CIM Redaktionsblog

Brussels. I am happy to confirm that European Associations are doing fine despite of the economic crisis. Today I decided to attend the annual assembly of the ESAE. The European Society of Association Executives convenes from 21 to 22 October 2009 in Brussels, in the Amigo Hotel says the programme. Knowing about the traffic situation and expensive taxi rides in Europe’s capital I will better stay in the conference hotel, I thought. www.hrs.de quoted 299 Euro for the Amigo Rocco Forte. Aha, Europe’s associations meet at a Rocco Hotel! Not too bad. Spending half of my life at congresses I cannot imagine of any event where I paid that much! But it is my problem. Most of the delegates are hopefully based in Brussels and the Rocco offers them as potential customers a fantastic rate for the meeting room. So I checked no-frill-hotels close to the main railway station… and came up with the Royal Hotel. Please have a look at their picture gallery to see my desk and my breakfast room...

I will survive. Kerstin Hoffmann


Ps. Reviews from recent guests...

" The hotel is above an Indian fast food outlet. The hotel is basic, but clean. You get what you pay for. Very good value for money. "

"The overal styling of the room was, to say the least, a tad strange. Also, the hotel was just a rebuilt old house, so it didn't exactly feel like a hotel."

"The manager was very kind."

"bad"

IMEX. Letzte Woche um diese Woche bin ich von Norwegen über Südafrika nach China und von Indien über Qatar nach Frankreich geflogen. Reisezeit: ein Vormittag. Drei Tage lang hat Ray Bloom die Kongresswelt nach Frankfurt an den Main geholt. Meine Erwartungen waren niedrig. Ein gutes halbes Jahr nach Ausbruch der Finanzkrise, dachte ich, müssten ihre Auswirkungen auf den Gängen in Halle 8 der Messe Frankfurt spürbar sein. Unweigerlich kam mir die erste IMEX in den Sinn mit der Premiere zum Irakkrieg 2003.

Doch die Messe hat mich positiv überrascht. Zum einen weil die 7. IMEX noch mehr Besucher mobilisiert hat: 3.700 Hosted Buyer (2008: 3.600) und 5.100 selbstzahlende Besucher (4.900). Zum anderen weil die Meetingindustrie demonstriert hat, dass sie entschlossen der Wirtschaftskrise die Stirn bietet. Die Verbände tagen unbeirrt weiter und positionieren sich als „sichere Häfen“. Ihre Versammlungen fangen manch jetzt Job suchendes Mitglied auf, ihre Fortbildung finden Anklang – wann lernen, wenn nicht jetzt? Die Firmen drehen jeden Euro zweimal um, reisen kürzer und weniger komfortabel. Meetings müssen sich rechnen. Die Hotellerie kommt ihnen mit günstigen Angeboten entgegen - Nachfrage und Angebot halt.

Wie auf dem Börsenparkett ist im „Begegnungs-Business“ die Hälfte Psychologie. Das Glas halbvoll zu sehen, fällt uns Deutschen etwas schwerer. Aber wir bessern uns, wovon der der bisher größte Deutschlandstand zeugt. In seine 1.400 qm hätten über den Daumen gepeilt Norwegen, Südafrika, China, Indien, Qatar und Frankreich gepasst… Kerstin Hoffmann

This morning, my colleage, who has just returned from Mexico, has been tested on the virus, as she wasn't feeling well. Thank god it was negative, like we all "knew". but it was an akward gut feeling anyways.

It seems like the world, after all these huge impact incidents, is quite sensibilised to "what's next?". How do we react to crisis, how can we avoid them, how do they - terror attacks, deseases, weather caprioles due to the climate change - influence the way we live and work together. You might find some inspiration in CIM 3/09, which appears on May 15th.

Let us know what you think!

Here is another update from the other side of the world, from the AsiaWorld-Expo Hong Kong:

Hong Kong’s exhibition industry has precautionary measures in place against swine influenza

With the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s alert level presently at five on a six-point scale, Hong Kong has enhanced its local surveillance for swine influenza infection.  As far as Hong Kong is concerned, according to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of Hong Kong SAR, there have been no reports on patients fulfilling reporting criteria of human swine influenza A (H1N1) as of today.

To gear up for flu prevention, the industry has taken all necessary precautionary measures to guard against the swine influenza.  While cleaning and disinfectant measures have been stepped up at the two major exhibition venues including AsiaWorld-Expo and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the help desk arrangement with medical personnel from the Department of Health stationing at the two exhibition venues has already been in place for trade shows currently held at the two venues in collaboration with the trade show organisers.

“We will continue to monitor the status of any Swine Flu-related advisories, advice and recommendations from the health authorities in Hong Kong and worldwide,” remarked Mr Stanley Chu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA).  “Also, we will continue to work closely with various parties including the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Tourism Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong Office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and support all government measures to combat swine influenza.

Best wishes,
your CIMunity team,


Katrin
k.schmitt@cimunity.com

Another morning, another situation... swine flu doesn't seem to be as bad as it has been reckoned - or is it as bad? One of my colleages just returned from Mexico and I must admit, I am a little insecure about being around her. Anyhow, it is a confusing situation, but there is no need to panick.

Thanks to my CEO Richard Redling, the message from ICCA President Leigh Harry has arrived, please read it here...

In the following, you may read the latest reaction of the chairwoman of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), Maura Allen Gast:

Some days it seems our industry just can't get a break.

Just as we begin to see some headway in our industry-wide efforts to recognize the value and importance of the travel industry to our global, national and local economies, comes along reports of the swine flu outbreak, eroding traveler confidence just as it was starting to show faint signs of recovery.

The World Health Organization's announcement this week raising the alert level to Phase 4 is obviously a cause for serious concern.  Per the WHO, Phase 4 is "characterized by the human-to-human transmission" of the influenza virus. 

Certainly the health issues posed by a potential pandemic are serious, and we don't take these lightly at DMAI.  Working across the industry, and through the voice of the U.S. Travel Association, talking points regarding this issue were released late yesterday and posted on DMAI's website. 

As destination marketing organizations, we must maintain frequent contact with our local community health officials.  We need to be part of our respective communities' emergency response plans as it relates to these issues, too.  If you've not yet made the call to the highest ranking health official in your community, schedule that meeting today.  We all need to know first hand if there are reports of any cases in your community and what your community's response plan is.  This will also be critical information to convey to your local industry partners - your attractions, restaurants, hoteliers and retailers who may not have access to a direct line for information.  And certainly, it will become invaluable in conveying accurate and adequate information to your customers.

We must all recognize that this is a cause for concern, but not for panic.  As an industry we learned much from recent health concerns, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian flu; U.S. Travel notes that the 2003 SARS outbreak and the subsequent bird flu threat quickly became examples of "infodemic" rather than an actual "epidemic."  Post-SARS, the Asian Development Bank noted the lost GDP for East and Southeast Asia was US$18 billion, primarily through downturns in tourist arrivals.

As U.S. Travel notes:  "Governments and opinion leaders around the world must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns, without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity.  Travelers should heed the advice of experts when determining how best to manage health concerns."

Our industry has always shown the strength of its resourcefulness and creativity in the most trying of times; based on the issues we are collectively facing today, I can't help but think there's a likely Nobel prize winner in our midst.

Best wishes,
your CIMunity team

Katrin

Dear readers, it is interesting to observe the industry reaction on the outbreak of the terrible Swine Flu - our thoughts are with our industry colleagues, especially in Mexico.

The first international association to react, as far as we are aware, was site; CEO Brenda Anderson sent a letter to the members, which you may read here...

On Facebook, MPI CEO Bruce MacMillan left this message: "MPI Swine Flu Update: We are collaborating to rapidly mobilize information and messages for the meeting and events industry"

Immediate reactions on Bruces' blog posting were:

Thank you so much for acknowledging this matter and providing additional links for follow-up. But primarily I appreciate MPI for not sensationalizing the situation like so many other informational resources are doing.
Posted by Midori Connolly on 4/27/2009 11:34:58 PM

I just had one client conference in May get cancelled due to the Swine Flu outbreak. It was a training conference for Canadian health care professionals involved in infectious disease outbreak investigation and control and they are all too busy at the moment dealing with the outbreak to be able to attend. While the loss hurts, I am proud & comforted to know that Canadian health care professionals are mobilized & taking action to keep this under control!
Posted by Chuck E. Schouwerwou, CMP on 4/28/2009 10:13:49 AM

The spanish hotel chain Sol Meliá prepares its hotels in Mexico and expects only a minor impact on its results. The chain puts its Prevention Protocol into action against swine flu and redirects some of its hotel bookings, at no extra cost, to other destinations in the Caribbean. The chain forecasts a minor impact on results due to the limited importance (1%) of hotel revenues from the area in May and June, the low season in Mexico.

So far, that's it. No panic whatsoever, which is good. I am wondering, if there is any impact on any coming industry events.

What is your gut feeling? Have you heard of any reactions or actions within the industry globally? Let us know, please!

Best wishes,
your CIM editors -


Katrin Schmitt