AMONG the new initiatives at EIBTM 2006 is the Agency Programme, designed to offer increased educational opportunities.
As a result of detailed research and feedback from both visitors and exhibitors alike, the programme aims to provide professionals in the meetings industry from international agencies the chance to meet and network together, whilst keeping up to date with current industry trends through the educational sessions.
The EIBTM Agency Programme provides two hours of structured education specifically meeting the needs of planners from agencies. The programme will enable delegates to learn more about the role of procurement, competitiveness and the change in business models for the 21st century agency, as well as pre-scheduled appointments and networking as part of the hosted buyer programme.
The event, which will be facilitated by Didier Scaillet, director of European Operations and Global Development for Meeting Professionals International, runs as follows:
Luc Laurentin of Lighthouse Consulting will examine Competitiveness and tackle the issues of competition. Using industry research he will identify the current and future expectations of clients and how these issues can be addressed to meet the needs of both agent and client.
MCI’s Sebastien Tondeur will look at what is changing in the event agency model and examine how event agencies must transform their business model to meet clients’ expectations. Taking an in depth look at how and why procurement departments have developed in our clients back office and what the impact was, is, and will be on such businesses.
Changes in Business models for the 21st Century will be presented by Kim Myrthe, George P Johnson and Felix Albarran. The meetings industry, like many other industries is undergoing significant changes, and in response agencies are re-examining how they do business, and are having to adopt and master new concepts as they strive to deliver measurable added-value: integrated event marketing, management fees, billable hours, consultancy fees, open book policies. This session will explore the reality behind these terms and explore how agencies are adapting their business models for success in the new millennium.