Getting control on meetings spend is more than just hype
Advito launches meetings management consulting service, releases white paperAdvito, the independent consulting division of BCD Travel, has announced the launch of a meetings management consulting practice.
The new offering is designed to help clients develop a baseline for their meetings-related activities, quantify the value of their meetings management program and develop a roadmap to realize opportunities for efficiencies. The drive toward improved control and quantification also reflects the increasing involvement of travel managers and procurement departments in meeting-related initiatives.
Mary Ellen George, general manager of Advito, said: “Companies are increasingly under pressure to ensure that their meetings program supports their long-term strategic goals and aligns with their organizational framework. As is key in today’s cost-conscious environment, we see significant savings and efficiency potential for organizations that fully understand and identify their program’s maturity, requirements and capabilities.�
Data from the 2007 BCD Travel Client Benchmark Survey, released in July, revealed that better insight into and control over meetings management is key for survey respondents. When asked to rate their organization’s priorities for meetings management, 57 percent cited “increase budget control for group and meeting expenses� as being a high or above-average priority. Also falling into the high or above-average category were “increase policy control over group and meeting activities� (51 percent) and “implement a strategic meetings management program� (49 percent).
Advito’s meetings management program engagements are tailored to each client’s needs, but can include one or more of the following elements:
- Comprehensive organizational framework assessment
- Spend analysis
- Savings opportunity analysis
- Benchmarking
To further assist organizations who may be seeking to cross-regionally consolidate their meetings management program, Advito has published a white paper outlining the challenges and opportunities that accompany such an initiative. The white paper features advice and lessons learned from Advito and sister company BCD Meetings & Incentives subject matter experts and from corporate stakeholders.
Strategic meetings management programs of varying degrees and configurations across Europe are expected to grow at a steady pace over the next few years as global organizations seek to contain costs and increase operational effectiveness within all markets in which they conduct business. The Advito white paper, The View from the Other Side of the Pond: Hidden Challenges and Intelligent Solutions in Global Meetings Management Consolidation, outlines key business differences between Europe and North America and provides guidelines for successfully consolidating and aligning programs outside of the North American market.
The white paper can be downloaded at www.advito.com.
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