The Value of Education - and Relationships

We went 'Back to the Basics' by recognizing that the DMC business is essentially a service business and that our pricing should be based on that assumption.

Planners, who came from the U.S. and international destinations, experienced a series of intensive workshops and educational seminars, networking opportunities, and at social and cultural events designed to reflect the location of the Summit in the Bahamas. Topics included pricing DMC services, "hot" trends in more than 25 top destinations around the world, contingency planning and increasing event return on investment (ROI).

By acclaim, the Summit, GEP's ninth annual gathering, was the most productive and information-packed to date.

Sharon Schenk, Senior Meeting Planner at Deloitte, said, "It is one of the most rewarding industry meetings I attend and I look forward to many more," a sentiment echoed by dozens of planners from corporate and third party client companies.

Clients and Partners had the opportunity to meet face to face in pre-arranged one-on-one meetings, and to network informally at several receptions and dinners, featuring as a backdrop the lush warmth and impeccable service of the Atlantis.

New Partners - Hot Destinations

GEP, which now has Partner DMCs in more than 70 DMC markets worldwide, welcomed new Partners from destinations as diverse as Japan, the Czech Republic, and Memphis, Tennessee.

"The GEP Summit was a unique and valuable introduction to the GEP system," said William Lobkowicz, CEO of Lobkowicz Events Management based in Prague. He concluded, "By joining the GEP Partnership we have not only enhanced our position in the local market, but also seized the opportunity to form relationships with some of the top meeting planners in the industry -- as this Summit demonstrated."

A Summit highlight, entitled "Hip Hot Spots," featured updates from more than 25 destinations around the world, providing planners with insight into the best options for future meetings and events.

Pricing DMC Services: New Model Goes "Back to the Basics"

A perennial industry issue -- pricing -- took center stage in the GEP Partners' business meeting, and a new model for pricing DMC services emerged which combines business efficiency with the kind of transparency consistently sought by clients.

Chris White, GEP's Chairman and Chief Executive, said, "We went 'Back to the Basics' by recognizing that the DMC business is essentially a service business and that our pricing should be based on that assumption."

Discussions among GEP Partners, affirmed that a pricing model based on the service needs required to efficiently and creatively plan and execute an event, flowing from the reasonable cost of the staff time and logistical support required, should be the foundation of pricing DMC services.

"We reached broad consensus that as in all business agreements, the best deals are the deals that serve both parties equitably, transparently, and with the lowest possible administrative cost," concluded White. "By pricing DMC services on a classic service industry model, we can help our own profitability even as we continue providing the impeccable event management quality and creativity demanded by our clients."

Personal Relationships - Top Names

White concluded, "This was our most ambitious and exciting Summit ever, with planners traveling from every corner of the globe, to exchange ideas and professional experiences in open sessions, but also to highlight the importance of one-on-one discussions and relationships. We are proud to offer the only truly international, interactive, educational forum for DMC and meeting planning professionals worldwide."

Planners in attendance at the 2007 GEP Summit came from diverse industries and leading companies such as Bain & Company; Deloitte; Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Novell. Plans are currently under development for GEP's 2008 Summit meeting, which will take place in Paris.

About Global Events Partners (GEP)

Launched in 1999, Global Events Partners includes more than 70 leading destination management companies (DMCs) around the world. A DMC is a professional services company possessing extensive local knowledge and resources, specializing in the design and execution of group tours, transportation, events, activities and program logistics. GEP partners provide consistently high quality DMC services in the most desirable locations worldwide. Thanks to affiliations with sister company, Krisam Group - the top independent national sales office for hotels -, and production company August Jackson, GEP offers a unique "one-stop" solution for corporate meeting planners worldwide.