Meeting Professionals International (MPI) released its Meetings Outlook report at IBTM in November, highlighting projected favourable business conditions, with a caveat that budgets were unlikely to increase.
Only 1.5 per cent of those polled in the report believed that budget conditions were favourable, with 43 per cent thinking future budgets would be 1-5 per cent better.
A cautious approach was the order of the day, with safety and security at events highlighted as the area where budgets would be allocated.
Jessie States, head of meeting innovation for MPI, reported that 33 per cent said there were growth opportunities in the Eurozone as well as in other domestic regions.
The global projected business conditions were 63 per cent favourable, while 15 per cent were negative.
“One of the biggest areas of change is in the use of contractors in the events industry. The number of contractors was high because ‘organisations are not ready to invest in full-time staff’, so there was a trend to bring in a workforce who are not employees.
These contractors are specialising in different areas such as tech, food and beverage. They are starting their own business and come in on a consultative level to advise companies.”
Jessie States, head of meeting innovation for MPI
Current employment trends according to MPI show an increase of 43 per cent in contract staff, and a 34 per cent increase inpart-time workers.
Delving into the changing nature of events, States said there would be shorter, more frequent events, with 30 per cent of sessions shorter and 35 per cent of events larger. Projected live attendance was 61 per cent positive, 23 per cent flat, and 16 per cent negative.
Delegates are looking for a more hands-on experience, with an element of virtual reality “to learn, show, educate, and changemind sets,” States said. “The focus is on the challenge of balancing true, cutting-edge delivery and immersion methods.”
In terms of corporate responsibility, there was additional interest and adding activities related to this area, while “22 per cent said CSR was now a normal piece of the planning process.”
Contract negotiations are more complex, the report found, with 54.9 per cent agreeing with this.
“It’s a sellers’ marketplace and they have better leverage.”
Let’s reinvent the way we meet, experience and learn at the MPI European Meetings & Events Conference in the Netherlands.
‘We are not here to play the game. We are here to change it.’
With this quote from the Netflix hit series Peaky Blinders in mind, MPI The Netherlands Chapter started the design process of the European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) to be held in February 2019 in The Hague. Now that the promise has been made, it is time to live up to it.
Too often, conferences are using the same design as they have been doing for decades. Keynote speaker on stage, delegates sitting in a ballroom listening to what is said or playing with their smart phones. Yet, there are so many ways people can learn. After all, kids do not learn how to ride their bike just by listening how they should. They need to get on the bike, practice, fall, get up, fall again, get help, and try again. Until they get it. At EMEC19 that is exactly what delegates will experience. Changing the game means changing the way we learn, changing the way we meet and changing the way we experience.
Change the way you learn, meet and experience
Meeting new and interesting people is high on everyone’s list. But how often do you find yourself with the people you already know? Do not get it wrong, there is plenty of time to meet with old industry friends. But EMEC19 is designed in a way you will meet new people and get to know them well enough to make sure they pick up the phone when you call. Interested in finding out how that promise will be kept? There is only one way to find out…
EMEC19 allows attendees to learn the way that suits him or her best. Part of the programme consists of learning journeys to explore cross industry innovation. Learning journeys that are literally learning + journeys. Delegates are taken out of the meeting room, even out of the conference centre, to explore how other industries deal with the same challenges our industry faces. Another example of a changing learning method is scenario-based learning. If it proved to be good enough for the world leaders, it is worthwhile testing the effectiveness yourself. Are you intrigued yet?
The conference will focus on four main topics: Risk Management, Leadership, Design Thinking, and Meeting Perspectives. Specialist tracks are designed that challenge participants to dive deep into these specific topics. EMEC19 allows delegates to become a ninja on one of the four topics or cherry pick personal favourites from the various topics addressed.
Designing EMEC
Robbert Weddepohl, president of MPI the Netherlands chapter and Gijs Verbeek, Executive Director of MPI The Netherlands chapter both strongly believe in using local knowledge. After assigning a dedicated project manager, the team decided to put an enormous amount of time towards the design of EMEC19.
Weddepohl: “When we sent out an invitation to help us in designing EMEC19, nearly sixty people showed up. Fascinating, since we only sent out forty-five invitations as we were hoping for a group of around twelve. Planners, suppliers, MPI members, non-members, young, not so young, so many professionals from our industry stood up to help. We felt we were on to something and captured their enthusiasm, creativity and knowledge using the #eventcanvas. Based on this design process, we mapped over a dozen event stakeholders which led us to create 10 design principles for EMEC19.”
Change the way you experience. Experience the way you change!
EMEC19 is an immersive experience that takes place from Saturday 9th until Tuesday 12th of February 2019. Verbeek: ‘With a spoiled audience like ours, we realized that it is difficult to exceed expectations by programming yet another fantastic speaker, an exclusive historic venue or serving the best wines. EMEC19 will change the way you experience, and by doing so, you will experience the way you change as a professional. Creating unexpected experiences that get under your skin and make you want to call your best friend to tell what just happened…that is what we are aiming for.’
How MPI Global is changing the game
As a grassroots organization, MPI is a strong believer in empowering its members and local chapters to excel. Still, it is the first time a local chapter is taking full responsibility on a flagship event like EMEC. MPI’s International Board of Directors (IBOD) played an important role in activating and empowering the European meetings & events community to deliver an ineffable edition of EMEC. A clear sign that MPI keeps moving forward.
More info and registration on www.emec19.com Mail: seeyou@emec19.com
About the author: Sven Boelhouwer is working as a freelance event and conference organizer. He has been on the board of MPI The Netherlands Chapter for over a decade, being VP of the Educational Committee and Events Team as a volunteer. He is the assigned project manager for EMEC19. Email: sven@emec19.com
