Events Going Ahead and Marketing Spend Up in 2009

MEDIA RELEASE - Events Going Ahead and Marketing Spend Up in 2009

It's business as usual for many event organisers planning the year ahead. In the weeks leading up to and following the Christmas/New Year holidays, the Conference and Events team at Destination Manawatu spent time telephoning over 300 clients to see how busy it will be in the coming months - both as a gauge for trends in corporate and association meetings and conferences, and to determine Destination Manawatu's own resource needs.

Katherine Huynh, Conferences & Events of Destination Manawatu says, "Competitive times have a way of making organisations more efficient. Expos, conferences and meetings are still going ahead, but with closer attention to budgets."

In terms of the real purpose of corporate events, Katherine adds, "Specialist training, information exchange between colleagues and touching base with peers/mentors is a vital part of any
Other ways that event organisers can generate money include charging businesses the right to include branded gifts in delegate welcome packs. Ian Trewhitt of Im-Press Promotions Manawatu says, "The New Year is a time for many businesses to consider their corporate gift requirements,

and there are some exciting products new to the market this year, including a personal favourite - USB People. These cute little external hard drives can have entire conference programmes and speaker notes put on them free of charge at point of manufacture. I look forward to showcasing these and other corporate gifts with a difference at the expo next month."

To find out more about cost saving measures, and smart ways to market, corporate and association 'event buyers' are being encouraged to attend Central NZ Conference Expo - a free event being held on 11th March 2009 at Palmerston North Convention Centre.

ENDS

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