BBT Online

BBT Online asked a number of Presidents of Associations related to our industry about their views on the dreaded crisis. We asked them to tell us if their business approach is changing, how the world of meetings and incentives is evolving and how they see the future.
We noted following reactions.

A PRESIDENTS’ VIEW!


Pascal Struyve President BATM Belgian Association of Travel Managers www.batm.be		Raymond Desmet President Initiative Belgian Association of Qualified Incentive Organizers www.initiative-group.be

Obviously in the world of managed business travel a lot is and has changed recently due to the crisis. We clearly see a lot of opportunity for our members as there has never been more attention managing the total cost of travel than today. Therefore it is important that - in general - we look at the crisis in very positive way and be proactive within our companies to optimize our travel programs – transient and meetings - where needed and …... More…..		Because of the economic situation, 2 clear management lines are defined: companies who are downsizing or try to keep a status quo, and those who see an opportunity in this crisis and launch new initiatives or elaborate the existing ones. This is also visible in their approach towards incentive travel: some keep tight budgets because of the economic situation or because of the negative connotation that seems to be growing around the organisation of ‘fun’ trips. More…..

Elie Lores Blanes President SITE BeLux Society of Incentive & Travel Executives www.site-belux.org		Nicolas Le Brun President EFAPCO European Federation of the Associations of Professional Congress Organizers www.efapco.eu

Elie's personal approach has not changed and he feels now is the moment to explain to companies that things are not all that bad and teams still have to be motivated! Elie feels that the decisive hinge moment of the crisis has not yet arrived, for 2009 not much has changed, the budgets for this year were put together before the actual crisis began. However, the 2010 budgets will be... More……		EFAPCO represents a great number of different countries and very different members; therefore a straightforward picture is not possible. However it seems the conference sector…. More…..

Patrick Bontinck
President BHA

Brussels Hotel Association

Most of the hoteliers have re-defined their client market segmentation to offset the downturn in business from the individual business travellers and seminars, and by going strongly for the tourist market in order to reduce the crisis impact to a minimum: promotion via internet sites, last minute actions.
More….