ABPCO News

Fee squeeze & agency consolidation likely following budget says ABPCO

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:19:56 -0500

With public spending reduced and now increased VAT following the emergency budget, Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) are likely to come under yet more pressure to reduce fees and deliver more for less, according to ABPCO.

Rebecca Cadman-Jones, ABPCO Chair, commented: ‘PCOs have already been hit by the recession, with buyers looking to squeeze budgets and reduce fees where possible yet expecting the same levels of service delivery. With the new VAT increase, non-VAT-registered organisations such as charities and some public sector bodies will have to carry that additional cost. We will be urging our members to stand firm when it comes to fee cuts in order to avoid price wars that hurt everyone.

ABPCO members are vetted against stringent eligibility criteria so we know that they are the best in the business. With our industry expertise and buying power, ABPCO member fees are often covered by cost savings on negotiating better supplier deals on behalf of buyers. We will be encouraging members to draw on that pedigree, communicating the benefits of using professional organisers who can deliver high quality conferences and events that make a difference.’

Agency consolidation as VAT rise hits freelancers hard

ABPCO anticipates that the VAT rise to 20% with effect from January 2011 will have a big impact on smaller agencies and freelancers. For those with a turnover of less than £61,000 per annum who are not required to register for VAT, the 2.5% increase could be a bridge too far in terms of increased costs that they are unable to reclaim.

Rebecca Cadman-Jones continued: ‘Smaller agencies will struggle to manage increased costs if they are unable to reclaim VAT or not registered for the flat rate scheme offered by HMRC. This could lead to further consolidation in the agency sector, with one-man operations forced to shut up shop and potentially look to consolidate with larger agencies.’

PLANNING EVENTS IN LONDON IN 2012

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:51:36 -0600

Briefing Note For Event Planners, Venues, and Olympic Stakeholders

2012 will be an exciting and busy time in London’s history. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 games are momentous and unique occasions and are opportunities to promote London as the best big city in the world. Extensive cultural activity throughout 2012 is already being planned, which will reinforce London’s position as the world city of culture.

London wants to ensure that as many events as possible that are planned in the capital, before, during and after the London 2012 Games can be accommodated during an extremely busy period in the city, and this includes events celebrating the games, as well as the regular events that make London such a fantastic place to be in the summer.

London’s public services – particularly police and transport – need to plan ahead of 2012 to allocate resources to support the delivery of the games, to support other events in the capital and to enable London to keep moving and functioning successfully. So, the Mayor is calling on anyone planning events to provide information as early as possible – knowing the landscape of activities in advance will help all the regular services that support events, to plan where to allocate their resources on particular days, and create the desired celebratory atmosphere across London

Event information needs to be provided by 31^st March 2011 to either The Culture Diary, or to the relevant London Borough, where the event will be taking place. By planning in advance, the event has the best possible chance of going ahead as intended – even if the event is still in the early stages of planning.

Cultural Events

The Culture Diary (www.theculturediary.com ) is the first of its kind and has been created by the Mayor, in conjunction with Visit London. Organisers of cultural and community events planned for the entire year of 2012 taking place across all 33 boroughs, should register to use The Culture Diary by 31^st December 2010, and enter details by 31^st March 2011 to make the most of this chance to showcase what London has to offer, and assist London’s public services plan their resource for 2012. Registration on the site will also give the opportunity to be part of the 2012 Cultural Festival with all the associated marketing and promotional activities. In addition, event organisers can also use the online service to identify and avoid clashes or foster any potential collaboration for events and marketing with other users.

Non Cultural Events

(e.g. product launches, international conference, sports tournament, markets, National Olympic Committee Houses, Olympic Sponsor sporting events, campsites )

Organisers of these events, should inform the local London Borough. Contact details for Boroughs are at www.london.gov.uk/eventsin2012

As a guide, if the event is NOT cultural, is likely to attract over 499 visitors or will need a traffic order/closure to a public highway, or a new licence, details will need to be logged with the Borough, also by 31^st March 2011. By providing as much information as possible as early as possible, the chances of the event or activity being supported are increased, however providing details does not mean the event has permission to go ahead, nor that licences are automatically granted. Formal events approvals processes, including formal applications for licences and other permissions still need to be completed.

Information collected by the Boroughs or The Culture Diary will be reviewed by London’s public services to ensure that the city has the capacity to support such a spectacular array of events.

Any questions should be directed to the relevant Borough

www.london.gov.uk/eventsin2012

Hiscox Insurance becomes ABPCO’s first Association Sponsor

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:00:15 -0600

Hiscox Event Insurance has become the first Association Sponsor for ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers. The move will see Hiscox closely involved with all ABPCO key calendar events in a bid to develop stronger relationships with ABPCOs PCO members.

The announcement follows ABPCO’s recent Winning Partnerships annual conference in Manchester, hailed hugely successful by delegates and organisers as the ‘best ABPCO conference ever’. Speaking to ABPCO members, ABPCO Chair Rebecca Cadman-Jones said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Hiscox on board as ABPCO’s first Association sponsor.’

Hiscox Event Insurance have also become corporate members of ABPCO, joining an expanding list of venues, destinations and other events related businesses such as Visit London, Nottingham Conference, The Barbican, SECC, ACC Liverpool, Visit Manchester, Mexia Communications and Manchester United Football Club as corporate members of ABPCO.

Ed Pugh, event insurance expert at Hiscox, commented: "PCOs and Associations have always been a focus for us, and over the years we’ve insured countless events run by ABPCO members. So we are delighted to become ABPCO’s Association sponsor and to join as corporate members. It’s a great way to meet existing clients and build new relationships.”

ABPCO’s corporate membership scheme is open to venues, destinations and other suppliers from across the meetings and events sector. For more information, visit ABPCO’s website.

ABPCO supports BVEP challenge to Tourism Minister on Visit Britain cuts

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:32:10 -0600

ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, has come out in staunch support of Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) in challenging the recent government decision to cut Visit Britain’s activity in the global business tourism market.

The planned cuts will see Visit Britain significantly reduce its overseas presence and hand over the majority of support for business tourism initiatives to national tourist boards across the UK. ABPCO Chair Rebecca Cadman-Jones commented: ‘The decision by Visit Britain to move away from business tourism is a huge blow to the conference industry and ABPCO members. Support from our national tourism body is essential in ensuring that major conferences and events choose the UK, generating huge economic impact for the country. ABPCO fully supports the BVEP in its challenge to the Tourism Minister John Penrose on this matter.’

In a letter to BVEP Chairman Michael Hirst, Visit Britain CEO Sandie Dawe MBE stated: ‘We will still continue to offer a bid support service to attract international conferences, conventions and major sporting events,’ yet how this will be realised is yet unclear, according to comments from Mr. Hirst following a meeting with Ms. Dawe.

Rebecca Cadman-Jones continued: ‘Other countries enjoy significant support and representation from their respective tourism authorities in the international meetings sector; these new cuts could significantly impact opportunities for international events coming to the UK and consequently affect business for ABPCO members. We must do all we can to ensure that the industry has the support to compete on a global scale.’

ABPCO appoints new executive committee at Belfast Summer Summit

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:17:34 -0500

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has appointed its new executive committee following its recent AGM at the Summer Summit event currently being held at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. Kenes UK MD Michael Foreman takes over the role of Chair from Rebecca Cadman-Jones while MCI UK MD Jennifer Jenkins becomes Vice Chair. ACC Liverpool Director of Sales Kerrin MacPhie retains the role of Treasurer for the Association.

Commenting on his appointment, Michael Foreman said: "ABPCO has significantly grown over the last twelve months, both in terms of members and the overall development of the Association. I am thrilled to be taking the helm at this exciting time in ABPCO's history; we have a strong board, clear vision and some exciting new initiatives planned for the year ahead. I am looking forward to helping the Association to build on its success to date and expand its remit as the leading industry voice for PCOs in the UK."

Other committee members include Martin Jack of Think Different Events, Mike Lyon of Write Style Communications, Sue Reay of Benchmark Communications and Anthony Lishman of Conference Centres of Excellence.

ABPCO, first conceived in 1981 and formally incorporated in 1987, represents in-house organisers, agency PCOs and corporate venue and supplier members across the UK. In the last year, ABPCO's members have increased and its ranks continue to grow. ABPCO’s annual conference in January was hailed a huge success by delegates and exhibitors alike, resulting in a number of new member sign-ups.

Boyle Appointed to ABPCO Executive Committee

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:36:01 -0500

Following the success of the recent Summer Summit held in Belfast, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has appointed Martin Boyle, Sales Director for Congrex UK onto its new executive committee.

ABPCO has established itself as the leading organisation in the UK for professional conference organisers, as well as engaging corporate organisations and academia who are involved with the meeting and event industry in the UK within its membership.

“I am delighted to be joining the ABPCO Executive Committee” said Martin. “ABPCO have been instrumental in raising the profile of the meeting and event industry profession within the UK for many years and I look forward to making a contribution through the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has some important business objectives ahead of them in the coming term which include closer engagement with academia and considering new membership categories for ABPCO to ensure we are embracing not only the established UK PCO sector and allied organisation but also the up and coming professionals and influencers of the future. I also personally believe that ABPCO has an important role to play within raising the awareness of the positive impact that the meeting and events industry has to play within the wider UK economy and this message needs to be reinforced at local, regional and national government levels. I hope this is an area we can continue to focus on.”

Michael Foreman, ABPCO Chair, added: “We are delighted to welcome Martin to the ABPCO executive committee. His experience and professionalism further strengthen ABPCO’s leadership and will no doubt assist the Association in acting as the voice of UK PCOs, in advocating excellence in conference organisation and in continuing to deliver added value to our members.”

ABPCO Launches Campaign Calling For Free Wi-Fi For Delegates

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:53:25 -0500

ABPCO today announced the launch of a new campaign – The Conference Cloud - which aims to put an end to Wi-Fi fees for conference delegates by encouraging venues across the UK to offer free Wi-Fi access. The campaign follows feedback from PCO members regarding the negative impact of high Wi-Fi access prices for delegates and calls from buyers for venues to review their pricing strategies when it comes to separate charging for Wi-Fi. An open forum debate on the topic at the recent Summer Summit in Belfast further reinforced the need for a campaign to address this issue for PCOs.

Newly appointed ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman commented: “Online access is a fundamental part of everyday working life and we know that delegates attending our members’ events need to stay connected while on the move. Even with the proliferation of mobile broadband coverage, quality Wi-Fi is still the preferred online access route, especially for overseas delegates keen to avoid excessive data roaming charges.

“We know that free Wi-Fi is already being set up by certain cities across the globe. Our aim is to work with venues to develop revenue models that work for them as well as our clients. ABPCO wants the UK to be leading the way when it comes to listening to what buyers need to support their events and free Wi-Fi is top of their list.”

Feedback from ABPCO members indicates that most conferences are now using Wi-Fi enabled tools, allowing delegates to access information during the event, encouraging interaction such as social media comments and networking within conference venues. ABPCO believes that venues that are committed to enhancing the delegate experience should work with event organisers to make these tools as accessible as possible through provision of good quality Wi-Fi.

ABPCO has already lined up a number of initiatives to give the campaign momentum. The Association aims to host a round table discussion with conference venues in the autumn to provide a starting point for developing an agreed model for offering free Wi-Fi to delegates. Venues that sign up to support The Conference Cloud will be listed on the website and given The Conference Cloud logo to use in marketing materials, including a window sticker for the venue.

Meetings and events professionals are also encouraged to support The Conference Cloud through its online petition available via the website at www.theconferencecloud.co.uk , or join the debate on social media via ABPCO’s Linked In Group, Facebook or Twitter using #confcloud.

Twickenham Experience First Venue to Sign Up to ABPCO’s Conference Cloud Campaign

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:08:31 -0500

ABPCO’s campaign calling for free Wi-Fi for conference delegates – The Conference Cloud – has already received huge support from venues and individual supporters signing the petition within its first day of launch. ABPCO corporate member Twickenham Experience was the first to sign up, quickly followed by Sheffield International Venues, UMIC, Ricoh Arena, Park Inn by Radisson Rotherham and Eastbourne Devonshire Park Centre. Twickenham Experience will also play host to ABPCO’s Conference Cloud round table event with venues in the autumn.

Simon Mills, Head of Sales and Marketing at Twickenham Experience commented: “This is a great initiative from ABPCO and we are delighted to be the first to sign up. We already offer free Wi-Fi at our venue as we see this as essential in today’s competitive environment. PCOs and clients see Wi-Fi as an integral part of their event and do not want to be charged additional fees for a fundamental service.”

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman added: “The Conference Cloud campaign has already been widely picked up, with lots of interest and support across social media channels in addition to the petition and venues signing up. This is just the beginning and we are looking forward to sitting down with venues later this year to discuss how best to implement free Wi-Fi for delegates.”

The Conference Cloud is an initiative by ABPCO to encourage UK conference venues to offer delegates free Wi-Fi. Further information about the campaign is available via www.theconferencecloud.co.uk , ABPCO’s LinkedIn group or via Twitter following #confcloud.

ABPCO’s Conference Cloud free Wi-Fi campaign secures over 100 signatures

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:16:20 -0500

The Conference Cloud campaign launched recently by ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, has secured more than 100 signatures on its petition and already gathered the support of fifteen venues.

The campaign, which calls for free Wi-Fi for conference delegates at venues across the UK, gathered momentum within hours of launching last month. ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman said: “We are delighted with the response to the campaign and welcome on board all those who have signed up as venues or lent their support via the petition.”

ABPCO plans to host a round-table debate with venues towards the end of October, hosted by the first venue to sign up to the campaign, Twickenham Experience. The full agenda for the debate will be released in the coming weeks. The debate over free wi-fi has already gained momentum on social media, via ABPCO’s LinkedIn group and in particular via the Twitter hashtag #confcloud. ABPCO invites both individuals and venues to sign up to the campaign via the website at www.theconferencecloud.co.uk.

TRANSIENT WORKERS CANNOT FILL GROWING MANAGEMENT SHORTAGE

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:36:12 -0500

More high calibre managers are needed if hospitality businesses are to capitalise on the predicted future growth in the sector. Confronting perceptions of the industry offering low skilled employment, new research from People 1^st reveals there are significant opportunities for high skilled workers with the creation of an additional 69,000 managerial posts by 2017.

The hospitality sector is one of the fastest growing in the economy, accounting for one in 14 UK jobs according to State of the Nation 2011 – the definitive snapshot of the labour market for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.¹

Whilst the economic downturn has made it easier to recruit staff, businesses are still struggling to find high calibre managers.

“The difficulty of finding managers with the relevant management and leadership skills is becoming more acute,” states Martin-Christian Kent, director of research and policy and author of State of the Nation 2011. “The current trading conditions have intensified the need for managers to have a broad range of skills and, in recent years, the traditional pathways to become managers have been eroded making it more difficult to encourage people into the profession.”

Hospitality businesses in particular are consequently resorting to bridging the skills gap through hiring temporary staff or recruiting staff without the full range of skills required. Over a third of employers surveyed (35 percent) said that they recruit transient labour. Six out of ten employers (58 percent) admitted that the sector relies heavily on temporary workers, whilst 47 percent agreed that the level of reliance is far too high. Surprisingly, the survey found that far more high-end establishments than budget operations relied more on transient front-line staff (44 percent compared to 33 percent).

“Transient labour continues to costs the sector an estimated £33.4 million through constant recruitment and initial training,” says Brian Wisdom, chief executive of People 1^st. “Whilst we recognise that transient labour gives businesses the flexibility to respond to fluctuating customer demand, this short-term approach contributes towards the poor image of the sector and limits productivity. The challenge is to learn from the State of the Nation research, and from examples of best practice amongst our employers. Together research and practical experience, will continue to inform and underpin the training programmes developed by People 1^st to address the skills needs of the sector. Our vision is for a sector prepared and equipped to take advantage of the opportunities for economic growth.”

The report also found that:

· The sector has a major skills gap in customer service – People 1^st aims to train 200,000 people ahead of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

· There is an acute shortage of managers - 69,000 additional managers will be needed by 2017.

· 39 percent of employers with skills gaps report that their managers do not possess the required skills – a significant increase of nine percent since 2007.

· The sector is attractive for business start-ups – 21,580 in 2009. However, few businesses are taking advantage of what is available. 56 percent of small businesses did not receive any support before setting up their company whilst 41 percent felt that their business would have benefited from some advice, mainly around finance.

· Despite economic difficulties, the sector’s proportional contribution to the UK’s economy has increased from 4.5 percent to 4.9 percent, accounting for £42,248 million. The gambling industry is by far the most profitable generating £121.44 per hour worked. Travel services generate £102.74 per hour, followed by pubs, bars and nightclubs at £80.89.

· The size of the workforce has also increased over the past year to 2.1 million – one in 14 UK jobs and 7.2 percent of the total working population.

· Applications for hospitality posts averaged 18 per job posted, increasing from 16 in quarter two of 2009 and 15 to quarter two of 2010.

Martin-Christian Kent believes that the issues raised in the report will persist unless the sector collectively adheres to its long-term commitments. “We urgently need to attract and retain skilled workers to the sector and increase the effectiveness of employers’ investment in training. People 1^st believes that a new collaborative approach to address the systematic challenges of the hospitality sector is essential. A Hospitality Guild that is currently being established by People 1^st in England should provide a strengthened and simplified focal point for industry bodies and businesses to achieve these aims.”

ABPCO to celebrate 25 years at its 2012 Annual Conference in London – registration live

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:17:19 -0500

ABPCO will celebrate 25 years since incorporation in 2012 and plans to begin celebrations for its Silver Jubilee year in style at its annual conference on 25 – 27th January, registration for which opens today. The two-day conference, to be held at the Barbican with the opening social reception hosted by the Ironmongers Hall, will be themed ‘25 years: Past, Present & Future’ and will celebrate ABPCO’s long-standing history of excellence in the conferencing sector as well as looking to the future of the industry. In addition to The Barbican and other sponsors, the ABPCO conference is also supported by London & Partners.

The conference programme this year is designed to offer delegates the opportunity to ‘learn from the past, evaluate the present and discuss the challenges for the future.’ The programme includes keynote presentations and workshops from three industry-leading experts, sponsored by the London Speaker Bureau. Dr Graeme Codrington, an expert on the new world of work and multi-generational workplaces will present on the TIDES of change, the five key disruptive forces shaping the new world of work; Peter Cochrane, former head of Research at British Telecommunications plc, is the author of over 1000 blogs, articles, scientific papers and books on the future, technology and business and will address delegates on ‘The formula has changed but we haven’t’; and Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology at the University of London, will run a workshop looking at understanding generational differences: the key to motivating and retaining staff.

The 2012 conference includes a new approach to streamlining workshops according to strategic or operational job function. Topics covered include:

Managing difficult relationship
Hybrid events – what’s all the buzz?
How to successfully engage conference audiences online
The PCO team: working together to deliver better conferences
Making the most of the media
Association case study: account management, past, present and future

ABPCO celebrates 25 years with gala dinner

ABPCO is pleased to confirm that its 25^th anniversary jubilee in 2012 will begin in style with a celebratory gala dinner at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral on Thursday 26^th January, the final night of the Association’s two day conference.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is widely considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful buildings and a powerful symbol of the splendour of London.

Guests will enjoy exclusive use of the Cathedral on the evening and will also receive a private viewing upon arrival. After dinner, guests will be entertained by renowned Ricky Gervais/David Brent impersonator, Tim Oliver. In addition to providing after dinner entertainment, Tim has been on many TV shows including recently on Britain’s Got Talent 2010 as one of the Chippendoubles.

Alana Buckley, Corporate Events Manager, from St Paul’s Cathedral commented: “We are delighted to host ABPCO at St Paul’s Cathedral for their 25^th anniversary gala dinner and look forward to welcoming their members here on the night. ABPCO members represent excellence in the events industry and we are thrilled to be able to showcase St Paul’s Cathedral to such a distinguished audience.”

Additional tickets have been made available to extend the event beyond those attending the conference to join the celebrations and mark the start of ABPCO’s Silver Anniversary year.

Commenting on the 2012 conference, ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman said: “This year’s conference will be our best ever, with an incredible line up of speakers and a very special celebration planned already. We are proud to have been representing our members for a quarter of a century and delighted that our ranks continue to grow. We have grown tremendously as an Association, even in the last 12 months, and look forward to continuing to work with our PCO and corporate members, encouraging professionalism and excellence in conferencing throughout the UK."

Further information about the conference is available on the ABPCO website and registration is now open at http://www.shocklogic.com/abpco2012/

New Report Outlines Event Industry Role in UK Economic Growth

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:36:54 -0500

24^th October 2011: A new report circulated amongst Members of Parliament outlines ways in which the UK events industry can work together with national and local government to increase Britain’s competitiveness internationally, and provide a boost to the economy.

The report highlights opportunities for growth in the UK Events Industry and speculates that with the right support the industry could grow dramatically from its existing £36.1 billion, to £42.2 billion in 2015 and £48.4 billion in 2020.

The report, presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events (APPG) and other Members of Parliament, including some Private Parliamentary Secretaries to Ministers, was compiled jointly by the Events Industry Forum and the Business Visits & Events Partnership.

The report also demonstrates the major growth opportunity the UK events industry could play for UK plc, and to protect the estimated 25,000 companies that rely on it.

Outlined within the document are several strategic aims of the UK events industry and specific roles industry, parliament, local government and national government must play in making Britain more internationally competitive. The report acknowledges the UK industry’s ‘hard earned global reputation’ and the need to continue to make Britain more competitive in the face of fiercer international competition.

“This is not just about coming cap in hand to government, but about a collaborative effort to work together,” comments Nick de Bois, MP. “Events in Britain represent a major opportunity for growth for UK plc and a chance to underline our place as a centre for global business.”

On top of the economic value of the industry, the report also focuses on the ‘invisible benefits’ of meetings and events, supporting UK export and positioning the UK as the centre of international business, intelligence and knowledge sharing. It also underlines the vital role events play in bringing together ‘global leaders and thinkers to discuss, debate, learn and share’.

Phil Mist, representing the Event Industry Forum who provide the secretariat to the APPG said, "With the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games and The Queen’s Jubilee well under way, the UK events industry will undoubtedly again show the world that organising major outdoor and sporting events is one of our specialities, and because of our expertise, the UK economy as a whole will benefit accordingly".

Michael Hirst, Chairman of the Business Visits & Events Partnership added, "This report comes at a crucial time for the UK economy as the government considers its growth agenda. The UK events sector is well set to play a pivotal role in facilitating economic growth and added employment by showcasing Britain as a world class destination for international conferences and trade shows, as well a staging its great sporting and cultural events and festivals".

This year’s Britain for Events campaign will launch at The Deck on the 27^th October, delegates are encouraged to register early to attend the event as space is limited.

Opportunities_for_Growth_in_the_UK_Events_Industry

http://www.britainforevents.co.uk/research.html

ABPCO to host debate on free Wi-Fi for conference delegates

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:33:13 -0600

ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, plans to host a round-table debate with venues, PCOs and campaign supporters to discuss the issues surrounding the implementation of a free Wi-Fi service for conference delegates.

The debate, which takes place on December 5^th at Twickenham Experience, is the next step in the Association’s Conference Cloud campaign, calling for free Wi-Fi for delegates, which was launched in August (www.theconferencecloud.co.uk ). The campaign has already signed up more than 40 venue listings, accounting for over 100 sites across the UK, that have committed to offering free Wi-Fi and gained the support of more than 200 individuals who have signed the petition. ABPCO plans to host a further discussion on the topic at its annual conference in January 2012 in London. Attendance at the conference is open to ABPCO members and non-members.

The debate will involve three core components:

technology, looking at what infrastructure is required, the technical challenges and what the cost implications might be;
financials, considering some of the financial implications of offering Wi-Fi for free and discussing revenue models ; and
free Wi-Fi in action asking venues to share examples of where free Wi-Fi is already in place and how this is working for those venues.

Guest speakers providing expert insight into these areas will be invited to address the group and the debate will be introduced by ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman and facilitated by meetings technology consultant Corbin Ball.

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman commented: “This debate is about getting down to business, looking more specifically about what is involved in making a commitment to offering free Wi-Fi, especially for the larger convention centres. The response to the campaign has already been incredible so we know that this is something clients want, we just need to work with venues to explore how we can make it a reality across a larger proportion of UK conference venues.”

Corbin Ball added: “The explosion of mobile technology is making easy access to Wi-Fi essential for events and tradeshows. Demand for bandwidth is growing exponentially and providing good signal to all delegates is increasingly a challenge for venues. I am delighted to participate in this very important discussion organized by ABPCO where the issues, promises and challenges will be addressed from all sides. I expect that the information shared and the conclusions will be both informative and enlightening for all who attend.”

PCOs and venues agree need to define free Wi-Fi for delegates at basic level

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:06:50 -0600

PCOs, venues and suppliers attending the debate on free Wi-Fi for conference delegates as part of ABPCO’s Conference Cloud campaign on the whole agreed that there is a need for ‘free Wi-Fi for delegates at a basic level’ and that venues need to define what ‘basic’ means for them. A list of key delegate requirements for Wi-Fi access was drawn up during the discussion and a draft list was created of key qualifying questions that need to be answered, by clients, PCOs and venues regarding their specific Wi-Fi requirements for an event.

The debate looked at the growing demand for bandwidth in conferencing and events as delegates’ expectations increase due to consumer experiences of high-speed bandwidth and simultaneous, multi-device connectivity. Cisco’s Ian Bull shared case studies where venues have introduced new sponsorship and revenue models to cover costs without passing these on directly to users. Meetings industry technology consultant Corbin Ball highlighted the huge increase in demand for bandwidth, referencing recent research by iBAHN which reported that 25% of devices on hotel networks are iPads and that these consume 400% more data than the average iPhone.

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman commented: “The debate brought together key industry PCOs, major venues, suppliers and other industry associations to identify what the requirements are for Wi-Fi from clients and delegates now and in the coming years. We heard some really interesting examples from Cisco where venues in the USA have developed innovative ways of covering Wi-Fi costs through things like apps offering sponsorship opportunities and gained some insight into what is coming in terms of ever-increasing bandwidth demand from Corbin Ball.

“There was a general agreement that there is a need for a ‘basic’ level of Wi-Fi access at no charge for delegates attending conferences and events, but that venues need to be transparent about what ‘basic’ means for them. We also brainstormed key uses of Wi-Fi and questions regarding usage, volume and applications that venues need to be asking and PCOs need to be clarifying with clients to be much more specific about their Wi-Fi requirements. We will be developing a document to circulate following this discussion.”

Ian Bull, Business Development Lead, Service Provider at Cisco, said: "What a fantastic debate, it is great to see venues and PCOs coming together to share their views and to learn and understand the potential revenue opportunities. There are many ways venues could package Wi-Fi offerings to cover the high density of users. For example, using Wi-Fi as a means of promoting event sponsorship and value added services to users."

Iona Courtenay-Warren from Hotelscene added: "We need to be very clear about the difference between free and free to use Wi-Fi. Clients don't mind paying for a service, but want it packaged as part of the rate, not a line item. Clients are interested in total cost, not separate items."

The debate was hosted by Twickenham Experience, which offers free Wi-Fi to delegates and was the first to sign up to the Conference Cloud campaign. Simon Mills, Head of Sales and Marketing at Twickenham Experience, commented: "The ABPCO campaign has certainly opened up the debate on free Wi-Fi. It is interesting to see how venues and PCOs think; there are definitely two schools of thought. The bottom line is that venues should give a basic level of Wi-Fi for free; at the very least delegates should be able to access social media and answer email. Twickenham Experience fully supports ABPCO’s position of providing Wi-Fi free of charge to conference delegates at a basic level."

The Conference Cloud campaign, which launched in August, has already secured the support of over 130 venues that offer free Wi-Fi to delegates and has received more than 200 petition signatories. The ABPCO debate is set to continue at its forthcoming 25^th anniversary annual conference to be held in London on January 25^th- 27^th which is open to members and non-members.

UniSpace meets all expectations with UK conference specialists

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:52:42 -0600

THE region’s newest conferencing facility recently played host to the UK’s top conference organisers who chose to hold their autumn event in the North East for the first time.

The University of Sunderland was selected as the ideal venue to host the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) annual autumn seminar, in partnership with the NGI and Marriott Hotel Group.

Securing the high profile event is a major coup for the university which has been steadily building an impressive portfolio of high-profile conferences and events, and recently branded its facilities under ‘UniSpace’.

This month (November), 20 of the UK’s most influential professional conference organisers and events planners headed to the University of Sunderland to hold their autumn meeting for the first time in the North East.

As part of the UniSpace experience, ABPCO delegates stayed at the Marriott Hotel and enjoyed a showcase of The University conference facilities, before visiting Seaham Hall and the Stadium of light which highlighted Sunderland’s diversity as a conference and events destination. Delegates also attended a half-day social media for events training session delivered by Mexia Communications, co-sponsors of the event.

Guests were also treated to showcase of regional hospitality, with an interactive reception and dinner at The National Glass Centre, thanks to the talents of the university’s art and design students and NGC studio team ; from glass blowing demonstrations and pipe music to an exclusive Olympic themed dance performance and the opportunity to interact with artists from the NGC and the performers, guests also enjoyed the sounds of an ensemble of the University Big Band who played them through dinner.

Michael Foreman, ABPCO Chairman, said: “Sunderland offers some unique spaces for conferences and events and provides a rich heritage as a destination. ABPCO members were delighted with the facilities on offer and enjoyed a warm welcome from our hosts for our first event in the North East.”

Assisting with the organisation of the event were be events management students, putting what they have learned in the classroom into practice, offering them practical skills in a real-life conferencing environment.

Sharon Olver, University of Sunderland Commercial Services Manager, said: “The idea is to showcase the conferencing facilities we have at the university to the professionals, it’s a great test of what we can offer as an institution as well as a chance to demonstrate what the region and Sunderland can offer culturally and as a destination.

She added: “We are delighted that ABPCO selected us to hold their first event in the North East. UniSpace recently received accreditation from the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) and was awarded a corporate membership of ABPCO as we have been expanding our portfolio of events for some time now.

“When we realised the word about our success was out, as more requests are coming in from a diverse range of sectors, we felt it was the right time to brand the university’s unique facilities under the UniSpace banner.”

Some of the events held at UniSpace to date include: Sunderland Folk Festival, the BBC North East and Cumbria Sports Awards and BBC North East pre-election debate in 2010, as well as showcasing the latest Dr Who series which introduced actor Matt Smith as the Doctor.

The theme for ABPCO’s autumn event this year was ‘Using social media effectively to promote your Event’.

ABPCO is the UK organisation for Professional Conference & Event Organisers, their industry colleagues and those studying for or pursuing a career in the meetings industry.

Membership of ABPCO is subject to eligibility, based on experience and professionalism, and ABPCO is one of very few conference industry associations to select Full & Associate members based on peer assessment.

Sue Reay, Director of Benchmark Communications, who were organising the event on behalf of ABPCO, said: “This was a great event and many have taken away a very positive feeling about Sunderland. The team did a tremendous job and UniSpace is now on the UK conference map.

EFAPCO to Tackle Challenges of Global Economic Upheaval

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:59:59 -0600

Delegates from almost all of EFAPCO’s 13 member countries are set to gather in Estoril for two days of intensive Congress sessions set to examine an extensive range of issues and challenges facing the international meetings industry.

The delegate profile for the Federation’s 5^th Congress also includes some non-members keen to study the benefits of membership plus a group of students from Spain.

Described as a “Green Congress in a Green Venue” the event will tackle the theme: “The World Has Changed: Start Acting”. Hosting the event, the Estoril Congress Center, is certified as a green venue by Green Globe International and has been described as a European leader in terms of sustainable business tourism.

The Congress will be looking at a variety of 21^st Century Challenges including:

* The Future of Corporate and Association Meetings

* The European Commission’s Approach to Conference Organisation

* Women Leadership and the Meetings Industry

* The value of Face-to-Face events in the era of Facebook

* How the media respond in the delivery of international solutions

* A sustainable vision of the Meetings Industry

* The value of air links in the positioning of destinations

* Using science to influence attendee behaviour and performance at meetings.

Keynote presenters include Jose Manuel Bastos, Head of Unit Conference Organisation at the European Commission talking about the EC’s Approach to Conference Organisation, global futurist Rohit Talwar, James Latham, Producer at MEETINGS:review, Pedro Rocha dos Santos Director of the Estoril Congress Center offering a sustainable vision for the Meetings Industry and Jon Bradshaw, CEO with The Meetology Group.

A series of illustrious female personalities will be presenting a session on women leadership in the meetings industry including: Isabel Amaral President of APEP; Anne De Smet, President of BAPCO the Federation’s Belgian member association; Isabella Lenarduzzi, Managing Director of JUMP and independent financial consultant Mariana Abrantes de Sousa.

In tandem with the Congress some of the brightest students in the global meetings and incentive travel industry will be taking part in an IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum, offering a comprehensive range of insights into how to build successful careers in the still-expanding meetings and events industry.

EFAPCO Vice President Helena Weinstein, who is hosting the Estoril Congress said: “We have lined up some top-flight keynote speakers and the Congress should give the Future Leaders Forum students another excellent experience of our industry. We have also arranged for them to meet members of the Portuguese Young Entrepreneurs Association.”

Developed and organised jointly by the IMEX Group and MPI, the Forum was held, with great success, alongside the last EFAPCO Congress, in Brussels in 2010.

Congress hosts include Turismo de Portugal, Estoril Convention Bureau, Estoril Congress Center, Porto Convention Bureau and APECATE, Portugal’s EFAPCO member association.

And delegates will be welcomed in the opening session by Carlos Manuel Lavrador de Jesus Carreiras, Mayor of Cascais and Frederico Costa, President of Turismo de Portugal.

The deadline for low registration fees has been extended to January 10 to encourage extra participation.

ABPCO reflects on 25 years of meetings industry milestones

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:05:18 -0600

As ABPCO (the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers) enters its 25^th anniversary this year, the Association reflects on how life within the meetings industry has changed over the last quarter of a century:

1987-1991

· 1987 - ABPCO is incorporated, the Apple Mac computer is launched, badge production and data capture (via embossed plastic cards) for the trade show industry are invented
· 1989 - Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web
· 1990 - Meeting Industry Association (MIA) is founded
· 1991 - NEC opens its doors

1992-1996

· 1994 - Two Stanford students create “Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web” which was soon renamed Yahoo
· 1995 - Holiday Inn provide the first hotel website with the option of booking rooms online

1997-2001

· 2000 - The first virtual trade show, ExpoExchange, is held
· 2000 - ExCel opens
· Websites become an integral element of event marketing and communications

2002-2006

· 2002 – UK venues host an estimated 1.5 million conferences and meetings
· 2004 - Google went public
· 2004 – facebook was founded
· 2005 – Conferences and meetings in the UK worth an estimated 11.7 billion per year
· E-mail marketing is a key element of event communications

2007-2011

· 2007 - twitter was founded
· PCOs talk about going green and how to recycle at events
· Hotels interpret force majeure clauses (the ability for a group to cancel without penalty if a disaster strikes)
· 2008 - MPI publishes a Corporate Social Responsibility Survey results, part of the Green initiative
· 2010 – The Barbican joins as ABPCO’s first corporate member
· Hybrid conferences become more pronounced with companies
· 2011 – ABPCO’s Conference Cloud calling for free wi-fi for delegates launches

Today the association is thriving, with PCO’s and in house event planners organising an estimated 3500 conferences and events a year. ABPCO are still the only association to have individual membership of conference and event organisers, which welcomes both the independent and the in-house PCO/Event Organiser.

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman commented: ‘We have come a long way since the beginning and are proud of how the organisation has grown and the achievements that have been made. We could not have come this far however, without our wonderful members and the commitment and support from them.

We have always been positioned as the leading UK body representing the interests of Professional Conference Organisers and our aim has been to increase the profile and recognition of professional standards in our industry. Over the last twenty five years we have made significant progress and have fostered professionalism across the meetings industry.’

To mark the start of ABPCO’s Silver Anniversary year, ABPCO’s annual conference will be held at The Barbican from 25-27^th January with a spectacular gala dinner to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Thursday 26^th January. Additional tickets have been made available to extend the event beyond those attending the conference to join in on the celebrations.

Further information about the conference is available on the ABPCO website and registration is open at http://www.shocklogic.com/abpco2012/

ABPCO reveals first-ever award winners at 25th Anniversary Gala dinner

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:42:04 -0600

ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, has revealed the winners of its first ever awards at its celebratory 25^th Anniversary Gala dinner held at St Paul’s cathedral in London last night. Sarah Storie-Pugh received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Annie Metcalfe of Leeds Met won the coveted Student Award in recognition of academic excellence. The ABPCO ‘One to Watch, which recognises a wider contribution to the industry or innovative best practice for someone in the early years of their career, was presented to Catrina Foley of MCI Glasgow.

Each of the winners was presented with a unique glass piece created by the National Glass Centre of Sunderland, specially commissioned to commemorate these awards in celebration of ABPCO’s 25^th anniversary year.

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman said: “I am delighted to have had the honour of presenting these first ever ABPCO awards on such a momentous occasion as our 25^th anniversary celebration. ABPCO has always stood for excellence in conferencing and events and the winners of these awards have been recognised for outstanding contributions in their respective categories. We received some excellent nominations for the awards and the winners should be proud of their achievement in receiving this accolade. Well done to all!

ABPCO unveils wi-fi check list for PCOs

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:26:01 -0600

Following the round table debate on The Conference Cloud held in December, ABPCO unveiled a wi-fi check list at our 25th anniversary conference held at the Barbican in London at the end of January.

The document is a simple guideline intended to provide PCOs with key questions to discuss with clients and also provides a bullet-point check list of important considerations to raise with a venue. ABPCO aims to assist PCOs and venues to talk the same language when it comes to wi-fi requirements for events and is encouraging its members to use the document in discussions with clients, RFPs and site visits.

Michael Foreman, ABPCO Chair, commented: “The Conference Cloud debate in December highlighted that there is a genuine lack of understanding of the issues when it comes to the technical requirements and capabilities of a venue’s wi-fi network. What we have attempted with this document is to create a starting point for a clearer discussion between PCOs, clients and venues that will highlight any potential issues and enable a practical further discussion on extended technical requirements. This is not a white paper, merely a helpful prompt to put wi-fi on the agenda as a standard discussion point for the venue brief.”

If you would like a copy of the document, please email us at info@abpco.org.

ABPCO’s 25th anniversary conference secures highest attendance

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:31:32 -0600

ABPCO’s 25th anniversary annual conference which took place last month in London at The Barbican Centre has been hailed the Association's most successful ever, recording the largest attendance to date in its silver anniversary year.

Attendance figures for the event were up considerably on previous years, with over 170 attending the gala dinner held in the Crypt at St Paul’s cathedral, which played host to ABPCO’s first ever awards ceremony.

The conference gave PCOs and other industry professionals the opportunity to network and share experiences with fellow delegates from other areas of the industry. Delegate feedback highlighted the inspiring and motivational keynote speakers, the networking opportunities and the interactive workshops. Comments indicated that there was a genuine buzz at the conference, particularly on Twitter where many delegates were tweeting what was happening throughout the day using the conference hashtag #abpcoconf12.

The first day of the ABPCO conference commenced with an incredibly inspiring keynote speaker Dr. Graeme Codrington, who delivered a powerful and thought provoking presentation on the future and what major changes lie ahead. Day two focused on ‘hot topics’, finishing with a panel debate in a plenary session. Key issues discussed included subvention, wi-fi in the context of ABPCO's Conference Cloud campaign and hybrid events.

Delegate feedback indicated a high level of satisfaction with many commenting on the excellent ‘buzz’ and networking opportunities created.

ABPCO member and delegate Rose Padmore from Opening Doors and Venues said: “What another great conference delivered by ABPCO. A real feeling of belonging to an industry that is growing in strength and subsequently providing the motivation and encouragement to attack the future with more confidence!”

ABPCO Chair Michael Foreman said: “We were delighted with the turnout at ABPCO’s 25th anniversary conference this year; it was a tremendous success. Our delegates have all been tweeting and linking in with each other post-conference, extending their networks beyond the event itself, and the general feeling was that ABPCO’s conferences just get better and better!

We have grown significantly as an Association over the last two years and plan to continue to support our members and champion key industry issues moving forward in 2012.”

For more information on ABPCO, visit www.abpco.org.

ABPCO awards free membership to 25 top events students in 25th anniversary year

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:51:50 -0500

ABPCO has awarded 25 of the UK’s top events and conferencing students with free entry level membership as part of its 25^th anniversary celebrations in 2012. The chosen students were all nominated for free membership by their respective universities in an initiative which followed ABPCO’s inaugural award for Academic Excellence which was presented to Annie Metcalfe of Leeds Metropolitan University at ABPCO’s annual conference gala dinner held at St Paul’s Cathedral in January.

Jennifer Jenkins, ABPCO Vice Chair leading the initiative, said: “These students were all nominated for their outstanding academic achievements. In recognition of some of the brightest new talent on the verge of entering the events and conferencing industry, ABPCO wanted to award these places to top students in keeping with our goals of promoting excellence in conferencing and events.”

Quality student placement scheme developed

ABPCO has further strengthened its offer for students by fostering quality work placements for all entry-level members. PCOs, agencies and corporate members of ABPCO are encouraged to provide quality, meaningful work placements to willing and able events students as part of ABPCO’s latest initiative.

Jennifer Jenkins added: “There are many young people entering our industry who are extremely capable and yet struggle to find suitable work placements. ABPCO believes that appropriate, quality work placements should be more widely available to our students in the UK and we are actively encouraging our members to offer these to our entry-level members.”

ABPCO recently appointed Judith Robinson of Leeds Met as its first student representative to the committee. Judith commented: “ABPCO is certainly making a significant contribution towards ensuring that students have access to quality opportunities and relevant experience. I was inspired to join ABPCO following attending its annual conference in Manchester last year and am delighted to be taking an active role in developing its student initiative.”

ABPCO has launched a Facebook group for entry level members and is producing regular newsletters flagging events, networking opportunities and work placements for students. The Association is planning to further develop its offer over the coming months. Further information is available at www.abpco.org or via the ABPCO student Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/entrylevelmembers.

The selected students hail from the following Universities: Leeds Metropolitan University; Regents College London; Sheffield Hallam; Queen Margaret University; University of the West of Scotland; Liverpool John Moores University; University of Winchester; Warwickshire College; Robert Gordon University; Belfast Met College; and the University of Westminster.