Marcel's meeting memories

New Blog address

2008-11-20T15:30:00.000Z

To continue reading all my stories, go to Marcel's HQ Blog

I was completely "baba"

2008-08-13T13:16:00.009+01:00

In French they say: ‘J’étais complètement baba’. Well I said the same but in English, because I was completely flabbergasted when I received the ‘International Meetings Statistics for the Year 2007’ from the Brussels-based Union of International Associations. For years I was used to following the battle between Paris and London who were fighting for the first place. The last couple of years I often saw Paris come out best while London was sinking away bit by bit. And what do I see now, like a bolt from the blue? An Asian Tiger who has thrown Europe from the circus table. Paris is now second and Singapore first! And London comes only in 13th place. Unbelievable! What has happened?

Because I have the hots for stats I’ve been doing some research. Something must have happened back in 2003. That’s when the numbers of Singapore started rocketing up and it went swift as an arrow in 2005! Unstoppable. In 2007, Singapore hosted 465 international congresses, while Paris came in second with 315 - a difference of no less than 150 events in only two year’s time. I know what it is: vision. Singapore has been following a sophisticated plan for years to attract international congresses, to get the world’s attention. Something’s always happening. They’re not only building, they’re also organising. They’re letting people enjoy themselves. To put it simple: Singapore is one of the few states that work according to a long-term vision, and you see the result.

Who wants to know all the details should come down to Brussels on October 6, because there UIA will officially present its numbers to a fine European crowd during an academic meetings industry session. Another historic fact! On that same day MIM will publish its 100th issue. Drinks of a respected brand and appetizers from the North Sea will be served in the Dinosaur Gallery.

So coincidence does exist

2008-07-30T10:33:00.007+01:00

If possible, each year I go to Marrakesh for a couple of days. This year I got the opportunity to see the Festival National des Arts Populaires, a very musical and particularly colourful festival that’s held in the historic Badii Palace. And before I left I was racking my brains over a DMC I know in Marrakesh. “How on earth could I have forgotten that name,” I thought. “Oh well, I’ll suddenly remember it,” I kept on pondering. Right before I entered the Atlas Blue airplane, I made a final attempt to reproduce his name. Unfortunately, I couldn’t. Nothing left then but walk directly to seat 12A and hope that the airplane oxygen would tickle my brain during the flight. The good thing about a flight to Morocco is that you nearly always have the opportunity to sit in the business class of economy class: the emergency exit class! I was in luck, two seats next to each other - 12A and B - with a lot of leg room and no one to bother me. That’s wonderful, flying cheap and chic! And who’s sitting there next to me, yes, who...? Essaid Faiq of Exclusively Morocco, a name that sounds like poetry to many Belgian incentive organisers. Essaid is an extraordinary DMC. A large part of the three-hour flight to Casablanca was spent exchanging thoughts about the relationship Incentive Organiser - DMC, a theme that doesn’t occur enough in conversations, in my opinion. What did I remember? A DMC must be able to take a beating and he especially needs to be a guardian angel. Essaid has these qualities to a high degree. Do the incentive bureaus agree?

Do you speak hot potato English?

2008-07-23T10:06:00.005+01:00

Of course Thomas Rupperti from Austria Center Vienna was right when he suddenly started talking hot potato English in front of an astonished room during AIPC’s 50th General Assembly in Singapore. If only he had brought the message with a bit more tact. Hot Potato English really exists, as does French Fries English, Patatas Bravas English and Kartoffel English, and so on… It’s a popular phenomenon during international conventions that there are two kinds of participants: English speakers and foreign speakers. The first speak their language without qualms during public sessions, often without taking into consideration the people for whom English is their second or third language. Americans and Australians sometimes talk gibberish and swallow their words.
In all honesty I dare to say that I only understood half of what Professor James Gilmore (From the Experience Economy to Authenticity) said. That’s a real pity, after all, he was a keynote speaker and had a fascinating story to tell. English speakers should be briefed about talking slow, clear and easy English during congresses. And foreign speakers should get the advice to train their English because the fact is that English is the international way of communicating. And who was certainly right during the General Assembly was AIPC President Edgar Hirt. He deserves the credit as a German speaker for setting the best example of how to be a good speaker: in English and understandable up to the final word! Don’t look back, that was his message, but look forward by practicing good English for everyone.
I prefer Patates Frites (English) with mayonnaise. People used to tell me that you learn English the best if you have a hot potato in your mouth. It makes you pull funny faces and make strange sounds. In one word, unintelligible! I think some speakers still have a hot potato in their mouth. ‘Leities end Zjieentlemen, leits tak jin Tudou English’. Tudou is Chinese for potato…

Cats should catch mice!

2008-07-23T09:26:00.005+01:00

Now I definitely know, the best congresses are made by excellent speakers. The better the speaker, the better the congress. The past 4 years I’ve fallen silent 4 times during a congress. The first time was in the year 2004 when The Most Revd. Desmond Mpilo Tutu gave a speech during the opening of the ICCA congress. During those two hours it was as quiet as the night with the moon and her stars. His message was clear: equality brings life. A second time was in November 2007 during the Holland Association Symposium in Amsterdam. Professor van Grieken spoke of the miracle of the first republic in the world: Holland during the regency period. You could hear a mosquito fly in the hall. His message was: democracy creates prosperity. A third time, also in 2007, was during the opening of the IFLA congress in Durban. Justice Albie Sachs, the white attorney who lost his arm during an attack, spoke about his battle against appartheid. It was as calm as the wind inside the hall. His message was: freedom stimulates growth. And last month in Singapore during AIPC’s 50th General Assembly it was as quiet as a mouse when Professor Kishore Mahbubani entertained the attending crowd for an hour on The New Asian Hemisphere. And do you know what stuck during his keynote speech? The story of the black and white cat. Whether a cat is white or black, grey or brown, it doesn’t matter, as long as it catches mice. This also appeals to humans. Create a world where everyone can use their brain capacity. That would be a rich country! Even an Untouchable in the Indian caste system could grow to become a director of the National Bank. I know places where minds are locked away. The people in these places know lots of misery and all this because constraint of freedom leads to poverty.

Steven: Cycling Europe for charity

2008-06-30T11:26:00.009+01:00

As we reported earlier on these pages, Jon Bradshaw (left) and Marco Barcella (middle) left London on 19th June 2008 on their quest to raise £20,000 (€28,000) for European stroke charities with a goal of cycling 3000 miles (4800km !!!) in 91 days through 9 European countries. After a gruelling 200 km journey from Amsterdam to Antwerp - where Marcel helped them to some champagne and a steak to save them from complete starvation - on Tuesday June 24, they left for Brussels on Thursday. This promised to be an easier ride than their previous one, but without the right directions, they might have ended up in Paris instead, if they had the same luck as two days before. But no worries, I jumped to the rescue, and guided them to Brussels. As the editorial officer of MIM and HeadQuarters Magazine I had read all about their fantastic initiative and was more than happy when they suggested that I could ride along with them when they were in Belgium. I only hoped I wouldn’t add any unnecessary miles to their already enormous route. We got to Brussels in one piece but not without experiencing the friendliness of the bike shop mechanics in Boom... He spent more time in growling that he already had too much work than it would have taken him to release Marco from the squeaking sound in his pedal. What a fun guy... Getting closer to Brussels, the traffic got worse as well. We didn’t need any exfoliating cream afterwards, the heavy trucks and the dust and sand they blasted into our face had the exact same effect, only less pleasant. At the Crowne Plaza Le Palace we received a friendly welcome and the people there were glad they could provide the two heroes with a comfortable bed for the night.
In the evening, MPI held their summer drink in the NH Atlanta Hotel in honour of the two cyclists who were flanked by Willy Devriesere, who now represents STROKE - the Belgian association for stroke victims - but who also suffered from a stroke. Milo Vergucht and his colleagues at MPI had another surprise for us: we could all enter a raffle to predict the score of the Spain vs. Russia game to win some nice prizes. Of course, no one was able to predict the 3-0 but that didn’t matter, after all, the money they collected went straight to the Belgian chapter that helps stroke victims.
And the next day, their journey led Jon and Marco to Aachen, but you can read all about their trip on their website and don’t forget to press the big Donate button!

A female building in Singapore

2008-06-23T12:16:00.003+01:00

The last few weeks I was wrapped up in the interiors of convention centres from all over the world, while I have to admit that it was their exteriors which fascinated me the most. Just like the way you look at people, right? The architecture of new convention centres, that’s what it was all about, and more specifically the female side of architecture. I have found a lady architect - and there’s only one - who created a convention centre in Cape Town in 2003. Anya Van Der Merwe Miszewski (picture above) was leading designer of the CTICC. You can read the interview with her in HQ Magazine No.27! The talk we had made me think about female elements in convention centres. Or is there something like female architecture? A little research has taught me that The Singapore Esplanade (see picture) has some female forms. And now that the AIPC Annual Conference is held in Singapore, it may be nice to take a closer look to that building. Jackie Craven wrote in ‘Architecture and Sex’ , with obvious references to The Singapore Esplanade: ‘Some architecture critics believe that ‘female’ architecture is architecture that seems to express femininity. There is something womanly about the building's shape, size, proportions, color, or texture. Curved shapes may suggest the womb. Perhaps you long to crawl inside the building and curl into a fetal position. The dumpling-shaped Esplanade in Singapore has a round shape that might be called feminine.’
I must add that the Esplanade is built by men! Can someone see whether a building is designed by a woman? Conference delegates, keep an eye out for that building! Could it give you some inspiration for a congress centre of the future? I could see us all lying there in fetal position during a congress, nicely in the middle of the building!

Who is Sir Van Couver?

2008-06-12T12:27:00.015+01:00

You’d better address the city of Vancouver as Sir or Ms Vancouver or even as Ms Lee Vancouver, whatever suits you best. Vancouver and Toronto are unique cities of the world where different cultures live in perfect harmony. You can notice a lot of Asians in the city but they are Canadian. After my visit to Vancouver I am definitely convinced that a city with only European citizens is a dull city. Vancouver is the host for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is why I call the city Mr Van Couver. I was in the city for four days for the Invitational Forum on Leadership & Management (ASAE).

Let me introduce you to my host: Richard Yore. He was born in America and raised in Canada. You will find him on the left side of the picture, the person on the right is his boss Dave Gazley. Richard has to promote his city abroad to conference, congress and incentive organizers. He does this with a certain amount of flair, helped by eyes who are colored a special shade of blue. I came across that kind of blue quite often in Vancouver. I have invented a new definition for this particular shade: Canadian blue. Just like you have Delft blue or cobalt blue. Canadian blue consists of more cyanide than just blue, but not too much otherwise it turns green. In Canadian blue there's something naughty, the sparks just fly! That is what makes Canadian blue so attractive. Canadian blue represents tranquility (physiology) and satisfaction (psychology). Why does milk always get wrapped in blue cartons? Because blue is strongly related to purity. Maybe the city of Vancouver should do something with blue, create an image. Build a blue building for instance. Canadian blue, that is what I love.

I was accompanied in Vancouver by one other Belgian who was also fascinated with blue. Luc Hendrickx, director of the IDF congresses told me that every year his company has buildings all over the world turned blue for diabetes day. In October 2009 he will be organizing the 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montreal which will have more than 15,000 delegates from over the whole world. Maybe that's why we were welcomed so solemnly by Her Majesty Queen Liz of Victoria. (Liz is very close to the Queen of England) ‘Your Majesty, can I give you a kiss on the hand?’ - ‘Definitely Sir, as long as you keep it at one kiss.‘
‘Can I kneel for you, Majesty?’ - ‘Certainly Sir, as long as you don’t kiss my feet.’
Luc Hendrickx acted very relaxed in the presence of Her Majesty. He is used to talking to Sheiks and Emirates.
‘Madame, how are your children and grandchildren?’ - ‘Oh, Sir, can we just enjoy the evening?’

The first step I take in the elevator of the Pan Pacific Hotel of Vancouver, makes me suspect that it’s Wednesday. With a difference of 9 hours between the North of Europe and this part of North America it’s very easy to lose your way. We always know what time it is abroad but sometimes you don’t recognize the days. ‘Once there was a elderly lady from NY visiting’, Marie Rogers, Manager Public Relations, told me, ‘who asked the receptionist why all our four elevators carried the name Wednesday. Because it is Wednesday today Madame, the receptionist answered. So tomorrow there will be a carpet with Thursday on it? Most definitely Madame, seven different names a week!’
I’ve asked my three hostesses if the carpet could also have a different color for each day. I will let you guess which day will be blue. In October during the ICCA congress in Victoria BC, about a half an hour flight with the Seaplane from Vancouver, I pop into the Pan Pacific Hotel again to check which color Saturday and Monday are. I think Canadian blue? Do you know why I think that? You’ll have to ask me in a comment (see below)

If you see the chef of The Fairmont Hotel Of Vancouver in action, then you will definitely be in a good mood and you will be hungry! Who isn’t hungry will surely grow an appetite in seconds and eat in any case! That man just oozes strawberries and chocolate!

I am ashamed that I haven’t written one word about the conference I was invited to. Shame on me! Please forgive me, I had problems with ‘blog weakness’! Queen Liz just remained in my memory. Every year Team Canada organizes a conference in cooperation with ASAE for what has become the premiere learning event for senior-level association executives. Montréal will host the 6th Invitational Forum in 2009. There were exceptional speakers but only one person stuck to my writer fingers: Donna Wilson. She is playing a key role in helping the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) define and develop its culture. I asked her a question: ‘Madame, in Europe people think very positively about Canada, but in the meantime there also exists a perception about Canada as being far away, cold and boring. How are you going to change this perception in 2010?’ Her answer was unexpected: ‘Canada is specialized in the cold and knows how to deal with it, also for its visitors. After 2010 no one will think that we are situated far away or that we are boring. We will show them an image of a country that sets an example for the world in the fields of quality of life, social responsibility, green management and sustainability.’ Now I am also convinced!
During the Forum I always saw two cheerful and smiling faces: Dan Melesurgo and Luc Charbonneau. The first one was ecstatic because he had achieved a successful forum in cooperation with ASAE as Executive Director Meeting, Convention & Incentive Travel Sales . The second one was so happy because he managed to bring in a big international congress: the 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montréal. And we as Headquarters Magazine are very proud of that too!

Looking for Congress Pearls

2008-06-03T16:03:00.004+01:00

Last year after my visit to ADNEC in Abu Dhabi I wrote something bad about the European Convention Centres. I was specifically talking about the buildings and the architecture and not about management. The article said: About Palaces, bunkers and hangars. ‘If I look at what people generally build in Europe, I must say I start to blush. Most exhibition centres - and a lot of convention centres as well - in Europe and elsewhere look like bunkers, I feel.’ But oh lord, that didn’t go down well with some people. ‘What do you dare to write, Marcel?’
I know, there are a lot of exceptions but I have to repeat that in a few continents more attention is paid to the architecture of the buildings than in Europe. Or let me put it this way: countries that recognize the (big) value of a nice convention centre, also invest a lot of time in the shape and the content of it all. New convention centres have become market places of people’s minds instead of man-made goods. Real intellectual meeting spots, I call them. Or am I mistaken again in this matter?
The last example I’ve found could even be called an experimental building. Really unbelievable. In Ras al Khaimah plans are made for a dramatically iconic congress centre that could even have its place in space. The mixed-use project designed by Rem Koolhaas (OMA) features convention and exhibition facilities, hotels, offices, dwellings, shops and restaurants. The proposed form is dramatically iconic. An interior that takes the form of a sphere can be considered as a minimalist approach. The sphere as an exterior form however, is absolutely iconographic. No doubt about that. It already starts with the fact that OMA themselves named one of the images ‘Deathstar’, after the space city in the film series Star Wars.
I would recommend to read the next HeadQuarters Magazine that will be introduced in June during the annual AIPC congress in Singapore. In there, me and Rémi Dévé have done some investigative journalism for the first time in the meetings industry. You will find some juicy details on Convention Centre architecture, interior design, green management, services and catering. And this time, I hope you won’t be mad at me.

The hardest worker at IMEX

2008-04-30T13:02:00.007+01:00

Who worked the hardest at the last IMEX fair in Frankfurt? Who do you think? I strolled past the stand of Cycle Europe 2008 a few times and for two days in a row I was confronted with a strapping young man who was riding his bum off on a bike. His name has an Italian ring to it but I assure you he’s pure Scottish. He has the body of a young muscular lion and according to my psychological instinct he has a heart of gold. On the last day of the fair I went to ask him how far he’d actually got. Panting and sweaty he told me: ‘I… I… pffeew… think I’m in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam.’

In those two days he’d travelled 140 km. And all this for charity! Marco Barcella works for a charity organisation and in June he’s going to cycle in total a distance of 4800 km through 9 countries in 13 weeks, all this by initiative of Jon Bradshaw – also an Adonis type but a good cyclist too and he’s the Sales Manager of IMEX. The aim of this grueling physical challenge is to raise 20,000 pounds for stroke charities throughout Europe that fund the physical and mental rehabilitation of younger stroke victims. I told Jon, because he’s the leader, that he has to come to Antwerp after his visit to Amsterdam, to come and pick up another little cycling wonder, my Editorial Officer Steven Kins (see picture on the right). Jon, you have gained a new sponsor: HQ Magazine! And to whoever's reading this: go to the Cycle Europe website, get out your money and donate.

The Russians are coming

2008-04-30T12:57:00.002+01:00

What I’m about to tell you doesn’t have much body, not even literally. I must confess that during a fair I’ve never visited a Russian stand before. Maybe I might have glanced over a few brochures about Saint-Petersburg but I’ve never been interested in Moscow. I convinced myself that on a level of meetings industry there’s not a lot to experience in Moscow. Sometimes I hear these weird and wonderful stories. Too expensive, too mysterious, too cold and too much vodka. Until that second day of the IMEX fair when I nearly bumped into a practically naked Russian couple - half naked to be more precise. I’ll call him Boris. He could have just walked out of the red Army. Wide trousers, long boots and a torso that even Putin would have been jealous of. The girl I baptized Lara. Fine, slender and a bosom like ripe pears that were only covered by a layer of body paint. You could have thought she was from the Bolshoi Theater. On their bare stomachs and backs the letters DMC were written in large. I’ve even forgotten the name of the DMC because I was so taken aback from so much beauty. And then it happened. I dared to jump into the Russian stand and practically ended up in the arms of a bubbly Russian lady. Larissa is her name, and dressed from top to bottom in black. She’s charismatic which evidently is also the name of her company Charisma Travel. After the fair she wrote me an email, saying she will show me Moscow in a Russian Fun with Moscow Flavor kind of way. The moral of the story: What use are nudity and beauty without the right pray!

I Have a Dream

2008-04-18T09:45:00.003+01:00

In the same way magpies are attracted to everything that glitters, I often see marketing agencies, so-called high profile consultants and even trade magazines move heaven and earth to get the new group of association customers in their power. Websites are put together, digital newsletters are sent out, speaker opportunities are created, and World Association Congresses are invented to raise the interest of association executives and bring in quick cash. Or, as I’ve said before: we’ve reached the period of the worshipping of the golden calf. And who doesn’t let himself be seduced by golden Easter eggs? To put it very clearly, after Easter but during the high season of association congresses and association days I want to announce a proposition that I’ve saved in my ‘I have a dream’ drawer.
I know only few specialized organisers who succeed in launching a solid association congress, but there’s one exception: Kellen Europe’s annual EuroConference, which had its 8th edition this year. The best forum in all of Europe! No association day or meeting fair can compete with that. Since last year ESAE is also striving for the same quality - a beginning annual ESAE congress with a lot of potential for the future. The EMIF Association Days have always been doing well too. And then came my dream: why not start a step by step forum for one joint European Association Congress in the capital of Europe? One single annual Top European Congress, so charlatans won’t get a chance anymore. You can read more about this dream in HeadQuarters N°26.

Pleasantly surprised by Vanessa and Nina

2008-04-17T15:36:00.010+01:00

I know a few fellow journalists who didn’t sleep at all one night because of Vanessa Mae. But I can't tell you too much about that. The celebrated pop and classical musician concluded the GIBTM gala evening in Abu Dhabi with an exciting surprise show. No one could expect that the UK’s wealthiest young entertainer would be performing for us in the Al Raha Beach Hotel. Although... in Abu Dhabi almost anything is possible. And indeed, Vanessa, no less, was there. Hosted buyers and exhibitors, they were all pleasantly surprised! But GIBTM had another surprise. Unexpectedly, a lot of people showed up for the seminar ‘Meet the influential editors behind leading meeting industry publications'. Nina Gardiner, managing partner at Cut Communications, showed great skill to challenge Rob Nicolas, Ruby Gonzalez, Hunter Slaton and myself to find out the truth behind the meeting magazines. And what is that truth? We work in one of the few industries where people think it's not required to subscribe to a trade magazine, and by that I mean, actually pay for it. That's why it's hard to find good journalism in our trade. Magazines are slaves to their advertisers and can never really tell the truth... Or have we reached a new era? Nina promised that we will continue this discussion next year. I can't wait to get back into the ring!

An Award for Cécile’s MIM

2008-03-28T14:55:00.005Z

The final day of the Brussels Meetings Week ended in one exuberant party. On Good Friday about one hundred and fifty guests enjoyed the presentation of the Brussels Tourism Awards. No less than 13 prizes were awarded. BITC President Philippe Close announced MIM Magazine as the winner of the special award ‘Best Press Coverage of Brussels’. A crystal trophy was handed over to Cécile Caiati-Koch for her project ‘Brussels in the MIX’, an issue of MIM Magazine completely devoted to the versatile and trendy aspects of Brussels.
Cécile Caiati-Koch: ‘Every year in December I create, together with a small team, a special about one particular aspect of Brussels. This time I had selected the subject ‘Brussels in the MIX’, with which I wanted to demonstrate that Brussels can offer a wide variety of activities to meetings and incentive organisers. The response I received from companies and organisers was overwhelming. Through the familiar Fax Back form that we sent along with the magazine I received 1800 requests for further information or for extra brochures. The year before we received 1300 requests for the ‘Touch down in Brussels and discover’ issue. With the next issue in December 2008 I will make Tripadvisor change its opinion with a complete MIM Magazine devoted to ‘Fun in Brussels’.
‘Each year I have a similar project for the cities of Antwerp and Ghent and for the Walloon region. This year I’m even making a special supplement on two cities at the same time: Liège and Ghent, highlighting the convention facilities for associations. Our readers are keen on our special MIM supplements because they’re brimful of new ideas for corporate events.'

Oxygen and monks

2008-03-28T14:51:00.001Z

Sometimes I get a writing shock. And now and then I even get a philosophical impulse. The more I hear and read about Tibet and the Olympics, the more I’m amazed at how few people dare to take a stand. I think I haven’t heard a single sound from the side of the meetings industry but I do hear that the Olympics have a stimulating effect on incentive trips. I’m not so sure about the effect on meetings. People say that in China a 100 convention centres are being built. I hope that there’s at least one where a congress on Tibet can be organised. Meanwhile I’ll suggest the theme:
‘People who clear out forests and jungles take away the oxygen of the earth. Forests are nature’s lungs.
Governments that clear out monasteries take away the spirit of the earth. Monasteries are the spiritual breath on earth.
Whoever touches these sources and values can count on an answer from nature because the earth can always overpower mankind.’

Visiting Nelson Mandela

2008-03-06T13:42:00.006Z

There was no appointment made. I also wasn’t informed that it could happen. Together with some fellow editors in chief, I was visiting Johannesburg for something completely else: the ‘Meetings Africa’ conference and exhibition, and some ‘BusinessUnusual’, which isn’t too difficult in South Africa. On a nice and sunny Thursday morning I had the unexpected privilege to explore Jozi, Jo’burg, or whatever name you wish to give to the ‘Golden City’, together with Kerstin Hoffman and her seductive smile. She’s the Editor in Chief of CIM Magazine. We were feeling great in the car with MT, a cheerful guide of JMT Travel & Safaris. We were driving on 13^th Avenue, in the fancy and well-armoured Houghton district when suddenly our guide came to a sudden halt to take a better look at the residential home of Nelson Mandela. And you know what happened? The heavy gates of the white presidential villa swung wide open and before we even know what happened, a friendly security guy invited us to drive in. Kerstin’s and my blood pressure was rising to a higher than normal level. At least mine was. To be invited on the property of the former president of South Africa just like that… That’s something the best incentive organiser in the world can’t pull off, we thought.We positioned ourselves on the steps and we took pictures for ages. And again I saw that broad smile appear on the not so German face of Kerstin. We felt like young doves in this quiet and deserted spot… Nelson Mandela doesn’t live there for quite a while now but it was his official residence from ’94 to ’99 when he still was president. Now he lives a bit further but our visiting schedule didn’t allow for us to have coffee there. Still a big thank you to MT for this wonderful incentive moment! What journalists have to endure in their hard life!

With a tear in my eye

2008-03-06T13:18:00.011Z

Last week I wrote a nice article about Nice, Hong Kong and about my very own home town - Antwerp. What do these cities have in common, you might wonder. Well, I’ll tell you. From the mid 80s till the late 90s, people were looking full of admiration to three convention bureaux that were doing well all over the world. Even better, they were top-class when it came to communication and promotion. Nice had the wonderful Acropolis convention centre, which opened in 1984, with ‘grande dame’ Jacqueline Pietri. Antwerp had the Antwerp Convention Bureau (founded in 1982) together with the GOM (Regional Development Company) and director Agnes Steenssens. Finally, Hong Kong had a wonderful convention centre at the harbour - HKCEC, which opened in 1988.
At the time, those cities were ‘hot’ because they were managed in a particular way. Afterwards, they rested on their laurels… Until now! But in Nice, a little new meeting flower is blossoming at the Boulevard des Anglais; in Hong Kong another saucer has started twirling on a little stick in the ‘Fragrant Harbour’ and Antwerp had almost found its diamond gloss again… Unfortunately, Inge Van Gaal (see photo), who’s the present director of the Antwerp Convention Bureau, has said goodbye to her ‘cake town’. That’s the reason why I’ve had to wipe away a tear on Leap Day, February 29. It’s a pity. The waiter she introduced (see photo) is still holding open his dish but Inge is no longer in it. Maybe she’s having another dish now?
When I interviewed her in August 2006, she gave me a nice metaphor of a city as a waiter: ‘Service should receive the full attention in a city. That’s why I like to use the image of the ‘waiter’. A man or woman who meets visitors with a natural smile and sets them at ease, and who serves them ‘friendliness’ above all. All the other things we already have in abundance anyway.’

Inge, I hope that your successors can live up to this image in the future, because Antwerp deserves its spot on the international meetings globe. You leave behind a waiter who could only open his dish for 65 degrees, but when will I be able to see Antwerp like it was in the 90s: open at 90 degrees, in all its splendour? I will look out of my window every day to see if a wind of change is blowing, even if I have to turn my neck 180 degrees for it.

Tea Chat with Lady Jean

2008-02-15T13:53:00.004Z

This year I was really pulled out of my hibernation by the voices of two charming ladies, whom I was very honored to meet in the beginning of 2008, however unbelievable this may sound to some people. Actually there where 3 ladies but I’ll come back on that later on. The first one was Preeti from Hyderabad in the South of India, but I already informed you about her.

And last week I was having tea with Jean Evans, Chief Executive of the Dublin Convention Bureau. For the occasion and because of the setting, I gave her the title of “Lady Jean”. Imagine the golden yellow armchairs, red and yellow tulips, Irish tea served in pure white Irish porcelain and the company of a lady who’s loved in the whole of Dublin because of her efforts to give the city an inviting destination appeal. And then I did not even mention the location: The Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin. What more could you want? And did you really think we were chatting about the fact that last year Lonely Planet proclaimed the Irish as the most friendly people of the entire world. No, we were talking about the construction of the new Convention Centre in Dublin, designed by the 80-year old Irish born architect Kevin Roche. The following quote describes him adequately: “The worst thing you could ever do is to retire”. I will act upon his advice in the literal sense. The opening of the Convention Centre Dublin is expected in 2010. I still hear Jean saying: “We are already waiting twenty years for this big moment. Everyone who even has the slightest connection with the meeting industry in Dublin is wildly enthusiastic about it.”
I can still hear myself thinking: “If only there were more cities that had such residents. Feeling happy because a new style of commodity exchange is built, this time not to trade goods but human intellect. A Brain Exchange Building!”

Land of PCOs

2008-02-05T16:22:00.002Z

I’ve been able to survive the European winter by going to the south of India around the turn of the year. It was heavenly warm over there around New Year. 28 degrees Celsius on average. In Hyderabad I was introduced to the Indian Meetings Industry for the first time in my life, more specifically, to the only Indian purpose-built convention centre and to a lovely meetings host. Her name is Preeti Sood. She’s marketing & communications manager at HICC, or Hyderabad International Conference Centre, where ICCA will hold its annual congress in 2010.
Preeti showed me the new airport that’s being built - a unique project - and the Novotel airport hotel that’s also under construction - her new working environment in 2008! And I’ve been travelling through the new Hightech City of Hyderabad for half a day. You don’t know what you’re looking at! But there’s one thing I can see: now I roughly know how India’s Meetings Industry of tomorrow will look like.
But I didn’t know that India had the largest number of PCOs. Everywhere at the side of the road they’re announced. ‘Look, there’s another one!’ Preeti kept on saying. ‘Where?’, I replied all the time. ‘There’, she kept on saying. And another one, another one and another one… Private Communication Office or Private Call Office! Nice try, Preeti!

Winter sleep

2008-02-05T15:23:00.000Z

At the start of 2008 I’ve dreamt more about hibernating than ever before. Immediately I have to add that I live in Belgium, a country where winters are dull, grey, shivery, cold and often without snow, which makes the winter time even more frosty. I’ve been able to shake off that nasty feeling by thinking about squirrels, hedgehogs, hamsters and bats. During winter they retreat to their warm nests and holes and they keep sleeping until they set off for spring time, wide and awake. I’d actually prefer to be a dormouse (see photo) during winter, because he’s supposed to be the best hibernator. He sleeps long and deeply and only gets out of his nest when spring has fully begun. Unfortunately that kind of blessed sleep is not granted to human beings, at best a bit of a longer sleep by going to bed early and getting up late… Hereby I declare that my dream sleep is over and I’m back again with more warm stories about the meetings industry!

In 2007 I was impressed by: (final part)

2008-01-02T14:48:00.000Z

Grand opening: ABBA museum in Stockholm
By the end of 2007, Stockholm intrigued me during a presentation in Brussels. Ewa Wigenheim (see photo) announced that she would be opening the first ABBA museum in Stockholm together with her husband. On the 3rd of June 2009! 4000m² of ABBA pleasure will be shown for thousands of fans. But also for curious congress delegates!

From Zulus to Vikings
I caught - like a fever - the best incentive experiences of 2007, with the Zulus in South Africa (see blog) and with the Vikings in Iceland. On a fall day, Olöf Einarsdottir of Mountaineers of Iceland placed me on a snow mobile on the biggest glacier in Europe. I melted of pleasure in the ice! If you keep a list of all the things you would like to do in your life, add ‘A Multi Day Super Jeep Expedition’. Even if you’re wearing Italian fashion shoes, you can still experience an ice adventure like this! That’s how strong the glacier outfits are, that you get from the mountaineer guides. But, in this outfit you can’t go shopping in the shopping mall in Reykjavik!

Extra: in February 2008, number 25 of HeadQuarters magazine will be published. A celebration, a special edition... Meeting Trends. Keep an eye out for that issue if you want to know what lies ahead in 2008 and later!

In 2007 I was impressed by: (part 2)

2007-12-28T13:51:00.000Z

One conference got 9.2 out of 10 in 2007
Are congresses boring? Some are, the ones that are not organized properly. Where poor speakers are given a chance. In 2007, I have attended two fantastic conferences. And that means a lot, because a convention or conference has to be really good before I say: ‘This was a wonderful meeting’. Well, I’ve only had two of that standard this year: the IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) opening session in Durban in August and the two-day Holland Association Symposium in Amsterdam in November. I even award Eric Bakermans and his team a little more than 9 out of 10. Not only did I enjoy this symposium, I really had a great time. And do you know what these two meetings had in common? Three things: excellent speakers, great debate leaders and ‘out of the box’ subjects!

Malaysian Etiquette People often say that all hotels and all conference centres are the same. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. I always say: nothing is the same. I discover new ideas and initiatives whenever and wherever I go! In Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre I noticed a little leaflet that told about ‘Malaysian Culture Protocol Etiquette’. Directors, Senior managers, staff of international organizations running events in Kuala Lumpur and organizers of all types of events can benefit from various workshops like ‘Business & Social Etiquette’, ‘To Know Malaysia’, ‘Royal Protocol & dignitaries’ etc. In my opinion, that’s a great initiative by a Convention Centre. And during my update walk through the Centre, I discovered a fully-equipped hospital room with a separate entrance. Where in the world and in which other congress centre can you still find that?
(to be continued)

In 2007 I was impressed by: (part 1)

2007-12-27T16:00:00.000Z

The oldest guide in the worldWhen I visited the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa halfway through 2007, I got the oldest guide in the world for one day. Thomas Rudolo is 81 years old, he is quick-witted, knows a lot of places, names and dates by heart as if he’s still a young student, and once in a while he says: ‘which year was that again, I’m getting old’. He drove me at 120km an hour to the Battlefields and the Midlands. Near Pietermaritsburg in Howick he made a pitstop. ‘At this place, Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962. That was the beginning of his 27 year detention’. Thomas blinked away a tear and so did I. And we drove further through the hills with green farmlands... I’m still grateful to Syavayatours for letting me spend some time with the oldest guide in the world for one day.

A new profession in the meetings industry: Welcomer Can our industry still invent a new profession? I was convinced not. Until that day that the first Pullman hotel in Paris – Paris Rive Gauche – opened its doors, and I encountered a well-dressed young man with an orange tie. I hadn’t had the chance to report myself to the reception or he began to speak to me as if I was his personal guest. He reminded me of warm Asian hospitality on cool Parisian territory. I asked him about his function: ‘Welcomer,’ he replied very politely.

Girl with moon settingHotel visits can sometimes be a little bit annoying. Always the same dull stories about the number of hair driers in each room and which drinks are available in the minibar. Ugh! And then all of a sudden, this young trainee appears in front of me in the recently opened Hilton hotel in Reykjavik. Very confident she says: ‘in this conference room, 35 people can be seated in moon setting.’ - ‘What did you say,’ I ask again. ‘Moon setting,’ she repeats. ‘Who invented that,’ I inform. ‘I did,’ she says very convincing. Edda Hrund, I would like to compose a new conference jargon with you in 2008! Half-moon setting, full moon setting, first quarter setting and even meet in lunar eclipse! Down with all the dullness of theatre, school and all these tedious schoolish settings.

(to be continued)

A wish for 2008: a brain exercise

2007-12-20T09:42:00.000Z

‘Too busy, no time’, those are the words I’ve heard most in 2007. And which remedy can I present to this problem for 2008?
Until recently everyone assumed that all people, regardless of their language or culture, visualize the past as ‘behind’ and the future as ‘ahead’. This would be linked to the human physiology - the eyes are located in the front of our head - and our way of moving - forwards and not backwards.
The Aymara Indians of the Andes have another notion of time. They picture the future as behind their back and the past as ahead of them. Can you imagine? I think they ‘re less bothered by ‘time flies’ or ‘I’m too busy’ like that.
That’s why I wish you this brain exercise in 2008.

Brazilian Greetings

2007-12-20T09:02:00.000Z

Richard Lengsfeld, founder and director of B.I.T. (Brazilian Incentive & Tourism), based in Rio de Janeiro, sent me the Season’s greetings that left the most lasting impression on me. Just read his message, and you’ll know what I’m talking about:

Christmas in Rio

If you look at the world as a village with 100 inhabitants…

57 were Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 Americans and 8 Africans
70 were colored, 30 were white
70 were not Christians
89 were heterosexuals, 11 Homosexuals
6 people had 59% of all the wealth of this world
50 would depend from another person
1 would be dying
2 would be born
1 had a PC
1 had a Diploma

So, if you woke up healthy this morning, you are in a better situation than 1 million people that will die the next days.
If you never suffered of war and hunger, you are in a better situation than 500 million people today.
If you can go to a place to worship your religion without being stopped or risk to be killed for that, you are happier than 300 million people.
If you have food in the fridge, a roof over your head and you are dressed, you are better off than 75% of the population
If you have a Bank Account and some spare money on it, you are part of 8% of the rich.
If you can read these lines you are part of the happy few because
1. Somebody thinks about you
2. You are not part of the 1 billion people that cannot read
3. And… you have a PC!

There is no imminent conclusion in these lines, but maybe the guy is right who once said:
Work – as if you wouldn’t need the money
Dance – as if nobody was watching you
Sing – as if nobody was hearing you
Love – as if nobody ever hurt youLive – like in paradise

France awards me with a gold medal

2007-12-07T09:30:00.000Z

I never really liked getting a medal. It makes me think too much of war veterans or soldiers who walk around with weights on their chest during ceremonies. Until the day that Maison de la France celebrated its 20 years of existence in Brussels. For the occasion, gold medals were awarded. I received ‘La Médaille d’Or du Tourisme’ from Mister Serge Mucetti, Consul General of France. Before that, Mister Thierry Baudier (in photo in the background), General Director of Maison de la France (Paris) and Mister Pascal Saint-Père, Director of Maison de la France (Brussels) had already expressed their appreciation of my journalistic articles on the French Meetings Industry that I have been publishing for many years now. An infrared ray of emotion went through my ribs when Pascale Saint-Père solemnly said: ‘Mister Marcel Vissers is the founder of the professional magazine MIM (Meeting & Incentive Media), which is the bench-mark in Belgium and Luxembourg for business tourism. This magazine has a circulation of 6,000 copies and reaches 10,000 readers. Every two months numerous articles are dedicated to France. And the Pan-European magazine HeadQuarters has published various special supplements on French convention cities: Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes…
‘In 2005 Mister Marcel Vissers received the prestigious ‘Belgian Meeting Industry Award’ from BAPCO (Belgian Association of Professional Conference Organisers).
‘For his prime contribution to the tourism sector on the one hand, and his valuable help for the promotion of France on the other (France has a 25% market share in business tourism), Mister Vissers deserves ‘la Médaille d’Or du Tourisme’.’
And I felt like a good schoolboy when the Consul General pinned on the gold on my collar.
What can I add to that myself? Just this:
‘It gave me much joy to put France on the Belgian and Luxembourg map as a meetings and incentive travel destination and for the last five years I’ve also awarded France a special place on the world map as international convention destination in HeadQuarters Magazine, because France is worth gold in the Meetings Industry. That’s why I’m so thrilled to receive this gold medal of La République Française. And I have a little something extra: a while ago I’ve written a small text about ‘l’Auberge’, the most beautiful French word I know. Maybe Maison de la France could be named Auberge de la France as well…’

Hypersonic Santa

2007-12-06T09:09:00.000Z

As a child, people made me believe that St Nicholas and Black Peter came from warm Spain. I stopped believing that a long time age because I’ve never seen St Nicholas walk around in shorts. Now someone is trying to trick me into believing the Saint’s residence lies in Lapland. That sounds better. But I’m mistaken, that should be Santa Claus because his official address is in Rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village). And now the Stockholm based consultancy bureau Sweco sent me a message about a hypersonic Santa Claus. A serious study shows that Santa has to travel at 5800 km/sec to deliver all presents around the world on time - which is within 48 hours. If he starts in Kirghizistan in Central Asia in opposite direction of the earth’s rotation, he has 34 microseconds for each visit. Come on, who still believes in Santa Claus? At that speed no one could be able to see him! That's why we only have a picture of him after his crash...

How to turn fair visitors into little children when Santa’s coming

2007-12-03T12:47:00.000Z

Gadgets, they practically throw them at you when you visit a fair. But once in a while someone offers you a surprising one. We did the test and went out to find the most original gadgets at the EIBTM ’07 fair in Barcelona last week. Maybe we didn’t notice them all, but we had to choose from a legion of pens, lanyards and USB memory sticks - although we saw some interesting designs in that department, like the ones from Visit London (shaped like a credit card) and the Austrian Convention Bureau. Here is our top 3:
1. You might wonder, what’s so special about an umbrella? But this is not your ordinary umbrella. Holland sports its Fresh Dutch Views and this handy instrument that can withstand the power of a genuine storm is certainly the product of such a view. Students at the Delft University designed this product and Time Magazine included it in its list of the Best Inventions of the year 2007. The Netherlands Convention and Visitors Bureau handed out this storm-proof umbrella to the first 100 people who picked up their copy of the first issue of the Fresh Dutch Views Magazine. Eric Bakermans, Senior Project Co-ordinator Congress Acquisition at NBTC, is singing in the storm with his original Dutch umbrella.
2. We didn’t know that you could find the best Belgian chips in Liège. Pierre Alderson, co-ordinator of Liège Congrès, gave this plastic cone with the tricoloured and sweet fries to the people that sat at his table for a talk about the meeting possibilities in his favourite Belgian region. He was happy to pose for our camera with his original gift and with his MIM Magazine cover shoot in the background as well.
3. Usually, the last day at a fair brings nothing new but then I opened the Show Daily newspaper and saw the ad of the austrian business and convention network, which said there was a special Euro 2008 pack waiting at their stand for the first ten people who showed that same ad at the abcn booth. Unfortunately I was too late to be one of those first ten but the nice people at abcn were so kind to show me what that mysterious pack was. It contained a football shirt of the Austrian national team and a football, certainly something you can make the people at home happy with.

Sex & the Fair

2007-11-21T16:56:00.000Z

The closer we get to the holidays, the more I tend to hand out presents. It already started at the ICCA Congress in Pattaya where I awarded three meeting people for their nice golden clothes during the Royal Golden Night. And now I suddenly stumble upon a few pictures I took at last year’s EIBTM fair in Barcelona. Some way or another four images with, in my humble opinion, a high content of sex appeal, appealed to me. I’ll list them all and explain what fascinates me in them.
1. The naked man of Norway. I’ve heard that this strong image is a personal invention of a woman who has spirit and humour. That would be Bente Bratland Holm, convention director at the Norway Convention Bureau. Bente, why on earth didn’t you participate in the ICCA Best Marketing Award? With such a healthy man you certainly would have won first prize. And I have to ask something else. A lot of ladies (and a few gentlemen) have asked me if you have the same picture from a different angle as well? After all, the blog has a sexy title! Present No 1 goes to you. I will personally drop off a gift at your stand!

2. Adam & Eve. So delicate, tender, fragile and seductive. The World’s Sexiest Hotel. I’d certainly want to spend the night in that hotel. Who else? That’s our second present.

3. The aquarium boy of [destination unknown]. A nice, fresh, youthful and exotic image. Almost a painting titled ‘Like a fish in water’. That’s our third winner. Would the winner step up during next week’s fair?

[Update:] It turned out that the Jamaica Tourist Board was the proud owner of this aquarium boy.

4. And there always has to be a public award. This one goes to all the visitors of the fair over 60 who still feel young and sexy. My blog readers can decide for themselves if I meet those requirements. Everyone can come to our stand (H156) and tell me.

The ICCA TREE

2007-11-08T16:09:00.000Z

I would like to have a good chin-wag about Paticca, excuse me, about ICCA in Pattaya. First of all, I have to mention that HeadQuarters Magazine has become a member of ICCA. That has cost a lot of effort because basically I don’t want to be a member of anything, I always prefer the role of observer. But OK, sometimes a tree has to be moved before it starts growing better. The initiative of the organisers of the 46th large ICCA meeting in Pattaya to donate a Pho Tree to the Thai king for his 80th birthday on December 5 - with written messages by the delegates on the Pho leaves - created some nice, touching moments.
I asked the illustrator of HeadQuarters Magazine to design an ICCA tree. The first leaf that hangs from the tree has something written on it, but unfortunately it’s too small to read it. The writer wishes to remain anonymous because he fears that criticism is not allowed in the meetings industry. “Because meetings industry people are touchy,” he claims, “and they’re often ego trippers.” I will copy the text here so you’re able to read it.
He starts like this: “Last year I didn’t experience ICCA in Rhodos. Curious as I am, I asked a lot of delegates in Pattaya: how was it like over there? Almost everyone answered “not good” or even “bad”. Especially the venue left much to be desired and that ruined the atmosphere completely. Of course I was astonished to hear from the organisers during the ICCA Congress that Rhodos was the best congress ever. How is that possible? Who’s fooling who here? Why do congress and exhibition organisers blow everything up to American proportions?”
“In Pattaya I had to notice that people are still - almost all the time - teaching ex cathedra. Most speakers are still using the ‘old college professor’ style. A lot of subjects that were covered were squeezed completely dry, new programmes were announced à la “The ICCA Delphic Oracle” that turned out to be deadly boring and should be wearing a sign “Delphic Disaster”. “Out of the box” thinking is only done with a lot of hesitation. And newcomers who barely master the English language are afraid to open their mouth.”
Wouldn’t it be better to introduce training sessions like “Speaking in Public”? But for the rest, no complaints. Pattaya has made up for a lot of the bad things in Rhodos. Thai people are born to serve guests , are born to be friendly, are born to pamper delegates. When I read in a Dutch newspaper that a survey has shown that service in Holland is often minimal and rude, I think: do a teaching practice in Thailand. Whoever wants to hang another leaf on the ICCA tree, feel free, there’s plenty of room.

The ‘Dress to Impress’ Prizes

2007-11-08T10:10:00.000Z

And the winners are? Let me start by telling this: I enjoyed the theme colour a lot at the ICCA Gala Dinner in Pattaya: a ‘touch of gold’. Spontaneously I asked a few people to keep their weather-eye open and look out for how people were dressed during the Royal Golden Night. By experience I know that people are anxious to try something different with their clothes. Since HeadQuarters Magazine stands for designer layout, use of new colours and especially sharp content, I felt the sudden urge during the Gala Dinner to award an annual HQ prize for the best dressed women, men or couples of the evening. Because people love to communicate about clothing and dressing up. Daring to wear something conspicuous is often the reason for spontaneously making contact. You know what I mean: ‘Oh miss, you look great tonight!’ - ‘Oh really? How kind of you. What a charming gentleman you are!’…
And again I have to use the word ‘spontaneous’. Together with a small group of insiders I’ve awarded the first HQ ‘Dress to Impress’ prizes to three people. I promise everyone that next year I will call an international fashion jury into being for the theme colour in Victoria, Canada. And for this I will dutifully ask permission to Martin Sirk. So these are the spontaneous winners of this year’s event:

First Prize: ‘The Have Flair Prize’ goes to Christian Mutschlechner. A golden swallow’s tail, well combined with a Vienna Ballroom flair and Thai hand gestures. Just look at the delicate motion of his left hand. Which Thai girl gave him private lessons to flex his fingers like that?

Second Prize: ‘The have Humour Prize‘ goes to a fresh Meetings Couple. Golden masculine horns combined with a tempting lady’s look behind a Venetian mask. Just look at the naughty twinkling eyes of Henrik and Ulrike von Arnold!

Third Prize: ‘The have creativity prize’ goes to Cécile Koch because she used the Pho leaf - which is meant for the king - in a bold fashion. Simple chic. And all Thai people that were there praised her for this nice gesture. Cécile has promised me that she will donate this necklace back to Thailand.
Has anyone else seen a lady, gentleman or couple that was dressed in a special way? I can always add another public award. Watch out for next year’s event in Victoria, Canada, to see who will be victorious then.

Who invented DMC?

2007-10-26T15:25:00.000+01:00

It’s always been my dream to do something special for DMCs! But I don’t know what exactly. Do you even remember who came up with this name? Destination Management Companies. And what do these people actually do? EUROMIC has sent me a nice text about the sore point ‘de-intermediarisation’. Are DMCs and professional conference and incentive organisers even necessary? Can’t a corporate client just do everything by himself? In the cover interview for the upcoming MIM 95 magazine, Christophe Verstraete, SITE Belux Chapter President and Executive Director EUROMIC takes a strong stand. Definitely worth reading! But I also owe you a lesson Meetings & Incentive History. In 1982 EUROMIC’s Swedish member – Tom Risbecker – came up with the word DMC. He wanted to distinguish the function of its members from those of ‘Ground Service Operators (tourism). The Destination Management Company specifically aimed to serve the new – not yet named – Meetings Industry. So it all began in Sweden. Couldn’t there be an annual Nobel prize or Risbecker prize for DMCs? And who knows where the term Convention Bureau was invented? But that’s for another history lesson.

Indian Puja in Brussels

2007-10-26T08:22:00.000+01:00

Just look how closely and respectfully an Indian man and a Belgian woman greet each other. The man is Naresh Goyal, number 36 on the Forbes list of the richest Indians and the (young) lady is Freya Van den Bossche, number two in the Belgian political scene, or (retiring) Vice Prime Minister. Mister Goyal called Freya the most beautiful female minister he’s ever met. I can imagine. And what would Freya have thought when she was shaking hands with Naresh this week for the opening of the world’s most luxurious airport lounge? By that I mean Jet Airways’s lounge in Brussels Airport, the airline of which mister Goyal is the founder and chairman, or rather the owner. I think she must have thought: ‘Oh God (or Vishnu), that Naresh really is a roguish, fun business dad!’ That’s what I think. During the press conference I was poised on the edge of my seat twice. Once for the ritual blessing by a Hindu priest (see photo). I have resolved to find out more about Puja, because that’s how they call this blessing. And the second time I didn’t only spring to my feet, but my ears were burning as well. In his speech Naresh was telling that there are 30,000 wealthy Indians and 300,000 upper-middle class people. Meanwhile, I’ve learnt that India has one billion citizens since May 11, 2000 at 8:44 AM. In the meantime that number has grown to 1,051,000,000. What potency and what economical power! Now I understand Naresh’s vision: creating a global Indian brand. And Brussels is also reaping the Indian fruits because Jet Airways’s hub is Brussels. I can hear Bernard Guisset and Michel Van Caster saying: ‘That orange-blue bird is already perching on Brussels ground six times a week now. And it keeps on going!’ A fun detail: Naresh started out as a help in a travel agency!

ESAE meets ASAE

2007-10-16T11:20:00.000+01:00

Just your regular autumn day last week in London. People are dressed according to the weather: grey, dull, sad and incredibly hurried. Luckily I wasn't prepared for rain so I was wearing my Indian Summer costume for the occasion. And the second happy moment comes from Sue Etherington (middle), international sales manager of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. For the Master Class of John Graham IV (right) she had picked two sky blue conference suites with a lovely view on the Westminster Area. For the first time in my life I saw two presidents of two continents who treat each other as equals, heartily and respectfully: Luc Maene (left), president of ESAE (European Society of Association Executives) and John Graham IV, CEO and president of ASAE (American Society of Association Executives). John was invited to give a Master Class on ‘Adapting to the new Leadership Imperative’ for an exquisite group of European Association Executives. It didn't take long before the entire room was all ears for 'What Remarkable Associations Do That others Don’t'. An exposé based on the book 7 Measures of Success, published by ASAE. Everyone was full of praise afterwards. The listeners got to know John as a CEO, more accurately, as a Broker of Ideas. But also as a scouts boy - John used to be very active in the Boy Scouts of America - who loves ‘Great People and Great Ideas’. And little sister ESAE can use the latter very well: ideas to grow. By means of his Master class, John has coloured the day permanently warm for me. And I think that after ESAE's Board Meeting - of which John and Susan Sarfati form part now - a few ESAE people started dreaming. Luc Maene dreamt of an ESAE with 23,000 members and an annual budget of 40 million dollar, and Rachel Frankel of ESAE secretariat dreamt of a 2008 ESAE Congress in Brussels with 1/100th participants of a normal ASAE Congress in Washington. I don't dream. I merely hope that John repeats his Master Class in Brussels (16-17 January 2008). European and International Association Executives, mark your calenders for the ESAE Annual Congress: Working together in Partnership. Don't miss it!

My Stay With The Zulus

2007-10-16T10:40:00.000+01:00

A few of my loyal blog readers know I went to stay with the Zulus for a few days in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Yes, that's true. And they absolutely want me to write about it because their fantasy world ran wild. I even heard something about the adventures of Tintin with The Great King Shaka Zulu. I'll tell you about my experiences.
I was in Durban for a good cause, to attend the opening of the 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council in the new ICC Durban Arena. One of the world's most impressive new convention facilities. It was Nadine Williams of Durban Africa and Linda Ngcipe of Tourism KwaZulul-Natal who convinced me to travel to the north of the province for a few days after the congress to visit Shakaland, among other things. The Zulus make up the largest community in South Africa and nowhere else in the country is a traditional culture as pronounced as it is in this region.
Do you remember the TV series 'Shaka Zulu' from 1984 that was filmed here? In Shakaland you can still see the set and witness demonstrations of traditional Zulu custums. Initially I thought 'another typical tourist attraction', which it is, but the director of Shakaland Protea Hotel made me change my mind. He had something in store for me: a new programme for incentive groups. A Shakaland Teambuilding programme, completely customizable, under the watchful eye of the village chief (photo right). I've learnt how to seduce young water carying Zulu girls, but a lot more than that. Umlabalaba: an ancient Zulu strategy game whose team members themselves become the ‘pawns’… Trust your instincts: a blindfold game born of hunters having to make judgments in pitch darkness… Running rabbit: a hunting game that requires judgments to spear a moving ‘mock rabbit’ running down a hill… and a lot more. And believe me, I didn't hit a single rabbit! But I kinda felt like I was in heaven. After all, Zulu means 'heaven'.

A new life for magazines

2007-09-28T15:25:00.000+01:00

How often I've heard that the magazine era is over. The future lies in the internet, the digital newsletter, people say. Let's be clear, I'm talking about meetings industry magazines that are often looked upon as boring, poor in journalism and above all reservoirs of advertisements. In short: not good. So, not many people in our industry really read those magazines.
I was very pleased to read an interview with creative prodigy, style guru and the person who thought up the cult magazine 'Wallpaper': Tyler Brûlé. Earlier this year, he launched Monocle, the most debated magazine of the moment. To magazine fetishists it's a collector's item and I'm part of that group. Brûlé's team has launched a magazine in an age where everybody is talking about the demise of the print media. Today Monocle is the magazine everyone's talking about, designed for educated people who especially don't have time to read, except in airports, taxis and hotel rooms. Aren't those the same readers of meetings industry specialist journals? Monocle brings very good journalism and the paper is good quality. It's designer, colourful and it supplies stories for which people do want to make time. Touching something that feels good is unbeatable, says Tyler.
In the interview he admits that print media can never compete with the other media when it comes to 'breaking news', but there is no other medium that can rival the feeling of sitting down somewhere and reading an analysis. And that's exactly what I want to achieve with the upcoming EIBTM issue of HeadQuarters Magazine. Have a seat and read the pages 'Statistics make the Meetings Industry'. Lose yourself in the numbers and comments of UIA and ICCA for a minute. And maybe you'll read the IFLA portrait afterwards? And we are especially proud that we were also able to publish the results of ‘The Monocle Quality of Life Index’ in this issue. Because there's more to the Meetings Industry than just numbers, it has a lot to do with ‘branding’ as well.

Read all about meeting statistics and subscribe to HEADQUARTERS magazine.

Red Ocean Thinking

2007-09-28T13:28:00.000+01:00

Sorry, I have to clarify myself. Of course it has to be Blue Ocean Strategy. But you will understand why I started like this in a minute, because thanks to - MPI’s President and CEO - Bruce MacMillan's exposition on MPI's new strategy in Brussels, Blue Ocean Thinking has drawn the attention of the meetings industry journals. MPI has made a huge leap forward by inviting the European Meetings Press for a special press conference. That's a recognition for the profession of 'writing'. During all those years, the press has given a lot to MPI, by writing selflessly about the association that's also a very successful and profitable company. Meetings Magazines have been MPI's sponsor for all that time, without ever asking too much back. This kind of recognition that MPI is showing towards the Meetings Press is also part of Blue Ocean thinking: dealing with a naturally loyal partner in a different way!
Let me return to the essence of the story. What is Blue Ocean Strategy? Blue Ocean Strategy is a strategical approach developed by Kim and Mauborgne, both working for INSEAD. The central idea is that you shouldn't fly at your competition because that would produce a value destructive effort. No, the best way to face the competition is to outrun it. "Don´t compete with your rivals, make them irrelevant". Because the battle for growth by means of competititive advantage, more cost reduction, a better market share and/or differentation, only leads to a 'bloody red ocean of rivals who fight like sharks'. They illustrate their theory with organisations like Southwest Airlines, Starbucks and Cirque du Soleil. Blue Ocean Strategy is based on the analysis of 150 large and smaller companies that realised such strategic value innovation. And who knows, perhaps they forgot about MPI? For the first edition of the book 150,000 copies were printed. To everyone in the meetings industry who wants to change his mind, I'd say: read the book!

What's business chic?

2007-09-21T15:40:00.000+01:00

Honestly, I've never heard people using the expression 'Business Chic' in the meetings industry. Until I met Paola Casolari from the newly opened Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel in Paris. Paola is from Italy, from the same town where the late Pavarotti was born. You could read the emotion off her pretty Italian face when she pronounces the name of Modena. But I didn't merely come to Paris to admire Paola's beauty, I also wanted to know who were the 'founders of business chic'. I won't explain you how and what, you just have to look at www.foundersofbusinesschic.com. I just want to tell you that Business Chic is a 'mindset' of how one conducts business. It is about being ‘au courant’, not ‘passé'. During my animated conversation with Paola, I noticed the uniform of the waiter in R'Yves, a comfortable and stylish bar and lounge. That's not how I remember the Marriott Hotels. He was wearing a special black and white jacket with black stylized patterns in the sides. His name tag gave away that he probably spoke Dutch. And indeed, Rik van Baar is a trainee from Hotelschool The Hague, in Holland. His French is shaping up but those cheek muscles can hurt like hell at the end of the day, he told me. From now on, the list of Business Chic examples can include the uniform of the staff. I adore uniforms. 'Designed by Bragard, a stylist who occasionally works for Chanel', told Paola. And I will add Paola and Rik to my own list of ‘business chic’.

Cycling conference delegates in Paris

2007-09-18T09:32:00.000+01:00

At first you're a bit at a loss. How on earth can I get this bike out of its storage? It won't work without a credit card and you shouldn't be put off by a 150 EUR deposit. But apart from that you can have a ball riding a bike in Paris. Every congress participant or incentive traveller should use a bike at least once while staying in Paris. Now there are over 10,000 bikes available in 750 Vélib stations, where you can pick a bike out of a storage at a bargain price, ride anywhere you want and leave the bike in whichever station you prefer. You have to keep track of your Vélib ticket (a contraction of 'vélo' and 'liberté') because the system might display some growing pains now and then. During the quiet month of August I've done some cycling in Paris myself: over 70 km. I've pedalled down the Champs-Elysées and I couldn't live without it now. There were two types of drivers I feared: taxi drivers and bus drivers! But I've been able to experience that cyclists have a calming effect on traffic and make a valuable contribution to the battle against pollution. Hats off to the Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë who aims to have 1451 stations in Paris by the end of the year - that's about one every 300 meters - with a total of 20,600 bikes. The bicycle has made its appearance in London as well but Cyclocity in Brussels proved a fiasco! Cities with bikes, I dream about them!
Last week I had an animated conversation about this dream with Paul Roll, General Manager of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau: 'Oh, Monsieur Marcel, the bike has changed Paris a little. Parisians are talking more to visitors and have become more helpful. And the cyclist could experience that Paris isn't such a flat town after all. Paris has its little hills and that might demand a bigger physical effort now and then.'
I have a nice detail for Paul Roll. A new study of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel about bikes showed that cycling makes you stronger on a psychological level as well. While you're riding a bike, stress is disappearing, you're taking in fresh air, you're not stuck in traffic and you get home with no worries on your mind. Having people riding a bike makes them withstand the daily stress better. A subject for a new world congress in Paris!

If I were a meetings doctor

2007-09-05T13:49:00.000+01:00

Yes, indeed, if I were a meetings doctor, I would prescribe one hour of Christian Mutschlechner’s ‘bid book-therapy’ to everyone who is involved in association congresses.
I won’t negotiate about his fees though. I’ve already shed my thoughts on bid books on my worldwide meeting blog (see other entries).

This time I’m writing about my extraordinary experiences in Tallinn during the 21st edition of the EFCT Summer School last August. To me, this summer course is still the best basic training for young people in our industry. I was glad that Tuula Lindberg refreshed my memory and told me that the first Summer School had 16 registered attendants and took place in Gmünden in 1986.
In Tallin they were 66: 16 boys and 50 girls. Does this natural division confirm the statistics that the meetings industry is a female industry, although led by a male industry?
The syndicate discussion on the Summer School’s closing day gave me the greatest pleasure: The students were split into 4 groups and had to practise what they had learned during the seminar, using their old or news skill to prepare “Bidding for a congress”.
For this edition, they had to dig into a tough case study. The assignment of the always committed course leader Tatjana Radovic sounded like this: “You represent the Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau and are to present a bid for the 11th OWHC World Symposium in 2011 (Organization of World Heritage Cities)."
By what I’ve heard from these reporters, Tallinn - exploiting its medieval look - could score here.
And I think the jury agreed. Afterwards, Andrea Bauer (photo left) - who chaired the jury - told me that she experienced the bid presentation as if it was the real thing. And I have never seen such a full happy smile on the face of Association Guru Christian (photo right). Even for the old industry dogs (they were all there) it’s good to be confronted with the fresh honest views of young people on meeting industry stuff, …once in a while.

I myself enjoyed it to be surrounded by young people and learn. And there is so much more to learn: bid books are all too often trapped in tight touristy alleyways and much training is needed for young people to give decent presentations. The one thing missing at Summer School is a course in presentation techniques. Count me in next year, I’ll keep a free spot in my agenda. European Cities Marketing scored again, as I might add. It’s been a while!

And I think the brave reporters deserve a place on my worldwide meeting blog:
Cocoon group:
Kristina Kuznetsova: Project Manager Eventus Group DMC/PCO (Tallinn)
Georgios Drakopoulos: General Director SETE (Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises)

Georgios is a distinct leader, which was confirmed by all the female students.

Adventurers:
Charlotte Brynger, Project Manager Gothenburg Sweden. Someone told me that she speaks seven languages. Next time I'll talk to her in French.

Made Pandis: Frens Ltd, Tallinn

Dreamers (winning group!):
Anja Loetscher: the new director of the Geneva Tourism and Convention Bureau. I’ve named her the hip matriarch of all students.

Annely Alteberg: Destination Marketing Manager of Estonian Air. I had to include a picture of someone with blond hairs rustling in the wind. But also because she represented the local suppliers in the bid process with flair.

Ivanka Lukic: Project Assistant for the Slovenian Convention Bureau.

Bad Boys:

Lidia Gabriela Herciu, International Conference Centre Bucharest, Romania and Vilma Šlajerová, Prague Congress Centre. They can share a picture as they pointed their noses in the same direction during the presentation.

Just because boys were in the minority at the Summer School, I reward too extra photographs:
Panagiotis Arkoumaneas: Managing Director Athens Tourism & Economic Development Agency. According to the female coinaisseurs, the most handsome of the bunch.

Daniel Svarc: Sales Representative Prague Congress Centre. The most charming one, say the female and male experts. Wow, what should I think of that!, he must have thought.

The Industry's highest honor

2007-08-17T15:21:00.000+01:00

I received a good news report from Michelle Mills from Chicago:

Dear Marcel,
You were personally recommended by SITE President Hugo Slimbrouck (see photo), as an excellent choice as a judge for the 2007 SITE Crystal Awards.
As you may be aware, the SITE Crystal Awards are considered the Industry's highest honor...

I told Michelle it would be my pleasure to free some time between August 20th and September 20th to take a close look at between 5 and 8 entries. I'll draw my inspiration from the crystal owl I got from BAPCO in 2005. I gave this award its own place in my office. As you may know, owls can turn their heads well: as much as 270 degrees! A member of the jury needs this characteristic; you have to look at things from all different angles while showing some wisdom, because that's another characteristic of the owl. There are some people who say that my glasses look a bit like owl glasses...

The brand 'Diane Pernet'

2007-08-14T14:44:00.000+01:00

Last week I met my blog muse in Paris: Diane Pernet. Ever since I've caught the blog fever, I've written in my Blog that Diane's blog - A Shaded View on Fashion has over 100,000 visitors a month! - was my big example for creating my own Meetings Blog. In the (trendy?) restaurant Kong at the Rue du Pont Neuf, where you don't get as much on your plate as you get on your bill, I've crowned Diane 'Princess of Blogs'! She earned the title because she, as an American in Paris, has created a 'journalistic brand' in the fashion world.
When you've never seen Diane before, you might wonder from which planet this lady is originating. She's a delicate lady with pale skin and thin blue veins, black sunglasses, firy red lips and a hairpiece like a Paris tower, and she's always dressed in monotonous black. I'm sorry, I forgot to mention the inevitable silver Italian umbrella. Her voice only has one soft husky tone and Diane can say a lot in few words and images.
That's why I only had two questions: 'since when do you have this appearance, and how do you react to people who are scared or laugh?' Diane answered: 'Already a few decades, and I block out all exaggerated reactions.' The shortest interview I ever had! One more question then: 'Aren't you a contradiction in terms? After all, fashion is ever-changing and you never change!' - 'Indeed, that's my brand. I 'm not restricting myself to fashion, I also write about design, art, about everyone who's creating surprising things.'
As a small goodbye present I gave Diane my book: Belgium, Land of the Good Life. Because Fashion and Meetings are both on the look-out for a better life, aren't they?

Kicks for Kids

2007-08-01T10:33:00.001+01:00

One of the best articles I've read lately in an in-flight magazine, was 'Kicks for Kids'. I was flying with Lufthansa from Munich to Leipzig, and the cover of Lufthansa Magazin (07/2007) caught my eye. The title was ‘A Family Affair – Business Trips with Children’. Suppose you go on a business trip to a big town and you want to take your kids along, where do you take them to and what can you do there? In the same breath I read the 25 tips on where to grab some family fun in New York, Tokyo, Bangkok, Amsterdam and Lisbon. The flight was far too short for so much reading pleasure.
If I took my imaginary kids for a trip to Tokyo, I would certainly eat at the Kushiya Monogatari restaurant, which is the ideal eatery for children’s birthday parties. All you can eat, and fine quality too. And in New York I would treat them to a ride on The Beast, a giant toy of a speedboat. The Beast tears around New York Harbour at 45 miles per hour to the thumping beat of rock music. And in Lissabon… No, you'll just have to read the article yourself.

Bright red tomato greetings from Québec!

2007-07-26T15:51:00.000+01:00

I'm pleased to inform the Québec City Convention Centre that my tomato seed that they sent is doing just fine. I can already see the bright red tomatoes grow before my eyes and later on melt in my mouth. Mmm… at last I'll enjoy such a nice and juicy farm tomato! Certainly now that insiders have told me that bright red vegetables are healthier to eat than the pale ones. I can already hear people asking: has the Convention Centre turned into a tomato growing farm? Of course not. People have the positive perception on Canada as a place of purity, health and freedom. The Québec City Convention Centre has sent me a green pen with a label saying "Envision a GREENER tomorrow" - my blog readers will probably have noticed by now that me and my entourage are sensitive about a green globe with a bright blue crown around it. On top of that the pen is made of corn and is biodegradable in eight months! And on the back of the pen is a cap that hides a tomato-plant seed. So that's what I'm talking about. Now I've put that cap in a pot on my terrace, and I'm waiting for the tomatoes to grow. With this symbol of the Convention Centre's environment-friendly policy, Québec gave the positive image of Canada a green boost and that pleases me, it really does!

Be my good guide!

2007-07-19T15:22:00.000+01:00

I can have a great admiration for a snappy guide or someone who can present his destination or venue in a catchy way. Readers from all over the world have often asked me if I know some good examples, and I can answer them: Yes, but I can count them on one hand. People who can give a nice presentation are rare in the meetings industry. However, I'm always overjoyed when my guide in London is wearing a blue badge. In New York I'm often well off with a Big Onion guide and in Berlin I'm sitting pretty when a guide of GoArt is doing his thing.
My latest good experience was in Leipzig, "the place by the linden trees", where elephants and lions were bred. I didn't know all of that. Birgit, a city guide and dressed for the occasion as a "lark lady" with a black bow in her hair and with everything that goes with it, told me that the Leipzig Zoo used to be called 'lion factory'. Up till now 2,500 lions, that's quite something! Male lions that performed badly were shipped off to the museum… and then Birgit looks around a little to the male company in the antique bus, she winks and then says in the most beautiful manner 'Jaaah'. And so it continued. I loved it. What mischievous humour! What a fun guide!
Another honourable mention goes to Ronald Kötteritzsch, Sales Director of the new Congress Center Leipzig. Merely the movement of his hands expresses welcome. He conquers his listeners with a natural smile and he adds that he deeply loves his town and his congress centre. Actually he doesn't even need to say it, he just radiates it!
The thing I missed most in Leipzig, was music. Music by Bach, because he died there in 1750, according to the Julian calendar. Luckily I bought a CD by the famous Leipziger Thomaner boy choir. Tonight I'm listening to ‘Der Mensch lebt und besteht nur eine kleine Zeit'. With that in mind: Spend your time well and if you organize things, do it thoroughly because you only get one shot!

Are countries with a strong brand also successful meeting destinations?

2007-07-11T09:36:00.000+01:00

In the meetings industry we often talk about successful meeting destinations. The reason why one country is more successful than another one, is not always clear. Not a lot of scientific research on this matter is available in our trade. Yet I know someone who can lead us the way.
His name is government advisor Simon Anholt (see photo). He is the one who formulates an answer to the question: How do 25.000 consumers worldwide perceive 40 countries - which are mostly countries where there’s also a strong (or less strong) meetings industry. The quarterly published Anholt Nation Brands Index (NBI) - there also exists an Anholt City Brands Index, you could read all about that in HeadQuarters Magazine (Meeting Trends Nr. 19) - is an analytical ranking in which countries are rated on the basis of six dimensions, which is a much broader view than merely from a meetings industry perspective, namely: exports, governance, investment and immigration, culture and heritage, people, and tourism. The latest data, for example, show that the Netherlands is in the top ten of countries with a strong brand. Coincidence or not, the Netherlands is ranked 10th in the ICCA ranking as well, although it lost four places there. You can find detailed NBI results from page 12 onwards in the latest edition of HeadQuarters Magazine (nr. 21)!
Sorry, Barbara Jamison (see photo) of Visit London, I forgot to mention that the UK is the number one country and London the number two city in the respective Anholt Indexes. Give credit where credit is due! And what did I notice? The UK comes third in the latest ICCA stats and London is in 11th place. Now I really wonder if there could be a correlation between the Anholt and the ICCA results. In other words, is a country with a strong brand also a strong congress nation?
I'm a bit jealous of the people attending the AIPC Annual Conference in Graz, because Simon will be there. Congratulations to Marianne de Raay of AIPC because she was able to attract Simon Anholt as unique keynote speaker and discussion leader! I couldn't agree more when she says: ‘this promises to be a most informative and productive session!’ Maybe Simon will give the answer to my question, so my blog readers don't have to rack their brains over my complicated, yet - to my humble opinion - most interesting question.
As always, open for comments…

Titles make the man and the woman

2007-07-04T14:44:00.000+01:00

Last year I received a new title: bridge builder, because HeadQuarters Magazine builds bridges between readers and suppliers in the Association Congress business, they told. I could live with that.
A month ago, I received an email from a lady of the Paris Hilton (the actual hotel, not the heiress in the picture) who has the title of ‘Elevator Management Trainee’. I had never heard of such a thing.
And then, last week during the ESAE Assembly, I was totally flabbergasted when I ran into an association executive who has 'Evangelist' on his business card. And maybe you know anyone by the title of 'meeting lover'?

The Hong Kong Sisters

2007-07-04T11:16:00.000+01:00

It's been almost 15 years since I last visited Hong Kong. In the late eighties, early nineties, Hong Kong was the most trendy congress city in the world. Later on, that became Singapore, and now it is Dubai. And, who knows, it may be Kota Kinabalu in a few years. The meetings industry is also subject to fashion! Honestly, I'm not indifferent to it myself. Last week in La Monnaie, when I was enjoying the introductory performance by Candy Nip and Mandy Wong (photo), representatives of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, I was filled with nostalgia for the Pearl River Delta. What a sense of humour they have! I'll call them the Hong Kong Sisters from now on. We celebrated the tenth anniversary of the reunification of Hong Kong with China (1997). Before, people could just say Hong Kong, now that sounds a bit more lengthy: Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Never pass on the opportunity if there's a show of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in your neighbourhood, especially the Contemporary Dance ‘Memory’! A wonderful dance that is! Out of all the speeches I've heard, I've remembered one thing: after the reunification, Hong Kong has become the best gangway between Europe and China. First go to Hong Kong and then to China! One country, two systems.

The ten most unusual restaurants in the world

2007-07-04T09:41:00.000+01:00

Do you know the ten most unusual restaurants in the world? That's not the same as asking if you know the most original or best ones. I've got to know them myself when I received a message from the newly opened conference hotel Dolce La Hulpe Brussels.
50 guests sat 50 meters high and enjoyed the magnificent view over the 72 hectares of the Zonien Forest and literally enjoyed a culinary tour de force. And I didn't even know that this "Dinner In The Sky" was a concept by a Brussels event organiser, which has now been included by forbes.com in the ranking of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world. The number one restaurant in the world - really the best one, this time - El Bulli in Roses on the Costa Brava, figures on top of this list. I would love to eat rice pudding with golden spoons in heaven, together with my most loyal blog readers. You can put down your name in the comments section and you can pick the view you prefer!

Lille, as seen on meeting pictures

2007-06-20T10:30:00.000+01:00

Last week, I took the high-speed train from the northern Belgian city of Antwerp to Lille, in northern France. And still I was riding south! How comfortable, those fast trains in Europe! I went there to meet an old - but still young - meeting friend of mine. He always wears his bow tie around his neck and has a noble smile on his face: Charles-Eric Vilain XIIII. He's the brand-new managing director of the equally new 'Lille Métropole Europe Convention Bureau'. At first glance, that's a job that suits him perfectly. After all, he received education at an excellent meeting school: Brussels International Tourism & Congress (BITC). Charles taught me something: pictures, purposive meetings industry pictures! What's lacking in many convention bureaux, is good photo material. From the moment he took office, he assigned an architectural photographer to photograph Lille as a meeting destination for an entire year. Meeting photos, a new concept! I have to say, the first pictures I've seen by the inspired photographer Maxime Dufour are not to be sneezed at. This initiative will certainly make the life of a meetings journalist easier. Don't forget to tell me in the comments section if you like the pictures.

Ich hab’ noch einen Koffer in Berlin

2007-06-18T15:45:00.000+01:00

It should never happen, but it even happens to the most experienced of travellers. Last Friday, I checked into a well-established hotel at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, the most beautiful central point of the city. The hotel receptionist asked me twice if she could check my electronic key card. I thought: 'OK, well, why not?' Everything went smoothly, even opening my door automatically. And what did I see to my utter amazement? Someone had left his fancy suitcase on my bed. 'Darned', I thought, 'now what? There must be another visitor in the room. Ha, you see, that's why they had to verify my key card twice. Now it all makes sense,' a voice in my head said. So I went downstairs with an angry look on my face, but politely I said: 'come on, how is that possible?' The receptionist responded very friendly: 'are you dreaming, are you tired, is something wrong?' - 'No, miss, someone left his suitcase on my bed.' - 'Impossible, that cannot be', her soft voice answered. But OK, I'll send someone along and we'll see.' The door was opened again and yes, the suitcase hadn't moved a bit. 'But Mister Vissers,' my hostess shouted releived: 'You're mistaken, that 's a gift for you from the new low-cost carrier Air-Berlin, who is the main sponsor of the Meeting Place Berlin event that you're invited to!' Then I got it. I'm so sorry, Mister Ronald A. van Weezel - the freshly appointed director of Hilton Berlin - from now on I will think twice before I do the same.
I immediately told my story to Heike Mahmoud, Director Conventions of the Berlin Convention Office. She burst out laughing! And she told me the real answer: 'Marcel, do you know the song by Marlene Dietrich 'Ich hab’ noch einen Koffer in Berlin'... That's our marketing story... Always coming back to Berlin, because there's a suitcase waiting for you there.'
By the way, it's a very nice, high-quality nostalgic suitcase that I will keep forever. Believe me, I'll never forget Berlin!

What an ambassador can do for you!

2007-06-07T16:37:00.000+01:00

I can't think of any other industry in which there's more talked about ambassa-dors than in the association meetings industry. In the first place, I'm talking about professors who act as ambassadors of a convention bureau. Some big cities even have an Ambassador’s Programme or an Ambassadors’ Club. More and more Top Association Executives are talking about curtailing the influence of such a professor/ambassador because they want to limit the emotional factor when picking a destination. The choice for a certain congress place should primarily be based on objective criteria and not the other way round. I firmly support this idea, but I didn't start this blog entry to talk about this ambassador issue.

I'm talking about real ambassadors, like the Dutch ambassador Dr. Hugo Hans Siblesz (right), Her Majesty's ambassador in Paris. Last week, he welcomed about twenty Paris-based associations in his Residence in the heart of Paris. Hôtel d’Avaray is a wonderful setting to make wonderful new contacts. And I have to say, it didn't leave me cold to be invited for this 'linking lunch'. I also saw sparkling eyes among the Dutch suppliers who were almost as well represented as the associations. Well done, Renée Cohen (left), director of Destination Sales at the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions. That's what I call lobbying at a high level. And I heard a lot of Dutchmen talking good French as well. That's nice! In the garden of the ambassador it came to a fine discussion about the motives that some associations have for organising their convention in this or that destination. Sometimes, that can hang by a thread and no ambassador, minister or president can change that. After a lot of conversations with association excutives, I collected a couple of those threads:
1. We only take our conventions to resorts, other destinations don't stand a chance.
2. If there's no boat available at the destination that can accommodate 150 people with a copious dinner, forget about it.
3. We never use purpose built convention centres, only universities with good meeting services.
4. We never go to destinations where there are less than 5 five-star hotels at walking distances.
5. We never go to a Central European country, a metropolis, a Scandinavian country, an Arabian country,... and the list goes on and on.
My question to destination promotors: do you know all of this? Or do you only take the ICCA database into account? My good advice: go into the human portrait of an association as well.

Fine TV Dining with Kathlyn

2007-05-30T10:44:00.000+01:00

You're a business woman on a business trip. You're all by yourself. And still, you would like to dine in the restaurant of the hotel where you're staying, without having the feeling that you're eating alone. Well, now there is TV Dining. I did not hear of this new trend before. An insider revealed to me that the first Restaurant TV Table was presented at a hotel fair in London. I cannot verify if that's true, but perhaps one of my blog readers can help me out. Call it a coincidence, but I've been visiting some hotels in the last couple of weeks and every time I have discovered something 'Novo'. For instance: In the completely renovated Novotel Antwerp - also the city where I live - I was able to convince Kathlyn Vanhassel of Accor Hotels Belux to pose as a businesswoman enjoying a Quickies Lunch at a TV Table! And what do you know.. Success! Alexander Dupont as well as Emile Lannoy, two real Accor-men confirm it: Those tables are usually the first tables that are occupied in the restaurant. Kathlyn, I will join you next time, but I won't watch television!
And many thanks to Britta Baeke for the picture!

Bill Marriott, another passionate blogger

2007-05-23T15:11:00.000+01:00

He's 75 now and still visits an average 250 hotels a year worldwide. I'm talking about John Willard 'Bill' Marriott, Jr. - where does that name 'Bill' come from, I wonder - and he's the big boss of Marriott International. Yesterday, Bill (right) was visiting the historical city of Ghent on the occasion of the opening of Marriott Ghent, the fifth Marriott Hotel in Belgium and as you can see, he was in the good company of our Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (left) and the Mayor of Ghent, Daniël Termont (middle). The day before, he had opened the Marriott Paris Rive Gauche and after his time in Ghent, he left for Dublin for the opening of another new hotel. Honestly, I'm a bit jealous of that man. Such energy, such passion, such a testimony and such an empire he has built. I will never succeed in that by publishing meetings industry magazines, I thought (wink wink). To me, it was an enormous pleasure interviewing Bill, especially because he's a passionate blogger himself. That's what we have in common… I was almost about to say: certainly at our age!
But there's a second reason why I enjoyed the interview. Six years ago I had a cover interview for MIM magazine (No. 58) with his son John, the cover title being 'Crown prince of a family empire'. That took place in London on 9/11 in 2001! For a moment I noticed an emotional expression on his face. Then John Jr. told me his father doesn't like the colour blue: 'You'll rarely notice a variety of blue in our hotels. Blue is cold, my father likes warm hues better, like red, yellow and gold. He also adores flowers. Strangely enough he dislikes brown colours as well.' And what did Bill answer to this passage of his son's interview: 'Not entirely true, it depends on the kind of blue. For example, I like the blue carpet in the lobby of this hotel in Ghent!'
What really stayed in my memory after the interview, was the strong conviction that Marriott Hotels is one big family where everyone is still living by the philosophy of the grandfather. 'If you take care of your staff, then they, in their turn, will take care of the hotel guests!' That's wonderful, after three generations!
Be sure to read all about the interview in MIM No. 94 (September issue).

The new city-spacewagon for delegates

2007-05-22T13:27:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I spotted a message that's trivial at first sight, but is a really important development for the international convention world, in my opinion. Lately, I 've been confronted a lot with endless traffic jams in convention cities worldwide. Sometimes I was stuck in traffic in a city centre for a whole hour, sometimes even longer. How do congress delegates get to their meeting place on time, I thought. It's a big problem and it seems like everyone is afraid to talk about it. It's a big problem where many delegates are confronted with and no solution is in sight. But is there a solution to it? Maybe! At this very moment UITP (The International Association of Public Transport) is holding its 57th Congress and Exhibition in the fair centre of Helsinki. A study group is going into the future of the bus: a kind of high-speed train or space wagon in the city, a fast, comfortable vehicle that's environment-friendly and transports people super-fast from point A to B.

I can imagine that a lot of convention bureaus are dreaming of that kind of 'New Future (Congress) Bus', or 'f t r' (short for future), as this concept by UK's FirstGroup is called. It breaks away from the traditional categories of transport planning - the train, the tram, the bus, the car. Car users in cities therefore have to make the switch! It is anticipated that First in York will be running the 'ftr' on Service 4 next year! I would be the first to use this new StreetCar when I'm attending a congress there. And I would like to ask the study group 'Bus system of the future' of UITP what they came up with. To be continued!

One million delegates = one new Meeting Forest

2007-05-15T15:31:00.000+01:00

At the beginning of this month I hosted a round-table discussion with the cream of the Belgian incentive world in the Conrad Brussels Hotel. Someone said: 'Looking after the environment? OK! I barely notice anything about this concern in the convention and incentive world. Most participants are not consciously involved in this matter!' That's how a lot of people feel, but is that true? For instance, in a short period of time I bumped into two very practical initiatives. The first one was by accident. The famous London photographer Allan Pollok-Morris was in Antwerp for a photo shoot in the 'House of Tulips'. I seized the opportunity to let him do the cover shoot for MIM magazine. On that cover sparkles Marleen Wyckmans; she's marketing manager at KLM - AIR FRANCE for Belgium and Luxemburg. He literally surrounded her with tulips. And what does a new customer of Allan receive? A tree! Just read what's on the card that I got from Kerrigan Bell of 'Trees for Life'. Allan had a Rowan Tree planted for me in Glen Affric in the North West Highlands of Scotland. I'm extremely pleased with that!
The second one came from Star Alliance (my apologies, Marleen, I know that KLM - AIR FRANCE is part of SkyTeam and maybe they have something to report as well), who are celebrating their 10th anniversary. I read in their press release: ‘Under the banner of Biosphere Connections, Star Alliance is entering into cooperation with recognised environmental organisations in order to support the sustainability of the biosphere in a constructive and positive way.’ That's a very nice present to the world! This week I'm throwing a party together with my life partner. As a gift, we have asked 'two trees', which we will plant in a pot in front of our house: yellow sweet-smelling magnolias!

Now I'm making two proposals:
1. My own proposal to the global convention and incentive world, the people who read my blog: for every new subscription to MIM magazine or HeadQuarters Magazine, I will deposit 15% into the fund of the still to be established association ‘Global Meeting Forest’.
2. If every congress delegate worldwide donates a small portion of his subscription fee for taking part in a convention to this fund, we'll have a new forest somewhere in the world by next year: the Meeting Forest.
From now on, I'm actively looking for a spot where we can plant this Meeting Forest. We will keep you informed. So, buy your meeting tree now!

The First ICCA Numbers Have Arrived

2007-05-08T15:48:00.000+01:00

Often I hear people say: 'I don't believe in statistics!' And still every year everyone eagerly awaits the first ICCA rankings. And here they are! Those of 2006! It's like the first bird laid his first (congress) egg in May. ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) has made a name for itself for many years now, with their global rankings of the countries and cities that landed the largest number of international (non-corporate) conventions in a certain year, all drawn up according to well-defined criteria. In 2006 Germany remains the first European destination, only preceded by the USA. The team of Ute Stegmann at the German Convention Bureau has done a good job! Unfortunately Spain drops to fifth place. And oh oh, Holland loses four places compared to 2005! How is that possible? In the city ranking, Paris is the big winner and has now gained second position, behind the leader, Vienna. Congratulations to Paul Roll and Delphine Benbassa-Fortuin! Proudly Delphine wrote to me: ‘We have been working on statistics for 3 years and it is true that it is paying back now. We are very happy about it!’ And we are also very glad that for the very first time a South-American country has invaded the top ten: Brazil! And Prague, Copenhagen and Lisbon make the top ten, so that's a feather in their cap as well! I myself find the position of Kuala Lumpur quite spectacular. This city that doesn't have its own convention bureau leaps to 15 th place in 2006 with 63 meetings from 30th place in 2005 with 38 meetings! Jenny Salsbury, you can put on an Ascot hat with a peacock feather! Only people who work hard and keep track of their numbers, believe in statistics.

In June 2007 we will publish the complete ranking with some comments on the survey in our Incentive Special yearbook (in English). Don't miss it, on www.mimmagazine.be.

Reaching for the sky

2007-05-08T10:40:00.000+01:00

Dubai has become the centre of the Middle East and everyone knows some of the luxurious hotels over there. We were lucky enough to visit this booming city last week. The mentality of 'big, bigger, biggest… and then even bigger' reigns and has now reached a new high. With the new Burj Dubai they aim to construct the tallest building in the world. The construction is over halfway and already it is the tallest structure in the region at over 400m.
This new landmark will rise higher than Toronto's CN Tower, the world's tallest freestanding structure (553.33m) and the Taipei 101 (509m), currently the world's tallest building. It is planned to rise more than 160 floors (some even whisper more than 200 floors), but the actual height is not disclosed, although some rumours say that it will be over 800m or even over 1,000m. 5,187 labourers work round the clock to finish Burj Dubai by next year.
But this construction is not the end of Dubai as the world's largest construction site: three other buildings with more than 100 floors are under way and in Business Bay, near the Burj Dubai Complex, over 250 towers are in various stages of construction… And other developers in China and even Dubai itself are already making plans to knock the Burj of its pedestal as the highest building by constructing a mile-high (1,600m) building. We all know the story of Icarus who flew too close to the sun… But that doesn't prevent us of publishing a 12 page supplement on 'Booming Dubai' in HeadQuarters Magazine at the end of June. If you are interested in reading this, we would love to send it to you.

The Smallest Stand at IMEX

2007-04-24T16:19:00.000+01:00

Did you also pass by without knowing that it was the smallest stand at IMEX, at the entrance of Hall 8? One man, with one notebook computer, sat down behind an inconspicuous little stand, saying 'Restaurant Bookings by selected-restaurants.com'! I am grateful to Hilton de la Hunt (what a name, you could get rich with a name like that) because he gave me the right service at a critical time. From now on I will call him Dr. Hilton de la Hunt, the restaurant doctor. At Wednesday evening, a time when almost everybody at the fair had left for the gala dinner, I was still looking for a nice restaurant in Frankfurt to go to with my team. Hilton asked me: location? Interior? Taste? Price range? And before I knew it, he wrote the perfect answer to those questions on a note: Nizza am Main, of course with a view on the river! And good food. And it had a cheerful crew of Mediterranean boys. Because everyone was in a good mood - but also because we had to wait some time before our food arrived - we were even offered a bottle of Pinot Noir on the house. Hilton, I will book my restaurants with you again next year, but then it will be a Japanese restaurant, because I think I remember you telling me that you have a hidden treasure in your collection…

The Golden Calf (part 2)

2007-04-23T20:23:00.000+01:00

I suppose that my blog entries on the Golden Calf will have to come in several episodes. A few messages ago I wrote about the painful moment in Brussels. Luckily, I could also experience a joyful moment later on, at the IMEX association day in Frankfurt. It was a good day. But… what did I hear there? A managing director - a man of distinction - of a major Paris-based association had received 37 invitations from several meeting suppliers for this event. Another form of worshipping, I thought.
And at one of the seminars, someone told that a president of an equally respectable association wanted to do an on-site inspection in a beautiful town. But he stipulated his conditions: it had to be for the whole family - four in total -, free business-class flight tickets and a free stay in a five-star hotel! So, someone who let others worship him!
In the transfer bus to the hotel I sat next to a respectable man and I told him the whole story again. 'Oh,' he said, 'I wouldn't be surprised if there are even stranger things going on. I can imagine there is some professor in the ambassador environment who says that his convention would fit perfectly in that city. And that he can do something about it. But then he adds that his car is broken-down…' Someone who knows his worshippers well, I guess? It's worth the consideration, if you don't bear in mind the moral values. And that will be the topic of the future: who will formulate an ethical code for associations?

Joëlle's Easter Greetings

2007-04-12T14:56:00.000+01:00

I want to close the Easter holidays on a cheerful note - or with an Easter egg. Just before IMEX! I received the best cartoon with Easter greetings from a Belgian incentive lady who has many friends across the globe. Just see for yourself! Joëlle Gardin can often be very witty and sometimes even a bit mischievous. She always has a radiant smile and a cheerful provocative expression! That's why she's become an incentive specialist, I think. The last time I met her in a playful atmosphere was during the TEFAF fair in Maastricht. That's where I got to know Joëlle as an art-loving lady. TEFAF is the best art museum in the world and opens its doors only ten days a year. A great experience!

I would like to send my spring wishes to Joëlle by means of a painting. Whoever knows the name of the painter, will receive a golden Easter egg. If you think this is a hard task, I suggest you rotate your screen and look what you see then! A different painting?

To conclude, I give you my favourite spring picture: the twins at TEFAF. They look like they came straight out of a surrealistic movie by David Lynch. But no, they were real visitors. If you have the opportunity, you should come and visit the fair with me. There doesn't exist a better arts meeting, or should I call it an arts convention? As an incentive or convention organiser you might receive a present from the Maastricht Convention Bureau in 2008?

A Golden Calf Is Born

2007-04-12T08:45:00.000+01:00

You may remember the Bible story the worship of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32). The golden calf represents the BLIND adoration of money - a sort of money fever. This fever broke out definitively 5 years ago in the worldwide Meetings Industry, which has become a multimillion dollar industry. Then the international associations were discovered. The association executives - who are the decision makers of big conventions - were spotted by the organisers of workshops, fairs, magazines and sales meetings. But this kind of blind adoration can have some painful consequences. For example last week (April 2nd and 3rd) there was another (expensive) worship ritual in Brussels. The altar was set up nicely in a hotel and the participants had paid a lot of money for one candle on the altar. Like the deeply religious worshippers we are, we all had big expectations, but we all went home, way too early, with tears in our eyes. The Golden Calf wasn't there. I think we have to start paying attention. Associations have developed into professional enterprises with their own decision making structure, which often is different than ours, and not commercial at all! We will have to learn to discover them in another way and respect them, because otherwise things will turn out badly in the meetings industry!

Feeling for paper

2007-04-03T12:31:00.000+01:00

I’m a paper-sensitive person myself. By that I mean: I like paper − I like to feel it and I like to read from it. I’m a magazine man, after all! I am even inclined to print out a lot of the emails that come in, because I simply don’t like reading from a screen. I’m definitely not a born digital reader.

Until the day I launched my blog on the World Wide Meeting Web and my attention was drawn to a frequently used email message bottom line: ‘Please consider the environment before printing this email’. I’m more careful now. I’ve become more conscious about using paper, and that’s also why I’m very pleased with this issue’s contribution from ESAE in HeadQuarters 20, which is devoted entirely to the topic of what associations can do for the environment.

On the day that I wrote this Editorial, I also received a magazine (I had not known of it until that moment) from Renu Snehi. She’s the Editor of ‘Hotline’, the Rezidor Hotel Group employee magazine. And what do I see? Another green Nordic Ecolabel with the line: ‘Printed on paper produced without optical brightener or chlorine … and printed with vegetable inks.’ Along with the magazine, she had enclosed a supplement entitled: ‘Hotels Environment Action Month’ (HEAM), which talked about ‘responsible business’ and what 166 of the group’s hotels regularly do as environmental actions. The best practice examples! Initiatives like these deserve a feather in their cap.

Taking good care of the earth has become vitally important, and I think that the meetings industry has a large role to play in this. I’m already contributing with two things: the launch of a meetings blog; and, wherever I can, I add…

please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

... or better yet, keep reading Marcel's Meeting Memories

Anette's Kangaroo

2007-04-02T13:43:00.000+01:00

It doesn't happen often that an invitation is really inviting or makes life more pleasant. Anette Palm of the newly started Conventions Australia has succeeded in attracting attention just before Easter. By regular mail I - as well as my colleagues and many others in the world - received a personalised Kangaroo from her. You all know that the Kangaroo is a famous icon in Australia. It symbolises the unique character of Australia and their bounding enthusiasm for visitors to their shores! I think Anette will welcome many visitors on Tuesday April 17th during the IMEX fair to announce the launch of Conventions Australia. All this thanks to the jumping Kangaroo. And thanks to the extraordinary initiative: 8 convention cities of Australia side with the logo of a continent! Anette, the plush kangaroo is proudly standing in the HeadQuarters’ office!

Brain Fitness Center

2007-03-30T15:41:00.000+01:00

Like there's fitness for the body, there's a virtual gym for the brain as well. The muscles of the brain also need to be trained, say the people at Sharpbrain. Their website is especially made for people who want to train their brains in an interactive way. I would like to see your comments on this subject.

Luc Hendrickx' bid book

2007-03-30T15:36:00.000+01:00

I have the advantage of not living far from Brussels. That gives me the opportunity to have a chat once in a while with an association executive at the headquarters of some international association. And there are some of those in Brussels, as you all know. Every two months I send 1800 HeadQuarters magazines to those people. One of those people with whom I exchange ideas on a regular basis, is Luc Hendrickx, Executive Director of the International Diabetes Federation. The last conversation we had was about bid books. ‘I hate traditional bid books that look like glossy tourist brochures,' he told me. 'Those get thrown in the waste paper basket right away. To me the ideal bid book is as large as an A4 size, or rather a one-page fact sheet on each venue that we are happy with if the board will select it.' Luc also has his own thoughts on local hotshot ambassadors. Oops, I'll stop telling and I'll prepare a text about Bid Books Nowadays! And about Ambassadors of the good old days.
As a bonus Luc sent me the title of a good book, because, as it happens, we had also been talking about the art of 'presenting things the good way': Beyond Bullet Points – Microsoft Press, Washington, 2005- ISBN-13 978-0-7356-2052-0

Jenni's little rosette

2007-03-28T10:10:00.000+01:00

Also at the GIBTM fair in Abu Dhabi, I met some people who gave me a spontaneous feel. Among them was Megh Ale with his mini-pigtail, but you already knew that.
Because I'm keen on fresh dates - Abu Dhabi has the most delicious ones in the whole world - I dropped in on the most beautiful stand in the fair. Did you guess which one? The Abu Dhabi stand of course. By coincidence fair manager Paul Kennedy of Reed Exhibitions came walking outside like a sheik. I don't think he tasted the dates. And who treated me warmly to dates and tea there? A lady who always leaves a rejuvenating impression on me. How come? I don't know. Maybe it's that little purple rosette in her hair that keeps fascinating me. Or are the leaflets of the rosette well-camouflaged mini satellite dishes with which she receives messages and communicates? Because communicating is her profession. Jenni Beggs is communication manager at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). If you would like to know more about the emirate Abu Dhabi, send her a quick e-mail.

About palaces, bunkers and hangars

2007-03-28T09:43:00.000+01:00

During the GIBTM fair (the first edition of Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition in Abu Dabhi) I told a few visitors that I was inspired by ADNEC, the new exhibition and convention centre, or should I say exhibition and convention city, because there really is a meetings city shooting up from the ground. The space, the light, the statues, the beauty, the materials used, the architecture… in short, there's more than we can get through. You feel more human there. If I look at what people generally build in Europe, I must say I start to blush. Most exhibition centres - and a lot of convention centres as well - in Europe and elsewhere look like bunkers, I feel. To underpin this bold statement, I've asked Johan De Deygere, director of Brussels Fairs & Exhibitions, if he agrees. 'I would call them hangars', was his response…

Cécile's little book

2007-03-27T10:20:00.000+01:00

Whoever goes on a trip should always tell a nice anecdote or bring a present, I always say. Cécile Koch, sales & marketing director of HeadQuarters Magazine, went to PEC-E in Copenhagen. It was cold but good, she told me. She was delighted with the educational content of the Professional Education Conference Europe, which MPI organises once a year somewhere in Europe. Unfortunately I can't write down everything she has told me, but she did bring me an interesting little book. It's called ‘Learning Meetings and Conferences in Practice’ by the Danish professor Ib Ravn. I remember Ib from before, when he presented me his Learning Lab Denmark for the first time. We often think that meeting goes automatically, that it's a profession you don't have to learn. That's a mistake. A big mistake. Even more than before there's a need for CONTENT that is conveyed in the right way and that sticks in the memory of the listeners for a long time. But how do you do that? Ib has 17 techniques ready!

As you can see on the picture there was also a lot of fun, and Elvis lives! ... in Denmark.

Did you attend PEC-E? Post your thoughts about it by clicking on 'Comments' below.

(photo: Bruce Taylor)

Megh Ale's tuppi

2007-03-27T09:45:00.000+01:00

Mega-investments, billions of dollars, the construction of a Guggenheim museum and a dependance of the Louvre. It's all happening in Abu Dhabi. I was there on a short visit for the first GIBTM fair (Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition). People told me that this city will be unrecognizable by 2011. Isn't it surprising then, after all these explosions of numbers to see someone with a tuppi on his head? I got intrigued by the little pony tail that Megh Ale has in the middle of his bald shaven head. It looks like a pigtail and it's called a tuppi in Nepal, he told me with a mischievous smile. In Buddhism it serves as an aid to perform a spiritual act every morning after waking up. You have to tie a knot in the lock of hair by which you create a moment of reflection that stimulates you to do something good during the day. Be yourself and continue. Whoever looks up the name Megh Ale in Google will notice that there is more to Megh than just his mini-pigtail. In Nepal, he devotes himself to the conservation of the most beautiful piece of nature on the planet, especially to the Nepal River Conservation Trust. He's also the founder and president of The Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. And in the political department Nepal is doing better and better, he told me, because Nepal has been down in the dumps! http://www.borderlandresorts.com/

The president and the miracle

2007-03-27T09:42:00.000+01:00

Six percent of all heads of state and leaders of the government in the world are female, the highest number ever. Right now six female presidents are in office in Chili, Finland, Ireland, the Philippines, Latvia and Liberia, and the same amount of female prime ministers, of whom Angela Merkel is the most famous one. Last week I had the honour of shaking hands with Mary McAleese, president of Ireland (in the centre of the picture). After her visit to the University of Leuven on the occasion of 400 years of Irish College (now known as the Irish Institute for European Matters) she paid a visit to the new office of Tourism Ireland in Brussels. How proud everyone was to have such a distinguished visitor. And how cheerful everyone was after her warm speech! I have memorized one particular part. She said: 'I still see a miracle happening every day: those thousands of visitors who come visit Ireland every year, while they have so many other options! There must be people over there who work hard behind the scenes to make that miracle happen every day over again.' And she winked at the team of Danielle Neyts (far right in the picture).
More presidents and prime ministers should pay a visit to the convention bureaus! Mrs. McAleese set an excellent example (www.discoverireland.com).

A writer in residence

2007-03-27T09:31:00.000+01:00

I'm a bit jealous of the Flemish writer Saskia De Coster. She will be the next writer in residence in the Amsterdam writer's flat near the 'Spui'. The worst way to explore a city is in a touristic fashion, she told me. The best way is to stay there for a while, in her opinion. That's my opinion as well. I'd love to live in Lisbon for a month, or in Buenos Aires, or in Kuala Lumpur. Who'll provide me with a meetings-writer's flat there? It has to be funded, naturally… Any suggestions may be posted in the Comments!

Clare Amsel's souvenir shop

2007-03-05T15:33:00.000Z

I have rediscovered Athens because of Clare Amsel, a British lady who has been living in Athens for more than 15 years. She's director of conferences for Megaron Athens (International Conference Centre) and said to me: 'take the new underground train (metro) and you will see how much Athens has changed. The Athens Olympic Games 2004 have changed the whole of Greece and have certainly given Athens a new look.' Clare was very closely involved in the opening ceremony and she became fascinated by the effect a large event has on a country or city, and not least on the people that live there. Unfortunately enough, Athens is not included in the Anholt-GMI City Brands Index but I will do my utmost to convince Mister Anholt not to forget about Athens the next time.
Megaron Athens has become a city icon. They say it's the most expensive congress palace in Europe; not to rent it, but the price it has cost to build it. When you organise a convention there, the prestige is included in the package. It's a really nice and prestigious building, but it also has its small and fun sides. For example, Clare showed me the souvenir shop of the palace where I saw two frames with all the lost objects that were left behind by visitors. I believe there was some expensive jewellery in it. I would also like to mention that Claire can tell about the city's change of image in a fascinating way. She has truly shown me the light!

Günter Verheugen's Award

2007-03-05T14:45:00.000Z

Günter Verheugen is not just anybody, he is the European Commissioner for Trade and Industry and Vice-President of the European Commission, or simply put, the number two of José Manuel Barroso. Last year I had the honour and pleasure to interview him in his roomy office in the Berlaymont building in Brussels. I have to phrase it this way because it really isn't that simple to get into that building, leave alone to land into one of his armchairs. I asked him straight if he knew the meetings industry and he surprised me with his answer: 'We have a commissioner for tourism and meetings industry: I am the commissioner!' Now this man received the prestigious BAPCO Award (Belgian Association for Professional Congress Organizers) during the opening day of the Brussels Meetings Week on Monday February 12th. The Award is an Owl, made out of pure Val Saint Lambert crystal. In my opinion, BAPCO made a wise decision: Wisdom. And do you know that I have such an owl on the mantelpiece of my office?
If you are interested in reading the complete interview I had with Commissioner Verheugen, all you have to do, is send me an e-mail.

(photo: Bruce Taylor)

Simon Anholt, or the world of an inspirator

2007-03-05T14:41:00.000Z

I have often wondered how cities earn their good or bad reputation. Paris is romance, Milan is style, New York is energy, Washington is power, Tokyo is modernity, Lagos is corruption, Barcelona is culture and Rio de Janeiro is fun…
Since I have met Simon Anholt, I understand it a lot better. He's not a researcher, he told me over the phone, but a government consultant. He's the man who is at the basis of the famous City Brands Index, in other words: 'How does the world view your city'. In often striking comparisons and descriptions he composed a report about 60 metropolises. When I received that report, I thought: Simon, you really are not a researcher, but an inspiration. I was intrigued by that report. And, dear blog reader, if you have become interested in how the world views your city, give me a sign, and I will send you a PDF with the story that I have written for HeadQuarters Magazine (in the now famous yearbook 'Meeting Trends'). If you are nice for me, I might send you some more details about your city. I have already told Brussels that people still think that the city is equal to Manneken Pis. And all that time we were thinking that it was the capital of Europe… It's all in the game, I guess.

Ali's white kandoora

2007-03-05T14:37:00.000Z

Now that I have already written about Jamal's black hat, I have to tell something about Ali's kandoora and turban. Soon you can expect a mini-report on Abu Dhabi from my part. I was amazed at everything that was happening there. I was able to take a look at the scale-model of the new exhibition and congress city (ADNEC). It's not a convention palace but a city for conventions and exhibitions. And what to say about the Middle Eastern version of the Louvre that is being built there? Someone has made me discover this wonderland, his full name is Ali A. Al Saloom and he is the MICE Development Officer of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. He is a lively promoter of his country and its inhabitants. A wonderful guide to listen to. By the way, whoever thinks that all kandooras are white, is wrong. Ali can tell about the Muslim culture, clothing, food, religion and people in an inspirational manner. He is member of the international guide association as well, although I'm not familiar with that association. It is my wish to attend the next international convention together with Ali where I would make a plea in favour of creating specialised Meeting Guides! Ali, where does the next convention take place?

Jamal Ayad's black hat

2007-03-05T14:29:00.000Z

Between Christmas and New Year I travelled to the border between Morocco and Algeria to celebrate New Year in the desert with the Berbers. At the stroke of midnight the full moon was perpendicular to my head and my feet were dancing in the Sahara sand. A few days before I landed in Tanger and a civil servant of the Ministry of Tourism would be waiting there for me. 'How boring', I thought, 'but it has to be done, the appointment was made that way, I can't get out of it.' To my surprise I saw a kind man with a black hat on top of his head, very unusual for Morocco. His laugh was irresistible, his humour was contagious. I remained in the company of Jamal for a whole day. He told me the history of Morocco like I've never heard it before, for example about the innumerable cultures. At a certain point I thought that about every civilisation had passed by in Morocco, when I heard him talk like that. Teasingly I said to him: everybody except the Eskimos has been here!
Jamal is a man with a vision. He would like to see a Meetings and Incentives division arise within the Ministry of Tourism in Rabat. Speaking for myself, Jamal could start his new task tomorrow because there is lots to do in this kingdom! He knows his business like no one else. If I ever write a movie script, I will offer Jamal a part in it, of course with his black hat!

The father of travel journalism

2007-03-01T16:17:00.001Z

Ryszard Kapuscinski was a Pole, and father of the journalistic/literary travel report. He passed away on January 23rd in Warsaw. But what was his message for me? He always travelled to places where people showed their worst side. I on the other hand always travel to places where people show their best side, where they always show me the most beautiful parts of their country, and where they often try to impose the non-reality of their town or country on me, for fear of a bad image. Ryszard's work has led me to discover the work of Herodotos, a Greek historian from 500 A.D. who wrote the very first travel report in world literature. From now on, I take Herodotos along as my guide, travel companion and source of inspiration.

Curriculum Vitae of a 'Founding Father'

2007-03-01T11:40:00.000Z

Marcel A. M. Vissers

Owner / Business Manager of Meeting Media Company
Niche MICE (meetings industry) publishers (MIM magazine and HeadQuarters Magazine) since 1992.
Editor in chief of MIM and HQ magazines

Born in Zundert (NL) on May 4th 1946
Became Belgian very quickly and remained like that.

Primary and secondary school in Belgium
First finished higher education at the Teachers' Training College in Brussels
Teached for a couple of years
Completed further higher studies at the Social College in Leuven, specialising in Personnel sciences and afterwards specialising in industrial psychology and Human Resources Management with Professor Musschoot at the RUG

A small portion of my free time during studies was spent on radio plays for the then BRT Radio. Actually I had always wanted to become an elocutionist or presenter or at least to succeed in broadcast journalism… but it turned out otherwise. I ended up in print journalism and the talking still comes in handy when I chair debates or panels or when I give lectures. Now I have to get my leisure time out of 'travelling' (work) and 'going to the gym' (work out).

After completing my studies I immediately found a job in the business community. At first as a Human Resources employee at the AZ Leuven, and later as HR-Manager at Pleuger in Antwerp, followed by Intop in Brussels. In that latter company (the Inter Touroperaters Group) I took the initiative to participate in the 'Golden Feather' competition for the best sales letter with a newly formed team for incentive travels. And indeed, in 1979 the Golden Feather was awarded to the Intop Firm in Brussels. That was the last sign of life of that company but it was also my first step towards journalism. First I made a halt in Sierra Leone (West-Africa) for a year to kick the habit of working every day with and for people.

After the demise of Intop I have applied myself almost fulltime to the development of media for meetings and incentive travel. Twenty years ago there were practically no specialised magazines in this area - all magazines were primarily oriented towards tourism. That's how in 1991 I stood at the basis of the first fully fledged MICE magazine with the title Meeting Media. You could say I feel a bit like the 'founding father' of Belgian MICE journalism (meetings and incentive travel industry).

Meeting Media later became Meeting & Incentive Media and is now fully known and put on the market as MIM magazine, which has become a ‘brand’ in the European specialised media landscape: www.mimmagazine.be

In 2002 Marcel A.M. Vissers started a new magazine: HeadQuarters Magazine. This magazine has grown in a short timespan to be the leading Pan-European magazine for Association Executives: www.headquartersmagazine.com

Contact:
Meeting Media Company
Mechelseplein 23
B-2000 Antwerpen (Belgium)

Tel. +32 (0)3 226 88 81
Fax. +32 (0)3 226 88 82
Mobile: +32 486 13 13 00
info@meetingmedia.be
www.meetingmedia.be