The Meeting Lab is the industry’s laboratory for exchanging ideas and expertise. It is the Bedouk Exhibition’s conferences and debates programme.
Understanding the shifts in the current economic climate of the MICE industry, exchanging experiences, responding to problems in the sector or providing event solutions for Meeting Planners, these are some of the topics raised at the Bedouk Exhibition, which takes place over 2 days every year.
Thanks to these conferences, debates and workshops held by renowned speakers, this event allows visitors to learn about the business tourism and events sector as it is today and as it is shaping itself for the future...
Topics include those related to the current state of the market, its major trends and main developments, and they aim to help event organisers learn about practical solutions.
Program 2012 (All debates and conferences will be in French)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8 2012
- AGORA
10.30am – 12.00pm What is an event? Debate between agencies’ CEOs and important people from civil community
Today, everything is an event! While the term itself might be overused, it does indeed correspond to the reality of our jobs. Under what conditions can we talk about events? Does it have to be a physical meeting? Does virtual presence strengthen the event? Can you hold an event without content? These questions and more will be answered by key figures from the world of events and civil society.
12.30pm – 1.30pm Results of the Bedouk / Coach Omnium benchmark study
This year, Mark Watkins, Chairman of the agency Coach Omnium, will give you an exclusive insight into the results of the 20th annual Bedouk / Coach Omnium benchmark study. A study supported by figures that deciphers the general trends of the Meeting & Incentives market and the development of demand as regards company meetings.
2.00pm – 3.00pm The new taxation of incentives: Should we worry? (in partnership with ANAE)
What are the real effects on the market of the Social Security finance law concerning the taxation of benefits in kind? How should agencies and advertisers proceed so as to comply with the new framework decreed by the legislator? Michel Bensadoun, Chairman of ANAé and Valérie Boned, chief legal officer of the SNAV answer your questions using concrete examples.
3.30pm – 4.30pm ANAE’s and Bedouk’s study results (in partnership with ANAE and Meet>In)
7th national study of the events communication market! Overall turnover for the sector, distribution of sales volumes by type of event, prospects for 2012, etc. will be the main points of this sectional study shown as a preview at the Bedouk Exhibition.
4.45pm – 6.15pm MPI conferences
4.45pm - 5.15pm Results of the FUTURE WATCH study
The annual Future Watch study assesses an industry in constant evolution that is looking to adapt to the expectations of its players in an increasingly global environment where technology, communication and virtual communities are taking on a dominant role. Data presented by Vincent Roux, President MPI France-Suisse Chapter and commented on by Rémy Crégut, Managing Director, 2m2c, Montreux Music & Convention Centre.
5.30pm - 6.15pm Outline of new jobs and skills in the events industry
MPI France Suisse Chapter is dedicating a conference to the developments of jobs in the professional meetings industry. What skills are needed for which job? What are the expectations of the profession in an events industry where skills in very varied fields are required? What are the most suitable training courses while MPI launches the first programme in French “MPI Executive Education”? What role does training play within companies? Julien Carlier, Director of Executive Education MPI France-Suisse Chapter & Christine Péron, Vice-President of Education MPI France Suisse Chapter will answer all these questions for you.
- FORUM
10.30am – 11.30am New ways of involving employees in the company
Complying with their company strategy and messages is the most commonly shared wish of employees. How can managers be made to focus on the value of Ideas? How do you motivate everyone whilst capitalising on the human aspect? How can the notions of sharing and otherness be promoted? How can you draw on motivation on a daily basis? These questions and more will be answered by specialists in in-house communication.
12.00pm – 1.00pm Social link in the company: from well-being to happiness
Daring to speak of happiness in companies: an idea that is progressing on tiptoes ... Yet it is far from being compatible with performance and economic growth. Happiness encourages creativity, and can therefore become an incredible tool for stimulating innovation whilst increasing the well-being of employees. A debate has been launched that will perhaps cause a paradigm shift tomorrow ...
1.30pm – 2.30pm Travel Managers: How to optimize your MICE operations
While the management of MICE events is gradually being added to the business portfolio of travel managers, the professional skills still remain different. Does this new responsibility that falls on mobility specialists reflect a long-term trend? Is control over purchases of services enough to make someone a good organiser? Agencies and travel managers share their opinions while defining their areas of skill.
3.00pm – 4.00pm BRIC: New markets and/or new competitors on the conference and incentive industry? (in partnership with Atout France)
Brazil, Russia, India, China: while these are dream destinations, it is the business tourists from these countries that are making the eyes of French tourism professionals light up. Is France, no. 1 worldwide destination for leisure tourism, equipped to deal with the challenge of business tourism? Have these countries not also become competition for France in the field of big events and conferences? A comparison for an analysis conducted by our partner Atout France and representatives of destinations.
4.30pm – 5.30pm The 7 deadly sins in using a social network (in partnership with ADETEM)
They are familiar to us all: according to tradition, pride, sloth, lust, envy, wrath, greed and gluttony are the sins that we struggle to resist. The same goes for viral marketing. How do you succeed in achieving your objectives and not falling into the pitfalls of inefficiency? By following in particular the recommendations of Hervé Bloch, founder of Digilinx, President of the Internet Managers Club and administrator of ADETEM.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 2012
- AGORA
10.30am – 11.30am Green events: let’s make a new commitment. Debate between assiociations’ officers who signed the eco-event plan (in partnership with ANAé)
5 years after the events sector signed the Sustainability charter, what operational progress has been made in the area? What is the level of involvement of advertisers in this issue? To discuss the issue with us, the signatories of the charter will be at the exhibition to review the progress and, why not, commit themselves to new advances.
12.00pm – 1.00pm The MICE made in Asia: What are the new trends from the east (debate) (in partnership with ICCA)
Hot Asia! All eyes are on this Eldorado with enviable growth, but what about in terms of business tourism and events? How do these markets work, and how are they structured? How can you work with them? Is there a “made in Asia” model that we can take inspiration from? These questions and more will be answered by associations that work in Asia, PCOs and market leaders
1.30pm – 2.30pm How to redeem tourism in the event communication (Presentation of a specific case) (in partnership with ANAE)
Far from contradicting values and contents, travel is a medium in its own right in events communication. So long as the message is well defined and brought to life through the event. Two ANAé agencies will demonstrate well-controlled communication through the operations carried out.
3.00pm – 4.00pm Destinations: Is categorising the offer by themes really the right solution for making our country more attractive? (in partnership with ATOUT FRANCE)
Among the criteria for selecting a destination, a key theme can be an advantage that sets you apart in the eyes of organisers. Today, some destinations are jumping straight in and creating appealing centres, which in certain cases allow them to gain an international reputation. Others choose to categorise their offer by themes, particularly in terms of incentives. Office conferences, incoming agencies and representatives of Atout France will tell us about their best practises in the area.
- FORUM
10.00am – 11.00am Trends notebook: animations, what really works and what associates want
Wine tasting, cookery class, casino evening, you’ve already tried everything ... Our specialists in activities and new trends demonstrate their excellent recipes for successful events.
11.30am – 12.30pm Digital marketing: How to organize an event on the Web
Making a buzz is of course still and always a challenge online. Everything starts with a simple idea, even a ludicrous idea, that others will be happy to pass on for you, free of charge! The “A hunter Shoots a bear” campaign for Tipp-Ex did the rounds on the Net in a participative and somewhat crazy way. Just one example among many more to be followed when organising an event online.
1.00pm – 2.00pm Arabic spring: How to revive business tourism in the Maghreb region ? (in partnership with ANAE)
Meeting & Incentives destinations, Tunisia, Egypt and, to a lesser extent, Morocco, are still suffering from the repercussions of the Arab Spring. While we have to support the revival of tourism in these countries, how can we reassure, support and convince professionals to renew ties with these destinations that are very popular with French customers? Local representatives and agencies sum up the situation on the ground for us and look at the market’s prospects.
2.30pm – 3.30pm 10 Golden rules for the well-informed organizer
The ABC for all organisers, redefined in a few key points. A presentation aimed at all those who occasionally or daily find themselves designing an event for an in-house or external audience.
4.00pm – 5.00pm What does your boss really want? How to read between the lines (debate between personal assistants and project managers) (in partnership with the FFMAS)
Who has not been in the unbelievably stressful situation of organising an event for a manager who doesn’t know what they want. Or worse, who wants everything at once: an original, welcoming location, in Paris (or not), top-of-the-range but not luxury and of course not too expensive ... Sensible executive assistants and organisers will come to the stage at the Meeting Lab to share their memories and confront their experiences with nightmare briefs.
