MICE
ATTENDING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
By SAACI CEO Adriaan Liebetrau
There’ s an array of international conference and exhibitions one can attend, not forgetting local ones. But the decision of which ones to attend gives rise to many questions. The biggest of these seems to be around ROI: What will I have to invest and what am I going to get out? And it’ s not just about the money – you also have to invest time away from the office.
Firstly, consider who is going to attend, as any event will have an element of networking and knowledge transfer. If you don’ t attend, take time to train your team to gain as much insight and knowledge as possible. And remember the saying“ eyes before the badge”.
Make your decision by studying the conferences’ delegate or buyers lists beforehand. If you run a small bed and breakfast it may not help to go to an international trade show where big grouping deals are signed. Rather consider a conference that talks about small business.
Once your mind’ s made up, remember that exhibition stand design should be creative and striking. Stay away from couches, rather opt for working tables for a business set up. Table top meetings are becoming an international trend.
Conference programmes should be innovative, fresh and engaging, so decide which sessions to attend before you travel. If you’ re attending with colleagues, split up and attend different sessions so you can compare notes afterwards. Also ask the organiser for notes of sessions you didn’ t manage to attend.
My biggest tip is for business card exchange. We meet someone and exchange business cards, but seldom contact the person when we’ re back at work. While you’ re still talking to them, make notes on their business card. Back at the office, sort your business cards into tasks. Edit a standard‘ great meeting you’ text with what you promised.
We work in a competitive environment. If you want to grow your business, you need to attend local and international events to network, learn, grow and share.
Reynolds MICE Corporate Events
The 31st annual SAACI congress with a theme of‘ preparing for multiple futures’ will be held on 2-4 June 2017 at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Tshwane. Contact: www. saacicongress. org for more information.
The newly launched Reynolds MICE Corporate Events takes care of all your meetings, incentives, conferencing and event requirements, locally and internationally. Contact heather @ reynolds. co. za for more information.
64 Travel Update | issue 9