Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Important players involved in MICE industry

                                                            
In the upcoming blog the author will attempt to describe the functionalities of various important players involved in business tourism. These are as follows:-

1> PCOs (MSM hospitality services, 2010): - stands for professional conference organizers which take care of organizing & managing conferences and provide all the related services. Basically PCOs provide three types of services:-

a) Pre conference:- this includes all the pre conference activities such as

• Deciding of venue, time and duration for conference (if not specified).

• Decides on the speakers coming for the conference.

• Booking of hotels, arrangement of logistic support etc.

• Security

• Protocol

• Designing of stationeries, brochures, invitation cards etc.

• Media and public relation activities to provide publicity to the event.

Budgeting.

b) In conference:- this includes all the activities happening during the conference such as

• Providing audio visual instruments during conference.

• Registrations

• Floral arrangements

• Stand up displays

• Hall management

c) Post Conference:- this includes all the post conference activities

• Preparation of final reports

• Providing some tours to the participants

• Winding up of conference etc.

2> Meeting planners:- meeting planners take care of all the minute details of the meetings ranging from deciding on venue and speakers to taking care of all the support functions such as logistics, audio visual supports, IT supports, documentation, reporting, marketing etc. Many organizations such as hotels, corporate, government organizations have their own meeting planners where as many take services of private meeting planners.

3> Business travel agency: - are travel agents which give tour and travel solutions to business customers. Services include selling of products like air tickets, logistics, hotel rooms etc.

4> Dedicated conference centers: - these centers such as Dubai world trade center have all the basic services required for conduction of meetings and conferences. It includes state of the art halls, technological &IT infrastructure, meeting rooms, hotels in nearby vicinity etc. These days use of such centers are in vogue because not only are they cost effective in contrast to exotic resorts and hotels but also they provide better atmosphere for such events to take place.

5> Events for MICE industry: - events like “GIBTM” ( gulf incentive business travel and meeting exhibition, and “EIBTM” conducted annually provide platform for buyers and sellers related to the MICE industry. Buyers include associations, corporate houses, government agencies, PCOs, event planners, where as sellers include exhibition and meeting centers etc which provide venue for such events to take place.