A city located on the banks of a river always has something more than others. Bordeaux can be proud of the fact that it has two rivers flowing together, the Gironde and the Garonne, which meet in the city. What richness does this bring to this prominent city in the heart of south-west France? The capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is a popular destination for its conventions, events and cultural activities and, as you'll read in this report, so much more!

Author: Marcel Vissers

Famous bordelais who have left their mark

Two of Bordeaux's most prominent citizens were the French philosopher, writer and politician Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592) and the former Prime Minister Alain Juppé (1945). Although both men were mayors of the city, Montaigne may not have commissioned as much infrastructure and restoration work as Juppé, who was mayor for 23 years. While Juppé gave Bordeaux a dignified and elegant face, Montaigne contributed a spirit to the city. Living a day according to Montaigne's philosophy of life means being kind, free and happy. And that is precisely the spirit that Bordeaux has always cherished.

A city, a wine, a colour

I've tried explaining the meaning of the name Bordeaux to myself. Originally known as Burdigala by the city's first Celtic settlers, the name evolved into 'Bordiaus', meaning along the water – Bordeaux ou bord de l'eau In addition to this name, the city is also known as Port de la lune, the port of the moon, referring to the shape of the Garonne river that runs through the heart of the city. Today, Bordeaux is the name of a city, the name of a type of wine and the name of a warm colour, burgundy red. The psychological meaning of the shade of red means intensity, power, confidence and ambition.

Dear reader, by now you should have gathered that I personally think Bordeaux is a beautiful city, with many qualities and potential for growth. Speaking of transport, I am always happy to cycle around a city when I am attending a conference and to visit all the beautiful places at my own pace. Bordeaux is a real cycling town, with many separate cycle lanes throughout the city centre. The V3 or VCubs are Bordeaux's self-service rental bikes. If you'd rather take a boat trip on the rivers, the Gironde is a great spot to discover the Unesco-listed carrelets.

In general, delegates attending a conference are also very interested in local art, culture and architecture. In Bordeaux, I was struck by the incredible amount of Unesco World Heritage sites. You can even take a Unesco walking tour, which I highly recommend. As a University town, Bordeaux is also home to many students. One evening, I had the chance to meet some of them and drink some good Bordeaux wine with a group of Erasmus graduates and students. One thing was obvious: they were happy to be in the city. So why hold a conference or event in Bordeaux? Well, the answer is BEAM!

BEAM is Boosting Bordeaux

Making a city famous is no easy task. Getting a city to capitalise on that fame by attracting new business is an even greater challenge. Bordeaux has done it well and can even serve as a model for other cities. In English, one of the definitions of the word 'beam' is to radiate, and here BEAM stands for "Bordeaux Events And More". When I last visited, I had the chance to go out with some of the people from BEAM for a couple of days, not just walking around, but also taking a ride on the city's trams. This really gives you a sense of how well organised public transport is in this city. 

But it's not just a feeling, it's a reality that you can see for yourself when you take a look at the major redevelopment of the historic centre. I was staying in a hotel in the port area, in a new urban development on the banks of the Garonne. Here, a new city is emerging with unprecedented growth potential. When BEAM was created, the idea was to bring together all the city's precious strengths, to revitalise it and make it radiate into the world.

Stéphane Kintzig, BEAM's general director, explained their strategy concisely over a delicious breakfast in a hotel where traditional windmills once turned: “One point of contact, he said. The customer should not waste time wandering around the city looking for the right locations and services. In our city, we form a well-oiled machine with all the parties involved, which can perfectly plan all kinds of events and create various benefits. That's our goal!"

In environmental psychology, this mentality is expressed in three words: welcoming, comfortable and unburdening. In this sense, I think BEAM's mentality can help many other cities create a framework in which customers feel comfortable and, above all, well served.

BEAM operates five iconic venues in Bordeaux, and has taken significant steps to deliver more sustainable events. In addition, BEAM has optimised their energy management, reducing the environmental impact of their operations and achieving ISO 20121 certification. BEAM's five venues have the great advantage of being close to each other and very well connected by public transport. After visiting all five, I spent some time in the open-air club at the Exhibition Centre. What a relief after a busy day of visits. You even get the feeling that you are on holiday here, because it is like sitting by a small lake. You can find out more about the five venues on the BEAM website.

Bordeaux in literature

As I mentioned in the introduction of this supplement that I intended to look for writers who had written about Bordeaux, I have to refer you to Bordeaux/Eux a bord, a booklet in which 7 authors describe their view of the city. If you want to read something unique, you should order it. The best books on Bordeaux are undoubtedly those devoted to wine.

When I organise something, I usually do it to satisfy the participants. It has to be in order. And when it is over I like to receive feedback, compliments that it was good and that they will remember it for a long time. But now when we talk about Event Legacy, there is a bit more to it. Since the rise of event culture, different thought patterns have emerged that often tie into morale and sustainability. The aspects of partying, entertainment and fun are no longer at the front of the list. An event is now thought through before, during and after its course... and preferably with a long-term vision.

I was able to delve deeper into Legacy in a study commissioned by the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), on “The broader importance of Business Events”. In it, much emphasis is placed on the fact that it has always been thought that the impact of congresses is primarily economic. Well, this view has now been overtaken! A congress can also make an important contribution from a social perspective, and these effects are often more indirect in the long term. The research also led to the creation of a clear definition of “legacy”. A legacy of a congress is a long-term positive contribution made for the national associations, for the community, for the host country or region where the congress takes place and for society as a whole.

Those interested in learning more about “legacy” as researched by the Ecorys study firm can request the full report from the NBTC. Very interesting in this is the “DESTEP analysis”, an analysis to map the macro environment. It pays off!

What a satisfaction to attend another conference in the flesh. After three years of being cut off from direct eye contact with soulmates and being completely wrapped up in digital pulses, I finally saw the real world of meetings, greetings and embracing again.

The beautiful Polish city of Kraków was the perfect place to experience the long-waited, in-person, most important annual event of meetings industry − the 61st World Congress of ICCA, the association serving the world of international conventions. Around 900 delegates had registered for the congress according to the ICCA staff. With my 4-day attendance, I experienced first-hand how much damage the Corona atomic bomb had done to the meetings industry. Friends from the past and colleagues from the publishing world I longed to revisit with were no longer there. Many anchor contributors of ICCA had disappeared and new faces appeared in their places.

It brought out a remark from a well-known Asian DMC that she was no longer recognised by the younger crowd. It made me note that much of the ego culture in the meetings industry had also disappeared down the same route − and I’m glad it did by the way. Still, one thing I have to get off my chest is how expensive the ICCA membership fee has become! Suggested new rate is about €3,450 per year from 2023!

If I make a comparison with SMEI − the Global Sales and Marketing Professional Association, I no longer know what standard fees are and what value members get from that price. I also notice more and more that members are struggling with the membership bill... moreover, the registration fees for congress and meetings are not cheap either. All added up, it results in a small sour burp for many associations. I would still urge a little soul-searching about “how far can we go.”

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

I know a few worlds but not well enough the cyber one. Frankly, I haven’t put much effort into learning about something that is almost invisible and also touches so many angles. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but yesterday I read in the morning paper that a boy next door to me had received a four-year prison sentence for cybercrime. Indeed, cyberspace was closer to my doorstep than I thought. So, I too could become a victim of a built world full of highways for information flows. My search began with this feeling: What does this mean and where does it come from?

The word “cyber” comes from the Greek word “kubernétēs” meaning helmsman, governor, pilot or rudder. In the cyber domain, a (cyber) system can be a computer network or a human body. Cybernetics is about communication and how information circulates in a system. So far, this is the best definition I have found. And that is due to the help of a journalist who is a language historian and has written a good story about the cyber preposition − which entered common parlance around the 1990s. His name is Ewoud Sanders, who has also researched the origins of “cyber”.

He wrote:“The wave of cyber words now inundating us dates back to an invention by the American science ction writer, William Gibson. In 1982, in a short story entitled ‘Omni’, Gibson cast the word cyberspace for an imaginary, interactive world created by computers. In 1984, he used it again, this time in the book ‘Neuromancer’, which became a bestseller. Interestingly, Gibson was unaware that the fantasy he described of spatially separated individuals interacting through computers, had already been realised by then. Also of great interest to this story is the name of the American mathematician Norbert Wiener. In 1948, he wrote a book entitled ‘Cybernetics’. Meanwhile, more than 200 words have emerged with cyber in it, but the growth has now slowed down.”

And now I only hope, dear reader, that my limited knowledge has given you the motivation and drive to read even more about “Cyber”. Especially after coming face to face in the next few pages of our HQ #106 about how this cyber world has also been invading the meetings industry.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

It happens regularly that I start looking for the correct definition of concepts or people with the sole intention of getting a clear picture about something. What that means again, is then the question for myself.

For example, I recently read in a newspaper that the European Commissioner for Trade wants to focus on “friendshoring” with other countries. What could that possibly mean?

First there was off-shoring. Then there was re-shoring and the word that is only a year old is called “friendshoring” − we would rather get our stuff from friendly nations than from unreliable partners.

In the meetings industry, the term partnership emerged in the early 2000s. But do not think that the term was already clearly defined at that time. No, it was a first step towards “We can do better together”.

A word or a concept needs time to grow. And we are now at the point where partnership has to be redefined due to unexpected circumstances: pandemics, war and food shortages. We need to ask ourselves again who we can consider as potential partners.

This requires that each organisation or company redefine its values. The best partnerships will thrive in a climate where values meet and are given opportunities to grow.

The number of failures in building partnerships is uncountable, whatever one may say. The meetings industry still has to deal with fantasists who constantly repeat how well they are doing and how they are better than the others.

And we all know too that when a new buzzword comes along many of us like to join in and ride the wave. We want to belong and be heard. A slightly more critical view of things would not be a bad thing.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Last year around the same time I invited the global meetings industry to pay more attention to the celebration of our planet. What does that mean?

Who invented the name “Earth”? Nobody knows exactly. We do know why the Earth is round. However, what is happening to Earth right now is something that few people care about. This year on Earth Day (every year April 22nd), I was chatting with a nature lover about the state of nature on Earth. He was telling me that nature will save us from all evil things in the world. Food, health, healing, fitness, agriculture, etc. must become one big chain in our daily life. He was also arguing that one day’s celebration is not enough to save our beloved planet. Year after year we have to give full attention to our daily activities in the surroundings of air, land and water. But starting with a day is already a perfect start.

Have you ever wondered how Earth Day started? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist, John McConnell, and Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, separately asked Americans to participate in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues related to toxic drinking water, air pollution and the effects of pesticides, a staggering 20 million Americans – 10% of the population – ventured outdoors and protested together. President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed up with successful laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. McConnell had originally chosen the spring equinox (March 20, 1970), but Nelson chose April 22, which eventually became the official date for the celebration.

Today, Earth Day is not only a day meant to raise awareness of environmental issues, it is also becoming a popular time for many communities to gather together to clean up trash, plant trees or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. We also now know that the Meeting Industry is a major polluter on Earth and we definitely need to do more about it in the future. Over the past few years, I have often thought that sustainability was a hackneyed concept, but after reading more about Earth Day, I realised that we are just at the beginning of a battle with the Earth.

This HQ #104 brings us several concrete examples of environmental action, interviews with experts and initiatives carried out by destinations at the top of this agenda. How to articulate destination marketing with sustainable features applied by hotels, convention centres or restaurants? How to integrate environmental concepts in associations and how to convince members that profit and sustainability can go hand in hand? How can industry leaders and political authorities support and strengthen services and products that promote, vis-à-vis, the ecology and sustainable development of their cities? See the answer to these and more questions on the following pages.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Congresses have never existed in isolation. A convention is a man-made invention and therefore subject to its strengths and weaknesses. The curious thing in this path trodden by the media world and the MICE industry is that the world’s first Convention and Visitors Bureau was founded in 1896 by a journalist in Detroit − at the time one of the ugliest cities in the world. These specialised agencies promoted the importance of conventions year after year and turned them into a special industry: ours, the Meetings Industry.

Conferences were used for various purposes. And there are examples of destinations that have used them purely as propaganda for their city or country. Conventions are also strongly determined by history and culture. We can safely say that the entire convention world has been shaken up by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We see a major reversal in the importance that congresses can have for society. Whereas conferences used to be an important source of prestige and income, we are now seeing a shift towards more intrinsic values. Of course, values such as knowledge transfer and innovation remain at the top of the list. A congress is valuable not only for the association and the organiser, but also for the destination and the participant. The latter group has not always received the critical attention necessary for future-oriented thinking. Conference Monkey has done some interesting research for this group (academic conferences) and published “8 Benefits of Attending Congresses”. Interesting to learn, for example, how one of the benefits − “Visit a new place and have fun” − is written.

At present, we may assume that there are about 10 types of congresses, all of them with their different history and purposes, thus leaving a separate legacy. In this first issue of HQ in 2022, you can learn more about the role and importance of congresses in this day and age. But most of all about what the future will bring.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Political statements are not just necessary to ensure that we live in a beautiful, clean and healthy environment. Man has always set the bar high in this regard and will continue to do so. If in the past we were just doing this on our own, now we are starting to transition to collective thinking. This planet is our household, so even when we travel, we are at home. In our industry, there are clear shifts taking place. The word “obvious” is no longer in vogue here, but the word “challenge” is more and more. As in many industries, the so-called “first movers” − those who go beyond expectations − are the ones who get rewarded by clients and investors. It strengthens a brand or the positive image of an event or congress.

Event or conference organisers have an overfilled profession anyway. An extra “burden” by paying attention to food origin, grouped travel options, the type of fuel used, and so on. Therefore, it is appropriate to do what is possible, adding a layer each and every year. There’s no point in putting in a lot of effort if you can’t figure out your plans, so make sure you decide what you’re going to measure before you even start. This can range from the percentage of waste that can be avoided − or recycled − to the amount and type of diesel you use. This extra “burden” can be reduced by delegating tasks to your project team, but handing them over to contractors can free up time across your organisation. The best moment to get a contractor’s input is when they are bidding on the job, so make sure your environmental impacts are an important part of the selection.

Don’t forget to include clauses in your contract that require caterers to serve their F&B in recyclable tableware. The trash can at a trade show or conference can also indicate to attendees whether or not there is a concern about what we’ve left behind. Make waste separation at these places a clear and simple story and check with your contractor about what happens to your waste and whether it will be recycled. Reflect on what kind of transport and sharing possibilities exist before, during and after a conference. For your catering, make sure all your contractors use the local food providers you’ve instructed them to use. You can even introduce participants to producers that offer sustainable products. This can be so fascinating and educational with the potential to make everyone’s experience unique and, above all, fun!

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

My view has always been that a trade show is the best measure of an industry’s success. Our branch in this whole thing had to go on a heavy diet and had to cancel a lot of their contacts around the world, and that's exactly what we're dealing with right now.

The good news is that two trade fairs will be restarting soon where we can meet our industry people again. And we will all tell each other how much we thickened (figuratively speaking) after all this time. It will be different. How different, we will only know when the first trade fairs − IMEX America and IBTM World − are over. I myself do not believe much in the predictions of the suppliers, as they tend to be very coloured.

I will, however, listen carefully to what the associations have to say. They will eventually express their needs after the post-virus period and make their new expectations clear. The first signs are already there. The Geneva International Association Forum (GIAF) was launched in mid-September; ICCA has issued a last call for their upcoming forecasting report; then, there are the UIA Round Tables Europe and Asia (Tokyo and Prague). And as I am typing this text, I get the news from Dubai that the Dubai Association Centre is inviting me to a meeting on “Associations and the New World: Roadmaps for Reinvention”.

I am very curious about the reports of all these events. What will the future be like? We, at HQ, are going to work hard to help shape a new chapter in the meetings industry. A meetings magazine is ultimately the third pillar on which our industry is built. A medium that questions and informs about what is happening around the world in the conference field. We will continue to fulfil this calling even after issue #100 of Headquarters Magazine.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

One hundred is a number with many meanings. For example, turning 100 is something many people dream of, at least if it is accompanied by reasonable health. But one hundred can also mean that something is completed, done, over. For Headquarters Magazine, it means that the July 2021 issue is the 100th issue, but not the last, because we reached the hundred with a ghting spirit. That has kept us t in all this time to travel around the world and pick up building blocks. Once upon a time we started with issue number 1, the beginning, the launch of a magazine speci cally for international associations based in Brussels.

What did that sound like again? “In 2002, this industry bellwether evolved into Headquarters Magazine with six editions annually and has continued to serve as an essential resource for association executives. It received a redesign in April 2016, in September 2018 and in February 2021 to meet the ever-changing trends of the meetings industry.” It wasn't just the visual that was updated each time but also the content. Headquarters magazine can safely be seen as the beginning of professional journalism for the association conference world. The meetings industry as a whole was not used to reading critical re ections from association managers at the time. These opinions formed the rst bricks of a bridge that was built between the providers and users of this industry. It is still written under the magazine motto, “building bridges in the meetings industry”. An even longer bridge was built around 2015 when Headquarters became European and then fully developed into an International platform of information for the world industry. Continents were brought together, rst Asia, later South America (but not the US, which still remain a separate and almost unapproachable market).

“How long can a magazine exist?”, I sometimes ask myself. There is only one answer: as long as readers nd the magazine worth reading. So, on to the next round of 100 whose success will depend on our passion and rejuvenating spirit.

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Who invented the name “Earth”? Nobody knows exactly. We do know why the Earth is round. And what is happening to the Earth at the moment is something that few people care about. It was precisely on the Earth Day (every year on April 22nd) that I was chatting with an interior designer friend of mine about the state of nature on Earth. He is a man who loves colours and yet he has a gloomy view of the future. He told me that he hadn’t slept for three days after seeing the film “Seaspiracy”. He also advised me to watch “Chasing Coral” and then asked the question: why Earth Day should be an important day in our lives, but also in our work? Immediately, I thought of an Earth Day for the meetings industry!

Ever wonder how Earth Day began? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist, John McConnell, and Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning drinking toxic water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans − 10% of the population - ventured outdoors and protested together. President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed with successful laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. McConnel originally had chosen the spring equinox (March 20, 1970), but Nelson chose April 22nd, which ended up becoming the official celebration date.

Today, not only is Earth Day meant to increase awareness of environmental problems, but it is also becoming a popular day for many communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. We also know by now that the meetings industry is a major polluter on the planet and we definitely need to do more about that in the future. In recent years, I have often thought that sustainability was a hackneyed concept but after reading more about Earth Day, I realise that we are just at the beginning of a battle... and I already know the victor!

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Nobody saw it coming in a clear enough manner, nobody was prepared for it and nobody knew precisely what to do. Such was the war declared on the entire world by a minuscule organism in just a few days. There was no escape and there was not a country in the world that remained unaffected in any form. Almost all economies were forced to rise to the challenge - including the meetings industry.

At the same time, a silver lining appeared. The skies cleared, because most aircraft stayed at home. Cities remained empty, because people were afraid of being trampled (not by the crowd, but by an invisible attacker). And, in most MICE sectors, people determinedly looked for solutions, because the very bedrock of our industry – physical contact – was affected.

The drive to resolve the situation in a matter of months was unprecedented. Congresses and conferences were suddenly transformed into mere sounds and images. Not a breath could be felt or heard. We continued to search and hope that everything would return to the way it was before: travelling to lots of places, attending lots of conferences and organising lots of social activities. In a word, letting life sing.

Life will go on, but the meetings industry of the future will definitely be different. One benefit is clear, though: many venues will place an emphasis on welcoming fewer visitors. This means that huge crowds will be replaced by groups of higher standard of quality. Did you hear the speech of New Zealand’s new minister of Tourism, Stuart Nash? “Our future is high-net-worth visitors!”

The time has come for countries to convert to complete sustainability. One of the best examples of the rigorous choice made by Costa Rica, named 'UN Champion of the Earth' for pioneering role in fighting climate change in 2019. Whoever is not convinced that a change is very much needed should take the time to attentively watch the documentary David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet. The world is ready for a complete reset because nature and humankind have drifted too far apart.

Therefore, the meetings industry will need to obtain special government support and large-scale funds to give all forms of meetings a new future. It will take a great deal of work or, to conclude with a futurologists’ adage, "the best way to restore the future is to create it."

Do we have the faintest idea of how to do this? We have to be better prepared for changes.
 

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

If several attempts had already been outlined in 2020, Convening Leaders 2021 was superior in bringing all of them together, with intersections of connectivity for a MICE revolution. It was quite clear that regardless of the nostalgia for the past or even the bliss of a pandemic-free world, the conference of the future will no longer be limited to a ballroom or an in-person conversation.

Confused? Ask the good people at the German Convention Bureau, who developed the “Future Meeting Space” project, to envision how people will meet in the future. The hybrid element was the key that opened many unknown doors, however, there are certainly several improvements to be made. As Paul Tambyah says in our pages, people attend international meetings to “network and interact”. The question will be how to make these multilayered experiments more efficient from an interaction point of view.

Let’s not forget the inclusion of the tech expert in your team. It will be the benchmark for any service package or marketing campaign. “The truth is that no company can survive without a technologist on its team,” tells us Ayesha Khanna in our interview.

For destinations, this new quid pro quo will be as drastic as it is vital for their market share. In a not-too-distant future, a city may be sharing a conference venue with three others around the globe, while broadcasting a completely different convention from its studios or displaying a simulation of a tradeshow at its convention centre.

Another major issue for buyers will be the bottom line of the event. Yes, technology is here but it is not free of charge. With so many software apps, event platforms and parallel investments, organisers will have to be strict with their balance sheets so as not to compromise their budgeting.

We all know that the industry is both fascinated and frightened by this huge leap. After all, it is a natural reaction. So, just as vigorously as we are dealing with this pandemic, it is time to embrace change with the same conviction. This “Smart Meetings Industry” won’t happen overnight... but it’s just around the corner!

By Marcel A.M. Vissers, HQ's editor-in-chief
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Writers, like painters and any other artists, experience periods of creative burn-out and lack of inspiration. After spending several months thinking intensely about the future of travels and events, I am simply exhausted. What else have I to say about COVID-19? So many good things and so much nonsense have been written about this subject that I don’t feel like adding much more. I started with philosophical musings, after which I switched to economic solutions, all to no avail.

All I could do was listen to the practical experience of professionals. I did find a few answers at AIPC’s last annual conference, which was held both physically in Paris and virtually. As the international industry association for professional convention and exhibition centres, AIPC plays a crucial role in the future of these centres. The theme of the event - “re-generation”, examining the many ways in which our industry must re-imagine the kinds of facilities and services that are offered today - really appealed to me. Plus, I saved €1,250 by attending the congress digitally.

What did I learn from this? Two things.

First: online, good speakers on a relevant subject are more compelling to listen than during a physical congress. An almost historic example of this premise was the presentation held by Isabel Bardinet of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), definitely worth listening to again. And don’t ever use the expression “virtual congress”. Say “digital congress” instead, Bardinet reminded us.

Secondly: panel discussions make no sense on the digital level, especially when the participants are knocking on open doors and are tooting their own horn in a completely unnatural way. The panel discussion with the press and the DMC’s was a disaster. I wonder who took the time to listen to this clap-trap. I was instead pleasantly surprised by the speech of Aloysius Arlando, the president of AIPC and SingEx holdings Singapore. He showed attendees the friendly face of the AIPC.

Conclusion: I will definitely be attending more digital congresses in the future! They allowed me to save a lot of time and money, beside benefiting the environment. But... I am still dreaming of travelling to the vibrant congress city of Paris.

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com
Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

As I wrote before, when the pandemic started, I retreated in my garden for a bit to work quietly and think deeply about a new vision for conferences. It was like the smallest sharpshooter in the world managed to smash up an entire world industry with the smallest bullet. Then, because I wanted to find a way out in my thinking about the future, I left the path of philosophy and went down the path of economy.

The aviation industry, the meetings industry, the catering industry, and the whole world of events have suffered the greatest damage arising from the coronacrisis. What all these industries have in common is that they are at the heart of the experience economy. The virus managed to damage our modern lifestyle at its heart. No more travelling, no more sitting together, no more fully enjoying a destination: that is what the little SARS-CoV-2, like a hobgoblin, has done to us.

In my train of thought, I realised that the experience economy was based on a very strong business model: consumers were willing to pay a premium price for unique, exclusive, tailor-made experiences. As it was, the experience economy had proved to be particularly crisis-proof after the banking crisis of 2008. A conference is a prime example of this economy and shares all of its characteristics.

But that’s also why, this time, we are so exceptionally hard-hit. We have landed flat on our backs, nevertheless the ability to do everything digitally will not help us get back on our feet. 

What will be the upshot of this?

Traditional conferences will be relegated to the background and associations will have to look for new forms of income. Right now, we can be almost certain that experiences – all kinds of gatherings – will be more private, more exclusive and often more expensive. Perhaps this will herald an evolution towards meaningfulness rather than numbers.

After all, the need for a sense of connection and physical contact has never been greater.

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers - marcel@meetingmediagroup.com
Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Lately I have been struggling with a feeling of unease, particularly when thinking about the future of the meetings industry. A lot has happened to us in a short time! Incomprehensible.

I usually dare to call for help from a brilliant philosopher, when things around me become too much to bear. In this case, it’s Voltaire who showed me a solution for thinking about the current situation.

Voltaire once said that - if you have tried everything to pull yourself up out of the mire and aren’t able to succeed - there is only one avenue left open to you: go to your garden and here you will find peace again.

Well, I am privileged to have a beautiful garden in the middle of a historic city. Every day, when the sun shines, I come here to think about the future of the meetings industry.

It was, and still is, a very difficult exercise. For instance, I think that there are two things that are of crucial importance to the life of a congress delegate: the ability for people to travel and congregate. And those two things just happen to be prohibited for the time being. How long will this prohibition be in force? This feeling of unease keeps coming back.

I shudder to think that I will have to miss physical contact more and more, that most of the communication directed at me will be electronic and that I will no longer be able to have a drink in the beauty of so many destinations in person. These are difficult emotions indeed.

But I have learned from my garden that nature is reawakened every year. One idea is constantly recurring in my thoughts and that is the virtual explosion of the digital society. Can I draw the conclusion from this that a new future will dawn for the conference world?

In conclusion, here is another quote from Voltaire: “Il faut cultiver notre jardin.” Which basically means that we should all take care of our own garden and everything will work out eventually.

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers - marcel@meetingmediagroup.com
Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Being able to work in a company with young people gives you such a good feeling! Here, new ideas can suddenly materialise, free from restrictions or any feeling that you are not being included.

That this planet is made of rice and potato is something on which we can all agree, I’d say. However, I would have never imagined the existence of congresses for products such as the famous tuber - considered a food for the poor in bygone days.

These days, instead, potatoes are a true food phenomenon and one of the world’s largest crops. Countless associations and their associated congresses around it exist across the globe. I’ll note one that just happens to be located in Brussels: the European Potato Processors' Association (EUPPA). There is also a globally significant biennial business event known as the World Potato Congress (WPC), of which I had never heard - until I was notified that Adelaide, in South Australia, had been named as the host city for the 2023 World Potato Congress.

The 2023 World Potato Congress is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates to Adelaide for the week, generating over $4.5 million for the State’s economy and almost 40 direct jobs. That shows just how a congress can impact a destination, with the city gaining a spot on the global map as a unique destination for congresses in the agro-food industry. A premium food destination!

I can well imagine that this congress will serve to inspire other destinations to promote themselves as a premium destination for some popular product or another.

The options are many. Rice, which has a similar history, is also a staple food now subject of various congresses.

Sometimes the presence of an event is really able to change everything.

During my recent visit to Limpopo in South Africa, for example, I spent several days travelling through the area where the marula grows. This very popular fruit is used to create the renowned Amarula liqueur. The province is rich in marula trees, but poor economically. A congress could help change this.

A congress can have a magical effect on an economy, which would remain otherwise underused. That’s why I am looking forward to the world’s first Amarula congress!

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers
Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Contact: marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

In my summer newsletter I wrote about ‘Hotel California’ (a rock song by the Eagles from 1977), comparing the residents of the hotel to people from the meetings industry. My newsletter for autumn shines a spotlight on yet another special hotel: ‘Grand Hotel Europa’, a best-selling novel by the Dutch writer Ilja Leonard Pfeijfer (40 years after ‘Hotel California’) that masterfully tells the story of a continent in decline.

This hotel is also inhabited by guests that could be compared to meetings industry professionals. Many people in our sector have travelled extensively and experienced much during their travels. What stories would they tell, seated in front of the fireplace of this dilapidated Grand Hotel in Venice?

Here’s what someone with a great deal of knowledge about the ageing population would say: “Between 2003 and 2013, the percentage of senior citizens has risen in practically all European countries. The ageing population is growing particularly fast in Italy, Germany and Greece. Ireland, on the other hand, still has a relatively young population: in 2013 it was the only country within the EU28 where more than 20 percent of the population was below the age of 15.”

Another guest speaks about European identity. “Does this exist?” they asked. “Juncker said in his farewell speech that there was one thing in which he did not succeed: bringing the Europeans together. Largely speaking, we all remain nationalists.”

There is also a conference organizer in the hotel, who speaks about the worn-out European conference palaces that urgently need to be renovated, except there is no money for this. “Many conference buildings in Europe are being expanded and renovated, but no new ones are being built,” they say. “The Meetings Industry (the new MICE) no longer takes place in our old hotel, but in Asia Pacific. While, here, conference venues have grown into iconic meeting places.”

All these guests would be right. There is, however, one thing Europe has succeeded in: the creation of a tourist monster that is rapidly gobbling up some of the most beautiful places. Cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Vienna and particularly Venice are besieged by barbaric masses of tourists. Instead, these cities should once again unite and make agreements with the tourist centres to focus on a new visitor profile: that of the conference-goer. By including the lessons learned from tourism into the management of conference and meetings, our industry would be safer and more sustainable than it currently is and it will put more money into these cities’ coffers.

What are we waiting for?
 

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers
Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Contact: marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

The idea to write about the LGBT+ community (an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bsexual and transgender) first came to my mind thansk to my colleague Kerstin Wünsch at TW Magazine. Kerstin decided to give women in the meetings industry a clear platform. She obviously succeeded in her endeavour because there were several women with a powerful voice on stage at IMEX Frankfurt this year.

Subsequently, I started wondering if our industry was in fact open to all. We are human beings, who are all different but equal in rights. Nobody should be dominant and, yet, many women still feel deprived. This should not be the case in an industry that focuses on human values.

The LGBT+ community also deserves more space and more allies than it currently has. Our society should be ready to change for the better. One reason is that sexual orientation vary in nature among all beings and, on a purely scientific level, this is perfectly normal. The other, most important, reason is that we should all be able to choose who we like and love.

The question remains how we deal with diversity? Are we inclusive as we should be?

For many decades, being left-handed was seen as evil. In many countries, LGBT+ people are regarded as criminals and it might take time before this tendency will change. Cultural prejudices play a major role in this. I can’t imagine the LGBT+ community being completely ignored in the meetings industry, however LGBT+ conferences are not welcome in every country.

So I'm very pleased that MPI will have an open discussion with representatives of the LGBT+ community who are professional organisers, during IMEX America. My human binoculars are already zeroing in on the future. To be continued.

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers 

Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Contact: marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Summer has finally arrived in the city where I live. Everyone feels completely revived and sees life in a much brighter light. I, too, share this feeling, and it prompted me to write an unusual text:

Hotel California. 

No, I’m not going to take credit for this famous song, but it’s inspired me an unexpected comparison. When the Eagles sung this in 1976 it gave me goosebumps and a longing to stay in the aforementioned hotel for a very, very long time. Just listen:

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face.
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here

While hearing this, it all made sense: that attractive hotel, that large, desirable place, what else does that remind me of? The meetings community, of course! Indeed, how often do I hear people say that they can work in a fantastic environment? Travelling, talking, making friends, enjoying a drink together, discussions, new experiences… It sounds so amazing that it’s as if they’d never want to work anywhere else again.

Or as the Eagles would put it:

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before "Relax" said the night man,
“We are programmed to receive.
You can check out any time you like,
But you can never leave!”

I’ve been around the block now, and I have seen lots of familiar faces leaving, with regret carved on their faces. I can still hear them say: I will never forget my time here. The result of this community-minded way of thinking, so specific to our industry, you might ask? This is it: you may have to move on one day, but once you got in this industry, it will get under your skin, and never leave you.  

Knowing this, you won’t be surprised to hear that I’ve known 15 retired meetings industry leaders, all of whom have returned as consultants. The explanation is simple: life is simply too good at Hotel Meetings (Hotel MICE to all others). So when it’s time to retire, or when you are obliged to choose a new job, I cannot help but remember those unforgettable words: “I can check out any time I like, but I can never leave”.

I wish everyone a bright and happy summer. In autumn we will return with a new song.

Text by Marcel A.M. Vissers 

Editor in Chief of HQ Magazine 

Contact: marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

Publishing a long professional magazine is not an easy feat. It requires you to have been down all the beaten paths of the meeting industry. And one of these well-trodden paths is sustainability. Sustainability is no longer a buzzword. It has become a very serious matter. The meetings industry – especially association congresses – pay a lot of attention to all aspects of sustainability. But (and there is a but) in my opinion, we still do not focus sufficiently on our flying habits. We tend to fly everywhere, both short and long-haul.

The Swedes coined a new term for this, namely ‘flygskam’ or fly shame, which refers to the guilt that travellers experience when they fly off to somewhere knowing they are contributing negatively to climate change. The Dutch aviation expert Paul Peeters conducted research on the subject and unequivocally states that flying is bad for our climate. But who cares? As far as I know, our industry does not worry about this too much because flying is inevitable in the job we do. But this researcher says we should avoid short-haul flights and the government should invest in more high-speed trains that connect cities with each other. People around the world should travel more consciously because aviation will be considered a major polluter in the future.

I would really appreciate it if the meetings industry would think more about flying and the consequences this has for our industry. Because there are other better alternatives.

There are a few pages that merit our readers’ attention in this 80-page issue, including the article on the ‘New Belgian Association Code’. The new Code modernises the law, making it much easier for associations of all types, whether trade or professional, NGOs or charities, to seamlessly transfer their seat to Belgium! Belgium has always welcomed the headquarters of international associations with open arms and will do this even more in the future. This also explains why Brussels was named one of the leading host cities in the world for the headquarters of international associations.

Marcel A.M. Vissers

Get in touch marcel@meetingmediagroup.com

In this first letter of 2019, I would like to talk about innovation and creativity.

The simplest definition of creativity is: 

The ability to create something new. Naturally, not everything is said, there is a lot more to it.

While it’s often regarded to talent, people who create something new do proclaim that it is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Creativity is a big challenge for most. Conditions have to be created to bring creativity to life. For some people that is seclusion, for others it is boredom and for others, it is 'the A-ha! moment' – The moment of inspiration – which can come from anywhere and surprise you anytime!

The neighbourhood where I live has been inhabited by quite a few writers. Maurice Baron Gilliams (1900-1982) is a less well-known Flemish writer and poet, whose commemorative stone writes: 'the unrest gives wings to the imagination'. Boredom has already brought many people to creative thoughts (and solutions). It is also said that children who receive everything from their parents no longer develop imagination.

So, what about our industry? 

The most used word in our field is 'Meetings' (a hollowed-out concept) and the second word that occurs infinitely in the meetings industry is 'creativity'. I’ve attended innumerous sessions on ‘creativity’ in the congress world over all these years, and I’d like to comment that there is little creativity in the meetings industry in general. A keynote speaker occasionally manages to wake us up during presentations. Some conference organisers experiment with cosy corners to give networking more character, but in general, everything remains old and familiar.

Still, there are initiatives that have attracted my attention. The people behind Meetology deserve a mention for their creative approach in conveying messages differently – walking the path of liveliness and humour, fed by scientific research on behaviour during meetings. SoolNua consultancy group gets my appreciation too. Launched in January 2014 with the tagline "another viewpoint for meetings and events". Their name literally means new perspective, new viewpoint, new vision and outlook - Sool is an anglicised version of súil, the word in Gaeilge (the Irish language) for eye. Nua is Gaeilge for ‘new’, and together it means ‘new eye’ with all the intended metaphorical connotations.

In 2019, I greedily look forward to other examples of 'New'.

Marcel A.M. Vissers

Dutch is my mother tongue. It is not a common language in our linguistic universe, and certainly not in the diverse and multicultural meetings industry. However, on a positive note, Dutch ranks at the 40th place as the most widely spoken language in the world of 6,000 languages. (Well it is not enough as an argument to consider it as an international language, and I had almost forgotten to defend languages because I am so used to communicating in English — naturally.)

The recent ICCA Congress in Dubai was a significant and iconic one — where voices were raised to also give Mandarin and Arabic a place alongside the official English language. Spanish is also now the Language Champion with its own Spanish ICCA website with all the documents translated (For more information, have at this article for a coverage from our Latin-American partner Eventos LatinoAmericanos.)

Expanding on the diversity of ICCA’s official language(s) paves the way for our industry colleagues to take a moment and look at language learning as a cognitive and cultural enrichment. What a wonderful idea, and that is only the least of the possibilities that will birth from this new change. How exciting!

A translator once told me:

“In your native language you say what you want; In a foreign language you say what you can.” 

That is just human nature. In the EU, many people are able to speak their own languages (thanks to interpreters), though they tend to be able to speak English anyway. The same goes for the UN, where many non-anglophones communicate in English during meetings.

If you can think about the chances of ‘lost-in-translation’ cases; expressions that are unique to the language of speaker; speakers’ personalities, arguments, messages etc. you can imagine a slither of an interpreter’s nightmare. One must be able to speak a common language with a comfortable degree of command, in order to convey the right idea, thoughts and emotions right. Without this first step, we do not need to talk about delivering the right content; the right words to convey the right feelings.

Based on my knowledge and experience, the combination of English-French-Spanish is most common as official languages for international institutes and associations. We also cannot underestimate our German-speaking friends.

While some will say that translators are a bite in the budget, others will say that understanding better is more important than an invoice. I consider this a positive step as more working languages will be used in our global meetings industry, starting with ICCA!

Some of our oldest readers will remember my blog and might have wondered what happened to it, why I stopped writing. Well, after a long of radio silence, I have decided to bring Marcel's blog back!

For this first post I thought I would talk about healthy conference meals. 

What is a healthy conference meal and what do the experts think about healthy eating?

There has never been so much that’s been said and written about health as now, and the congress world does not escape that. 

People of my age - they are now in the minority - remember congresses where we eat as if a wedding was going on. For lunch, three types of meat topped with greasy sauces was quite common then, completed with bottles of wine red and white (and a sleep in the congress chair). In recent years I notice an occurring change, more and more attention is paid to eating and drinking.

But are we talking about healthy eating?

The reason for writing this blog post was Peter Klosse, Lector Gastronomy in Food Service at Hotel Management School Maastricht. Two years ago he started ‘Taste Summit’, a congress about food.

Nowhere in the world was gastronomy a subject on programs of similar schools, but in Maastricht they make it a main dish. His initiative is also a good example of a self-created conference, which has received world attention (1,200 delegates last year).

The main theme of the congress is Processed Food, the main culprit of many diseases in our society. This type of products certainly has no place on the tables of congress venues. Coincidentally, I read in my newspaper today that there is a lot of fake news about nutrition. Doctor Google is not the best adviser, and the internet is the largest hotbed of food and exercise myths.

Now that I've read all that, I have to agree with my personal coach, that retaining or losing weight is not only determined by more exercise (barely 20 percent) but by conscious eating and drinking (80 percent). If my or your belly still becomes rounder, then alcohol could be the devil. We can train and pay as much attention to eating as we want, that will not diminish our belly. But do not forget, training is always good for a healthy body! For myself I will no longer touch processed food. 

Hope congress organisers will follow my example?

Feel free to send me your comments to marcel@meetingmediagroup.com, I'd love to hear from you.

Marcel A.M. Vissers

I need to get it off my chest one more time. During the recent European Cities Marketing (ECM) conference in Reykjavik I couldn’t help but feeling jealous of the organisational model of the European Tourist Bureaus. It seems to work really well. They have come together and set up a platform where knowledge and skills are being shared, where research is carried out and where new initiatives are introduced.

It is very obvious that members feel very much at home. However, since the European Convention Bureaus were consolidated in ECM (2007), I must admit that I have lost my sense of belonging. To be honest, I almost felt a bit like an orphan during the conference. I didn’t really get many opportunities to network and although the subjects being presented were very appropriate for the tourist sector they were not really relevant for the Meetings Industry.

One exception was the presentation by Bettina Reventlow-Mourier (Wonderful Copenhagen CVB) and Iftah Amit of the Kenes Group. It captured my attention. Their focus was on DIY Congresses or the invention of congresses in a town. The Kenes people are specialists in initiating new congresses and together, the two of them told us all the tips and secrets of DIY congresses. These speakers were inspiring and as a result I was once more eager to support the idea of a single European Convention Bureau Platform, uniting all of Europe’s bureaus in one solid wing of the ECM, with its own annual convention and a strong name whatever that may be.

The gap between Tourism and the Meetings Industry is too big to try to put them both in the same pot. Of course, there is a lot of overlap but on the whole not really enough to start covering the soul of MICE. Putting Bettina in charge of a Meetings Group within ECM, working with a team of committed members, might be the first step towards creating a new model capable of once more placing our European cities in a leading position on the map of conference hosting and organisation. Those who are most in need of such a platform are the corporates. This is probably the most neglected business group in Europe these days. DMCs and PCOs have not succeeded in promoting cities in a coordinated and professional manner. To some extent this is understandable as it must be difficult for them to remain unbiased. So now it is high time that Meetings Cities once more take matters into their own hands.

Are you ready for it? I am hearing this question everywhere I turn my head and its clearly raising doubt and insecurity among associations.

A new European regulatory framework for data protection – The GDPR or General Data Protection Regulation.

On 25 May 2018 the GDPR, the new European regulation for data protection, comes into effect. This will have obvious consequences for European marketeers and other communicators working with data of European consumers. The new regulation tightens the rules compared to the current Personal Data Protection rules but also imposes several new obligations.

In the end… what is all the fuss about? I’ll have to start by explaining the difference between ‘fear’ and ‘concern’ to help you understand that you don’t really need to be concerned! Fear is a feeling you experience when something still has to occur. However, when you’re concerned that something is generally already there. And that’s definitely not so since the GDPR will not come into force before 25 May 2018. That’s when Europe will show it’s really serious about protecting citizens against the constant collection of data in view of influencing behaviour, irrespective of whether intentions are right or wrong. I would say that this is definitely a good thing. However, there is some concern because no one really knows how to handle this changing context nor what the consequences of the changes will be.

What if I don’t interpret the new rules properly? What will that entail for me? You may remember that most of us went through the same turmoil when VAT was introduced in Europe. When do I have to charge VAT and when not? At that time many convention organisers were concerned about being fined or even convicted. All that belongs to the past now because in the end we were all able to manage the transition and most of the concern was probably not justified.

Reason: the authors of the new rules were probably not properly prepared for the introduction of the changes… and I am convinced that the same will happen when the GDPR comes into force. Our regulators may have devised an ingenious system to better protect European consumers and their personal data but the civil servants who have to put the new rules into place and verify their proper implementation will still have to acquire some field experience before getting to grips with the new regulatory situation. If you are in the line of fire of the GDPR I would not panic.  It will not be unlike what happened when VAT was introduced. Just quietly prepare yourself. Make sure you’re up to date and that your files are in order. No one will be waiting around the corner to convict you. All of us just have to learn more about it and get acquainted with it. Just as in the early days of VAT many big consultancies and legal cabinets are clamoring that you should be in touch with them because they already have all the answers. But if I were you I would wait a moment longer until the dust settles.

“Everything

Has changed

And yet

I am more me 

Than I’ve never been.”

 This is poetry from Iain Thomas, one of the authors featured on the online community of poetry called Word Porn.  

In this year’s last edition, we discuss something we certainly know a few things about: Competition. In 2017, many things have changed in my life that, in the end, have made me so happy. A lot has changed in my company and publications; the company has become younger, happier and more creative.

I want to thank my team for setting up bases for a brighter future in 2017 and looking up to an even better 2018 full of new projects and ideas.

Jesus, Vivian, Elise, Katie and Vikas. Un grand merci!

My young staff members tell me from time to time that they have the feeling that we live in an industry where everyone always seems to say: ‘It is even better than last year.’ ‘There were even more delegates at the conference’ and ‘More square meters were sold’.

Could we call that an optimistic or a forged industry? Can we still stay true to ourselves in such an atmosphere or are we just acting on a big stage?

I sincerely dare say that 2017 was not an easy year for my company, as many of you may have known. But in the wise words of Iain Thomas, I repeat: ‘I have now a better future than before’.

In 2018, I go back to study, I go back to writing and doing investigative journalism. Fakers, take off your masks.

I conclude this letter on another sensitive note by quoting Charlie Chaplin:

‘Do we want to show a tear next year when we walk in the sun? If only it was one.’ 

How true! If only it was one, there would be more humanity in our industry!

I wish a happy New Year to all our readers,

Marcel A.M. Vissers

Editor-in-Chief

Headquarters & MIM Europe magazines

During a familiarisation trip in August to the poetically green Hangzhou in China, I met the Director of MICE for TUI China Travel Co. Ltd, Mr. Xiang Weng, an inspiring and very cheerful person. He told me about the power of the German Travel Company TUI around the world, which also has a department actively involved in the organisation of conferences in China. Tour operation and MICE never caught my interest before, but after hearing his stories I became more positive.

Strangely enough, soon afterwards various studies came to my attention, all originating from tour operators: TUI, American Express, Expedia, etc. Again, usually I’m quite cautious about tourism approaching MICE too closely. However, I’ve come to appreciate the serious side on their reports a bit more.

Tour operators are real experts in two areas: transport and accommodation, two main factors in determining the price of a trip. That’s something conference attendees are very sensitive to nowadays. So, what do these giants have to tell us? TUI’s general message is that prices for transport and hotel visits in Asia should remain constant for 2018, with slight fluctuations at the most. That’s promising news for Asian destinations. On a global level, Issa Jouaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager, American Express Meetings & Events, states:

“Following the shifting sentiment in 2017, next year should be more positive around the world in terms of spend, number of meetings and attendees. Meanwhile, meeting owners are prioritizing attendee experience and engagement over scale. As a result, we expect to see shorter, more focused meetings.”

The aforementioned studies prove the high value placed on knowledge and expertise by the MICE departments at major tour operators these days.

A delegation of nine members of the major MICE departments for Dutch tour operators travelled to Athens early this month. This study trip was organised by TravelMarketing and transavia.com, in collaboration with the Greek DMC Horizon.I have to admit, I’ve been ignoring these Meetings Industry developments for too long. To the members of ETOA (European Tour Operators Association – over 900 members) I say: keep an eye out for my articles in the future.

Marcel A.M. Vissers

Editor-in-Chief

HeadQuarters & MIM Europe magazine