Region: Middle East

Full Report: Universal Accessibility in Meetings

“Universal Accessibility in Meetings” is a research study conducted by GainingEdge, in collaboration with project partners BestCities Global Alliance (BestCities) and Rehabilitation International (RI Global). The goal of this research project is to promote awareness among meeting organizers and the supplier community on the need to remove barriers in meetings and conventions for delegates with… Continue reading Full Report: Universal Accessibility in Meetings

Designing your Destination’s Future

PRESS RELEASE

 

11 July 2017, Vancouver

Designing your Destination’s Future

With thousands of destinations pursuing the social and economic benefits of tourism, a powerful new axiom is emerging. “Sustainable and enduring tourism and conventions no longer happen solely by great marketing and geographic good fortune. They must be designed with a broad perspective focused on the entire visitor experience in the destination,” said Paul Vallee, Executive Consultant-Americas of GainingEdge.

“While a marketing plan is focused on ways to communicate with customers, a master plan is concerned about developing exceptional experiences when your customer is in your destination. Master plans focus on such things as infrastructure and product”.

Vallee went on to emphasize that to do this successfully, it will require the strategic alignment and ongoing engagement among industry, community, and marketplace stakeholders for the destination brand and experience to flourish.  Vallee has extensive experience managing complex organisations, strategic planning with diverse stakeholders and destination master planning.   GainingEdge has worked on several projects with InterVistas Consulting (IVC) which served as project lead on Destination Master Plans for Birmingham (USA), and Denver (USA). Vallee who is based in Vancouver, Canada will soon begin a similar project, again collaborating with IVC, in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Visionary destinations are quick to realise that they need a long-term direction for its tourism and business events sector, a shared path for stakeholders to follow on for the next 10 years and beyond,” agreed Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge. “One of our first related projects was Rethink Vancouver where Paul, at that time, was our Tourism Vancouver client. In that project, GainingEdge worked with Tourism Vancouver on a high level framework that culminated in a comprehensive Tourism Master Plan for Vancouver.” Since then, among others, GainingEdge has been part of Madison, Wisconsin’s (USA) planning efforts.

You can read more and gain insights into Destination Master Planning here. – ends

Media enquiries:

Gary Grimmer, +61 419 561 635 (Australia)

Paul Vallee, +1 604 368 3220 (Canada)

Paul Vallee Photo

Paul ValleeWith thousands of destinations pursuing the social and economic benefits of tourism, a powerful new axiom is emerging. “Sustainable and enduring tourism and conventions no longer happen solely by great marketing and geographic good fortune. They must be designed with a broad perspective focused on the entire visitor experience in the destination,”

Published

360 Support is Paramount

Microphone over the Abstract blurred photo of conference hall or seminar room with attendee background, Business meeting concept

PRESS RELEASE

9 May 2017, Melbourne
“360 Support is Paramount”

The biggest setback for any destination to create a sustainable business events industry is the lack of community-wide support.

Mike Williams, Senior Partner of GainingEdge believes that support required is not only from the business events industry, but also from all levels of government, the academic community, local business leaders and the general public.

To secure long term government support, a bureau must align its strategies with that of government priorities and demonstrate the relevance of business events for governments to achieve their economic growth objectives. On the other hand, meetings industry partnerships can help a destination extend its brand value proposition to the marketplace, create value-add programmes to entice new business and develop new products and services suitable for the business events sector.

Williams pointed out that best practice bureaus are embarking on association development programmes that strengthen their local host communities and make them better resourced to host international conferences. As academic institutions are the main source of the future workforce, working closely with relevant institutions to help develop curriculum and providing industry internships for students is another form of community engagement that is critical for the development of a sustainable meetings industry. Last but not least, CSR programmes are an effective way of generating community benefits and raising awareness of the importance of business events to the destination and to the host community.

GainingEdge will host its annual GainingLeads and GainingEdge Knowledge Exchange (GEKEX) sessions during IMEX 2017. In addition, GainingEdge CEO Gary Grimmer will moderate at ICCA’s (International Congress and Convention Association) Association Expert Seminar, the 13th edition, since this popular seminar which brings together association executives and ICCA members together first began in 2005.

Read more about the relationship between community support and a sustainable meetings industry in the May 2017 issue of GainingInsights.

Media enquiries:
Gary Grimmer (gary@gainingedge.com)
Mike Williams (mike@gainingedge.com)The biggest setback for any destination to create a sustainable business events industry is the lack of community-wide support.

Mike Williams, Senior Partner of GainingEdge believes that support required is not only from the business events industry, but also from all levels of government, the academic community, local business leaders and the general public.

Published