AIPC Media
Ten Reasons Your Cit y Needs More Meetings and Convent ions
By Rod Cameron, Executive Director AIPC
As tourism numbers continue to grow and local resistance to the resulting impacts
becomes more of a factor in many destinations, thoughts turn to how best to high-grade
the visitor traffic in order to get the most benefit with the least pain. This is where
meetings, conventions and exhibitions – collectively known as the meetings Industry –
may offer the best option for cities looking to optimize the revenue benefits while at the
same time looking to their broader economic and social policy aspirations for the
betterment of the local community.
Here are ten good reasons why these events are worth pursuing as a priority for your city;
Delegates spend more: It’s simple; if it’s about optimizing economic returns, there’s little
question about which travellers spend more. A variety of studies over many years have
consistently shown that delegates outspend visitor averages, and for some very obvious
reasons: they are more likely to be business or professional people than the average
visitor; many are on expenses or being paid by employers, and this is reflected in where
they stay and how much they are prepared to spend.
They’re more likely to use established accommodation: In a time when there are growing
(and often worrisome) alternatives for visitor accommodation, including the online rental of
private lodging, delegates are much more likely to opt for traditional venues such as hotels
than many other visitors, in order to be closer to the action, part of the conference
structure and because they don’t have as much need to economize (see above). This is
far more consistent with how the visitor economy is structured in most destinations, and far
less disruptive than if they were scattered all over the city as are many forms of alternate
lodging.
Their benefits are wide spread – and impact much more than just one sector: When it
comes to convention – related revenues, it’s not just about the hospitality sector as many
claim. Recent economic studies have shown that over half of the revenues to a community
arise from things like staging, organization, technology and event organization – areas far
beyond what would traditionally be thought of as visitor services. This is a much more
diverse set of benefits, meaning lots more sectors share in the results.
They bring new knowledge, experiences and expertise: When it comes to community
benefits as a whole, the best of all is why delegates are therein the first place: they are
attending in order to share and enhance experiences and expertise, which generally rubs
off on the local community, leaving a legacy of knowledge and creative experience that
both reflects well on the host destination and advances the contacts and knowledge of the
local business, academic and professional communities.
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They are more consistent with the concerns (and aspirations) of local residents: Few
people like to see “their” city seen as simply a playground for non-resident partiers, but
that’s the unfortunate reputation a few heavily visited cities have secured for themselves.
How much better to have your home regarded as a venue for events that bring together
global expertise for serious deliberations – particularly when these complement your own
aspirations for future economic and social development!
They enhance city exposure and image: Major events attract global attention – whether
within a specialized audience or when the world as a whole is watching what’s going on.
This raises city profile and prestige, particularly when the achievements of a hosted group
relate to the policy objectives of local government.
They help spread the hospitality season: many kinds of visitors tend to “clump” into the
high season – intensifying the disruptions and not really helping support infrastructure
when they need it the most. Meetings, conventions and conferences, on the other hand,
have much more flexibility and often seek out “off” seasons specifically to get better deals
on accommodation and to avoid the chaos of peak periods. In the end, this is just what
most hospitality suppliers need in order to sustain them through the more challenging
times until the next peak arrives.
They generate future tourism: delegates are people who might otherwise never have come
to a conference destination – and thus a whole new market for future visits. Many studies
have shown that the experience they have awhile attending their event can and does
result in repeat visits, often with the family in tow, not to mention the pre - and post conference travel that accompanies many conventions themselves.
They can be used to support economic policy in priority areas: Conferences and
conventions focus global attention on the host community and associate it with the topics
being addressed. When those areas are related to local priorities for economic and social
development, the host city has an opportunity to position itself and its related industries
and institutions on a global stage – and to make a statement about its own commitments
and intentions in key sectors to an audience of potential supporters and investors.
They are a valuable source of new talent: Many savvy cities are realizing that a major
conference can be one of the best available tools for attracting and accessing the global
expertise that represent the future of key sectors – and an opportunity to encourage them
to relocate to that community! This can be one of the most effective (and cost effective)
ways of reinforcing other economic development initiatives
The “more is better” approach to the visitor economy is being questioned in many quarters
these days, and with good (and growing) reasons. When it comes to securing the most
benefit from any given category of visitor, event delegates have a lot to recommend them
– and smart cites are beginning to figure that out and use it to their advantage.
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AIPC represents a global network of more than 170 leading centres in 57 countries with the active
involvement of over 900 management-level professionals worldwide. It is committed to encouraging
and recognizing excellence in convention center management, based on the diverse experience
and expertise of its international representation, and maintains a variety of educational, research,
networking and standards programs to achieve this. AIPC also celebrates and promotes the
essential role of the international meetings industry in supporting economic, academic and
professional development and enhancing global relations amongst highly diverse business and
cultural interests.
For further information please contact [email protected] or visit www.aipc.org
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