Do companies really still need conferences

With all the technology available today, companies can e-mail, sms, telephone, fax (yes, you can still fax someone!), teleconference, e-conference, hold webinars and  live skype video conferences. Do they really still need to physically get people together in a room for conferences or events? The answer is yes. Now more than ever.

Companies need conferences, meetings and events precisely because of all the available communication technology.

A paperless environment?

Technology promised to do a few things, one of which was provide a paperless society. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, total paper consumption is expected to rise from todays 400 million tons to between 450 million and 500 million tons by 2020. e-mail alone has increased the global use of paper by 40%! Why? Possibly because we dont actually trust the technology. Were frightened that the e-mail detailing the minutes of the meeting will go missing – somehow eaten by the computer. Or we print an e-mail for the traditional cya reasons, and file it safely. We dont always trust technology, and we dont always trust the faceless messages sent out from the company, either.

Easier communication?

Another promise from technology was that communication would become easier. In this respect, technology has over-produced: communication is easier than ever before. We can fire off an e-mail without even thinking and we often do. There are businesspeople who receive literally thousands of e-mails a day. There are stuffed inboxes with hundreds and hundreds of unread e-mails. What communication has not become, is more effective. If you really want to communicate with someone, to have them listen and absorb your message, you need to face them, and talk to them. You also tend to prepare what you want to say making the communication all the more effective.

If you want to motivate, thank, inspire or encourage employees, you still need to get them together in a room, at a conference, a meeting or an event. Talk to them, engage with them. Allow them to respond. The CEO standing in front of an audience, delivering his message personally, is head and shoulders above a company-despatched e-mail or video. A good question-and-answer session can raise far more relevant issues than you expected. A good brainstorming session will produce more than a request for ideas ever will even with a gift voucher as a carrot. And a good motivational speaker can bring an audience to tears (with laughter or emotion your choice).

Talk to us!

So heres to real, honest, motivating conferences. Now the only thing you need to do, is to make the very most of this engaging event. And thats where XL Millennium Travel comes in. Give us a call and ask us to come and see you! We will sit and talk to you, and deliver to you the very best conference or event possible.

Posted by Millennium Travel on July 28, 2011

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