The Business of Conferences

The Business of Conferences

by Anton Shone
Released November 2009
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781136359507

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

For managers, students and conference professionals this timely new book will provide a firm foundation for understanding and operating in one of the UK's fastest growing business areas.



Conferencing forms a large and expanding part of the UK economy and is now attracting serious analysis as the key techniques and principles of good practice become established. This unique book, one of the first written by an expert educator and consultant in the field, considers the background and nature of the UK conference industry and looks at the management issues involved in professional and competitive conferencing.

Providing clear, up to date and detailed information on every aspect of the management and organization of conferences and conference centres it will be an essential text for students on hospitality and tourism courses- from GNVQ to undergraduate level. It will also be a vital reference for practitioners in any part of the conference business who want to grasp the key elements for success in the future.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Halftitle Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Preface
  7. Part One: The Conference Business
    1. 1 The evolution and extent of the conference business
      1. 1.1 Introduction
      2. 1.2 History of the conference business
      3. 1.3 The social and economic significance
      4. 1.4 Extent and scope of the conference business
    2. 2 The conference business and its market demand
      1. 2.1 Introduction
      2. 2.2 What is a conference and why is it needed?
      3. 2.3 The identification of markets and demand generators
      4. 2.4 The corporate market
      5. 2.5 The association market
      6. 2.6 Types of conference
    3. 3 Provision and supply of venues
      1. 3.1 Introduction
      2. 3.2 The range of conference venues and their ownership and management
      3. 3.3 Geographic spread of venues
      4. 3.4 Regional variations in provision
    4. 4 Related services
      1. 4.1 Introduction
      2. 4.2 Conference production companies
      3. 4.3 Exhibition contractors
      4. 4.4 Event management companies
      5. 4.5 Other external services
  8. Part Two: Facilities and Services
    1. 5 Conference and meeting areas
      1. 5.1 Introduction
      2. 5.2 The objectives of conference areas
      3. 5.3 Design aspects of conference areas
      4. 5.4 Design aspects of networking areas
      5. 5.5 Servicing, safety and security
    2. 6 The provision of food and drink
      1. 6.1 Introduction
      2. 6.2 Food and drink organization
      3. 6.3 Basic issues in the provision of food and drink
      4. 6.4 Food and drink services
    3. 7 Technical facilities
      1. 7.1 Introduction
      2. 7.2 Basic presentation
      3. 7.3 Technical presentation facilities
      4. 7.4 Backdrops and staging
      5. 7.5 Lighting
      6. 7.6 Sound
    4. 8 Registration and support activities
      1. 8.1 Introduction
      2. 8.2 Correspondence checks and pre-con meetings
      3. 8.3 The organizer’s office
      4. 8.4 Setting up and security
      5. 8.5 Rehearsal
      6. 8.6 Meeting-room checks
      7. 8.7 Welcome delegates
      8. 8.8 During the conference
      9. 8.9 Close down
  9. Part Three: Management Issues
    1. 9 The organization and staffing of conference venues
      1. 9.1 Introduction
      2. 9.2 Organization
      3. 9.3 Staffing as a component of the conference product
      4. 9.4 Determinants of staffing levels
      5. 9.5 Training and education of staff
    2. 10 Some issues in the marketing of conference venues
      1. 10.1 Introduction
      2. 10.2 The organizational buying process
      3. 10.3 Determinants of the buying process
      4. 10.4 Marketing for new business
      5. 10.5 Marketing for repeat business
      6. 10.6 Marketing of the conference destination
      7. 10.7 Priorities in venue marketing budgets
      8. 10.8 The role of conference placement agencies
      9. 10.9 Assetmanagement
    3. 11 Conference planning
      1. 11.1 Introduction
      2. 11.2 Enquiries and provisional bookings
      3. 11.3 Confirmed bookings and preparation
    4. 12 Trends
      1. 12.1 Introduction
      2. 12.2 Social change
      3. 12.3 Design and technology issues
      4. 12.4 Change in the business environment
  10. Glossary
  11. Appendix 1 Growth of the UK conference market
  12. Appendix 2 Organizations in the conference business
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Business of Conferences
  • Author(s): Anton Shone
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781136359507