Organisers

Producers, Managers
and Convenors

PCO Association applauds NSW Government on policy launch

The NSW Government has released the much-anticipated NSW Regional Conferencing Strategy & Action Plan, which it says will drive more business events and visitors to rural and regional NSW. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, and Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, launched the $6 million strategy with the aim of securing more conventions, meetings and…

Making Sponsorship Work

Many events struggle with sponsorship. It is not that they struggle to get sponsors, it is more that with the ever-evolving events industry, sponsorship does not work like it used to and we need to get better at making it work, writes Warwick Merry. Here are some key elements to keep in mind when dealing with sponsors. It’s not about you While it…

Industry expert piece – “Advice and tips on planning a conference menu”

So you’ve defined your event goals and booked the venue, now it’s time to focus your attention on selecting the all-important menu. The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC)’s event managers and chefs share advice and tips on planning and implementing a successful conference menu. 1. Assess your event and audience Your menu needs to reflect a solid understanding of…

The sell-out sign has gone up early for exhibition booths at the 2017 annual conference of the Professional Conference Organisers’ Association

The sell-out is the fifth in a row for the event and came five months ahead of the conference, to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre between  26 and 28 November 2017. Barry Neame, the PCO association president, said the clamour for the 60 booths illustrated the value suppliers placed on being able to build a…

Add value to your next business event

The Brisbane Convention Bureau offers a range of value-added programs and services to support event planners thinking of bringing their next conference or incentive to Brisbane. Brisbane Convention Bureau Acting General Manager Juliet Alabaster said the programs helped delegates and guests feel welcomed and have memorable experiences in Brisbane. “From discounted public transport and pre and post-touring to specialised walking…

The Future of Associations

‘Technology can make life profoundly better for associations once they address the five most common reasons for resisting it,’ says Lloyd Grosse of Internet Vision Technologies (Association Online) who has worked with dozens of associations to transform their member services. The top three resisters of modern cloud-based solutions are associations who feel their members are not technology savvy, staff or…

Are you Accredited

Are you Accredited – PCOA President, Barry Neame says the PCO Accreditation program was established in 2009 to provide individuals and businesses with a set of standards that are recognised as the minimum standard level of service and business practices. “The PCO Association offers two types of Accreditation that provide individuals and businesses with a set of standards that are…

PCOA participates in the political lobbing process as part of Business Events Council of Australia (BECA)

Business Events leaders and members of the Business Events Council of Australia last week met with parliamentarians at the Business Events Meets Parliament bipartisan Friends of Tourism luncheon held at Parliament House. The event was attended by politicians from both sides of politics who engaged with the industry as they pitched the value of business events to Australia and described…