Previous Page: Should you stay or should you go?

Business is Global

Brad Langley, president and COO, Creative Group Inc., Appleton, Wis.

“We operate in a global economy. It's difficult to find a U.S.-based company that isn't somehow dependent on foreign commerce for its ongoing success. It's critically important for any business to take steps to expand their business perspective and not become U.S.-centric when it comes to how they market, sell, distribute, and develop new product lines. Yes, we are in a global recession, and our ability to come out of this depends on reaching out as opposed to ‘cocooning.’ We all have a vested interest in learning techniques, processes, and innovations from our international colleagues. To think otherwise would suggest that as Americans we have all the answers to these business-related issues — which isn't the case.”

Lauren Deaton, meetings and events manager and Carla Battle, senior project manager, Courtesy Associates, Washington (a planning company)

“Even though an industry is contracting in the U.S., it may be expanding in another region (for example, Asia). Taking a meeting closer to a new demographic can increase/counterbalance meeting attendance and expose the organization to a new market. Education will always be important whether in breakouts or during coffee breaks. Healthcare providers from East Africa and from Central Africa who both work in rural communities may have similar challenges: unpaved roads, lack of funding, etc. They can learn from each other and share best practices. There is also the understanding at the end of a meeting that you are part of a global community. You return home feeling energized, you bring home new ideas, and you have an arsenal of new contacts to draw from.”

Focus on Value

Michael Payne, executive vice president, SmithBucklin Corp., Washington (an association management company)

“It is more important than ever to continue with international meetings and events. A difficult situation is not the time to eliminate one of the best vehicles for conducting business-to-business events, networking, and education. Be more cost conscious, manage the event differently, but don't stop meeting. That in itself is bad for business.”

A Resilient Industry

Steven Hacker, president and CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Dallas

“It's important for us to continue our international meetings because despite all of the obstacles, commerce is global these days and we have to make it possible for buyers and sellers to come together, no matter what the current state of the economy. The biggest challenge is to convince buyers as well as the sellers that they need to come together to plan for the time when the economy is robust again. But the good news is that, of all types of events, exhibitions are the most resilient.”

Go International for the Right Reason

Jeff Broudy, EVP and COO, United Incentives, Philadelphia

“Content is king. The only reasons to have international destinations for a domestic corporation at the moment are: As a competitive response to others in the industry who are trying to attract the same audience (for example, dealer/distributor incentives where the sponsor is appealing to an audience that can purchase competing products), or as a way to engage the audience with their business (for example, taking them to an international manufacturing headquarters or introducing them to a ‘best practices’ environment that isn't available locally).”

Meetings with Meat

Robert Guerriero, president and executive director, The Journeymasters, Salem, Mass.

“International destinations are where the allure is. And an incentive without allure is spaghetti without meatballs. The adage of The Journeymasters has always been: ‘The exceptional deserve the unforgettable.’ A journey to Europe, Australia, or Asia, properly designed, is unforgettable.”