When IBAHN, network solutions provider in the meetings and events industry comes to meet the MICE MBA students

No matter where we are and where we go, we always want to be connected. Nowadays, being constantly connected is a need in our personal lives and is even more than essential in our work.

Smartphones are everywhere and Wi-Fi is available in restaurants, trains, airports, hotels and many other places. As a matter of fact, “being connected” is now a work tool in every single company and especially in the meeting industry.

As MBA students and future meeting professionals, we also understand the impact of having efficient social networks. Our event management teacher, Mrs. Christine Peron, an MPI member, introduced us to her professional network and her fellow from the US, Mr. Michael Clanton. Mike Clanton is the Director of Global Services for My Meeting Professional (MMP), a gateway to helpful information to make the conferences or meetings a success. It’s a new division of IBAHN (provider of digital information and entertainment for the hospitality and meeting industries).

Last Thursday, we got the opportunity to invite him and learn from his experience of the global Meetings and Events industry.

What kind of impact have the new technologies on the “Meeting Planner” job?

During this afternoon we spent with Mike, we had the opportunity to converse all together about a lot of subjects.

He started with an explanation of the importance of the internet and the new technologies role in the meeting industry today.

Technologies made a great progress and the offer of associated services needs to be adapted to the new demand. The customers are not only expecting a high quality of physical goods but also a high quality of intangible services. In the hospitality sector, it is no longer enough to offer a comfortable bed and a nice view on the ocean, now the customers need more – they want to be all the time connected, to share their pictures and impressions on social networks, to be “hip to”. They don’t want to leave their habits during their vacations or business trips. There is the same concern in the business sector, where the success often depends on the information exchange and the security of basic data.

New technologies also play a growing part in the meetings an events management. Indeed, there is an increasing number of “virtual” and “hybrid events”. Virtual events take entirely place “on the web”, it is for example the case when videoconferencing is used for a meeting to replace the classic “physical meeting”. A hybrid event is an event that uses videoconferencing, such as Skype interviews, as well as physical meeting. That’s why a good quality Internet access should be provided in all the event venues – in the recreation zones as well as in the conference rooms.

This new trend in the Meetings and Events industry in 2011 goes with the current economic situation. Indeed, according to a recent survey realised by MPI (Future Watch 2011, The year the event get smarter), “the meeting industry will see unparalleled change in the coming year, technology will bolster communication, ROI and strategic meetings management will be vital to your business success, and new and existing connections with your peers will lead to smarter events”. New technologies facilitate the preparation and execution of “smarter” meetings and events.

IBAHN, network solutions providers in the meetings and events industry

Like we said before, iBAHN is a global provider of digital information and entertainment systems for the hospitality and meeting industries. The services they provide are essential tools for Meeting Professionals in the organisation of events and conferences that are nowadays dependent on technology and connectivity.

Technology and connectivity are not enough considered as important aspects of the event. This is what Mike tried to explain us. Event planners often take it for granted, which is a mistake.

The main role on an internet connection can be summed up in three letters: “SSS” for stability, security and speed. Delegates, speakers and attendees want and need to have a safe, guaranteed and smooth connection to the internet or the local network of the event, during the event.

There comes the question of price. How much are we ready to pay for the fast and secure Internet access?

As meeting professionals are not often considering the network connectivity as a fundamental aspect of the event, but more as an option, they can be really surprised when it comes to talk about rates…

According to Mike, there is no application without a suitable support. That’s why every Meeting Planner should be aware that there is no “low coast” good quality of service and they should really consider the fact of paying a bit more to have a good Service Level Agreement.

It was a good moment and Mike’s presentation was very rewarding for our class. We learned a lot about the issues of network connectivity. We also realized that beyond the simple Wi-Fi found in a hotel, there are many things to take into account such as security, content, stability and speed. Mike also made us realize how important these tools are during congresses, conventions and all other types of events.

Thanks to Mrs. Peron, we also learned how to increase our professional network and how to invite a guest and organize his visit. Sharing ideas and experiences with others is building our future and the way we think about our field of activity.

Furthermore, this experience will help us for the next step: EIBTM exhibition meeting in Barcelona on November 29th – December 1st.

Cyrielle Atavare, Maria Silkina et Maÿliss Redou