BEHIND THE SCENES
SAM VAN DE KERCKHOF
Managing Partner Meeting Time &
President BAPCO

By Viviane Vogels

Sam van de Kerckhof (40) joined Meeting Time 9 years ago as a partner and has been its Managing Partner since founder Jean-Jacques de Bassompierre decided to take life a bit more easy 2 years ago. For the last 15 years Sam has also been teaching a course on MICE Tourism at the Institut Supérieur européen de Tourisme Charles Péguy at Louvain-la-Neuve. After a number of years as Vice-President BAPCO he became its new President last year and has been very active in ensuring that the profession of PCO is valued at its right worth and level. He is also a Board Member of the Chambre de Commerce de Bruxelles and BITC. 

A man for all seasons
Sam van de Kerckhof is nothing if not a driven man, driven by his sense of perfection, driven by the enthusiasm for his job, driven by a polite but insistent ambition to come out a winner.

Young Sam was destined to go into the diplomatic life but life and a few fortuitous encounters made this family tradition turn out differently. Jacques de Meeùs, Chairman of the “Compagnies Internationale des Wagon-Lits” and President of the Institut Supérieur européen de Tourisme Charles Péguy at Louvain-La Neuve makes him aware of the world of organisation and as he already had the dream of organising diplomatic encounters, he now realises that there is whole new world to be taken and it becomes clear to him that the at shat stage not officially named career of PCO is definitely for him!

This encounter has also resulted in his fervent wish to contribute actively to the education of students interested in Tourism. Today Tourism is only too often a ‘last resort’ for students who have tried everything else and although Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world it is still undervalued and not perceived as a good career move.
With the big examples of Greece and Germany – proof that tourism studies can be important – as guideline, Sam has been a lecturer for the last 15 years at Louvain-la-Neuve and continues his battle for more and better recognition of the tourism industry as a career choice.

A near crippling back injury coinciding with the loss of his best friend to cystic fibrosis nearly put an end to his young career and did not only oblige him to take a long rest, but also puts an end to his main sporting interest: horses.
Whilst recovering from major surgery and also the choc of his best friends death, he takes an active interest in the loneliness of young terminally ill adults (18to 25). Kids have Cliniclowns, elderly are also cared for, but young adults also need company, distraction and support so young Sam puts his organisational skills to work and for more than a year concentrates on setting up this much needed service. To this day the humanisation of hospitals for all ages is still a major concern.

His future wife, a doctor, finally sets him back on the road to Tourism, his real vocation.

Your success is our passion !
He soon hooks up with Jean-Jacques de Bassompierre and joins Meeting Time where he has been a partner for the last 9 years.

When 2 years ago de Bassompierre retired, Sam went looking for partners with complementary activities and so in June 2005 the group Conceptum was borne.  The golden rule here is that each partner company keeps their own individual identity but happen to be under the same roof of the imposing villa in Overijse. Assembling more than 30 people in one place where previously he only had to worry about a small group, has necessitated some adjustments but with his absolute conviction in mind that all staff have to be happy and with a lot of goodwill things have definitely evolved in the right direction.

Today Sam van de Kerckhof is also President of BAPCO and here as well he applies his beliefs that mutual respect, be it between client and organiser or within the team is fundamental for success. He dreams of seeing the PCO profession being judged at its right value which will go a long way to explaining the total cost of the PCO work. “We must start by educating the young, future PCO in a professional way. The profession has to get an official statute as it does not exist today and we need to set up a code of ethics.” Today BAPCO is a small organisation of top professionals who, although competitors, have a healthy respect for one another and who take pleasure in their regular meetings.

Do not create a second Berlaymont!!
At this stage of the conversation it is only natural that we come onto the hot subject of the “Palais des Congrès “in Brussels. “It is sacrilege that a city like Brussels has to do without a Convention Hall for any amount of time and yet, in Brussels we have had to manage without since 3 years and for the foreseeable future. Yes, they have announced the re-opening for 2009 but drive past the building today and nowhere will you see any official announcement as to the works and so we are all very sceptical about this date. It is further a crying shame that the new Management Company have not even bothered to contact the professionals on their doorstep for practical advice. We are no architects but with the experience of many large congresses behind us we can definitely point out weak points from an organisation point of view on an architect’s plan. We have a unique possibility to create a state-of-the-art venue which will be more than needed to woo back all the clients we have lost and to compete with the up and coming destinations such as Vilnius.”
Sam is in full flow by now and pleads eloquently for a ‘ champion for Brussels’ who will defend the interests of Brussels on a federal level and help avoid situations like today where a venue that is vital for the local economy can be closed without a plan nor – even more important – a budget for its –much needed-renovation.

Sam van de Kerckhof on

Sport
And yes, Sam van de Kerckhof talks with as much enthusiasm about his hobbies as about his professional life! Having recently moved to Leefdaal gives him and his wife and son and daughter the opportunity to go on their beloved long cycling excursions in the beautiful countryside.

Cooking
The new house is also the scene for his biggest source of distraction: cooking. Cooking for family and friends is his favourite way of relaxing and he explains a lot of thought has gone in the organisation of the kitchen that, by the sound of it, can be the envy of many a restaurant!

Theatre
From cooking and the meticulous organisation of both his kitchen and his meals for his family and friends, Sam passes in one go to his other interest: the amateur theatre. No, not Sam the actor, but Sam the Director speaks about the fun he has directing a play and paying attention to the small details, ad following the scenario…wait a minute….have I not heard this before when talking about his job? “Why yes, of course, when we organise a convention, we put our clients on stage, we organise a detailed scenario for them, we direct their days…I suppose the similarities cannot be ignored and that will explain the fun I have not only directing plays but also watching a good play which I try to do as regularly as possible with my wife!”

Books
Sam enjoys a good book and will read mainly history books and books reflecting on today’s politics, this from a deep rooted interest in today’s political scene and a need to be aware of who the major political players are in our world for potential use when organising high level events.

Birthday’s
Earlier this year Sam reached that important stage in one’s life: the big 40. But he lives it well, regrets he could not have the big party he wanted because of work but makes no further big deal of it, be it that he welcomes the maturity that comes with age and helps him to see everything in its correct context. “You are never too old to learn. One has to have the humility to listen to those who now better but without loosing the confidence in oneself and one’s capabilities.”

The Future
In a business ‘for people and with people’ Sam uses his innate diplomatic skills on a daily basis and enjoys organising people. He hopes, in a not too distant future, to be able to retire to his own ‘maison d’hôte’ in the Provence where he can continue hosting but then in a sunny climate and at a slightly slower pace! A nice dream and knowing him a little bit better by now, a dream that will be executed to perfection. “Chez Sam” will without any doubt be an excellent holiday address for those in the know!

Meeting Time

Meeting Time was established in 1989 as a limited company by founder Jean-Jacques de Bassompierre.
Meeting Time’s business is focused mainly on the administrative and logistical organisation of professional congresses, conferences and meetings in Belgium and abroad.
Through a perfect organisation, a secure financial management and a devoted service minded staff, Meeting Time contributes to the success of the conference meeting or seminar.
Meeting Time creates tailor-made and high quality programmes to meet all requirements.
Meeting Time is a founder member of the Belgian Association and fulfils the criteria described in the BAPCO Charter of ethic and professionalism.

Sam van de Kerckhof
Managing Partner
MEETING TIME sa/nv
Brusselsesteenweg 539
B-3090 Overijse

Direct line      +32(0) 2 741 61 76
General line    +32(0) 2 741 61 70
svandekerckhof@meeting-time.com
www.meeting-time.com

What is Bapco?

BAPCO stands for ‘Belgian Association of Professional Conference Organisers’. It is a not-for-profit association representing its members in institutional, legal, ethical and associative matters.

BAPCO members are independent and qualified meeting organisers, practising their profession in the form of a commercial business.
A BAPCO member underwrites the Association’s code of conduct – the Magna Carta – which involves essential principles of professionalism and defence of client’s interests such as:
-Making formal agreements on tasks and fee prior to the start of a mission
-Use of independent accountancy and transparency in financial matters

The association also foresees to arbitrate in conflicts between members and their clients

What is a PCO?

The versatile role of a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) could be compared to that of a conductor of a large symphonic orchestra, co-ordinating all parties involved towards a successful and harmonious end-product.

A PCO takes on the role of co-ordinator and consultant, responsible for the logistic, technical, administrative and financial matters involved in the organisation and preparation of meetings. The outsourcement of this multitude of tasks allows the client-organiser to devote time and energy to the preparation of the content and to the realisation of the objective of his meeting - the area where he is indispensable. Moreover, a PCO organises and runs a meeting as it is happening, allowing the client to fully concentrate on his presentation or discussion, to be an attentive host, and to exchange information and knowledge effectively.
Taking on board a qualified PCO while preparing a congress ensures true benefits to an organisation. The BAPCO-label of a PCO is a guarantee for this quality!

www.bapco.be

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