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By Carl A H Martin
When R.V. Baugus, editor of Facility Manager,
sends his regular reminder that my next column is due, I don’t always jump
for joy. This month was like that. No way did I want to write this article.
Sorry, R.V.
Then yesterday we had a Board Meeting of IAAM Europe; it was magic. There
was so much enthusiasm, so much good debate and a determination for IAAM
Europe to continue to grow. I don’t know what it was that caused it; we’ve
always been a pretty determined bunch, but now it’s unreal. Even our DVP,
Herr Direktor Peter Gruber, got animated — something that’s never been seen
before. Normally he is so laid back they carry him around on a plank of
wood! Unglaublich! (Unbelievable).
Firming Up the Details
So now I’m sitting here with a grin back on my face, ready to let you know
what we have planned for the future that will be of interest to you all.
Firstly we have to announce, here, our Annual Meeting, which will be held in
Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, April 18-20, 2007. We have reserved rooms at
the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in the City Centre. There is a special rate
(providing there are still rooms left), and rooms can be booked by visiting
www.iaam.org, and clicking “meetings.”
It is our intention to meet on the afternoon/evening of Wednesday the 18th,
for drinks and nibbles, with the evening then free to explore the town, with
sessions all day Thursday and on Friday morning. The meeting will end after
lunch on Friday, at which point there will be a keynote speaker.
One of the reasons everyone got so enthusiastic yesterday was the content of
the sessions. We have not confirmed all the content yet but sessions will
certainly include: “How to run an environmentally friendly yet efficient
building;” “EEC legislature and its potential effects;” and “Increasing the
business in your building.” This last one will probably be the main session
because there are so many really exciting topics that are going to be
included, future trends, new product, customer relationships, marketing
issues and trends, etc. Henk Markerink, MD of the Amsterdam Arena — our
hosts this year — will chair this session. Other sessions, including input
from our allied members, are scheduled, and the IAAM Web site will be
updated regularly.
Apart from the work there will be a tour of Amsterdam Arena (home of the
Ajax FC) and a trip around the canals (mandatory), along with lunches on
Thursday and Friday and dinner on Thursday evening. And the cost of this
little shenanigan, including your lunches, the dinner and the canal trip?
Just 50euros for members and 80euros for nonmembers. Cheap at half the
price, registration can be made by visiting
www.iaam.org and clicking “meetings.”
One thing: Because it is Amsterdam, the hotels are not looking for business,
so if you are coming, get your reservations made as soon as possible. Last
April’s event in Vienna — and particularly Stadthalle Wien — will be a hard
act to follow but I am sure we will achieve it. We look forward to seeing as
many of you as possible.
EAVM Academy
Another decision we made was the destination for this year’s EAVM (European
Academy of Venue Management). It is 90 percent certain to be Innsbruck in
Austria. By the time you read this we will have confirmed final details with
the venue and be home and dry. The date of the Academy is Sept. 2-7. The
venue itself is a four-star hotel/ conference centre, 2000m up in the
mountains, about 4/5kms from Innsbruck, which has its own airport. Double
and single (at no extra cost) rooms will be available and the hotel boasts,
along with excellent conference facilities, fine dining, a fitness centre,
sauna, solarium, etc. — but you will be there to work as well.
As before, the curriculum will be wide ranging including, but not limited
to, the following subjects: contracts and European law, event production,
human resources, booking and scheduling, financial management, marketing,
advertising and PR, professional ethics, crowd management, media relations,
box office and database, novelties and merchandising, customer services,
emergency preparedness, etc.
The lecturers, all professionals, will all be from, or be familiar with, the
European venue and entertainment Industry. The course will be aimed
specifically at Europe. We want IAAM Europe to become the leader in the
education of the European venue industry. (Interestingly, we have been
approached by a Dutch University of great standing who wants to get into bed
with us and have the content of our Academy become part of their teaching.
We are extremely proud of this recognition and will continue to talk to
them.)
As to the cost of the Academy, this will be 1500euros for IAAM members and
1800euros for nonmembers. This includes all instruction, text and study
materials, accommodation and meals. Registration can be made by visiting the
IAAM Web site, www.iaam.org, and clicking
on “meetings.” By the time you read this all will have been confirmed and
revealed.
All of this — along with the movement IAAM is taking towards making itself a
truly global movement — makes me very proud and privileged to be part of
making IAAM Europe a real force for the future.
Carl A H Martin is director, European Services for IAAM Europe. |
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