It is Monday and there are a lot of things to be thankful for in the past days. For one, a huge crowd visited different events in Metro Manila and the turn-out is very encouraging for future events and organizers.

Another good news, Nonito Donaire, our very own Filipino Flash, showed his potential by winning last Sunday against a fierce and experienced competitor. But instead of a win that Donaire must work hard, his win is something AWESOME. He knocked out Montiel in the 2nd Round. A scene reminiscent of Pacquiao's Hatton knock-out.

Now going back to event management  , Seth Godin wrote a very clear message on how to be successful in tradeshows and exhibition. I cannot help but share this to you so read and enjoy it :




I'm talking about trade shows, SXSW, street marketing...

There are two ways to be glad you went:

1. An overwhelming show of force. When you have the biggest booth, when you are the buzz of the event, when you are everywhere people look, you reinforce your position as the leader.

2. Powerful personal interactions. Not with everyone. Just with people who want to talk with you, who will benefit from a powerful exchange. Not mass, but high in value. Even better, designing these interactions (and your product) so that this small number of people set out to evangelize their peers on your behalf.

The mistake almost everyone makes is to do both. Or to believe that they know a cheap shortcut on their way to #1. Or to get too busy chasing (and failing) at mass that they don't have time to do the personal.

Years ago, the company I worked for spent millions at various venues of the Consumer Electronics Show. We were there, we were sort of big and we sort of won. But not really. Too much noise, too much competition, we were neither. By trying to reach as many as we could, we were never intimate enough to generate conversations that mattered or ideas that spread...

Once again, it comes down to scale. If you staff and invest appropriately, you don't have to 'win' the show to make it worth the trip. On the other hand, if you're setting out to win and investing at the appropriate level, you better win.

As I said for a million times there are symbols that need to be created in order to show our progress. There are symbols that needed to be built in order to give and nurture confidence in our people and country. Our government must heed this call and try, even if it is a gargantuan task, to build this symbols.

In the tourism industry, an Airport that will be competitive with our neighbors. An airport that defy the logic of business in the short term but will be profitable and will leave an indelible mark in our consciousness for a very long period of time.

Having said this, I am sharing this news by yahoo about the best airport in the world of the 6th straight time.



South Korea's Incheon Airport named world's best for 6th year




Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - South Korea's Incheon International Airport was selected the Best Airport Worldwide in Airport Service Quality in 2010 for the sixth consecutive year, beating rivals Changyi Airport of Singapore and Hong Kong International Airport, the country's Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.

It is the first time that an airport has won the award six years in a row. Dubai Airport won the award for three consecutive years from 2001 to 2003.

The ASQ is a comprehensive set of awards granted by Airports Council International, an association of around 1700 airports worldwide.

South Korea's major gateway also won first places in Best Airport in Asia Pacific and Best Airport with annual passenger traffic between 25 and 40 million, the ministry said.

Ministry officials attributed the airport's notable success as a Northeast Asian hub to its constant efforts to seek innovation.



The list includes expanding its international routes, improving the airport's accessibility by establishing a railway and Incheon Bridge, which conne

It is a great sign that a long term plan for tourism will be crafted in order to create a strategic positioning for our country.

However, I must say that one thing a plan cannot do is to make it a reality. A plan is a piece of paper and sooner that plan is finished and is put into ACTION the better.

Action that is judiciously crafted is better than a haphazard action that is only meant for PAPOGI like the now famous case of “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” branding.

Action after a well thought our plan is the solution to our ailing problems in the tourism and MICE industry.

Action coming from experts not as what Cito Beltran’s article today a bunch of Student Council leaders running a National Government.

I picked this up from a tweet and hopefully this is true for our tourism industry. The press release was from the Department of Tourism

Interestingly, this is a true story and it shows that if a man accumulates a lot of positive memories in his/her mind and heart he/she can survive any obstacles or difficulties he/she may be in, even if it is a life and death situation.

This gets me thinking, in events management an organizer as a company will survive any challenges, even if it is a life and death situation, if it has successfully provided good memories (profitable included) to all of its clients and partners.

If this is the case, the challenge and the process continues to everyday develop a relationship and create memories that will outlast any competition, most especially when the going gets tough in this very competitive industry of events management.

Asia is all about relationships.


We do business but first we have to know the person we are dealing with. After this, it is the only time we start doing business with his company. There are some business deals in Asia that are made by handshakes. No contracts are needed to create a million pesos or dollar deals, Trust is the only thing needed to seal it.

I remember a story told that one of our tycoons who owns a bank was approached by his manager, the manager told him that one client wanted to borrow money but when he analyzed it the client has no capacity to pay.

But to the manager’s surprised, the tycoon said lend him money he have the capacity to return it and pay us.

The manager just scratched his head because the tools available like risk analysis and other technical analysis points otherwise. But since the tycoon is his boss he approved that the client be lent a huge sum of money. True enough it was paid by the client.

Trust is like an oil that seamlessly allow relationships and business to move in a blur. We all need to develop trustworthiness in order for us to survive this very complex world.

The same applies in event management in the Philippines, Trust can make or break an event!

P.S.

Catch Stephen M.R. Covey Live in Manila this coming February 28 at Makati Shangrila. Limited slots only so hurry. The event is marketed and managed by Ex-link Management and Marketing Services Corp. call tel # 643-3887 .

How much innovation and cohesion can we generate from Ba? The answer is limitless and all my colleagues in this special seminar that we are undertaking are nodding. All of them I think will be bringing back and introducing innovations centered around Ba.