Nicolas Le Brun
President EFAPCO
European Federation of the Associations of Professional Congress Organizers

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, definitely when associated with Government Institutions and Associations, is not suffering too much. Government Institutions have little or no cancellations, on the contrary even, in times of crisis they have an increased need of meetings and conferences. Associations are in a similar situation: they have to meet with their members; it is their reason of existence. Budgets however will be tighter not only because of the diminished availability of sponsoring budgets, but also because items perceived as ‘luxury’ such as gala dinners , etc will be looked at more closely and deemed less important.

PCO’s handling more corporate clients will have a harder time of it as these clients will now seriously look at keeping their budgets as tight as possible. The general trend that already existed before the crisis, of tightening the purse strings continues and becomes even more important. More ‘exotic’ destinations or even destinations ‘perceived as’ fun will be exchanged for conference cities with a more businesslike and ‘serious’ image. Brussels, especially as the seat of the European Institutions, should in the long run benefit from this tendency.

Annual congresses of associations and federations are still on the agenda; little or no cancellations have been noted. PCO’s however have an even more important role to play in helping them to reach their goals. Companies and institutions sending participants to an annual congress will not only probably send less people than before, but they definitely will want to be convinced that there was an extra value in sending their people to the conference.

All in all there is no major crisis feeling in the sector although some members will live more difficult times than others and the organizers of congresses, more than ever, will have to justify their budgets AND content.