New challenges ahead for meetings business

Ollie Quiniquini, Subic (2010-02-05)

INTERNATIONAL association meetings remained buoyant in 2009 but events planning grew a bit tougher as companies made fundamental changes to the way they did business.

Martin Sirk, president of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), noted that despite 2009's grim economic climate, there were very few cancellations for association meetings last year.

Calling the sector the most resilient in the whole meetings industry, Sirk attributed the positive showing to companies' recognition of the power of a knowledge economy, i.e. such events were necessary for transfering knowledge and for growth.

But shorter lead times, apparent since last year, have made event planning more challenging, according to Asian Overland Services group managing director Anthony Wong.

With associations now requiring destination management companies to share responsibility on results, one of the main challenges was meeting client requirements without sacrificing on service and quality. Human resource training therefore has become more vital this year.

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