Planning a successful event requires a unique blend of skills and expertise. The seminar sessions at London Venue Expo deal with the issues you face every day as a meeting professional. They provide strategies for success, innovative techniques and compelling case studies to improve your personal performance and guarantee you meeting success.

Time: 10:00am, Wednesday 28th June 2006

• How to satisfy the expectations of delegates
• How to build the anticipation towards a motivational event
• How to motivate venues/suppliers to effectively contribute towards the success of your event
• How to measure the success of "inspirational touch points" at an event

SPEAKER: Peter Rand

Peter Rand is Chairman of RAND. He has 35 years' experience in the Meetings Industry, previously as an hotel General Manager and since 1973, heading up his own company. RAND provides a range of event management services to meetings planners from Blue Chip companies for events throughout the world. Peter was the Founder President of the Meetings Industry Association and was awarded the MBE in 2002 for services to the hospitality industry.
He regularly runs workshops/training courses for both venue personnel and meetings buyers. Currently he is chairing an Industry Focus Group for members of Eventia, HBAA & MPI in conjunction with CIPS, to write a white paper on procuring MICE facilities and services. He believes one of the key roles of support agencies and venues is to contribute proactively to the success of clients' events.

Time: 11:45am, Wednesday 28th June 2006

SPEAKER: Rosemary Bannister

In today's highly competitive market place, organisations are increasingly wanting to focus on their core business and remove as much of the peripheral work as possible. Finding suitable venues for meetings and conferences is incredibly time consuming and, if you do not have time to visit the venues, a bit of a lottery!

Booking agents can save you a lot of time when it comes to finding a suitable venue for your meeting or event. In addition, our buying power often means we can secure prices that you would not be able to get when calling direct. We have superb product knowledge and excellent databases and best of all, in the majority of cases, our service to you is free.

Workshop Objectives:

By attending this short workshop you will be able to help your chosen agent do the best possible job for you by giving them the information they need.

Areas covered:

• Getting the brief right • Location, location, location • Detail is important • The three-way relationship • How the agents make their money • Space is a perishable commodity • Jargon explained

Target Audience:

This workshop will be invaluable for anyone tasked with booking external venues for meetings, conferences, training sessions, seminars and events.

Time: 10:00am, Thursday 29th June 2006

• Understand the 5 steps of the ROI Methodology
• Develop an evaluation plan for a specific meeting or event
• Calculate the Return on Investment
• Identify intangibles linked to a meeting or event
• Improve the satisfaction of your key stakeholders

SPEAKER: Peter Haigh

Peter Haigh has worked in hotel sales and marketing for over 25 years at corporate, regional and individual property level. He has recently set up his own Performance Improvement Consultancy. Previously he was Director of Sales Operations, Europe for Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts responsible for 44 hotels in 18 countries. Prior to joining Le Meridien, Peter was Director of International Sales, UK for Accor's Hotels heading up their International Sales office in London and responsible for driving outbound corporate, conference and leisure business from the UK to Accor's worldwide hotel network.

Peter has also worked at The Ritz Hotel, London, for The Savoy Group of Hotels and Restaurants and spent 14 years at Marriott Hotels and Resorts.

Peter has been a member of Meeting Professionals International since 1992, is a past President of the UK Chapter, past President of the European Council and has sat on the International Board of Directors. He is President-Elect of the UK Chapter.

Time: 11:45am, Thursday 29th June 2006

SPEAKERS:
Howard Evans - Managing Director, The Conference Business
Lynne Evans (no relation) - Managing Director, Event Solutions

Two organisers with experience of major conferences, exhibitions and events as well as staging dazzling entertainments, share some of their secrets. For instance, how to:

• Shape and brand your conference for the audience and market it to them at the right time
• Create a compelling conference programme that has substance as well as surface appeal
• Think laterally about entertainment and the social side of your conference, so that you exceed your delegates' expectations
• Be ready for anything on the day; work safe, work well, and remain a pleasant memory for your client and delegates

To book your seminars and gain your 50% discount, either click the button below to use the dedicated DeskDemon.com online booking form or if you prefer, click to print out the pdf form, add the words 'DeskDemon.com offer' and fax back.