Convention 2020 presenteert 'Pathfinder Report' tijdens IMEX 2010 en deelt zes 'Critical Strategic Imperatives' voor de toekomst.
Een heldere positionering, toekomst gerichte besturen, strategische innovatie, het maximaal benutten van data, experimenteren met business modellen en het binnenhalen/ontwikkelen van top talenten zijn de cruciale factoren voor nu om de toekomst van onze sector vorm te geven.

Tijdens de IMEX beurs in Frankfurt werd het ‘Pathfinder Report' gepresenteerd door Fast Future Research over de belangrijkste strategische uitdagingen en keuzes waar onze sector het komende decennium voor komt te staan. Het onderzoek geeft een vooruitblik op het volledige rapport (fase 1) dat in juli van dit jaar gepresenteerd zal worden, als onderdeel van het Convention 2020 onderzoek naar de toekomst van meetings, accommodaties en bestemmingen.
 
Het rapport is gebaseerd op een brede range van interviews met experts, workshops, desk research en online onderzoek om de belangrijkste beinvloeders van verandering en opkomende strategische uitdagingen in kaart te brengen.

(lees hieronder het vervolg van het origenele, Engelstalige persbericht. Het rapport kunt u onderaan het artikel downloaden):
 
The research identifies case studies highlighting both the incremental and transformational changes already being undertaken by different players across the industry, and highlights the need for greater clarity and consistency of strategic thought and action. A number of strategic imperatives are identified including the need to:

• Choose a clear strategic position whether it be strategic innovator, fast follower or low cost no frills provider and then ensure every action and decision is consistent with that strategy e.g. being brave enough to say ‘no' to business that doesn't fit your capabilities
• Develop the board into an outward looking and future focused entity that is helping to shape and challenge longer term strategy
• Acknowledge that to compete effectively with the expensively marketed alternatives on offer to our customers ranging from video conferencing to advertising, we have to outthink the competition rather than trying to outspend them
• Develop a clear set of strategies to manage our technology, exploit the data generated through our events and create ‘reusable knowledge' that is of lasting value long after the event
• Demonstrate a willingness to experiment with business models and create new revenue streams to anticipate and address future client demands for greater financial innovation and risk sharing from their event partners

• Develop and recruit top level talent that can truly understand how client's business strategies are evolving and develop equally strategic and innovative responses.

Martin Sirk CEO of ICCA said "Laid out like this, the research makes very clear the sheer scale of the challenges and opportunities that confront us. The message is simple, we can continue to tackle all these issues individually or make life easier for ourselves by learning how to think and act strategically. We have to develop the capacity to anticipate the ‘inevitable surprises' coming our way."

Rohit Talwar the project director and CEO of Fast Future said "Many in the industry have tended to focus more on operational delivery, short term results and responding to issues as they arise rather than thinking about the shape of future challenges. This makes it very susceptible to external events. The learning from other sectors and businesses that performed better in the downturn and recovered faster is that they devote time and effort to understanding the drivers of change and develop strategies which anticipate those changes."

The full report is to be published in July 2010. It will examine critical factors that have shaped the industry over the last decade, examine current issues on the agenda, describe key global drivers of change shaping the external world and customer behaviours, and highlight emerging industry and external trends that could impact the sector. It concludes with a roadmap of key strategic challenges and choices facing business leaders and decision makers in the sector.

Het Pathfinder Report kunt u hier downloaden:
Convention_2020_Pathfinder_Report.pdf