that Macao is no longer a gambling paradise, but a true MICE paradise. A city in full change, it boasts many hidden values: architecture, history, its ties with Portugal, the new conference hotels, the relative quietness of the streets, the nice avenues with attractive shops, the appealing restaurants, the many different types of people… In terms of infrastructure, one of the most impressive developments in Macao is the Cotai Strip. The Cotai Strip is a term coined by Las Vegas Sands Corporation with regard to its building of a strip of hotel-casinos in the Cotai section of Macao, a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. Cotai was the result of a major land reclamation project which joined

the two islands of Coloane and Taipa, and is part of the Macao government’s continuous efforts to expand the region’s territory. The reclaimed land in Cotai is mainly used for conference purposes - a planner’s dream, in short!

Properties in Cotai Name

Features

The Venetian Macao

Giant resort with 3,000 suites and shopping Mall

Four Seasons Macao

360 rooms

Sands Cotai Central

Conrad Macao, Holiday Inn Macao, Sheraton

City of Dreams

Grand Hyatt Macao, Hard Rock Macao and Crown Towers Hotels

Galaxy Macao Resort

Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Okura and the Banyan Tree Macao 53

> Brisbane

BCEC Sky Room & Terrace

BCEC Main Foyer

Brisbane is getting ready for the G20 Summit Brisbane is readying for a dynamic new era as an international business events destination as the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) prepares to host the world’s most complex and high profile event - the G20 World Leaders Summit in November. The G20 is the world’s premier forum for global economic cooperation and collaboration, bringing together world leaders and finance ministers of the 20 major advanced and emerging economies, representing 85% of global economic output. The high-powered event will focus international attention on Brisbane and the Centre, driving international conference business well into the future along with accompanying opportunities for tourism, investment and trade.

Global catalyst Professor John Kirkton, from the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto, is convinced that the event will position Brisbane globally and be the catalyst for increased growth and development in those areas. He says: ‘Brisbane will become a household name around the world. People will realise Brisbane is a great place to visit for conferences, to trade with, to invest in, to set up offices and even to move to. In fact I think Brisbane is destined to do better than some previous host destinations.’ He also believes

Brisbane and BCEC will beat some of its predecessors in the best and beautiful stakes and will indeed generate an economic and reputational legacy. The G20 will see around 4,000 delegates and 3,000 members of the national and international press converge on Brisbane for the events as well as numerous business, financial, trade and political advisors. Brisbane Convention Bureau Director Annabel Sullivan said the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit was one of many recent successes for Brisbane, demonstrating the city’s emergence as a diverse and energised global city and a leading destination for conferences and business events. ‘Brisbane’s ability to accommodate business and industry events of this calibre reflects the city’s unprecedented growth across the board. During G20 Brisbane will build its reputation as one of the friendliest cities in the world through a series of initiatives designed to help visitors easily find their way around including a city-wide welcoming strategy and a new integrated Wi-Fi system. The initiatives put in

place to support G20 will create an enduring legacy that will benefit all future business conferences held in Brisbane in the future.’

Well advanced Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe says the Centre is well advanced in its preparation and planning for the Summit, having hosted more than 70 site inspections from participating countries in the lead-up to the event. ‘The G20 presents an extraordinary opportunity for us. It will have enormous impact on Brisbane and we intend to invest in this once in a generation opportunity ensuring a flow on of international events in the future,’ he said. BCEC is gearing up for one of the busiest years in recent times with over 100 conferences on the calendar including 20 international meetings such as the 29th International Horticulture Congress with some 17 additional symposia, World Congress of Audiology, Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, 5th Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction for 1,000 delegates, or the International Association of Applied Linguistics Congress and OZ Water. 55

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