Annual ‘Think Tank’ Conference takes place overseas

The annual Think Tank Conference was held overseas for the first time at the Coral Beach Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus. Business sessions were organised to explore common problems and opportunities with the overall theme of Client Management and its effect on the delivery of services and profitability took place along with an informal social programme of activities, giving longer time for networking. A topical issue at this time was tendering for new business, the outcome from this business session was the development of best practice guidelines for use by both clients and ABPCO members. In December  2003 ABPCO published ‘Guidance on Tendering for Conference and Exhibition Support Services’, to assist with the appointment of a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO). A summary of the process documented included the following;

• Developing a briefing document
• Outline the type of PCO the client/host organisation feels would be appropriate
• Contact shortlisted PCOs’
• Send out the ‘Invitation to Tender’
• Select no more than3 PCO companies for interview
• Give feedback to the unsuccessful companies