MCI chief points to rise of meetings hybrid

Ollie Quiniquini, Manila (2010-02-05)

A NEW hybrid of meetings is emerging, having taken on board MICE lessons learned during 2009’s recession, say MICE industry leaders.

MCI Group president Robin Lokerman said the days of long plenary sessions are over. “The format of meetings will change completely. Venues need to be hyper-connected. Layouts need to change – there will be a need for more small breakout rooms and networking space.”

Lokerman believes meetings and conferences will be more interactive in different ways, thanks partly to new technology. While admitting that virtual meetings will never replace one-on-one contact, he said conferences would most likely have 12-minute presentations by speakers and “then people will digest the information, discuss this and come back with new insights”.

Elizabeth Rich, CEO of the Business Events Council of Australia, said small meetings might lose out with the advent of new technology but “when you’ve got issues that require heart, you need that direct person-to-person contact still”.

- Read more in TTGmice