46 conference and exhibitions
Innovation the key in the world of conferences and exhibitions Like the rest of the economy, the conferences and exhibitions industry has been through challenging times but the signs are that innovation continues to offer hope for the future.
The main reason for the sector’s resilience, according to industry experts, is its ability to constantly try out new things while never losing touch with the needs of its clients. That has been underlined by several sources, including the report compiled jointly by the Events Industry Forum and the Business Visits & Events Partnership, which suggested the future could be bright for the industry. It highlighted opportunities for growth in the UK Events Industry, which it suggested can grow from its existing £36.1 billion, to £42.2 billion in 2015 and £48.4 billion in 2020. So what are you looking for if you are trying to organise a conference or exhibition and need to select a venue? One of
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the key factors is a good location, somewhere that is easy to reach and attractive for delegates. If the directions look too complicated, some attendees may think twice about attending. So think road and rail links when you choose. When assessing the venue you are looking at other factors as well. Can it cope with the numbers expected to attend, has it got a good meeting room, will it provide equipment like projectors and Internet access, are the staff friendly and flexible in helping you meet your needs? In short, can it cope? The good venues are the ones that can tailor themselves to providing the exact needs of the event organisers and are prepared to be flexible. One approach for conference originators is to bring in a
specialist company to do the legwork. The staff at these outsource companies will have encountered just about every problem presented by the process and take all the worry away from the company originating the event. Linked to the conferences and exhibitions market is the need to offer corporate hospitality as part of the package and many