25-26 FEBRUARY 2015 SOFIA, BULGARIA eventex.co
welcome to
EVENTEX VENUES Inter Expo Center-Sofia | 147, Tsarigradsko shose blvd. Rainbow Plaza | 29, Atanas Dukov str., Lozenets Fabrica 126 | 126, Knyaginya Maria Luiza blvd.
A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE START OVANES OVANESSIAN
Dear Guests at Eventex Congress 2015, I’m gratified to welcome you in Sofia for the 7th edition of this professional event, gathering experts from the Meeting and Event Planning Industry worldwide! We worked around the clock for the past few months to make the experience from your attendance memorable, exciting and highly profitable, so you can leave convinced that the extra mile you took, visiting a new destination was worthwhile and be impatient to come back next year. The concept of Eventex is really unconventional: it’s a colorful mixture (represented by our logo as well) of education, expo, networking and celebration of the forward-thinking, open-minded talents in the industry of meetings and events. There’s no comparable business gathering in SouthEastern Europe and Eventex is planning to stay unique with each future edition. Surely, there are trends that influence the industry on a global scale that we simply can’t overlook. So while being diverse, Eventex is still current to the latest industry tendencies. In 2015 we focused on Event Marketing and Event Technology because of the dynamic positive changes in these areas. We are proudly supported by some of the most prominent speakers and media in Europe and USA who came to share invaluable information on these topics in our 2 day conferences. But as that wasn’t enough for our inquisitive nature, we decided to see what the new generation of event professionals has to say on the subject. In the next pages you’ll find
software solutions you won’t be able to work without, the input of young professionals and influencers in the global event and meeting industry. In the next couple of days you’ll be exchanging contacts and experience, analyzing the competition, gathering inspiration and, last but not least, having a lot of good time! We tried to sum up a part of the experience in these pages but of course, we believe it’s way more vivid live! Looking forward to hearing your feedback and meeting you next year! Yours respectfully,
Ovanes Ovanessian Founder of Eventex
INTER EXPO CENTER-SOFIA GROUND FLOOR
expo & networking
main entrance M line 1
Bus 413
DAY 1 WEDNESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY DAY 2 THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY CHECK-IN COAT CHECK REFRESHMENTS RESTAURANTS LOUNGE ZONE PHOTO WALL & INTERVIEW CORNER
INTER EXPO CENTER-SOFIA FIRST FLOOR
VITOSHA HALL
lobby
DAY 1 WEDNESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY EVENT TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE Vitosha Hall | 09:00-17:45
VENUE SALES MASTERCLASS Rodopi Hall | 13:45-17:45
DAY 2 THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY EVENT MARKETING CONFERENCE Vitosha Hall | 09:00-18:15
MEETING DESIGN MASTERCLASS Rodopi Hall | 14:15-18:15
RODOPI HALL
DAY 1 WEDNESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY | IEC-SOFIA | PROGRAMME
EVENT TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE Vitosha Hall | 25 FEBRUARY | 09:00-17:45 09:00 - 09:45 Check-in 09:45 - 10:00 Opening 10:00 - 11:00
What is the ROI of using Technology for your Event
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Paper to Mobile. A buyers guide – inside tips from a technology expert
12:30 - 13:45
Lunch break / Gold Networking Lunch
13:45 - 14:45
How to use Event Technology to Generate Valuable Data from Events
14:45 - 15:15
Coffee break
15:15 - 16:15
TikiTakaTicketing: State of the Art Solutions and Features
16:15 - 16:45
Coffee break
16:45 - 17:45
Creating the Future of Events Today
VENUE SALES MASTERCLASS Rodopi Hall | 25 FEBRUARY | 13:45-17:45 13:45 - 14:45
Sources of meetings business for your venue Prospecting for new business
14:45 - 15:15
Coffee break
15:15 - 16:15
Showing your venue to potential clients Winning new meetings business at exhibitions
16:15 - 16:45
Coffee break
16:45 - 17:45
Developing relationships with clients
EVENTEX AWARDS GALA CEREMONY Rainbow plaza | 25 FEBRUARY | 19:30
DAY 2 THURSDAY, 26 FEBRUARY | IEC-SOFIA | PROGRAMME
EVENT MARKETING CONFERENCE Vitosha Hall | 26 FEBRUARY | 09:00-18:15 09:00 - 09:45 Check-in 09:45 - 10:00 Opening 10:00 - 11:30
Innovation Explosion: Breakthrough Strategies for Sales, Marketing, and Big New Ideas that get the World Talking
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee break
12:00 - 13:00 21 Ways to Sell More Seats for Your Event With a Single Page 13:00 - 14:15
Lunch break / Gold Networking Lunch
14:15 - 15:15
New Generation Sponsorship: Same wine different bottles!
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee break
15:45 - 16:45
The Art of Creative Storytelling to Encourage Audience Engagement and Sales
16:45 - 17:15
Coffee break
17:15 - 18:15
How to get Massive Publicity for your Event, for Free!
MEETING DESIGN MASTERCLASS Rodopi Hall | 26 FEBRUARY | 14:15-18:15 14:15 - 15:15
Meeting Design, why and how
15:15 - 15:45
Coffee break
15:45 - 16:45
Behaviour is what counts
16:45 - 17:15
Coffee break
17:15 - 18:15
Good content is key
EVENTEX PARTY Fabrica 126 | 26 FEBRUARY | 21:30
2015
EVENT TRE PREVIEW EVENT-SOLUTIONS.COM
As we continue moving into the new year, design trends and fads will start taking shape to give us a better understanding of what 2015 will really mean for events. Will Pantone’s color of the year–Marsala–really take over design palettes? Will locally made treats continue to be the choice wedding favor? Only time will tell what’s to come in the world of special events, but like it or not, these trends have passed the test of time and are here to stay in 2015!
2015 EVENT TREND PREVIEW EVENT-SOLUTIONS.COM
END
Alternative Venues Warehouses, museums, auditoriums, you name it. Possibly one of the best trends of 2014 was the movement into unique venues. Moving away from banquet centers allows for your imagination to run wild–or as far as your budget will take you!
Paper Flowers Of all the wonderful things you can create with a little bit of paper, floral walls and paper flower décor were a huge trend in 2014 and we don’t foresee them dying any time soon. This craft is incredibly versatile and can meet the needs of your vintage, DIY and budgetfriendly clients while still remaining beautiful and unique.
Marquee Lights What a great way to bring lighting into an event! The rebirth of marquee signs has managed to swiftly move through the event scene and into home and business décor as well. Whether it’s initials, symbols or full words, marquees have a memorable impact on attendees and also add charm without breaching the lines of too vintage or too modern.
Farm-to-Table Did you know carrots are the most popular vegetable side in the country right now? Of all the masterpieces
“Only time will tell what’s to come in the world of special events, but like it or not, these trends have passed the test of time and are here to stay in 2015!”
2015 EVENT TREND PREVIEW EVENT-SOLUTIONS.COM
created inside a catering kitchen, seasonal foods that are freshly pulled out of the garden are still leading the way and giving farm-to-table caterers a leg up on the competition.
Bite-sized Menus Cakes and entrees are in no way obsolete, but passed hors d’oeuvres and small plates are still big at catered events. Corporate clients are continuing to try and save money by opting for appetizers instead of full meals and wedding couples are choosing mini dessert options to please more palates. Keeping menu items small and passed also relaxes the atmosphere and keeps attendees moving and talking throughout the event space.
Gamification As the use of mobile phones, computers and tablet devices continues to grow, so does the use of gaming applications. More and more, attendees of events are looking for ways to interact and compete with each other to win prizes and get noticed in between sessions and activities. The use of technology continues to expand and we’re looking forward to seeing how gamification is enhanced in 2015. While there are dozens of trends that have survived the New Year, these six ideas will continue to be used and enhanced in the year to come. Keep up-to-date on trends, design tips and business ideas throughout the year at event-solutions.com!
Register Today!
Don’t miss out on this exciting industry event! The 2015 Catersource and Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow is proud to bring you hundreds of sessions, contests, products and services to enhance your event offerings. Celebrate the catering and events industry at this one-of-a-kind experience in Las Vegas from March 8-11, 2015 and make connections with industry professionals from around the world that will last for years to come!
event-solutions.com
800.932.3632
Why does your boss need convincing? GLISSER.COM
We all need to prove things in business, from how much you’ve sold if you’re in business development, to what you’ve created if you’re in the product team… and don’t get me started on KPIs. Yesterday I read an article which prompted me to Google “convince your boss”. The reason being that the article in question provided a strategy and toolkit for someone to justify attending a particular event to their manager. The Google results were astonishing. Of the ten on the first page, five were related to justifying going to events. What surprised me, other than the volume, was that these were all recent articles. Sure, Google’s algorithm would have ensured current articles are prominent, but many events and conferences are still having to produce these guides. There were very few hits for “convince your boss to use social media” - so why does the events industry struggle?
Fundamentally, however, it feels like the events industry still has a bit of a perception problem. Perhaps seen as expensive (travel, accommodation, time spent out of the office), a bit of a ‘jolly’ (lavish, alcohol-fuelled, ‘fun’ rather than productive), and ultimately hard to quantify the value. This issue isn’t just confined to delegates – sponsors are having to convince bosses of the value of event spend rather than other marketing options, and event planners are fighting for budget within organisations. And while the industry appears to have seen off the erroneous predictions that technology was going to kill face-toface meetings, and most measures put events spend up year-on-year, it is still finding it’s having to justify itself – certainly at a micro, individual level.
Before I reflect on that, I’d first like to say that I totally understand why these guides are being written. They are useful tactical tools that solve the problem and help drive attendance, even if they don’t get to the root cause.
“Fundamentally, however, it feels like the events industry still has a bit of a perception problem. “
#eventex join the conversation on twitter
WHY DOES YOUR BOSS NEED CONVINCING? GLISSER.COM
What I believe we need to do is to ‘get ahead of the problem’. That is, to absolutely ensure that today’s delegates, sponsors and planners are armed to the teeth with the information and data that proves the event they are participating in right now is worth it.
What does that mean? Well for me it’s about rapidly connecting what’s happening at the event with the tools, technology and data that proves its success. If possible, it should be immediate, so that the delegate, sponsor or planner can use this while the event is fresh in the mind. Where immediacy is not possible (where sponsors are judging ROI based upon sales with long lead times, for example) then the event needs to be connected right through to the end goal (say via the CRM system). For delegates (and many sponsors) this means sharing useful content* – either live (by social media) or as soon after the event as possible. This content needs to be filtered and given context by delegates – notes and thoughts to expand and interpret it for an individual’s organisation – possibly as a result of further networking after the sessions. For sponsors, feedback and data is critical. Quantitative measures of leads and sales must be supported by a more qualitative analysis of attendee sentiment or interest in content presented. And for event planners, all of this information at your fingertips means that when the event comes around next year, it won’t be a case of writing a “convince your boss” guide. Instead, hopefully the immediate justification of an event’s value will have brought all of those re-attendances forward, along with the attendance of their colleagues,
and maybe even those pesky bosses themselves. * If you think about this content, eight times out of ten it will be in the form of a simple PowerPoint presentation. Apart from sexy transitions and better graphics nothing has really changed since it was invented. The presenter presents in a linear fashion and the attendees sit there with their thoughts in their head. Glisser takes a standard presentation and within three minutes you can turbocharge it to allow real time interactions, social amplification and in-presentation analytics. Instant data. Instant validation of event attendance.
10
QUESTIONS FOR EVENT PLANNERS TO ASK VIRTUAL PRESENTERS ALAN STEVENS | MEDIACOACH.CO.UK | ALAN@MEDIACOACH.CO.UK
10 QUESTIONS FOR EVENT PLANNERS TO ASK VIRTUAL PRESENTERS ALAN STEVENS
There are many great speakers around who you could select for your next event. For those who are appearing in person, it’s fairly easy to get a recommendation from someone who has seen them before. However, it’s much more difficult to make the judgement when selecting a virtual presenter, who will be appearing only on a screen. Great speakers don’t necessarily make great virtual presenters. Here’s a check-list of questions that will help you choose a virtual presenter that will delight your audience.
1 2
How much virtual presenting have you done? Everyone has to start somewhere, but if you have a large, important event to organise, it’s unwise to risk a first-time or inexperienced virtual presenter. Allow them to gather experience at smaller events.
What software have you used? Every technology requires some knowledge and experience to make best use of it. Whether you are using Skype, GoToMeeting or any other system, ensure that presenters know how to use it.
3 4 5
What technology do you have?
6
Can we have a chat on Skype?
A reliable connection is a must. So is high-quality sound. Good virtual presenters will have a hard-wired, high-speed Internet connection and a good external microphone.
Can we see testimonials? The view of other organisers is always a strong indication of how good a virtual presenter really is.
What trainings have you done? There are some skills required for virtual presentations, and any presenter who’s had no training at all is going to be a risk.
You can use a Skype conversation to make a live assessment of one’s skills. Ask them a question that requires a detailed answer, sit back, watch and listen. How good would they look and sound in front of your audience?
10 QUESTIONS FOR EVENT PLANNERS TO ASK VIRTUAL PRESENTERS ALAN STEVENS
7 8 9 10
Can we see your YouTube channel?You can make a good on-screen skills assessment by looking at how they communicate on video. They don’t upload videos? Look for someone else.
What do you think are the key skills of a virtual presenter? They should be able to tell you the important skills required - confidence, looking into the camera at all times, limited use of notes and the ability to “project” into the room.
Are you prepared to engage with the audience before and after your presentation? How would you do that? You need a “yes” to the first part, and a sensible response to the second.
Are you prepared to appear at short notice? Sometimes, the best plans need to change. If you need to bring in a speaker at short notice, is this the one you could rely on? How do you assess the responses? There is no list of “right answers”, but any shuffling of the feet and embarrassed mumblings will reveal a great deal. In my opinion, demonstrable results and testimonials rank high on the selection criteria, but it depends exactly what your event is looking for, and is prepared to pay for. I’ve delivered many virtual presentations, and I’m still discovering ways to offer an even better service. Don’t risk the success of your event by booking a virtual presenter who can’t deliver the goods.
MEETING D ESIGN E X P L A I N E D “This book is going to change the way we design and think about meetings.” This is one of the first readers’ comments about Into the Heart of Meetings a book that saw the light in January. Authors Eric de Groot and Mike van der Vijver take a fresh look at meetings as a form of communication and analyse ways in which meeting programmes can be improved. Read more… Into the Heart of Meetings is arguably the first book ever about Meeting Design. This new profession is increasingly attracting the attention of meeting professionals because it offers a new outlook on how meetings can be made more effective. Conferences, conventions, seminars, workshops and other meetings are an integral part of life in organisations. In their brand new book, the authors argue that the potential of such meetings is severely under-utilised for a number of reasons. One of these is that the organisation of meetings is conceived mainly as a logistical operation. Into the Heart of Meetings shows that this approach misses the point with regard to the communicative value and power of meetings. The power of meetings depends on the outcomes of the interactions between humans. To make meetings more effective and obtain useful outcomes requires a new paradigm for the way in which meeting programmes are conceived and executed. Meeting Design provides that
new paradigm and the authors discuss all the basic knowledge a Meeting Designer needs to possess. Hence the book’s subtitle Basic Principles of Meeting Design. The book combines a series of novel theoretical notions with a great many examples and practical tools. As a result, it is not only useful for professionals in the Meetings Industry, but also for managers and consultants who use meetings as a means to achieve their business goals. Areas where the book’s subject matter is particularly pertinent include strategic and change management, Human Resources management, knowledge management, innovation and business communications. The relatively informal style and the numerous cases make Into the Heart of Meetings an easy read. The iconic illustrations underline the authors’ messages admirably. At the end of each chapter the preceding content is approached from a different angle in a – fictitious – conversation between the authors and a “sceptic”, thus underlining the practical implications of the topic treated in the previous pages. In line with the first comments expressed by leaders in the industry, Into the Heart of Meetings is a must-read for every meeting professional who wishes to stay abreast of new developments.
MEETING DESIGN EXPLAINED ERIC DE GROOT AND MIKE VAN DER VIJVER
Into the Heart of Meetings by Eric de Groot and Mike van der Vijver With illustrations by Yoko Heiligers, 320 pages in English ISBN: 978-90-820209-0-8, A Publication of MindMeeting BV Available during Eventex 2015 in Sofia for a special price
60%
of event app administrators say they know they’re not doing enough for event app marketing
How to Waste Money On An Event App GUIDEBOOK.COM
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, what’s the return on investment? We know that event apps are really valuable. They’re better for the environment, they make planners’ lives easier, and they cost less. It’s possible, however, to really mess it up–if you don’t have any downloads, what’s the point?
It’s Up to You to Tell Them The term for the number of your visitors who use your app is “event app adoption”. And the higher your adoption numbers, the lower the cost-per-attendee, meaning that you’re getting a higher return on investment. Event app marketing is in your hands. When you build an amazing event guide, you need to make sure people are using it. It will enrich their experience and give you valuable data.
We Know It’s an Extra Step 60% of event app administrators say they know they’re not doing enough for event app marketing. The planners we’ve talked to wish there was more support, more information and more guidance. Luckily, event app marketing fits in nicely with the other promotion you’re doing, and it’s not much extra work. And it really pays off! Keep reading on the next page to find the secrets of successful event app marketing!
HOW TO WASTE MONEY ON AN EVENT APP GUIDEBOOK.COM
The Basics of Event App Marketing: 1. Tackle Early Adoption Familiarizing users with your app early is the #1 key to adoption. While we don’t suggest you share the event app before it’s built, you should share it early—even if some of the finer details are “TBD”. You can make changes to the guide anytime! Start talking about the app early. All information you share about your event or location should include the benefits and instructions for finding your app.
2. Communicate Completely Include event app details in your email, articles, blog posts and on social media. Text app details to attendees and tell your story in the press. Wondering if the early app adopters will become ambassadors and share your app details on social media, thereby doing all the work for you? Well, certainly some people will be excited about your app and will tell their friends, but if you’re sitting around waiting for the concept to go automagically viral you will be waiting a long time. Different channels are needed for different people.
3. Make It Easy With On-Site Event App Marketing First of all, you’ll see a dramatic increase in app downloads if you cut out printing entirely. If you’re using printed materials as an alternative, only offer them upon request.
HOW TO WASTE MONEY ON AN EVENT APP GUIDEBOOK.COM
In addition to making the event app more prominent than any printed alternatives, put information about the app everywhere! Put a QR code on attendee badges, posters, and display screens - and train your speakers to mention it in their talks.
4. Pump Up the Value If you approach guide use like it’s a nice benefit, you’ll miss out on the adoption numbers you’ve been dreaming of. Make your guide essential! When you create a community of users who upload photos, connect with each other, share socially, and interact with the guide by making personal schedules, you establish the guide as a must-have. Your guide opens up a whole new way for your users to see the world you’re sharing with them. You could set up a projected live feed of guide users’ photos and social shares, hold a photo competition, or use push notifications to share real-time news, tips or offers. The bottom line is that if you bake your event app promotion into your marketing plan early, you’ll find the value you’re looking for - and so will your attendees!
5 EVENT REGISTRATION SOFTWARE FEATURES ORGANIZERS ABSOLUTELY NEED WEEMSS.COM
The current status quo between event organizers and event registration service providers resembles Faust’s deal with the Devil. If you are unfamiliar with the story here’s the gist of it - Faust makes a deal with the Devil exchanging his soul for a set period of power and success. The comparison might seem a bit harsh at first, especially considering event organizers aren’t really surrendering their moral integrity, but in the long run they are definitely giving a lot more than they get in return.
If an event organizer wants to provide the potential participants with an automated and easily accessible online registration method for their event, they have two choices. One is to pour time and money into developing such a solution internally. The other is to use one of the many existing softwares out there that would allow them to handle the registration process in a few easy steps for considerably smaller costs compared to the first option. Guess which is the more popular choice!
5 EVENT REGISTRATION SOFTWARE FEATURES ORGANIZERS ABSOLUTELY NEED WEEMSS.COM
EVENT REGISTRATION SERVICES ARE SEXY AND THEY KNOW IT Unless the organizer is feeling sacrificing any of the functionality particularly masochistic they are expected from that kind of services. Here always going to choose one of the are 5 important features that organizers many services out there to handle the should look for next time they are registration process for their event. These looking for an online event registration services know exactly how attractive they solution if they want to tilt the scales are and they use that knowledge wisely. in their favour and in favour of their All they ask from the organizer is to give participants... them a small amount of every ticket sold. And “Choosing the right solution for online let participants register for the event through, event registrations can be a tiresome with, or both through task, especially considering there are and with the said approximately a gazillion of these out service provider. And there...In any case it’s worth the time to let the provider collect all the money from the look into these solutions as it’s a huge event sales on behalf step towards improving the business side of the organizer. And of organizing events.” eventually allow the service to contact the organizer’s customers with information and promotional offers from other event organizers. Some will #1 INTEGRATED think there is nothing wrong with this REGISTRATION FORM ON THE which is fine really, but surely most can see why the Faustian deal analogy isn’t ORGANIZER’S OWN WEBSITE that far off. The first step in giving more control to the organizer is providing a solution that NOT EVERY EVENT allows them to have the registration REGISTRATION SERVICE IS form for the event on their own website. THE METAPHORICAL DEVIL That way their customers can register for the event without having to visit third With new developments in the event party websites and are much more likely tech industry there are now solutions for to complete the registration process. the organizer that don’t go the traditional Another benefit of this is the organizer route. As such they offer features that gets to strengthen their own brand and give considerably more control to the increase its recognition among their organizer and help them maintain and customers, as opposed to popularizing strengthen their own brand, without some other brand or service.
5 EVENT REGISTRATION SOFTWARE FEATURES ORGANIZERS ABSOLUTELY NEED WEEMSS.COM
#2 PARTICIPANTS DON’T REGISTER WITH THIRD PARTIES IN ORDER TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT Some of the biggest online event registration solutions currently require the potential customer to register an account with them or at least provide some personal information to use the service. That itself is no big deal until one goes through the parts of the Privacy Policy that concern the use of Personal Data and realizes that the registration service will more or less own at least some of it and use it for marketing - to provide promotional materials, display off-site advertising content, create email campaigns, and even share some of the Personal Data with their affiliates. None of this really benefits the organizer or the participant. Logic dictates organizers need a service that lets the potential participant register for the event, without having to register for or with any other service. Which leads us to
#3 THE ORGANIZER RETAINS 100% OF THE EVENT AND PARTICIPANT DATA Only the organizer should retain all event and participant data. It’s important for them to build their own customer database as well as have detailed information about their event’s most prefered promotional and special offers, ticket categories, payment methods, and so on. There are solutions out there that provide such functionality and it is up to the organizer to find the right one at the
right price. In any case it’s worth the time to look into these solutions as it’s a huge step towards improving the business side of organizing events.
#4 THE ORGANIZER COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY WITH THE PARTICIPANT Another new direction for event registration services is to let the organizer communicate with their participants directly - all automated messaging and email communication is sent from the organizer’s own email address straight to the participant. This again helps build a stronger relationship between the organizing company and its customers. Which also leads to easier customer retention for the next event and higher trust in the brand.
#5 PAYMENTS GO TO THE ORGANIZER WITHOUT THE REGISTRATION SOFTWARE ACTING AS A MIDDLEMAN Last but definitely not least come payments. The latest innovation here is the way these are handled between the organizer and the event registration service. Nowadays the organizer can receive money from their event sales directly. Once the money is in their own virtual or very material pocket they pay up what they owe to the registration service. That way they get their money faster and easier, compared to most of the more popular registration solutions that act as a middleman and in some cases even charge a processing fee at checkout.
5 EVENT REGISTRATION SOFTWARE FEATURES ORGANIZERS ABSOLUTELY NEED WEEMSS.COM
THE EVOLUTION OF THE ONLINE EVENT REGISTRATION SERVICE Choosing the right solution for online event registrations can be a tiresome task, especially considering there are approximately a gazillion of these out there. Some are excellent and will undoubtedly help the organizer sell more tickets, some are ridiculously bad and are likely holding an event back from reaching its full potential, some are somewhere in the middle, but very few offer all of these 5 key features together. At least if one’s willing to change the status quo knowing what to look for makes things much easier. Weemss is a relative newcomer in the online ticketing and event registration solutions, but it’s eager to make a mark in the industry by providing a new way for organizers to create, promote, and sell their events. It’s a web-based service that gives organizers complete control over their events, data, and revenue, as well as a number of other cool features designed specifically to allow organizers around the globe to make the absolute most from their events.
It is easy to organize events in Portugal CLÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA | EVENT POINT
It’s not us, Portuguese Meetings Industry specialized media, who say it, but the vast majority of customers looking for Portugal to host their events. Expo ‘98, held in Lisbon, was probably the turning point in the events sector in Portugal. This mega organisation demonstrated all the country’s capabilities in this area. There were several months of daily events that mobilised the city and were a school for many of today’s events professionals. This almost national goal of hosting and organising events was awarded top marks for Euro 2004, recognised as one of the best European Football Championships ever held. Mega events add up over the years, with remarkable success. But it’s the country’s consistency in organising medium and smaller events that places Portugal among the European and World tops. The professionalism of the providers, the quality of the venues, the ease of access and the intangible aspects – not least the good weather to boot
– are just some of the advantages of Portugal as a destination mentioned by international clients who have already held their events here. Pekka Saranpää was involved in organising the IUFRO Conference, held in Estoril in July 2012. His opinion about the region could not be better. “For an international conference Lisbon/Estoril was easy to access for most of the participants”, he said, and also pointed out the quality of the venue, the variety in terms of choice, and reasonable prices as positive aspects. “We had wonderful experiences in Lisbon”, confirms Hildegard Koch, in charge of a Wella Intercosmetic event held at the Pestana Palace in 2008. The interviewee highlights the “fine” weather, considering that the event took place in autumn, and the quality of the hotel and the people who worked there, as well as that of all other providers, including taxi and bus drivers. “For us it was easy to organise the event since the agency was really great... helping us in every subject”. “Wonderful people,” adds Koch. (continues on the next page)
IT IS EASY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS IN PORTUGAL CLÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA | EVENT POINT
The annual ECBHM meeting was held Resuscitation 2010. The event was in July 2012 in Lisbon. Koos Verhoeff “excellent”, but not everyone found it was one of the personalities of one of easy to reach the destination, since the the satellite events. “It was a very good number of flights is more limited. Still, Mr experience Janssens has no to have an doubts: “I could event in recommend “The first time I went to Portugal I Portugal. all societies visited Madeira and I fell in love... The facilities to organise a with the people, the food, the were very congress in good and Porto”. landscapes, the traditions”. Lisbon is a For Christian very nice Seidenstuecker, city with a of the Joke Event, “Portugal offers a good atmosphere”. The support we have lot of different destinations, from the had from local providers is assessed as modern city of Lisbon to breathtaking “perfect” by Koos Verhoeff. seaside with great roads for test drives. Jeroen Janssens was involved in the organisation of a congress in Porto,
There is tradition and innovation close to each other. (continues on the next page)
IT IS EASY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS IN PORTUGAL CLÁUDIA COUTINHO DE SOUSA | EVENT POINT
Magdalena Szczypierowska, executive director of the incentives department of the MWM Group, based in Warsaw, is in love with Portugal. She even aims to move here soon. She may not, therefore, be the most neutral of observers, but even so this Polish vision of the country is still of interest.
also mentions the diversity of the country and of the offer.
“The first time I went to Portugal I visited Madeira and I fell in love... with the Tpeople, the food, the landscapes, the traditions”. The next destination was mainland Portugal, Lisbon. “Five minutes after arriving I was already enchanted”, she admits, smiling.
www.eventpoint.com.pt www.eventpointinternational.com
The best thing about working in Portugal, she asserts, is the readiness of the partners to solve problems. Magdalena
One thing is sure, Portugal may not be a perfect destination, but it doesn’t leave clients indifferent. Cláudia Coutinho de Sousa Event Point
THE EXPERT VOICE OF FUTURE EVENT PROFESSIONALS AN INDUSTRY REVIEW AND TECHNOLOGY HEADS-UP The Eventex Team was eager to find out what young event professionals think, use and admire, so we decided to launch a contest. Now that we have the results in terms of their favorite software solutions, we want to know more details! Of course, we’re proud and happy to share what we found out from the young generation, which is why we interviewed our contest winners. We put together their responses to show you how they see the event industry. Meet Despina and Alen from Macedonia, and Oojal from the UK!
Tell us more about yourself: where are you from, what do you do? Despina: I am proud to be Eventex first prize winner. My name is Despina Kozarovska and I come from Skopje, Macedonia. I am enthusiastic event planner who wants to make a difference by being innovative, creative and happy! I am co-founder of Podium Macedonia-office for events. We initiate and organize mass events, from festivals to conferences, product launches and fundraising events. Our project, the proud newborn of the company, Skopje
DESPINA KOZAROVSKA PODIUM MACEDONIA Street Festival, is the one and only open urban event in town. The most enthusiastic project, a creative platform that will never let the urban arts and sports die. It was in 2008 when I had the oportunity, working as an intern in a company, to host an event, a bazaar for contemporary arts and crafts. The moment I started the initial planning, organizing, communicating with participants and media, taking care of last minute event check-ups, I felt enormous
THE EXPERT VOICE OF FUTURE EVENT PROFESSIONALS: AN INDUSTRY REVIEW AND TECHNOLOGY HEADS-UP EVENTEX.CO
amount of adrenaline and a flow of pure happy energy. I knew that was it. This is what I need to do for a living. I want to make people happy, I want to see amazed and surprised faces, hear loud applauses and do the event magic. Confucius once said: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Well, yes…this is exactly what happened to me. Oojal: My name’s Oojal Jhutti and I’mfounder & CEO at iWaz.at, the event industries leading event app platform, dedicated to delivering greater ROI for all. We’re headquartered in the West Midlands, England and work with clients all over the globe. I’ve been a serial event attendee for as long as I can remember and was always drawn to live events. The opportunities and serendipity presented by the gathering of like minds has always been a source of constant fascination and inspiration. It was with great pleasure then that I was able to combine my love for events with my love for technology when we founded iWaz.at in 2012. Alen: My name is Alen Jegeni and I am from Skopje, Macedonia. I am working as an event manager for the past 8 years. I was 22 years old when right after graduation, one famous PR and Event Agency announced a job offer for the position of an event assistant. I applied immediately, since it sounded really promising. Dynamic working environment and a team of professionals. I worked on huge projects like the Presidential Summit in Macedonia2008 and the rebranding of one of the largest telecommunication corporation in Macedonia. Today, I am the initiator and co-founder of the Macedonian Convention Bureau, the platform for uniting congress professionals in
promoting Macedonia as a congress destination. The project is in initial preparations and is to be announced very soon.
Why do you like your job? Despina: It is the power that we hold in our hands as an event managers to shape emotion and create positive human impact that lasts. This is what I like the most about being an event manager, the never-ending opportunities in creating events that will make me and my society smile. Oojal: One of the greatest things about being part of an exciting event-tech startup, is that no two days are ever alike. A company culture built around innovation and inspiration, fuelled by gratuitous high 5’s and a thirst for excellence make getting out of bed on Monday’s super easy. We don’t just like our job’s here at iWaz.at - we love them! Alen: I like my job because of the adrenaline. The adrenaline keeps me alive.
How did you decide to enter the Eventex contest? Despina: I was amazed when I heard that so close to my native town, in our neighboring country Bulgaria, I will have the chance to visit such event. I read every tab on Eventex web site, and as usually happens “save the best for last” moment appeared on my screen, an opportunity to win a gold pass. I did my best, talked to every twitter person I knew, turned on my international twitter contacts to tweet for my cause and
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THE EXPERT VOICE OF FUTURE EVENT PROFESSIONALS: AN INDUSTRY REVIEW AND TECHNOLOGY HEADS-UP EVENTEX.CO
help me become the winner. Having the chance to be around mass number of passionate event planners, professionals and enthusiasts is a motivation plus, in becoming better and wiser in the creation of events to come and to be remembered. Oojal: Eventex represents the crème de la crème of the global event industry, a gathering of like minds in recognition of those pushingboundariesand redefining the art of the possible. As a forward thinking event technology supplier, dedicated to just that, the real question was, why wouldn’t we enter Eventex?
which has now quickly established itself as an industry leader. With unique and revolutionary technology at it’s heart we help deliver demonstrably greater returns for our clients and partners - like a 400% increase on industry averages for audience engagement. Who wouldn’t want to share something like that on the worlds stage :)
Alen: I really admired the graphic design of the web site and the portfolio of speakers you had announced. The homepage photo, arena full of people and excellent event scenario on stage is what convinced me I had to take part of this event. One should always be eager to meet new people in the business world, especially take part of such welldesigned event. From my first overall online impression, Eventex will be an event to remember.
Why did you choose the software you nominated? Despina: I nominated Boomset because of the ease in the process of registration and check-ins. It saves time and space. And we know how much time and space means to us nowadays. Oojal: This year we’ve nominated our event-app platform iWaz.at for three categories - Best Event Technology, Best Event Mobile App and Best Event Technology Startup. We’ve spent over 2 years painstakingly researching, developing and iterating our platform,
OOJAL JHUTTI IWAZ.AT Alen: Showslice is a confidential platform which makes it easier for me to communicate with other event providers. I like it.
THE EXPERT VOICE OF FUTURE EVENT PROFESSIONALS: AN INDUSTRY REVIEW AND TECHNOLOGY HEADS-UP EVENTEX.CO
open a Ministry for Event Management in Macedonia. My country needs a serious boost when it comes to appreciating event managers and what they do. Me and my team want to make sure that every event gets the attention and its unique and special. Podium Macedonia and myself applaud you Eventex, for making a huge difference in the region amongst us, the eventprofs. Thanks for bringing globally, here locally.
ALEN JEGENI MACEDONIAN CONVENTION BUREAU
Name 3 event tech solutions you can’t imagine working without. Despina: Boomset, Eventim and Eventpro. Oojal: If I had to name just three technologies I couldn’t imagine working without, they’d have to be Smart Phones & Devices, Social Networks and Email. Though not all strictly event specific, all have had a profound impact on the way in which we interact, communicate and draw more value from the events we serve and participate in. Alen: Showslice, Eventmobi and TicketBud.
If you had the power, what would you like to change in the event industry in you country? Despina: If I had the power, I would
Oojal: One of the most crippling things for today’s event community is the lack of freely available and adequate Wifi access at venues. The outdated infrastructure and price monopoly most venues have in place are a huge detriment to the greater value of events, their patrons and the venues themselves. If I had magic wand, I’d ensure highspeed, high-bandwidth connectivity was freely accessible to all visitors - viva la Wifi, viva la revolution! Alen: I will educate people on the importance of having a stable partner when organizing an event. They say, “You only get one chance for a first impression”, so people of the world, live that to the event professionals.
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