As service providers are pivotal in organising a corporate event, MICETalk spoke to a senior corporate executive on priorities and expectations from suppliers.
MT Bureau
The corporate MICE travel has changed by leaps and bounds in the last few years and hence they need to be catered differently. Offering a buffet of experiences to embedding end-to-end technology solutions might just be the beginning of a positive future.
Challenges
It is not easy for MNCs to organise an incentive trip at an overseas destination. If someone was planning for 500 people, they have to cut it down to 250 people. Budget, price point, availability, awareness, and the demands have changed post-pandemic, said a corporate executive. When it comes to an event, a service provider has to cater to the needs of diverse segments of people. Each industry or a corporate would have a unique requirement. Hence, planners need to curate their services based on the individual segment and manage the expectations.
Experience is key
Today MICE is about creating an experience, as per diverse requirements. “A leadership event in an organisation versus a dealership event— both need to be looked into differently. Today, all MICE service providers have a fixed menu and fixed vendors, without any tailor-made service. Hence, there is a need to customise the needs to create an experience,” he claimed.
Sustainability
Mentioning that sustainability plays a huge role for corporates the expert suggested,“We will do business with partners who are carbon neutral and ecologically conscious. Planners should give us the partner’s vision on net zero before we collaborate with them. Fuel efficiency, EV vehicles, green hotels with water conservation plans, avoiding usage of single-use plastic, and using screens instead of standees, are things we need to consider. It is not a one-sided thing. It is the event planners who play a pivotal role.”
Prioritise technology
The philosophy should be to digitize, automate, and outsource. “Currently, we do not have an end-to-end digital platform. Many start-ups have come up, but each caters to one particular unit. A corporate would not prefer to have multiple plugins through API solutions. If an event planner comes with integrated solutions, they are running ahead of the curve,” he claimed.
As an event planner, technology can give you an edge over others. The expert also said when managing a large event of 100 to 500 people, a notification at the right time on the phones goes a long way.
Closing on a destination
Along with budget, flying time is another challenge while choosing a destination. “You want to see that the team spends less time travelling and more time at their destination. In Southeast Asia or within India, things have picked up owing to less travel time,” he added. Also, visa cost and the process of getting the visa play a crucial role.
Choosing a planner
While choosing an event planner, a corporation prefers somebody who proactively comes up with solutions independently. Our expert said, “It is crucial to help your business partner to know what kind of service you expect. A collaborative approach can help you both in succeeding as a corporate and as a supplier.” The bottom line is ‘embrace the change before it embarrasses you’,” he concluded.
Planners need to curate their services based on the individual segment and manage the expectations
