The Tools to Keep Informed, Focused and Successful

We asked two members of the World PCO Alliance, Japan-based Congress Corporation and Singapore-based Ace:Daytons Direct, about their tactics and approaches to keep at the forefront of industry trends. Here’s an overview of what they shared with us.

Equip your team with the knowledge that will keep them at the helm of the events industry

An educational program that grooms someone for the industry is an excellent starting point. In Singapore, upon entering into the MICE industry, it is advisable for the newcomers to take up the Professional Conference Management course conducted by local association SACEOS. Once a newcomer has gained some experience, they may consider getting their Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation.

The team at Congress Corporation regularly attends IMEX, ICCA, IBTM and IAPCO EDGE, as well as seminars held by local governments and industry organizations. Ace:Daytons Direct adds PCMA, ASAE and Singapore MICE Forum to their list.

Doing recaps of past events and having senior staff training newer team members are just two examples. An end-of-year meeting is another effective way to share knowledge and solutions. Finally, don’t forget to travel! Meetings held abroad expose you not only to alternate practices you can bring back to your team, but also to important global trends.

Ace:Daytons Direct encourages all PCOs to regularly consult trade journals as well as ICCA statistics to stay informed on the latest matters that are shaping the industry.

PCOs should be aware of what is going on around the world, both in terms of important events as well as the state of the economy. They also gain novel solutions and insights on new ways of thinking from operating actual meetings in a diverse range of domains, knowledge that in turn is available to clients.

Transfer vital knowledge and tools to your clients

Both Congress Corporation and Ace:Daytons Direct cite technology as one of the primary elements of continued education. However, not all clients will be eager to embrace technology and PCOs are encouraged to take into account their client demographic. This allows their clients to benefit from or sharing their teams’ expertise and open communication empowers clients to make informed and strategic decisions that will result in successful events.

In addition to technology, educating clients also involves explaining the other critical elements of a successful event, such as selecting the right venue and the quality of supplier relationships.

In conclusion, PCOs have a plethora of tools at their disposal to ensure that their teams have a rich base of expertise as well as an in-house culture that facilitates knowledge-sharing.