Expert article/Magazine feature

This expert article explores the range of risks to events and conferences, threatening venues, attendees, suppliers and organisers. It provides a number of tips for effective risk management.

This expert article looks at the ways in which meetings become a key strategy for associations as they continue to expand and grow globally, and look to open and penetrate international markets, especially the emerging ones which show a thirst for the latest content offered through multiple products and services. It looks at 7 areas: content; marketing and promotion; pricing strategy; stakeholder involvement and support; audience engagement; partner involvement; value-added services.

This expert article looks at best practice in hotel procurement for internationaI congresses. It also looks at some of the challenges involved and their causes.

This expert article examines a number of drivers for change in the meetings industry, especially volatility, together with fluctuating economies, political pressures, environmental and social aspects. The article goes on to suggest ways in which to prepare for the future and ensure successful events.

This expert article includes a definition of 'social media' and outlines its uses as a marketing tool. It also has a summary of the main findings from 2011 research into the applications of the social media within the international meetings sector.