Conference & Meetings World Issue 117 | Page 19

Association Interview

platform and this could lead to potential development in pricing policy .
Thirdly , with digital we can increase the partnership possibilities thanks to the multiplication of commercial spaces made available by the digital infrastructure .
How is the museum industry approaching sustainability ? How is this mirrored in the events you organise ? Sustainability is normally defined as meeting the needs of the present , without compromising the ability of future generations to meet today ’ s expectations . Museums have their own part to play in sustainability . Because if we think that the main mission of a museum is to preserve history and knowledge for future generations , you can see how caring for the environment is a natural extension of the of the role of museum .
We organise large scale international
events , such as the General Conference , only once every three years to try to limit members ’ intercontinental travel and encouraging our delegates to use green means of transport . We select conference centres with sustainable standards and use local suppliers to keep the production chain as short as possible .
But also , diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our programme . For example , gender and geographical balance is considered when selecting speakers . We offer simultaneous translation in at least three languages ( Spanish , French and English ) in addition to the local language of the host country .
Additionally , social sustainability of an event is not only measured by the benefit you can offer to the participants , but also to consider the impact events have on the local communities . We think about the cities in which our conferences are located and the legacies that we leave behind .
“ We ’ re organising three different events at the same time . We have to plan the physical event , the digital event and also coordinate the osmosis between the two .”
What do you see as the biggest challenges to organising events over the next 12 months ? It ’ s a very intense work period , as we are only seven months away from the General Conference . This is an unprecedented challenge . We are working very hard to provide our members with an unforgettable event experience , to bring the world community together both physically and remotely .
But this means from an organisational perspective , we ’ re organising three different events at the same time . We have to plan the physical event , the digital event and also coordinate the osmosis between the two .
I think the work has doubled from the organisational point of view . But what is very crucial for us is to have an event that allows collaboration between our members and facilitates discussion between leading players .
ISSUE 117 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 19