Incentive - Passport 2018

The script for conducting international meetings has changed perceptibly in recent years. In the past, planners could study transactional histories and protocols for guidance. However, today’s “new normal”—from world-leader meetings on down—seems to be governed by different rules. Is it time to throw out the rule book for planning international events? Maybe. But while there has never been a better time to reconsider old templates and boilerplates, it’s also a great time to reconsider the nature of your international meetings and what is expected to be accomplished.

Staying in the Know

Planners today must think about
communicating the meaning of the meeting
to all. Outside of G12-style summits, where
all eyes are on the program (and the decisions
and actions that result from it), attention
tends to be placed more on the logistical
aspects of international meetings. And that’s
not surprising, given that global meetings are
frequently years-in-the-making and require an
enormous attention to detail. But wouldn’t it
be wonderful if, in the midst of the minutiae,
planners heard more about the “higher”
purposes of the meeting?
For example, Rotary International (RI)
plans its conferences around membership
hot spots, like Asia. For more than a decade,
notes Shannon M. Watson, CMP, CAE, and
RI’s director of meetings and events, the global
fraternal organization has experienced a surge
in membership throughout Asia. Having
meetings in Asia not only guarantees excellent
attendance, it guarantees engagement with fresh
members who are excited about participating.
For professionals working at the destination
end, the program is more than throwing a
BRIDGING THE CULTURAL DIVIDE